The Joy Luck Club

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It's a hit!

There's a dreamy, romantic quality to this book. I'm not Chinese, but I am Asian, and I found that a lot of my story is written in this book. There... (show more)

There's a dreamy, romantic quality to this book. I'm not Chinese, but I am Asian, and I found that a lot of my story is written in this book. There are a lot of parallels, I think, between any first/second generation immigrant generations, (or even mothers and daughtes in general) which cause misunderstanding, miscommunication, lost dreams, etc. that are explored in this book.

I would agree, however, with the commenter who said that her work could be considered a bit contrived and melodramatic. I think that's the style she's going for, a bit of magical reality, a bit of Asian drama. I also think that's from the milieu, because I recall many of the books of "that era" (llate '80s, early '90s) with a similar sort of feel. (show less)

 

 

by Mika O'Donovan

No, it's a flop!

I wanted to like this, but just couldn't get into it. The characters started to blend together after awhile; their lives were interesting but their... (show more)

I wanted to like this, but just couldn't get into it. The characters started to blend together after awhile; their lives were interesting but their personalities weren't. (show less)

 

 

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  This was another cultural winner. I was fascinated by the relationships detailed in this story of generations of mothers and daughters and the sometimes horrifying experiences they have.

   

  by Leslie Galloway on Sep 03, 2008 at 07:40PM

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  The Joy Luck Club is sixteen short stories, told by eight unique women, from two very different generations, which interweave to reveal a common basic theme. Some reviewers have described this book as hard to follow, but i was immediately drawn in by the characters, and couldn't wait for more to be revealed. Some have suggested taking notes to keep the stories straight, but i think a little blending between them was the author's intention--this isn't so much the stories of 8 women, as it is... (show more)

  The Joy Luck Club is sixteen short stories, told by eight unique women, from two very different generations, which interweave to reveal a common basic theme. Some reviewers have described this book as hard to follow, but i was immediately drawn in by the characters, and couldn't wait for more to be revealed. Some have suggested taking notes to keep the stories straight, but i think a little blending between them was the author's intention--this isn't so much the stories of 8 women, as it is one story about two generations sharing two cultures between them.

  The writing style is very fluid when the mothers speak; you feel like you're listening to an elderly Chinese woman who has seen it all and wants you to visualize the past with her. When the daughters speak, there are hard facts, lists of joys and disappointments, names and locations and how each person is related to another. Each viewpoint fills in the gaps of the others; events are laid out, and old customs and attitudes are explained.

  The main characters may be women, but it is not a "chick book" at all. It's for anyone who thinks about life as part of something bigger, and anyone who enjoys wisdom, humor, action, and emotion all in one read. (show less)

   

   

  by Michelle Amann on Nov 10, 2009 at 11:53PM

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