“The Joy Luck Club is one of my favorite books. From the moment I first started reading it, I knew it was going to be incredible. For me, it was one of those once-in-a-lifetime reading experiences that you cherish forever. It inspired me as a writer and still remains hugely inspirational.” —Kevin Kwan, author of Crazy Rich AsiansAmy Tan’s beloved, New York Times bestselling tale of mothers and … York Times bestselling tale of mothers and daughters, now the focus of a new documentary Amy Tan: Unintended Memoir on Netflix
Four mothers, four daughters, four families whose histories shift with the four winds depending on who’s “saying” the stories. In 1949 four Chinese women, recent immigrants to San Francisco, begin meeting to eat dim sum, play mahjong, and talk. United in shared unspeakable loss and hope, they call themselves the Joy Luck Club. Rather than sink into tragedy, they choose to gather to raise their spirits and money. “To despair was to wish back for something already lost. Or to prolong what was already unbearable.” Forty years later the stories and history continue.
With wit and sensitivity, Amy Tan examines the sometimes painful, often tender, and always deep connection between mothers and daughters. As each woman reveals her secrets, trying to unravel the truth about her life, the strings become more tangled, more entwined. Mothers boast or despair over daughters, and daughters roll their eyes even as they feel the inextricable tightening of their matriarchal ties. Tan is an astute storyteller, enticing readers to immerse themselves into these lives of complexity and mystery.
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Loved it. I didn;t know anything about ABC vs, Chinese immigrants. Enlightening.
Touching
Heartbreakingly realistic
I have watched the movie which is based upon this book, so I wasn’t sure if reading the book would just be redundant, however the characters and storyline vary enough from the movie to make it a very good read.
I love Amy Tan, so all of her books I’ve read so far have been excellent! The Joy Luck Club is an absolute classic!
One of my all-time favorite books! ! I love all of Amy Tan’s books, but this one is still my absolute #1.
I really wanted to like this book, but I had a hard time following the characters. I almost needed a flip-chart to figure out who we were talking about in each chapter. But the stories about the women were definitely interesting and touching.
Amy Tan is one of my favorite authors. Her stories are about families, especially the women in the famielies and cross generations. This one is about a mother and daughters and their lives in the new world and the old. Very Satisfying.
If you have a mom or a daughter you will see things in this book. The way the parent pushes or doesn’t, the reaction of the spoiled child vs the humble. It’s one of my all time favorites.
Amy Tan writes beautiful tales that weave history into the present. I adore this story that juxtaposes tales of the senior Mothers with contemporary tales of their daughters using mah Jong games as a tool to tie it all together. There is so much pathos in the stories and one comes to appreciate why some of the characters have evolved as they have. I’ve read the book twice, and will likely read it again. It’s a beautiful way to explore ones one relationship to their mother and their daughter.
Tried to read this because of such good reviews. Just couldn’t get into it and finally gave up.
I think think this a great book for all mothers and daughters relationships.
Difficult to keep track of the characters in the four families.
This book was a great read. I would recommend it. It is written well with memorable characters.
I’ve read and re-read this book. Love it!
I so enjoyed re-reading this book. Holds its own.
Great insights into another culture, different histories for women and for mothers and daughters.
Well written!
You can relate to this book as a first generation children whose parents wants them to excel due to the sacrifices they are making in a new country…or parents who are demanding of their children in general!