Monday, January 09, 2006

The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

I'm not sure what it is that compels me to go back and re-read books when I have this shelf overflowing with unread books (including Amy Tan's newest novel!). When I was at the library last week I saw this and just couldn't resist.

Tan's debut novel is a lovely tapestry of women's stories. Four Chinese women and their four daughters, raised in San Francisco, struggle to come to terms with their past and with each other. The way this book is written makes me feel like I'm sitting next to an old Chinese woman as she spins tales of her life and her hopes and dreams for her child, while her younger daughter tells me what it's like to be raised in two cultures, American and Chinese, and to try to live up to her mother's hopes while pursuing her own dreams. It's just a wonderful treat to read.

1 comment:

Laura said...

This is one of those books I have been meaning to read for years, but somehow never did. Your review inspired me to finally pick it up from the library, and I'm glad I did. What a beautiful story of mothers and daughters, of the struggles of growing up within conflciting cultures, of strength and wisdom.