Friday, June 21, 2013

Book Review The Joy Luck Club


The Joy Luck Club
by Amy Tan





Back of the Book:

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.

My Thoughts: 
I liked this book. Specifically, I love the way Amy Tan writes. The book is more a series of short stories that weave together to tell a history of girlfriends, mothers and daughters and a changing culture.  Her sense of humor and sarcasm are easily read in the complicated relationships.

I liked it, and I would recommend it. All of the girls in bookclub liked it to. We read it in May so it was a perfect choice for Mother's Day.

I also decided to watch the movie again, just because it had been so long since I had seen it. It was also done well. It was very close to the book, which I like.

I'll be joining:

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6 comments:

Vicki @ lifeinmyemptynest said...

It has been years since I read this - you have reminded me I might want to read it again. I agree about the movie too - they did a great job keeping it true to the book.

Lisa said...

I have to admit I have never read the book but have seen the movie quite a few times. It is one of The Hubster's favorites. Such a lesson in knowing your own worth and value.

Tales of Whimsy said...

It's been years since I've read this but I remember loving it. Great review.

Debra at HOMESPUN: http://www.thehomespun.com said...

I Loved that book when I read it way back when, and then I loved the movie too! I think I saw the movie at least twice and now you make me want to re-read the book! :)

Ricki Treleaven said...

This is a great choice for May! I've wanted to read this book for a while, and I really need to read it. I've heard so many wonderful things about it! I haven't seen the movie, either. I did hear that it was a very good adaptation from the book.

DId y'all have dim sum at your ook club meeting? We usually make something for book club that relates to the book.

Thanks so much for linking-up to Literary Friday! I hope you have a fun weekend. It's a horse show weekend for us. It will be hot!

xo,
RJ

La Vie Quotidienne said...

I loved all of her books and I also enjoy Lisa Lee's books...if you haven't tried one I think you would like it.

As a fellow reader I appreciate book reviews and you have excellent ones. Thank you!