Ballantine Saving Fish from Drowning

Now that Burma is opening up to tourism, this is an excellent book to take on your trip (I put it on my Kindle) or to read beforehand. Much of the action takes place in the Inle Lake area, and even though the novel was written ten years ago, it's very easy to recognise the locations and the tourist itineraries the group follow. Politically, the situation has moved on dramatically since Amy Tan wrote the book, but the background of brutal suppression of the Karen minority is something all visitors to Myanmar should be aware of.It's certainly a much better reading choice than Orwell's 'Burmese Days', which you see on bookstalls all over Burma - I can't imagine why, as it's unpleasant and insulting about the people, customs, food, climate and pretty well everything else in the country.

I am a massive fan of Amy Tan which is what made this so disappointing. Having savoured her other titles likes wonderful treats, I really struggled with this book. In fact, I must admit I still haven't finished it. I'm sure I will finish it one day but it just didn't capture or retain my interest as her others titles have done.Amy Tan is an amazing author who usually perfectly captures the cultural and historical nuances that shape all our lives. She may do so in this book . . .but the 'gimmicky' narrator and the muddled start meant reading became a chore rather than a joy.I'm an avid reader and I don't set books aside lightly but I'm afraid that having tried to finish this book on three separate occasions, it may join the small list of titles that I didn't complete.It feels awful to type this about one of Amy Tan's books but Saving Fish from Drowning simply isn't as good as the rest of her titles.

One of Amy Tan's best novels, in my opinion. Very well researched, this is one of those novels which teaches you something about another country at the same time as weaving a story you can't wait to return to each time you put the book down. The journey of a mixed bunch of people which turns into an odyssey is a very funny, interesting and highly enjoyable read which has you laughing out loud at certain times.

Couldn't read this book. Nothing like her earlier books. Maybe she should have quit whilst she was ahead!

nice