Bookclub Blog #1: Ch. 1-8

1) Summary
The book is through Olivia's point of view with flashbacks, but sometimes it switches over to Kwan's voice. In the beginning she introduces her half sister Kwan saying she has Yin eyes. After Olivia's father died her mom started dating many guys leaving Kwan to babysit her and her bothers. They they taught each other their languages (English and Chinese). Throughout the book you learn more about Yin eyes. Olivia touched briefly over how Kwan was sent to the psych ward because her family thought she was crazy for seeing ghost. When Olivia and Kwan somewhat got closer she would tell her about her passed in China in a haunted house. She kept talking about Miss Banner, Lao Lu, and  General Cape. Kwan mentions how the town thought General Cape was a traitor, but she helped Miss Banner find her sweetheart, which ended up being him. After Kwan talks about her friends, Olivia remembers how she once has seen a ghost but didn't tell anyone. Religion also pops up throughout the chapters, it mentions Olivia's views on heaven and hell, and also church. She never got close with Religion though. Another significant thing that Olivia keeps bringing up in the book is her husband, Simon. She says their marriage has fallen apart but gives us the history between them. They met in college but he kept mentioning he had a girlfriend but in pass tense. Later on, Olivia discovers that his ex-girlfriend, Elza died by a ski accident. Olivia said that she felt really guilty about Elza's death because she thought she killed her by hating her. With this guilty feeling she is sensitive towards Simon and tries to hold onto Elza's existence. However, she couldn't handle it anymore so she asked Kwan for help. Kwan then told Simon about her Yin eyes and "talked" to Elza's ghost with him. She persuaded him that Elza wanted him to move on and forget here. Olivia said she should've been happy in that moment but she was sad because she too saw Elza and she was saying the complete opposite. Kwan also elaborates on the Yin world and Secret senses to Olivia. Olivia goes through her marriage with Simon, she said for the first 7 years things were great but the next 7 years they drifted apart. When they started to drift apart they bought a old victorian house in SF. It was a big house and needed a lot of remodeling. We get to know why they don't have kids in this chapter (8), it's because Simon is sterile. When they were remodeling the house they took out some insolation of the walls (horse hair) so the house echoed. Olivia said that she kept hearing noises and Kwan told her that she doesn't see any ghosts, but living people.

2)Quotes
- "The potential, of course, had more to do with us" (Tan125).
I picked this quote because Simon and her marriage has to be an important topic in this book because she elaborates on every detail of their relationship. I was shocked that she was saying they were drifting apart than bought a house together. Maybe to work things out, I think the house symbolizes their relationship because they have been married and been together for a really long time, have had some problems, and are trying to repair it.
-"Send to Yin World.  Everything with mind and heart together, use hundred secret sense" (Tan 113).
This quote caught my eye because it has the title of the book in it. Kwan tells more about secret sense but I still don't get the "hundred secret senses" and why its the title.
- "I never thought that he too would fill my life with ghosts" (Tan 92).
I found this quote interesting because she started to introduce his ex girlfriend as a present girlfriend and hinted at her being dead but then when he told her the story of how Elza died we knew she was actually dead. I think at this point she is way more accepting of Kwan and her Yin eyes because she can relate (but not admitting it).

3)Questions
- Was Elza actually pregnant?
-Do you think theres a reason Olivia mentioned that Simon is never there when she hears noises?
- What is the significance of Kwan's passed friends (Miss Banner, General cape, and Lao Lu)? Are they ghosts that still talk to her?

4)Reflection
I think the novel is easy to read because it's really interesting however I can't keep up with it when it switches to Kwan talking. Also its hard annotating while I'm reading to mark it up because theres hardly any margins. But I really like it because it doesn't feel like I have to read the book and its not forced so the chapters go by super quickly. Im glad I picked this book because it has romance and mystery.