A review by axmed
Joan Is Okay by Weike Wang

emotional funny reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

Jiù (就), fourth tone, twelve strokes, means “at once” or “right away” or “moving toward.” Ān (安), first tone, six strokes, is “peace,” or, taken apart, it’s a roof (宀) under which there is a woman (女). What this woman does, no one really knows. She might be happy or sad. She might be hardworking or indolent, but put this woman in a house and you will have serenity and ease. Jiu-an (就安), or just peace or simply a woman in a house.

......

That should she manage to leave now, we might not be able to see her for several years, with more travel restrictions being put into place. There was a long pause and I thought I’d lost her. Mom? Mom? I said and she tsked and told me to calm down. Come up and see me before October then, she said. But not every weekend, please. We’ve already spent a good amount of time together, so we also don’t want to overdo.