May 25 2006
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
In The Joy Luck Club, Amy Tan portrays the differences between the Chinese and the American cultures through mother-daughter relationships and their misunderstandings of one another. In a way Jing-mei Woo is the main character of the novel, who bridges America and China. Jing-mei Woo and her peers, the other daughters of an organization called the Joy Luck Club, have always identified themselves with Americans. However, they are beginning to regret having neglected their Chinese heritage. Their mothers wonder whether by giving their daughters American opportunities and self-sufficiency, they have alienated them from their Chinese heritage.
This novel is interesting and realistic in the sense that it shows what happens when two different cultures clash. It also shows the struggle and fight to keep one’s true identity.
By Jaspreet Mann
One response so far
Create a free edublog to get your own comment avatar (and more!)
One Response to “The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan”
I agree that this was an interesting insight into a different culture. Readers would probably also enjoy other books by Amy Tan (like the Kitchen God’s Wife, which I read and then progressed to ‘Joy Luck Club’). These then started me on a journey, tracking many different authors who deal with cross cultural issues – particularly with an Asian focus. Thus ‘Falling Leaves’ and ‘Chinese Cinderella’ by Adeline Yen Mah are other books I have enjoyed.
‘Memoirs of a Geisha’ has been another good read – far better than the movie!