just finished
The Opposite Of Fate by Amy Tan
From the back cover: Bestsellign novelist Amy Tan shares the story of how she escaped the curses of her past to make a future of her own. She takes us on a journey from her childhood of both tragedy and comedy to the present day and her arrival as one of the world’s best-loved novelists. Whether recalling arguments with her mother in suburban California or introducing us to the ghosts that inhabit her computer, The Opposite Of Fate presents a refreshing meditation on the choices, charms, freedoms, and luck that affect us all.
I’m not so sure how well I know how to write a book review so I will just stick with this: For the most part, I liked this book.
What I liked:
- It wasn’t fiction but read as such. Amy Tan has such a way with words and is able to find the precise word to convey a certain meaning, emotion or setting that draws you in (well me anyway).
- It is a collection of essays, speeches, articles, and memoirs which means that they were shorter and didn’t require my undivided attention or concentration. It is a memoir and not a complicated book and that is just what I needed seeing as I was in a funk and then terribly ill for quite a few weeks.
- It made me laugh – some events in her life are just too funny and some I could relate too.
- I found it interesting to get to know Amy Tan as a person and a peek into her life. Everyone has a story to tell, it is one of the favorite things I like about meeting new people – hearing their story- and Tan has quite a few adventures to share.
What I didn’t like:
- Because this book is a collection of events from her life, there are times when the stories repeat themselves. I found myself saying “I know that already…” more than once.
There was one passage of this book that stood out more than the rest. Tan discusses what it means to be a fiction writer in the United States and the categories that she often finds herself in and the ones she never seems to be placed in. At one point she expresses her frustration at readers who look to fiction to solve real life issues. She argues that fiction should make us think rather than tell us what to think. This was my favorite part and I whole heartedly agree.
I did not like this book to keep it on my shelf but if you are looking for an easy read that is fairly entertaining, I certainly recommend this book. I’ll give it a 3 out of 5.
pages: 398
total pages ‘08: 398
For more book reviews, check out Katrina’s Spring Reading Thing.
Me again, commenting on another book review (I like reading, too!)
I am totally putting this one on my to-read list. I didn’t realize it was nonfiction — I’m looking for something other than a novel; it’s been too long!!