The Valley of Amazement

AmyTan'sTheValleyofAmazementisasweeping,evocativeepicoftwowomen'sintertwinedfatesandtheirsearchforidentity,thatmovesfromthelavishparlorsofShanghaicourtesanstothefog-shroudedmountainsofaremoteChinesevillage.Spanningmorethanfortyyearsandtwocontinents,TheValleyofAmazementresurrectspivotalepisodesinhistory:fromthecollapseofChina'slastimperialdynasty,totheriseoftheRepublic,theexplosivegrowthoflucrativeforeigntradeandanti-foreignsentiment,totheinnerworkingsofcourtesanhousesandthelivesoftheforeign"Shanghailanders"livingintheInternationalSettlement,botherasedbyWorldWarII.Adeeplyevocativenarrativeabouttheprofoundconnectionsbetweenmothersanddaughters,TheValleyofAmazementreturnsreaderstothecompellingterritoryofAmyTan'sTheJoyLuckClub.Withhercharacteristicinsightandhumor,sheconjuresastoryofinheritedtrauma,desireanddeception,andthepowerandstubbornnessoflove.