The Valley of Amazement

Was not amazing.

Or it was amazing that it took me more than a week to read it?

The Valley of Amazement wasn’t bad. It just wasn’t amazing and it was not a quick read. I wasn’t a fan of the way it was laid out. I didn’t like the jump back to see what had been happening with Lulu Mimi while her daughter was growing up a courtesan. That felt jarring and it was too short. The jump back was equally jarring and short. I prefer we learn about all of the characters in the proper sequence without the jumping forward and backward and forward again.

Also, all the horrible things happened and happened and happened and happened.

I also didn’t love any of the main characters — I liked their sidekicks better. Magic Gourd, Golden Dove. Those were great women. There should be a book about them.

But, it was Amy Tan so it was well written and interesting.