The main attraction of this book is it's descriptions of China. The contrasts and similarities between the western values and expectations of modern America and those of China are nicely explored. However, the main focus of this story is our personal relationships, the way in which we interpret and understand one another. While I found the plot slightly predictable, and didn't feel as emotionally involved with the individual characters as I would have liked to be, I did love the magic in this book and was absorbed by its Chinese myths and imagery.