9. pro 2014.

The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

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Book summary:

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.

         If you have scrolled to the bottom and found out that this review is done by me, well. don't be surprised. In the light of recent events when I've been drowning in assignments one of them surfaced as something more than just obligation and something that I must do. It turned into something that I enjoyed doing. Yup, you're guessing. The Joy Luck Club was assignment for me but now I don't think I see it as just that.

        One of the things that was the most appealing to me while dealing with postmodernism was the diversity in it. Recently I have hear a lot of bloggers speaking as we don't get enough diversity in YA and it's a fact, we don't. But The Joy Luck Club is perfect example of how to embody that diversity into somewhat known environment. This is a story about four mothers who all came to USA from China and about their daughters who are cough in between cultures, age and continents. With that their struggle to do what we all tend to do - fit in. But some boundaries are hard to overcome and it's shown here how in attempt to become something else you lose yourself.

       What fascinated me the most here is how realistic every image was. What's most both Chinese and American culture are equality far away from me, still I could connect with book (I still strongly believe that mother was Chinese in her past life, as the silent treatment from the book reminded me of her and my rebellious moments). Speaking of words it's magical how this book successfully combines folk tales with real life. Another thing that fascinated me is that this book is one of the best examples of "show, don't tell rule". A lot of it is told here, but the number of things that are shown is much greater.

      In order to persuade you to read it, I'll tell you that this book consist of stories and each of them can function on its own, but it also is just one puzzle of the whole story. Still you can read one story at the time and learn from each something new. Finally, when you get to the end you will have the whole picture with all the details. Still if you don't have time for all of them, one is enough to make you wonder.

Rating: 5 stars.

Until the next time,

Broj komentara: 13:

  1. So glad you enjoyed this so much Tanja and that it became so much more to you than an assignment!

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  2. Isn't it awesome when a book that's an assignment reading winds up being a favorite? I wish that would happen to me with my science books! Haha!
    I love that this book managed to teach you more about diversity, especially within cultures you aren't familiar with.
    Great review, Tanja!

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  3. That looks like a really interesting read. As an English lit student, I've found that some books I *have* to read are actually incredible!

    Steph - http://the-darkness-will-never-win.blogspot.com

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  4. I rarely enjoy books that I'm forced to read so I always appreciate the book even more if that happens. I'm glad that turned out to be the case for you and that you thought this was realistic even though you aren't Chinese or American.

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  5. Fantastic review Tanja, I read this years ago and enjoyed every darn thing about it. When I was in school, I was one of those students who got excited over the reading lists i.lol.

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  6. I also read this years ago and I really liked it. I'd love to read it again!
    Thanks so much for stopping by! Jen @ YA Romantics

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  7. This one wasn't on my radar at all and while everyone's saying they read this one ages ago I only just learned about it from you! I'll have to give it a shot to fit in ;)

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  8. I saw the movie years ago and don't remember much about it. I always see this author and I keep meaning to try her. Now seeing this five star review, I really must.

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  9. LMAO Tanja! I already knew based on this cover that this was reviewed by you :D haha I'm glad this has a ton of diversity in it which makes me want to explore this even if it isn't my typical read. I'm glad you were able to easily connect with the book and yay for folk tales and real life combo :) So glad you loved it, gorgeous!

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  10. The build up to the pieces coming together sounds good

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  11. I've wanted to read a book by Tan--and this novel specifically--for awhile, now, so I'm glad you loved it, Tanja! I can't wait to pick it up myself! :)

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  12. I am someone who is very much into culture. I hope to travel through a lot of cultural countries in my future and immerse myself in their lives. And I think this book is a brilliant way of trying to do this myself through words. I will definitely be picking this one up again, so thanks for the review!

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  13. I remember watching this movie ages ago and enjoying it very much. This is such a great review and it's amazing how assignments can influence you as a person.

    Terri M., the Director
    Second Run Reviews

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