A review by trpclgothic
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

challenging emotional reflective sad

4.5

I took breaks reading this because it was just a lot to process. There's lot of characters and relationships to keep track of, and yes all are equally loaded. I was debating if I'd fully like it by the end because the reality is its dated, very much I think a sign of the times type read / at least from what even I understand about the immigrant experience. I don't think this is a great first read tbh if you want to get into asian american literature, because i know damn well ain't no one's parents this damn whimsical aksjsjdj I can see the danger of this book as a stand-alone. The pressure this book held for so long for being the most mainstream asian american lit representation is psycho. 

But what made me appreciate it more by the very end is how mother/daughter relationships were portrayed as well as grief. And for alll this to be expressed in different lenses via vignette?? There's LOTS of good messages to take away its just a LOT to process at the same time. This assimilation narrative this book explores as dated as it is in the psyches of lots of immigrants now, still exists.

with that said with all my mixed emotions maybe she a 4.5??? just do not read this as your first dive into asian american lit like girl so many yt people in this