The Valley of Amazement

By: Amy Tan

Narrated by: Nancy Wu, Joyce Bean, Amy Tan

Length: 24 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

New York Times best-selling author of The Joy Luck Club Amy Tan brings us her latest novel: a sweeping, evocative epic of two women's intertwined fates and their search for identity - from the lavish parlors of Shanghai courtesans to the fog-shrouded mountains of a remote Chinese village

Shanghai, 1912. Violet Minturn is the privileged daughter of the American madam of the city's most exclusive courtesan house. But when the Ching dynasty is overturned, Violet is separated from her mother in a cruel act of chicanery and forced to become a "virgin courtesan." Half-Chinese and half-American, Violet grapples with her place in the worlds of East and West - until she is able to merge her two halves, empowering her to become a shrewd courtesan who excels in the business of seduction and illusion, though she still struggles to understand who she is.

Back in 1897 San Francisco, Violet's mother, Lucia, chooses a disastrous course as a sixteen-year-old, when her infatuation with a Chinese painter compels her to leave her home for Shanghai. Shocked by her lover's adherence to Chinese traditions, she is unable to change him, despite her unending American ingenuity.

Fueled by betrayals, both women refuse to submit to fate and societal expectations, persisting in their quests to recover what was taken from them: respect; a secure future; and, most poignantly, love from their parents, lovers, and children. To reclaim their lives, they take separate journeys - to a backwater hamlet in China, the wealthy environs of the Hudson River Valley, and, ultimately, the unknown areas of their hearts, where they discover what remains after their many failings to love and be loved. Spanning more than forty years and two continents, The Valley of Amazement transports listeners from the collapse of China's last imperial dynasty to the beginning of the Republic and recaptures the lost world of old Shanghai through the inner workings of courtesan houses and the lives of the foreigners living in the International Settlement, both erased by World War II. A deeply evocative narrative of the profound connections between mothers and daughters, imbued with Tan's characteristic insight and humor, The Valley of Amazement conjures a story of inherited trauma, desire and deception, and the power and obstinacy of love.

©2013 Amy Tan (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

This story and the characters become a part of you

Amy at her best. She is so great with characters and emotions. I especially love the history and rich environment that encircles all of her stories. Come on Amy lets get the next one!

Amy's Amazing Mix of History and Fiction

I have always enjoyed Ms. Tan's mix of history, culture and fiction. I am learning about Chinese culture as I am entertained. Learning how a courtesan was trained and respected in the ancient culture was very interesting. The twists and changes of the characters made for many surprises. It was just enjoyable to listen to!

amazing cultural picture.

well researched. great voices. wonderfully woven storylines. terrific read. good historical perspective.

Amy Tan is amazing

Another fabulous book that takes you on a journey through the lives of several generations of women. I loved it

Good story

Long in spots but over all a great story. It was similar to Memoirs of a Geisha. Both great reads!

Valley of Amazement

Amy Tan never let's me down. This period piece was well researched. The characters are well developed. The voices of Golden Dove and Magic Gourd would have spoken aloud in print. The audio execution is masterfully entertaining.

I loved this story!

Very well written and the performance of the readers was incredible ! This story made me laugh out loud and cry at times. If you want a story that is engaging this is the one for you. I will definitely read this again!

Wonderful saga

I enjoyed the generational tale of by gone time in a foreign land. It was well told.

A transformative journey

I haven’t had a book pull me in like this and take me on a journey in such a palpable way in a really long time. I do have criticisms but at the same time it’s probably my favorite book right now, and I could probably talk about it for an hour…

One bad decision takes 2 generations to fix.

Would you listen to The Valley of Amazement again? Why?

It is an epic story of the lives of many women in China in the early 20th century. Starting with Lucretia who makes a decision to have a fling with a Chinese student house guest and falls pregnant. She follows him to China where the story really begins...

Who was your favorite character and why?

Magic Gourd - such a resourceful, loyal, opinionated, caring and funny mother figure. She just rolls up her sleeves and gets it done.

Any additional comments?

It was fascinating to peek behind the silk curtain of courtesan life in China, how women are treated on both sides of the respectable / not respectable divide and how those norms changed with western influences.