Personal Book Report On 'The Joy Luck Club' By Amy Tan
Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan is about the lives of four Chinese women who fled China in the 1940s and their very American daughters. Every chapter, the point of view changes from the mothers to the daughters and shows what is going through their minds in the same problems. The author uses tactics such beginning in a pivotal moment of telling us that Jing-Mei Woo recently lost her mother, and would be replacing her position in the mahjong table at the Joy Luck Club that Jing-Mei’s mother started. Then it brings in the most intriguing character of the story so far Suyuan Woo, Jing Mei’s mother, was determined, courageous, and patient and sought a new life in San Francisco. She was married to her first husband in China but left him in the perils and hardships of war.
I felt like these tactics are somewhat effective. I like that it started off with a scene of strong mother-daughter bonding, I really liked the sentiment in that part. Secondly, when the mention the death of Suyuan, again the sentiment but the way it was written was just so genius. It said that she had a new idea in her head, but before it could come out it burst. It’s amazing because this is coming from the father explaining cerebral aneurysm to his 36 year old daughter. Lastly it talks about Suyuan wonderful life in the town of Kweilin. How she lived a good life, but how that turned bad because refugees from other towns came in stayed in the streets and spread crime and disease. I don’t know how true that is but it seemed pretty interesting because we are still to see the perspective of the other three ladies who fled at the same time as Suyuan.
From what I’ve read so far, I think that this will be a good book. The story seems interesting and the writing style is just perfect where it’s not too detailed yet not vague either. Plus, the characters seem very interesting and I’m eager to see where Jing-Mei goes or does after the death of her mother in the Joy Luck Club. I also want to see how the other girls, the children of the aunts who I’m assuming are also Jing-Mei’s friends, react to her as a new person after the passing of her mother. It’s just the beginning, so I’ll keep my hopes up and rate it a 9.4 out of 10.
