Bone

I have read many books written by Chinese American authors and loved nearly every one. This one fell flat in my opinion. Usually the stories are much more complex than this one. I thought it was boring.

With it's spare, carefully woven narrative and backward-moving structure, Fae Myenne Ng's novel is one of the best-written Asian American novels out there. I also appreciated the novel's focus. Unlike other Asian American fiction that seem intent on satisfying the mainstream audience's thirst for ethnicity as a sort of exotic travelogue, 'Bone' avoids overexplanation, aims for higher goals, focusing instead on the larger human story, of which ethnicity is only a part.

This was amoving and provocative story about the love of family, and the pain that can heal wounds, and bring more love than ever before. My friend sent me this book, and I feel in love about the plasure and pain this story evoked from my soul, and what it's selfless sence of pride gave to me...

I disagree with the criticism from other reviewers about the timeline, the one-dimensional characters, and the plot. Having just finished this book myself NG does a superb job of creating delicate, emotional characters and weaving them through a story that unfolds itself in a way that reflects the disorganized thoughts of the narrator as she attempts to explain her sisters suicide to herself. A linear novel would not have the same sense of emotional searching as what NG does in this cleverly crafted novel. This is not a novel about actions and plot, but about people, generation gaps, and emotions.

Ng's portrayal of a death in the family hits really close to home. The story moved me so much to the point that I read it three times in order to absorb all the emotions and feeling that it drummed up inside of me. The characters live and breathe in San Francisco's Chinatown all as real as you and me. This is a masterpiece of writing, which clings to your heart and never lets go. As an Asian American writer myself, the challenge of capturing such angst and pain to pen is not an easy task. I look forward to reading upcoming pieces from Ms Ng.

Having been exposed to San Francisco's Chinatown since I was a very small child I was moved by the graceful and melencholic story in Bone. For many years I was a cab driver in San Francisco and one of my favorite places for buisness was in Chinatown. I am a white person with a classic "anglo" background and have rarely seen beyond the public surfaces that the Chinese community shows. So I have a degree of curiosity about the culture from five decades of exposure and the appreciation of an outsider. I am intimately familiar with the images, sounds and smells. I know where the mah jong parlors are in basements in alleys, I know the restraunts, the drug stores and sewing factories with considerable familiarity. This book took me inside all the familiar exteriors that I know so well. I believed every word and felt every breath and heard every inflection. It was a book I savored and read slowly for the poignant dignity of the reality behind the storefronts and and exteriors. It was as good a look and as well written as I believe anyone could do. Someday I'll read it again. This year I'll give it as a Christmas present to those I know will be able to most appreciate this really good and extremely well written book.