wow. wow wow wow. really incredible. god my heart is heavy. I loved how this is written, I love reading the flashes of these womens lives and piecing together the mothers and daughters perspectives. it's horrible that this is just the way life goes, that your mother holds you inside her and you hold her inside you forever and yet you're doomed to not know each other until its too late. that theres this disconnect that stems from being so close so close it's almost incomprehensible until i guess maybe you become a mother yourself if you ever do. i really loved all these stories, i especially enjoyed reading the mothers stories. I love how the mothers just knew their daughters so intimately, and how the daughters wanted to reject that but knew they couldnt because it really is just a way of life a force of nature. of course this book brought up a lot of feelings about my mother and grandmother who immigrated to this country and gave up lots and lots for me and my siblings. i feel guilty and sad but also incredibly honored that i get to carry their stories and strength through me. Amy Tan just did a phenomenal job writing the complexities of mother/daughter relationships how hard and confusing they can be. I will keep this book with me for a very long time (once i return this copy to paloma and buy a new one).