Saving Fish From Drowning by Amy Tan (2005)

For readers who are already familiar with Amy Tan novels, this novel will be surprising, because it does not concern itself with her usual specific examination of family dynamics, which she generally centers on the mother-daughter relationship. Instead, the focus is on the universal: on how the "do-goodism" of individuals and organizations and even governments can backfire, leading to tragic results rather than to the fortunate results that have been intended.

Tan's plot concerns a group of twelve tourists on an art expedition through China into the jungles of Burma, with the narrator of the story being the ghost of the tour organizer, who has recently died under mysterious circumstances. Without their intended leader, the group falls into several humorous mishaps before a Christmas Day boat cruise when eleven of the travelers disappear into the jungle.

The tone throughout is satirically humorous, as the tourist are held as captives, without ever realizing they are captives, by a tribe of natives who are hiding from the repressive military government. Tan slyly addresses such issues as the impact of media and the difficulty in separating what is real from what is fiction. As a plus, the narration of the knowledgeable ghostly tour guide provides interesting historical information.

The plot itself does have several gaping holes: How is it that the ghost can communicate with some characters through their dreams, but not with all? Why is the health-obsessed tourist who is equipped with all sorts of medical supplies not carrying medication for malaria, the most common ailment in the jungle? How clueless must the tourists be not to realize that they are actually prisoners?

Nevertheless, this is an entertaining book to read, although I'll have to say it is a bit depressing in the end.