“The Joy Luck Club” is a book about traditional Chinese mother and daughter relationships. There are multiple points of view throughout the story; some points of view are from the daughters’ and some are from the mothers’. Each character has a different story and plot line and the characters are dynamic with unique qualities.
My favorite part of the story is the characters. I think they are all interesting and different. Each of their points of view is exciting to read and I enjoyed watching them grow throughout the novel. The way the mothers and daughters learn things about themselves and each other is nice. It gives insight into how Chinese relationships were from the mid-1900s to the 1990s. In the novel, the daughters do not have very good relationships with their mothers. For some, their moms just want them to live the best life they can, even if that means pushing them to work hard.
One character like this is Jing-Mei. Her mother, Suyuan, tries to get Jing-Mei to play the piano. She wants her to have a skill that will help her to succeed. However, for others, their moms were pushing them too hard. An example of this is the character Waverly. In the story, Waverly is forced to compete in chess tournaments. Her mother, Lindo, wants her daughter to be the best for her own benefit. She wants to show off Waverly. The reader gets to learn about Waverly and her mother’s culture and how people believe they should behave.
Another thing I enjoyed about this book was that it was a learning experience for me. If one does not know or has not been exposed to early Chinese culture, this book is a great source for them to find out more. It teaches about how mothers taught their daughters and vice versa. It gives insight into the differences between Chinese mothers and their daughters who were born in the United States. I also learned different ways that mothers raise their children. In the story, the moms use exaggerated stories and tales from their beliefs as a way to teach their kids a lesson. I thought it was fun to read all of the stories that were described in the novel.
Overall, I think “The Joy Luck Club” is a great book. The characters are diverse and relatable, the story is enticing and the lessons taught are important. This book is good for anyone who wants to learn about Chinese culture and the relationships between mothers and daughters. It is also good for someone who wants something unique and new to read.
