The book club selection for April is The Bonesetter's Daughter by Amy Tan. This is Amy Tan's fourth novel and like much of her work it deals with the relationship between an American-born Chinese woman and her immigrant mother.

The Bonesetter's Daughter is divided into two major stories. The first is about Ruth, a Chinese-American woman living in San Francisco. She worries that her elderly mother, LuLing, is gradually becoming more and more demented. LuLing seems increasingly forgetful, and makes bizarre comments about her family and her own past.

The second major story is that of LuLing herself, as written for Ruth. Several years earlier, LuLing had written out her life story in Chinese. Ruth arranges to have the document translated, and learns the truth about her mother's life in China.

Memory plays an important role in The Bonesetter's Daughter. How is Ruth's life affected by her childhood memories? How do LuLing's memories affect her behavior around Ruth?

To frame the novel, Tan uses the device of a story within a story. How is this effective in bringing past and present together?

What is the significance of Ruth's learning the family name at the end of the book? What does Ruth learn about her name that helps change her opinion of her mother?

Let us know what you think of The Bonesetter's Daughter.

During March the Kilbourn Library book club will be exploring the world of Jane Austen. Jane Austen was an English novelist whose realism, biting social commentary and masterful use of irony have earned her a place as one of the most widely read and most beloved writers in English literature. Her fans today number in the millions and since the advent of motion pictures, her novels have been turned into film at an almost regular pace. Although Jane Austen published a mere six novels, those few works have become the basis for the true romance story since their appearance on the literary scene in the early 1800's.

We invite you to read one or more of Jane Austen's books. We have several books available at the library desk for you to choose from including her novels as well as books written about her. Stop by and pick one up today.

Let us know which book you read and what you think of it.

Why do you think that Austen's novels are still so widely read and appreciated today?