Scan barcode
dford210's review
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
laurenhowell's review
hopeful
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? It's complicated
3.75
gigglehonk's review against another edition
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
samlewis26's review
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
isamartinez's review
I had no reason to root for joan and I lost interest. For a short book the pacing was verrrry slow
aliciasokol's review
5.0
This is a quirky book with a central character I could really relate to, though on the surface it wouldn’t be clear why. Joan is a 30-something ICU doctor living alone in NY. She was born in the US to Chinese parents. The book explores the ideas of feeling at home, purpose in life and the complex relationships with parents and siblings. This book left me wondering about a lot, but in a way that was satisfying (and not frustrating, which can often be the case with an ending that begs new questions instead of delivering tidy answers).
djwang1994's review
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kirklandprosecco's review
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
literarycrushes's review
3.0
Joan is Okay by Weike Wang is a quirky, introspective novel that makes you want to reexamine your connections with family, work, and everything in between. Joan is the daughter of Chinese immigrants. Joan is a single woman in her mid-thirties living in New York City. Joan is an ICU attending physician leading into the pandemic. Joan has recently lost her father. This novel is a sort of reckoning of all these identities, written in very stark language.
I liked the literalness of the title. Throughout the book, other characters are constantly trying to make sense of Joan in accordance with how they measure happiness or a ‘good life.’ (But Joan, don’t you want your own family one day? But Joan, don’t you miss your father? But Joan, don’t you want to take a vacation?) In the end, though they (or we as readers) might not understand her reasoning, we know Joan is going to be okay. I occasionally had a hard time feeling fully engaged (the stark language and a rainy winter day in NYC is not necessarily the best pairing), but overall I felt like the novel had excellent character development and a something new to say.
I liked the literalness of the title. Throughout the book, other characters are constantly trying to make sense of Joan in accordance with how they measure happiness or a ‘good life.’ (But Joan, don’t you want your own family one day? But Joan, don’t you miss your father? But Joan, don’t you want to take a vacation?) In the end, though they (or we as readers) might not understand her reasoning, we know Joan is going to be okay. I occasionally had a hard time feeling fully engaged (the stark language and a rainy winter day in NYC is not necessarily the best pairing), but overall I felt like the novel had excellent character development and a something new to say.