The Joy Luck Club

A Chinese World

The Joy Luck Club is a story that portrays the different vignettes of four tenacious Chinese immigrant mothers and their first generation strong American daughters. As a first generation Chinese myself, I could immediately relate to some of the difficulties that the daughters faced, and many of the vignettes of the mothers reminded me of my parents/grandparents stories. The story also gives the reader a glimpse into the life of a typical Chinese lady in the 20th century and introduces the reader to Chinese culture and society.

In the book, the daughters often try to be free from the constant nagging of the mother's, and one of the daughters even views her mother as an obstacle she must overcome, her own personal battle. I could really relate to the hard time that the daughters faced, because I myself am used to having my grandpa always comment on everything I do. His complaining would often leave me feeling imprisoned and constrained. I just wanted to get away from everything and anything that had to do with my family. However, through the course of this book I came to realize that the nitpicking of the older generation was just their own unique way of showing their love for their children.

Many times, the Chinese daughters are often left confused by their mother's messages. The daughters cannot relate and understand the underlying meaning because of the different cultures that the mothers and daughters come from. While the Chinese culture is a high context culture the American culture is the polar opposite, a low context culture. Often times, the clashing of cultures would lead to confusion and frustration on both sides. I think that another reason why the mothers and daughters have such a difficult time understanding each other is because of the completely different environments that they grew up in. The mother's faced sexism, racism, and the struggle to just simply survive. Often times, the things that they learned growing up became important symbols and lessons that they hoped to pass down to their children. But to the daughters who grew up in an environment where they tried to hide their roots as much as possible, and being Asian was "unfashionable", these messages only helped to widen the gap between mother and daughter. The book illustrates the journey that the mothers and daughters faced trying to understand the different cultures and perspectives of the Chinese and American way of thinking.

Chinese people prize filial piety above all other characteristics, and I remember often having to go to temples to pay my respects to my ancestors and that I could not talk back to my elders. In one of the stories, the Joy Luck Club is having a crab dinner. Since everyone immediately grabbed the largest and juiciest crabs, the hosts, Suyuan (mother), and Jing-mei (daughter), are left with the last two crabs. Jing-mei knows that one of the crabs was dead before they bought it, which is bad luck in Chinese culture, so she willingly grabs the dead crab so that her mother may enjoy the tastier crab. This is a very good example of filial piety, while everyone else is greedy, and hopes for the best for themselves, the daughter is being respectful by leaving the better crab for her mother. I specifically remembered this story from the book because I think that if I was in the same position as Jing-mei I would have taken the better crab for myself.

9 out of 10 people found this review helpful.

The Joyluck Club Book Reveiw

With stories of the past, relationships between the mothers and daughters show a gap of no understanding. The recent death of Suyuan Woo's mother, Jing Mei "June" Woo, causes questions to pop up after her passing. The questions leave blanks in what is to be contrasted in similarities and differences. It made the daughters think in a new light of how there mothers were, and showed a better understanding of their actions and words. The mothers tell tales of their culture, and how different it is from what their daughters now know in America. While Suyuan is reviewing over her mother's life from her aunts, she makes realizations of what her mother had done in life, and what she must do to grant her mother's dead dream.
In the expressions of the mothers, a most common fact to find was that they would relate themselves often to their daughters, and would predict or describe in greater meaning, events that occur. The mother's described struggles and hardships that they went through in their youth. Most often, the daughters would misunderstand the message of what the mothers were telling them. The lessons and morals in their stories brought out a new point of view. A memorable experience I had while reading this book was the new found information on what China was like, and I shared some views on how there had to be sacrifices in order to gain what was thought as endless riches, and freedom.

4 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

Must read and watch.

The book was just as good as the movie.

4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

One of the most enlighting books ever!!!!!!!!!!!

This book was one of the most enlighting, purest books ever! I loved it from the beginning it shows you the powerful bond between mothers and daughters 'cheesy I know but true!'. It shows hardship, passion, and experience. It showed me what mothers are capable of and what they would do to protect their children, and it inspired me to be in English Honors as well as a possible future writer...

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

WOW

Wow is what I have to say about this book if I had to describe it in one word. I'm a senior in high school and my english teacher gave it to me because we are going to read it later in the year but I read it early. I started on the first page and couldn't stop. I have never read a lot like this, I read all 336 pages in two days, in school, after school, whenever I had the chance. I LOVE the way Amy Tan wrote this book, the vignettes are so beautiful and touching. I found myself really feeling for the characters in the book. I am mesmorized, I feel the most unexplainable feeling of happiness and sadness since I have read it. I can't wait to read it again!

3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Pretty good

It would be much more enjoyable if i didnt have to write a report

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Slow Read

The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan was a very slow read and I had a very difficult time getting into the story. What was interesting to me was that the women were so rude to one another although there were glimpses of kindness. These women lived in difficult times, indured injustice and yet they didn't support one another with graciousness. Amy Tan reveals the Chinese culture and the difficult transition from China to America. This story begs the question "How well do you really know your mother?"

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Everyone has a story to tell

This is really a great book to read, because of the lessons behind each story. Eight unique women from two generations and each have a story to tell. The joy luck club is a book that different type of people will enjoy and get to learn in the process. It allows readers to travel to China and learn some of the customs. It also touches the different types of loves that exist in the world such as the love for the family or the love for a partner. It really is a fun book to read and some might even shed a tear or two.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Pretty Good

I recently read this for my AP English class, and I enjoyed it. It was pretty interesting, not my first choice as far as literature goes, but still good. Interesting dynamics.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

so-so

not super-impressed. had trouble keeping characters straight. kinda slow. ending predictable.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great read!

There are so many stories within the stories it was very hard to put it down. I wish the book had told even more! It really got you to FEEL how these women felt! I highly recommend it to women of all ages.
I gave this max stars, but I'm having trouble sending it with the stars showing.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great Book!

Very interesting I liked how it dealt with family. In the beginning it was about mother and daughters and their relationship.It shows creation and passion and keeps readers interested. There are different kinds of lessons to learn in this book. It is really just a great book.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

The Joy Luck club: A Joy In Memories

This book tells about China at that time related to the lives of four women and how they try to inherit their memories and lessons to their daughters. The memory, experience, and lessons captured my mind. This book reveals the hidden lives of Chinese immigrants and it tells us how China has developed from the period when the mothers lived, up to the period when their daughters lived. The style of writing by Amy Tan was surely a fresh experience.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

The Joy Luck Club

This is one of my favorite books of all time. I really enjoyed reading it. I had to finish it in one sitting because I just couldn't stop. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a good book about culture, family, and drama.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

This book has many different stories that weave together through

This book has many different stories that weave together throughtout it, connecting several families. The first story is about Suyuan and Jing-Mei. After Suyuan died, her daughter Jing-Mei traveled to China to find her long-lost half sisters to tell them about their birth mother. Her main conflict is internal because she feels as if she barely knows her mother herself and struggles with it. Her story builds as people discourage her to go because they think people will know she is American and not Chinese. Another story focuses on Lindo, Taitai, and Waverly. When Lindo got engaged to her boyfriend, she felt as if her mother, Taitai, did not approve. Lindo gave birth to a child of her own, Waverly, and forced her to compete in chess matches and practice non-stop. The conflict in this part of the story is man vs. man because Lindo forces Waverly to be a part of something she does not like and it causes problems in their relationship. Waverly decides to purposely miss her chess match and temporarily quit playing chess to teach her mother a lesson. Ying-Ying, Clifford, and Lena are the focus of another story. Ying-Ying met Clifford, a man of English-Irish desent, and gave brith to Lena. Once she was older Lena had to translate for her mother, considiring she only knew Mandarin. The main conflict in this part of the story is internal because Ying-Ying cannot communicate with others well, and fights herself because of it. The last story is about An-Mei, Rose, and Ted. An-Mei's daughter, Rose, was married to Ted. When he asked for a divorce, she thought it was fate for them to be together but eventually realized it was not. The conflict in this story is man vs. man because their parents do not approve of their marriage, and because later they are getting a divorce. Rose refused to sign the divorce papers because Ted wanted to keep the house since he found himself another woman.
Overall I liked this book. I enjoyed how the author went into background history for each of the families before going into detail about their story. I also liked that it was based many years ago but I can still relate to it now. Another thing I really about this story was the strength that some of the characters showed. I would definitely recommend this book. This book taught me lessons about life and fate. It was understandable and relatable which made it really fun to read.

Herb garden

Amy Tan¿s Joy Luck Club is a realistic novel emphasizing Chinese

Amy Tan’s Joy Luck Club is a realistic novel emphasizing Chinese heritage. It tells the stories of four families, four mothers: Suyuan Woo, An-mei Hsu, Lindo Jong, and Ying-Ying St. Clair, and their four daughters: Jing-mei Woo, Rose Hsu, Waverly Jong, and Lena St. Clair---each story telling the past of each mother and how their daughters live now. All four of these families are joined together by the Joy Luck Club---a club that meets weekly and plays mahjong. One mother dies, and her daughter, Jing-mei, is on a quest to uncover something that her mom left behind in China. Another was married off as a child, but escapes. Another raises a chess-playing champion. I thought this book was a really great read, but somewhat confusing to follow, considering each chapter is not from the same perspective as the previous one. When I began a chapter about one of the daughters, I would have to go back and review who their mother is and what they did. I believe that the theme of the book is family heritage, and would be great for daughters to read with their moms. This book is only 288 pages long, but I found it difficult to hold my attention for long periods of time. Overall, I would give The Joy Luck Club 3 stars out of five; interesting, yet difficult to keep up with.

Joy Luck Club is the tale of the fictional Joy Luck Club, a grou

Joy Luck Club is the tale of the fictional Joy Luck Club, a group of four Chinese-American women that meet to eat, laugh, and play Mahjong. The Club was initially started in 1949 and consisted of the mothers of the current four club members. The tales of the eight principal characters are told through the telling of vignettes. The novel is divided into four sections, which two pertaining to the mothers and two to the daughters.
Although they are related by blood, the daughters each feel distant and separate from their respective mothers. Tan uses this mechanic to portray the individual and vastly differing struggles faced by both the daughters and the mothers. The characters are relatable at times, as most people will face some sort of familial issues, yet I feel that I would have had a closer connection to the characters had I been a female immigrant of Chinese descent. Instead, I am a male immigrant of European descent, which makes the struggle the characters face seem much more distant. This is more of a reader’s bias than a gripe, but it is still worth mentioning. What Tan does exceedingly well is portray the vast cultural and societal differences between the mothers and daughters. The mothers are strict and tough on their daughters, a form of tough love. This goes entirely unnoticed by the daughters, who see it as disapproval and lack of contentment. They also show a lack of understanding of the mother’s stories, and are unable to relate to them due to differences in the environments in which they grew up. The daughters see being Chinese as unappealing, and preferred to embrace the American culture, despite being rejected by it consistently. They face an identity crisis, an idea known to everyone in some way shape or form. Being pinned between their Chinese heritage and American environment forces the daughters to look to their mothers and their stories, which prove cryptic at first.
Overall, the story accomplishes what it sets out to do. It portrays the struggles of a group of women and their daughters, each brought up in vastly different circumstances, who learn from each other, or at least attempt to. It may not be as relatable to every reader, but it still manages to interest the reader, providing some new understanding along the way.

Great book

I've actually only read 2 of the stories in here, but I loved them both. We were given the task of finding the theme of all three books in our class, and the part I was to read was "The Rules of the Game". After reading it several times and comparing my notes with others who read another part, we were able to find the main theme: Lack of Communication in a family can/will tear it apart. I've been told that to really understand this book, you need to read it 3 times. Once as a kid, once as an adult, and once as a grandparent. I really enjoyed these stories and I think many others will too.

Absolutely hooked!

I read this book for fun in high school, and I absolutely loved it! The characters are complex, the stories are fascinating, and there was never a dull moment. If you get completely sucked into books and movies like I do, you'll get hooked pretty fast. After I read it, I turned it over and over in my head for a few days before I really moved on. I highly recommend this book, especially to young daughters. I thought the portrayal of the moms telling their own haggard stories to their daughters was very emotional, and it even helped me to see my own mom in a new light.
Ten years later, I still love it, and can't wait to read it, again!
AC Teeters