“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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Great story line.
This is such a touching book
A great book – and movie. I read it years ago and have re-read a few times – One of my favorites from Amy Tan
Its such a good story the covers different cultures, geography, mothers and daughters
Very entertaining
I loved this book.
I did enjoy this book, after her mother’s death she takes her position at the Mah jong table and relives many memories of her mother and her mother’s friends throughout the years.
Amy Tan is a remarkable storyteller. I thoroughly enjoyed a glimpse into Chinese culture.
This book is still popular years after it was written. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good read and learning about people from other cultures.
I liked it but had a hard time following the names.
I was totally impressed!!
Very disappointed. Tales of sad tragic lives in China and San Francisco. It had received such acclaim, I was excited to read, but it was all focused on unhappiness.
Generations of Chinese immigrant families conflicted between tradition and new thoughts. Mother’s and daughters share their histories and beige the gap in and grow closer to both sides of the cultural and generation gaps.
Very moving! And it really opened my eyes (at least little bit) to how another culture thinks and feels.
Brilliant writing! I have read all of Amy Tan’s books. This was my first, and it was so good that I could hardly wait for her next one.
Loved it!
Favorite Amy Tan Book
Excellent book by a fabulous author.
I’m glad I finally got around to reading this. Books like The Joy Luck Club are so important in how we learn to understand each other and where people come from.
Amy Tan’s best book. I have read all of Any Tan’s books. This one is the first book and extremely well written as well as being interesting. I love her books and all are interesting but in some she seems to rush to tell the story and doesn’t pay as much attention to the wording. It doesn’t matter all her books are worth reading.