The character's within Bone all want to be in America and have the life of wealth they thought America would bring, but they want to be Chinese. When they move to America, they settle in China town. They continue to go through all the cultural traditions and situations they would face in China, but it is Americanized. Sending bones of individuals who die in America back to China is also very important and for Leon, not sending his fathers bones back to China seems to be the curse of the family (in his opinion) and the reason all bad things happen. So maybe, the title is based on this because the author is also suggesting the bones are the curse that causes the bad karma in the family?
Mason, Leila's boyfriend has many comments that struck me. It's important, it seems from the book, for Chinese individuals to still be Chinese and not American. Mason calls his cousin Dale to white (Page 40, Ng) and then likes to call places in China town to Chinese (180, Mg). Which is kind of confusing to a reader and to me demonstrates his own struggle with being simply himself and yet being defined by his culture. Which might and seems to be the struggle for all the characters in the book.
I like how you said in the first paragraph of your blog that not sending Leon's father's bones back to China causes bad Karma in the family. I completely agree.
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