Saving fish from drowning finds sly truth in the absurd. Saving fish from drowning is a different book from my previous ones, but not a complete departure, as some have described it. The popular american author amy tan published her novel saving fish from drowning in. Saving fish from drowning is far from one of amy tans best novels. Saving fish from drowning ebook written by amy tan. Bibi is the observant eye of human naturethe witness of good intentions and bad outcomes, of desperate souls and those who wish to save. Usa today a superbly executed, goodhearted farce that is part romance and part mystery. I place the fishes on the bank, where they flop and twirl. Saving fish from drowning seduces the reader with a fagade of buddhist illusions, magicians tricks, and light comedy, even as the absurd and picaresque spiral into a gripping morality tale about the consequences of intentionsboth good and badand about the shared responsibility that individuals must accept for the actions of others.
If i didnt have to facilitate a book group about this novel, i would not have read past the first 50 pages. Saving fish from drowning i was neither intrigued by this book nor bored. I drop my net in the lake and scoop out a hundred fishes. Readers circle saving fish from drowning by amy tan. The title of the book is derived from the practice of myanmar fishermen who scoop up the fish and bring them to shore. Through twists of fate, curses, and just plain human error, they find. Saving fish from drowning is by turns a romance, an adventure story, a comedy, and a bit of educational documentary. Saving fish from drowning by oldbidder1 see profile 051610. A new direction for tan in her new novel, amy tan sets a group of tourists off to burma accompanied, in spirit, by a friend and guide named bibi chen who.
If you want to see more videos like this make sure to hit that like button. A pious man drops his net into the water and scoops out hundreds of fish to save. So many folks told our book club how much they enjoyed amy tans other works such as the joy luck club and the kitchen gods wife, that choosing saving fish from drowning as our september 2007 read was an easy decision. Saving fish from drowning amy tan, 2005 penguin group usa 528 pp. A buddhist parable provides the title for amy tans crafty fifth novel.
On an illfated art expedition into the southern shan state of burma, eleven americans leave their floating island resort for a christmasmorning tourand disappear. Amy tan says in her note to the reader that she drew inspiration for her work from a collection of automatic writing. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read saving fish from drowning. Saving fish from drowning written by anonymous from lakewood, ca on december 10th, 2007. Saving fish from drowning is a 2005 novel written by amy tan. Saving fish from drowning montanalibrary2go overdrive. It did give some insight into the culture but was a little slow otherwise.
Saving fish from drowning was not a novel, but an endurance test. The book is about twelve american tourists who travel to china and burma the novel was awarded an honorable mention from the asianpacific american awards for literature inspiration. A provocative new novel from the bestselling author of the joy luck club and the bonesetters daughter. With picaresque characters and mesmerizing imagery, saving fish from drowning gives us a voice as idiosyncratic, sharp, and affectionate as the mothers of the joy luck club. Reader from the beginning of her novel, saving fish from drowning. Bibi is the observant eye of human naturethe witness of good intentions and bad outcomes, of desperate souls and those who wish to save them. A provocative novel from the bestselling author of the joy luck club and the bonesetters daughter. You dont see your beloveds faults, the slight stinginess, the bit of carelessness, the occasional streak of meanness. Amy tans ambitious fifth novel is narrated by a ghost who, like all of tans heroines, is caught between two worlds, part of. In each of her previous novels, she has seduced readers with the intimate magic. Once things get going the story becomes marginally more interesting, but the conclusion and climax are lacking. Her newest novel, saving fish from drowning, half spoof and half fairy tale. Memories of a writing life, saving fish from drowning, and two childrens books, the moon lady and the chinese siamese cat, which was adapted into a pbs television series.
Saving fish from drowning by amy tan, paperback barnes. The book is about twelve american tourists who travel to china and burma. As someone who fled the oppressive regime from burma, i found amy tans book saving fish from drowning conveyed the experiences of the local people so vividly. Saving fish from drowning by amy tan audio book simply. Amy tan weaves a fascinating tale of this band of fishoutofwater americans and their perceptions of life in other countries, which is. A writers memoir, the joy luck club, the kitchen gods wife, the hundred secret senses, the bonesetters daughter, the opposite of fate.
Bibi chen, the wealthy entrepreneur philanthropist narrator of amy tans gorgeously written, satirical and deeply humane novel saving fish from drowning, is deadshes not sure, but she believes she was murdered. If you want to learn more about burma and thier culture you may enjoy it more than we did. Through twists of fate they encounter a tribe awaiting the return of a leader and the mythical book of wisdom that will protect them from the ravages of the myanmar military regime. She is also the only fully realized character in the book. Saving fish from drowning by amy tan houston chronicle. You feel like you are on this journey with the characters in the book. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of saving fish from drowning by amy tan. With the money i receive, i buy more nets so i can save more fishes. Drawing from the current political reality in burma and woven with pure confabulation, amy tans picaresque novel poses the question.
Ive heard great things about amy tan, and havent read her other stuff and wont discount it based on this but lordy, i have no incentive to read her work now. I want to evolve as a writer, so i hope each book is different. With tans many talents on display, its her idiosyncratic wit and sly observations. The story has some parts which made me laughed while some parts reminded me the daily existence of most of my countrymen. Saving fish from drowning kindle edition by tan, amy. Amy tan is the bestselling author of where the past begins. Read free book excerpt from saving fish from drowning by amy tan, page 1 of 15. Saving fish from drowning describes the adventures of a group of 12 american tourists, ranging from a neurotic hypochondriac to. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. San francisco art patron bibi chen has planned a journ. Saving fish from drowning describes the adventures of a group of 12 american tourists, ranging from a neurotic hypochondriac to a britishborn.
When guards turned the interlopers away from the exhibits, they wandered over to my funeral fete, morbidly lured by copies of various obituaries that lay next to the guest book. Saving fish from drowning book chicago public library. You dont mind that he is beneath you socially, educationally, financially, and morallythats the worst, i think, deficient morals. Most of the papers gave the same hodgepodge of facts. The only reason i finished this book was because i had to for a class. In this video we attempt to save hundreds of fish from dying in a half dried up pond. But in very deep ways, this book is a continuation of the preoccupations of my previous novels.
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