The Bond Between Sisters by Todd Rutherford
An unspoken bond of sisterhood exists between women, and the golden rule is to never steal another woman’s man. This rule, however, is not always followed, which causes tension between the women involved, even between sisters. Alicia Hou’s The Mirror of Karma and the 4 Sisters shows just how volatile relationships can become when these types of circumstances arise. Even the closest of sisters can become estranged.
An unspoken bond of sisterhood exists between women, and the golden rule is to never steal another woman’s man. This rule, however, is not always followed, which causes tension between the women involved, even between sisters. Alicia Hou’s The Mirror of Karma and the 4 Sisters shows just how volatile relationships can become when these types of circumstances arise. Even the closest of sisters can become estranged.
Reminiscent of Amy Tan’s Joy Luck Club, The Mirror of Karma and the 4 Sisters revolves around an unseen bond between four sisters: Gi-Gi Chen, Mei-Ling, Lily, and the youngest sister, Mimi. The book opens up on January 8, 2011, with twenty-four year-old Mimi preparing for her marriage. Despite the fact that Mimi and Gi-Gi were nearly thirteen years apart and had different fathers, they are extremely close. Mimi states, “I have been a very lucky girl. I had never suffered what Mom suffered back in China. My mom and my sister are my best friends, despite our hair colors not being the same. When I was two years old, my sister was already fifteen.”
Alicia Hou, however, asserts that the bond between sisters does not necessarily have to be sewn in blood; indeed, all women are “sisters,” and should help each other and look out for one other. Betrayal is not an option.
The Mirror of Karma contrasts the personalities and lifestyles of the 4 sisters. Gi-Gi Chen is the ideal example of how a woman should behave, as her grandmother’s strong influence constantly sways her decisions, and is partly behind the fact that she finds herself twenty-nine and still single. Mimi states, “Blame it on yourself. Four years ago, Benny proposed to you, but you returned him to his ex-girlfriend when she came to see you, crying. Two years ago, Desmond proposed to you and asked you to get married in Las Vegas, but you refused, and yet, you helped reunite him with his ex-wife and won back the house.” In today’s society, people like Gi-Gi, while admirable in many ways, are few and far between.
The emergence of two of the other sisters, Lily and Mei-Ling, initially alters the bond between the four sisters. The author sets up conflicts and points of contention between the sisters, bringing an abundance of interest to the story. Amidst the adversity and accusations, the sisters’ bond is apparent, as Mei-Ling is finally able to forgive Lily for past wrongs.
Ultimately, the special relationship between sisters is a special one that, even when put to the test, holds strong. Hou emphasizes the importance of both forgiveness and karma as the main elements in keeping this bond between sisters alive. The Mirror of Karma and the 4 Sisters is an inspirational tale of family and friendship, and of relationships that eventually stand the test of time.
Find out more about Alicia Hou by visiting www.aliciahou.com
Processing your request, Please wait....
