I read The joy luck club which is written by Amy Tan.
This novel is the story about four immigrant women from china and their four daughters who are born in America. I knew that Amy Tan reflected her own experience as a Chinese American on this novel. I was interested in how the Chinese American got through difficulties when they moved to America. I also felt an interest in relationship between mothers and daughters. That’s why I chose to read this book.
In this novel, there are four pairs of mother and daughter. Firstly, there are Suyuan Woo who established the joy luck club for playing a mah-jongg and her daughter, Jing-mei Woo who works as a copywriter. Secondly, there are An-mei Hsu and her daughter, Rose Hsu Jordan who is a graphic artist. Thirdly, there are Lindo Jong and her daughter, Waverly Jong who is very good at playing chess. Finally, there are Ying-ying St.Clair and her daughter, Lena St.Clair who feels Chinese spirit. Each woman tells her own story of their childhood or lives in America.
Main theme of this novel is the relationship between mothers and daughters. There are conflicts and reconciliation of them. They have difficulties understanding each other fully. What makes it so difficult? Mothers who managed to make their own way in America want daughters to have both aspects of Chinese and American. They expect a lot of things of their daughters. At first, daughters reject to accept Chinese traditions and resist to their mothers. For young daughters, old Chinese customs seem strange. As they know about her mothers’ childhood more deeply, however, daughters see the similarities on them and feel closer to their mothers.
In my experience, I didn’t have a clear rebellious period. Yet, I remember I sometimes cried when I felt my mother didn’t understand me at all. I think mothers often care about daughters too much. It makes it complicated to understand each other.
Especially, I like the part that Jing-mei met her mother’s twins finally. I like the words of Jing-mei that “It is my family. It is in our blood. After all these years, it can finally be let go.” When I read this part, I think Jing-mei was released from perplex feeling against her mother.
In conclusion, this novel made me reconsider what the ideal relationship between mother and daughter is.
Nice book reaction, Marina! Very well-written and insightful. Relations between parents and children are always complex because of expectations that we have for each other. It takes time for us to realize how to accept the other person for what they are...we often have to mature before we can do that. Nice thoughts on this important theme!
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