mariekejee's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I came across this book in a Swedish hostel in the historic center of Stockholm, in a bookcase filled with a random assortment of books, due to the sign saying "leave one, take one" in front of it. Most of the books were either travel guides or in Swedish - not surprising given the place it was in - but amongst them was one incredibly worn out copy of The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan. I was skeptic given the quality of the other books, but it said New York Times Bestseller on the cover and best of all, it was free to take, so I decided to take the gamble. And I am really glad I did.
There is something about novels exploring the relationship between mothers and daughters, and especially the way it is so easy to misunderstand each other, that resonates with me. The Joy Luck Club does just that, but does a whole lot more too. It shows the struggle of first generation Chinese immigrants raising second generation Chinese-American children, and how much harder it makes it for both mother and daughter to understand each other. It shows the beauty and difficulty of living in early to mid 20th century China, the struggle of standing up for yourself under strict societal norms for women, the pain of having to make tough decisions that will haunt you for the rest of your life.
While some stories definitely moved me more than others, I cried multiple times while reading this book (partly because I'm a big softie and currently running on very little sleep - but still). My only issue is that I found it difficult to distinguish the stories from one another; I had to look up many times which story belonged to which woman, which is a shame because it made it more difficult to feel invested into them as a person. Nevertheless, it is a wonderful read, and one I would recommend to anyone interested in similar themes.
There is something about novels exploring the relationship between mothers and daughters, and especially the way it is so easy to misunderstand each other, that resonates with me. The Joy Luck Club does just that, but does a whole lot more too. It shows the struggle of first generation Chinese immigrants raising second generation Chinese-American children, and how much harder it makes it for both mother and daughter to understand each other. It shows the beauty and difficulty of living in early to mid 20th century China, the struggle of standing up for yourself under strict societal norms for women, the pain of having to make tough decisions that will haunt you for the rest of your life.
While some stories definitely moved me more than others, I cried multiple times while reading this book (partly because I'm a big softie and currently running on very little sleep - but still). My only issue is that I found it difficult to distinguish the stories from one another; I had to look up many times which story belonged to which woman, which is a shame because it made it more difficult to feel invested into them as a person. Nevertheless, it is a wonderful read, and one I would recommend to anyone interested in similar themes.
hayleycat's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
lydiature_'s review against another edition
boring. too many bland characters that blend in together. writing feels very weak and impersonal. not compelling. not interested in ever finishing this.
inyolian's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
nylee's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
zenforren's review against another edition
3.0
I usually love stories involving cross-cultural adaptations and family heritage through the generations, but this book was just far too episodic for my tastes (this seems to be an oft-mentioned struggle for many readers). I had difficulty keeping the various characters and their stories straight, and as a result, they kind of blended into a generic Mother and Daughter figure, with the exception of Lindo and Waverly Jong’s stories, which are set apart from the others by the sharper angles of these characters’ personalities. I did find the “main” story of Suyuan and Jing-mei Woo to be the most compelling, and I think their stories would have made a fine novel in itself if given the room to breathe, develop, and release.
callikat's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
nickibuzzbuzz's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
savetris's review against another edition
4.0
hmm not sure... maybe 3.5 stars? idk how i feel about most of the book. it had its moments but it got boring too. keeping track of stories of eight women was hard enough but i think everyone got a deserved ending