I couldn't get through it

I love Amy Tan's writing and I read and listen to be entertained. I was bored. She should not narrate her own books. She sounded very humdrum. Sorry Amy.

8 people found this helpful

And so ends my infatuation with Amy Tan's Work

There are two things to know:
I have read every Amy Tan book (including the non-fiction, Opposite of Fate) some of them twice!
And
I don't put books down. I have literally only stopped reading 5 books over the past 5 years! And one of those books was Valley of Amazement. I just couldn't do it.
So here I am, listening to her latest book, a memoir of sorts, with Amy Tan herself reading it...even she sounds bored much of the time!....and I am determined to get through this. All 14 1/2 hours. I'm pretty sure my ears were bleeding at some point, but I must have blacked out while driving!
I'm not going to dissect this, because there just wasn't anything I liked about it. But the biggest take away for me is that her mother-in real life- is a totally unlikeable person. In her writings, the mother characters were largely unlikeable..and they were usually based on her own mother...so it doesn't surprise me that I didn't like her actual mother as described in this book. But unlike Sherman Alexi who, in his recent memoir, did not try to defend his abusive and unlikeable mother, Tan not only defends, but she rationalizes and justifies all her negative and selfish actions. Tan talks about all her mother's failings, but turns around and says that it comes from her past and tries to psychologically justify the bad behaviors. Her mother was not just a bad mother - to Amy and her brother, but she also deserted her other children in China!! - she was not a good person. And while Ms Tan recognizes this, she will never acknowledge anything but filial love, devotion and admiration for this woman.
As in Valley of Amazement, Ms Tan has overthought and over written the characters in her life. Perhaps she's trying to make peace with her writing of them in her later years, but maybe she would do better looking at the present...or her own future in a fictional sense. I'm over her ancestral angst.

7 people found this helpful

Narration Issues

The narration was a huge stumbling block for me with this memoir. I have tried several times to get past this because I would really like to hear what Tan has to say about her life and writing history. I have even gone back and re-listened to the sample--something I am super careful about with all books, but especially with author narrated titles--though even this measure did not help. To me the sample sounds great and still does in the re-listen. I'm baffled because the actual downloaded recording sounds different.

I can't pinpoint the issue exactly but if I am up walking around and actively doing things while I am listening, my mind immediately wanders, I loose track of what is being said and just tune out completely. On the other hand if, heaven forbid, I am lying down while I try and listen I am lulled to sleep with in minutes. The reading for me fits into the category of being the dreaded recorded knock out drug.

If I had to guess I'd say that Tan's voice is very soft, flowing and stays in a narrow vocal range giving it a hypnotic tone and quality. I wish that a professional narrator with a more dynamic and varied style had been hired to do the reading.

Ordinarily I'd suggest listening to the sample but as I've said that didn't work for me. I think you may just have to try the book and see if you are ok with it. The reviews here seem to be equally split on the narration. This is one book it seems that I will have to read in print.

25 people found this helpful

Monotone and shallow

I used to really enjoy Amy Tan, but I think listening to this turned me off even from some of her fiction. The pacing and tone is just really poor, nearly putting me to sleep on my commute from work. I was also quite shocked at how little depth was present. It was, in fact, riddled with self-absorption and just...needless to say, I quit after 3 or 4 days. I'm sorry I ever started this book.

2 people found this helpful

Writing allowed her to tell her incredible journey

I'm left speechless. The more I read the more I understood how her life led her into becoming a writer and also the very person she is. She is one of the most fascinating authors to have read about her past history and how it's unfolding of its life played such an integral role in everyday aspects in her life all the way through to the completion of this book and the molding of it into the person she is today. I marvel over the obstacles she has overcome and not just the tough up bringing she had or the many struggles she overcame but also the many times that she faced literally several deaths scenarios in multiple forms!

Yes, it was a very long book but also very well written between her and her adoring publisher. Amy Tan does not hold back and is a top-notch wrier and deserves all the acknowledgements for how well she writes. Through her writing and other books you never know how bright she is. In this book you get a glimpse into just some of the amazing talents and small portion of how incredibly bright she truly is. I highly recommend this book to anyone. I hope you enjoy it. JH

4 people found this helpful

loved it!

so amazing! I loved hearing so many of Amy's personal life stories - I love how she thinks and analyzes everything. i can't wait to start another Amy Tan book. :)

1 person found this helpful

Gripping Memoir

I attended a talk by Amy Tan when she was promoting her first book. I enjoyed her talk and reading that book. I put her on my list of authors to follow. Since that time, I have read all her books and make a point of attending her talks whenever she is in my area.

This book is a memoir of her life to-date. She traces her family history through photographs. Tan describes her skill of nature drawings and compares that creativity to her writing. She discusses her mother’s mental illness and its effect on her and the rest of her family. The main topic of the book is about writing and creativity. Tan discusses a collection of letters between herself and her editor, Daniel Halpern. She provides in-sights on writing. She brings out what it takes to be a professional writer. Tan is a gifted storyteller. I enjoy learning about authors and how they write.

The book is fourteen and a half hours long. Amy Tan narrated her own book. It is great to hear the author read their book.

7 people found this helpful

Easy Listen

I was touched by Tan's homage to her mother and her respect for ancestry. Well written. Well performed.

2 people found this helpful

Loved it

My father's struggles and her mother's struggles were slightly similar. My father is from Shanghai n fled prior to Communist rule. He also left his children behind but often sent money to them after settling in San Francisco. He spoke Shanghainese, Mandarin and English fluently. I remember him going to San Francisco Chinatown on a daily basis and he would speak English to communicate with the shopkeepers and market people. I don't know much about my father's life in China but I am grateful he had the opportunity to return in 1972 to see his children and homeland for the last time.he died 5 years later. Thank you for the exploration through your family history. A well narrated book by the Amy Tan. I will continue to read anything you write.

Delivers more than I had hoped for

Absolutely loved this book. I listened to it a couple of times. I found it answering questions of my own life. I will be listening to it a few more times over time. Wonderful use of imagery and language. The authenticity of the writer comes across and draws the reader in. Amy Tan is more than a Chinese American writer. She is a world writer.