Saving Fish from Drowning

By: Amy Tan

Narrated by: Amy Tan

Twelve American tourists join an art expedition that begins in the Himalayan foothills of China - dubbed the true Shangri-La - and heads south into the jungles of Burma.

But after the mysterious death of their tour leader, the carefully laid plans fall apart, and disharmony breaks out among the pleasure-seekers as they come to discover that the Burma Road is paved with less-than-honorable intentions, questionable food, and tribal curses. Then, on Christmas morning, eleven of the travelers boat across a misty lake for a sunrise cruise - and disappear.

Drawing from the current political reality in Burma and woven with pure confabulation, Amy Tan's picaresque novel poses the question: How can we discern what is real and what is fiction, in everything we see? How do we know what to believe?

Saving Fish from Drowning finds sly truth in the absurd: a reality TV show called Darwin's Fittest, a repressive regime known as SLORC, two cheroot-smoking twin children hailed as divinities, and a ragtag tribe hiding in the jungle - where the sprites of disaster known as Nats lurk, as do the specters of the fabled Younger White Brother and a British illusionist who was not who he was worshipped to be.

With her signature "idiosyncratic, sympathetic characters, haunting images, historical complexity, significant contemporary themes, and suspenseful mystery" (Los Angeles Times), Amy Tan spins a provocative and mesmerizing tale about the mind and the heart of the individual, the actions we choose, the moral questions we might ask ourselves, and above all, the deeply personal answers we seek when happy endings are seemingly impossible.

©2005 Amy Tan (P)2005 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"A superbly executed, good-hearted farce that is part romance and part mystery....With Tan's many talents on display, it's her idiosyncratic wit and sly observations...that make this book pure pleasure." ( San Francisco Chronicle)

Not Pleased

I love Amy Tan books, but this was a disappointment. It is hard to stay with and just sort of off. I'll always continue to follow Amy Tan, but I wish I had not bought this audio book.

A great story full of Cultural references

I always enjoy Amy’s books. Just like her other books, this tale provides layers and layers of stories within stories that go back from generation to generation explaining how people of the region understand their world and the history of the region.

Too many words

Would you try another book from Amy Tan and/or Amy Tan?

I'm an ardent Tan fan.

What was most disappointing about Amy Tan’s story?

Too many words at times, not enough magic. A touch of cultural empathy, but not so much as to enlighten. A bit repetitive on the political theme.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

Perhaps this audio, read by Tan, didn't work for me- whatever the words. Tan's voice is lovely, but monotonous after awhile. Often too sweet, cloying.

Did Saving Fish from Drowning inspire you to do anything?

no.

Interesting read

Great story and telling of story. I would recommend this to be read by others.

bus of fools (I read this online)

This is not for those who are not interested in details. Ms. Tan is most insightful of human nature. I have a deeper understanding of people and Asian culture.