In 1996, acclaimed novelist Amy Tan daringly published an entrancing new book called "The Hundred Secret Senses". Her most polished work to date, it told a sensuous, captivating, and unforgettable story of the deep and unbreakable sisterly bond between Olivia Yee/Laguni/Bishop and her very irritating, yet exceptionally affectionate half-sister Kwan. Tan encrypted into her bittersweet narrative the meaning of loyalty, sisterhood, fate, friendship, the supernatural, and extraordinary love. Drawing from experiences in her life, such as her eye opening trips to China, the violent murder of her best friend, and later, the death of her mentor and mother, Tan wove a breathtaking of two sisters and their connection through centuries. The critics, however, saw both the good and bad sides of the story and had mixed reviews. Some truly enjoyed Hundred and liked the new direction Tan had taken, while some scoffed at the supernatural concept and felt that Tan's newest work pales in comparison to The Joy Luck Club, which spent eight months on The New York Times' best-sellers list (Academy).
Amy Tan, author
English: Bamberg High School students and German s...
Kwan Im TempleI, however, agree with the more positive reviews in that Hundred is definitely a new direction for Tan, but nevertheless, an immensely enjoyable new outtake that I love.
The Hundred Secret Senses tells the story of Olivia Bishop, a "modern American" (Hundred 6) and half-sister Kwan, one of the most memorable characters ever created. Apparently, Kwan had "yin eyes" (Hundred 1) and could see ghosts from the past. Olivia, "skeptical [and] logical" (Adams), did not seriously believe in the tales Kwan told late at night of Chinese ghosts stories. However, Hundred relies heavily on supernatural themes. Parallel to the story of Olivia and Kwan is the tale of Nunumu and her best friend, Miss Banner, set in 19th century China. It is not evident until near the end...