Book Description
A provocative new novel from the bestselling author of The Joy Luck Club and The Bonesetter's Daughter.

On an ill-fated art expedition into the southern Shan state of Burma, eleven Americans leave their Floating Island Resort for a Christmas-morning tour-and disappear. Through twists of fate, curses, and just plain human error, they find themselves deep in the jungle, where they encounter a tribe awaiting the return of the leader and the mythical book of wisdom that will protect them from the ravages and destruction of the Myanmar military regime.

Saving Fish from Drowning seduces the reader with a fagade of Buddhist illusions, magician's tricks, and light comedy, even as the absurd and picaresque spiral into a gripping morality tale about the consequences of intentions-both good and bad-and about the shared responsibility that individuals must accept for the actions of others.

A pious man explained to his followers: "It is evil to take lives and noble to save them. Each day I pledge to save a hundred lives. I drop my net in the lake and scoop out a hundred fishes. I place the fishes on the bank, where they flop and twirl. 'Don't be scared,' I tell those fishes. 'I am saving you from drowning.' Soon enough, the fishes grow calm and lie still. Yet, sad to say, I am always too late. The fishes expire. And because it is evil to waste anything, I take those dead fishes to market and I sell them for a good price. With the money I receive, I buy more nets so I can save more fishes."

This is a hard cove book club edition

This copy has very kindly been donated by ralieghdog to cover a us/canada bookring as there were so many (29) takers when I offered my copy up for an international ray.

The shipping list is provisionally

1. Raliegdog - Arizona -

2. Tomsmama - California -

3. LdPaulson - California -

4. Lise46 - Illinois -

5. Writinreader - Kentucky -

6. Unwriitenlibra - Baltimore -

7. Kitiarablue - Baltimore -

8. Cinnycat - New York -

9. Morsecode - New York -

10. Zosime - Wisconsin -

11. Boomda181 - Ontario -

12. Deereads - Ontario -

13. Childermass - British Columbia

14. Barterhordes - North Carolina


The last reader wants to pass the book onto his students

Mailing out today to tomsmama for Jesmondgirl's ring.

This was waiting in my mail box when I got to the office this morning. I'm so glad it got here in perfect time for the weekend as I've really been looking forward to reading it. Everything else is now officially on the back burner so that this can be read quickly and passed along. Thanks so much for sharing.

OK, I know I said I'd read it quickly but it's just too good to rush through. (Not to mention a lot longer than I thought it was!) An absolutely marvelous book with many things that make you stop and take stock.

I would suggest getting hold of a copy of the movie "Beyond Rangoon" for further insight into the political situation in Burma.

I'll get the book out on Monday to the next person in line who I know will enjoy it as much as I did. I'm also going to put the word out to friends that this should be added to their lists of must reads. Thanks so much for sharing.

Arrived in the mail and will read as soon as humanly possible.

What a departure for Amy Tan! The book seemed wholly different from her others. I'm not certain why, precisely. An absorbing read, but one that was ultimately engaging. What did others think of the stealth activist character? Or any of the characters for that matter. Were any of the tourists characters for whom you felt some sympathetic connection?

That it was read immediately after another book set in the Shan States/Burma was an eerie coincidence.

This has been mailed to the next participant.