Hazel's review
The Hundred Secret Senses
by Amy Tan
Hazel's review
The Hundred Secret Senses by Amy Tan
Hazel's review
rating:
recommended for: anyone who wonders about what happens after we die
This is a beautifully written and haunting story about a pair of sisters, past lives, ghosts, hope and friendship. Narrated by Olivia, the American born sister, readers are introduced to Kwan, the quirky Chinese born sister who claims to have "yin eyes," the ability to see and communicate with the dead. Kwan is an embarrassment to Olivia, presumably due to her relative foreignness and inability to fit in, and the little quirk of her claiming to see the dead. Kwan tells stories about her past lives, and spirits she encounters, particularly those from her past life in 1800's China. Initially, these stories are written off by Olivia. And, admittedly, the stories seemed so ridiculous to me that I skimmed over them, preferring to read the storylines of Olivia, her family, and her relationships. Yet the story twists and turns until Olivia begins to question whether or not there is any validity to Kwan's stories. It is a beautiful speculation about the ideas of afterlife, rei...more
