Tan, Amy

The Hundred Secret Senses

ISBN: 0399141146
New York, NY, USA: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1995. First Trade Edition. “Set in San Francisco and in a remote village of Southern China, this is a tale of American pragmatism shaken, and soothed, by Chinese ghosts. What proof of love do we seek between mother and daughter, among sisters, lovers, and friends? What are its boundaries and failings? Can love go beyond “Until death do us part”? And if so, which aspects haunt us like regretful ghosts?” (From front flap).. Author of "The Joy Luck Club" (1989) Amy Tan (b.1952) resurrects the past in "The Hundred Secret Senses" with Olivia (“Libby-ah”) Laguni and her half-sister, Kwan Li, who claims to have memories from a past life in China. The story focuses on the relationship between Chinese-born Kwan and her younger, Chinese-American sister Olivia, who serves as the book's primary narrator. Olivia and Kwan's relationship begins when their father dies and Kwan is sent to live with the family. Olivia is embarrassed by Kwan because she is unfamiliar with American customs and does not speak English well. She constantly makes a fool of herself, and Olivia is teased by peers for having a "mentally disabled" sister. Kwan makes Olivia come to see that besides what we understand through our five senses, there are many things that can only be understood by using the "hundred secret senses". This story is about the journey of identity, family history, past lives, and ultimately, love. A characteristically profound and rich exploration of cultural identity, sisterhood, spirituality, and our existence in relation to the past, "The Hundred Secret Senses" is further proof of Tan’s literary prowess and ability to weave magic into the threads of the human condition. Focusing on the relationships between sisters, and not the mother/daughter relationship, was a departure for Tan, but again she drew upon her real-life experiences to craft this nuanced tale. Tan has received multiple awards for her books and has been presented the National Humanities Medal for expanding the American literary canon. Hardcover in unclipped dust jacket: First trade edition, first printing as indicated by number sequence at copyright page. An essential Tan classic collectible in its rarest contemporary trade form. Book in relatively fine-to-very fine condition with minor staining at top edge of front, back cover & spine; moderate spotting/staining mostly to top of text block. Interior in relatively very fine, appearing substantially mint. Dust jacket in relatively fine-to-very fine with minor spotting to front cover, some rubbing, mostly to top edges of front, back & spine. Fine-Very Fine. [Item #7902]

Price: $40.00