Friday, April 1, 2011

O’Keefe, Sherry. From China to America: The Story of Amy Tan

O’Keefe, Sherry From China to America: The Story of Amy Tan
Morgan Reynolds 2010 128p 28.95
978-1-59935-138-4 ms/hs Tan, Amy E-BN World Writers (Morgan)


An intimate glimpse of Amy Tan’s life, the events that influenced her writing, her writing style, and the process of writing. Compelling reading that can be enjoyed by a casual reader, or used by a researcher studying feminism or doing literary analysis. Gr. 7+ This intimate portrayal of the life of Amy Tan is very readable and offers insight into Tan as a person as well as a writer. Quotations start each chapter and those quotes alone provide insight into Amy Tan as a writer. This book talks about her writing process, the structure of her short stories and novels, the events that influenced her as a writer as well as offering criticism of her works. Excellent for those students who are doing reports on feminism, multicultural America, or literary analysis. This book contains information about her most famous books as well as the recent novel set in Burma, her editing of a California magazine and the opera that she collaborated on based upon The Bonesetter’s Daughter. An excellent choice for any middle or high school library. McNicol,Lois

1 comment:

Deborah Kearney said...

This would be an excellent book to share with middle school students who struggle with writing. Insights into the motivations and techniques of gifted writers like Amy Tan show students just how much hard work and planning goes into good writing.