I seem to be drawn to the novels of Amy Tan. I’m unsure of the exact allure, but I find her style of writing deep and compelling. She often writes with a rawness that can feel a bit gritty, but at the same time it makes the novel feel more real and attractive. I love the way she ties history and culture into her stories, it is an added appeal (for me at least.)
Also, having two amazing daughters of my own, as well as a deep love and respect for my mother, I especially enjoy how beautifully Tan writes about mother-daughter relationships. I find the realness and emotion in her novels to be delightful. I hope I’ll have the time to read more of here work some day.
Here are what I find to be her most alluring books:
(Click pictures and titles for more info.)
“The Valley of Amazement”
This story is about two women’s with intertwined fates. It explores in inner workings of the Shanghai courtesan houses, the collapse of China’s last imperial dynasty, and other events centered around WWII. I found the novel deeply engrossing. A very well written story.
Rated 3.6 on amazon.com
“The Joy Luck Club”
This novel was Amy Tan’s first best-seller and was made into a very well known and successful film. Four mothers, four daughters, four families whose histories shift with the four winds depending on who’s “saying” the stories.
Rated 4.2 on amazon.com
“The bonesetter’s Daughter”
This book is about Ruth Young , a 40-ish ghostwriter in San Francisco. It follows her as she struggles to come to terms with her mother (LuLing,) who has Alzheimers disease. Ruth stumbles upon LuLing’s memoirs, and much of the book consist these memoirs.
Rated 4.1 on amazon.com
“The Hundred Secret Senses”
I have not read this book yet and it is high up on my TBR list. I am so intrigued, not only by it’s beautiful design and good ratings, but also the story line. This taken from amazon reviews: Tan spins the tale of two sisters, two cultures, and several acts of betrayal. Knowing Tan’s style, I am looking forward to reading this novel.
Rated 4.3 on amazon.com
Book Bean: Jasmine Tea
Indulge in the sweet aroma & divine flavor of jasmine tea.
Beautiful on it’s own, but also good with a swirl of honey.
Have you read any of Amy Tan’s work?
If so what do you like/dislike about her writing?
Fun Fact: When Tan was 15 years old, her older brother Peter and father both died of brain tumors within eight months of each other. Daisy moved Amy and her younger brother John Jr. to Switzerland, where Amy finished high school at the Institute Monte Rosa, Montreux. During this period in her life, Amy learned about her mother’s former marriage to an abusive man in China, of their four children (a son who died as a toddler and three daughters), and how her mother was forced to leave her children from a previous marriage behind in Shanghai. This incident was the basis for Tan’s first novel, 1989 New York Times bestseller The Joy Luck Club.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amy_Tan
I really enjoyed The Valley of Amazement. Terrific novel. The description was wonderful, and I always love learning about historical culture.
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Reblogged this on dragthepen.
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🙂
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I’ve set a goal for myself this year. 52 books in 52 weeks. The Joy Luck Club is on my list. My son had to read it in High School and was dreading it. He was convinced it was going to be boring. After he read it i asked what he thought? His exact words ”It wasn’t that bad. I actually kind of liked it.” High praise from a 16 year old boy. 🙂
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That says a lot!
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My mom really liked the Joy Luck Club movie and watched it often when I was young. i don’t remember much of it now but I do want to read the book and some of her other novels as well!
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If you do, let me know what you thought of them and which is your favorite. 🙂
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Hi, found a Amy Tan fan 🙂 Thanks for liking the post.
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You have indeed 🙂
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Love, love, love Amy Tan. I’ve read “The Joy Luck Club” three times and also adore “The Bonesetter’s Daughter.” (Oh, if only I could write with the same beauty as Tan does!)
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I know what you mean, she is such a good story-teller.
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I enjoyed all of Tan’s novels I’ve had the chance to read (‘The Joy Luck Club’, ‘The Hundred Secret Senses’ and ‘Saving Fish from Drowning’). One word of advice: prepare kleenex and comfort food! And if you really feel like crying like a giant baby, give ‘The Joy Luck Club’ film a try.
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You should read “The Valley of Amazement” if you liked the others. I’d be interested to hear what you think. 🙂
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I’ll put it on my list!
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🙂
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Glad to see another Hundred Secret Senses fan. I haven’t read Tan in a while but I really love her books. Thanks for the reminder!
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Have you read The Valley of Amazement? It amazing 😉
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Good info. Will try reading her works
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I hope you will share what your impressions are when you do.
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Yes I will Miss Lu…. Adding them into my “Must Buy” list…and thank you for sharing it.
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I have bought tThe Bone setters daughter. Looking forward to reading it
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Let me know what you think once you read it 🙂
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You are spot on. Love her books, too. Joy Luck Club is excellent, but I also loved The Bonesetters Daughter.
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Glad you feel the same!
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Great writer is Amy Tan…thanks for the Post.
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🙂
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thank you for sharing these. let me try to read..
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Reblogged this on Anita Dawes & Jaye Marie and commented:
I love her writing, it is always so real, sometimes too real…
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I know what you mean, and it draws you more emotionally into the story.
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I read ” The Joy Luck Club” some 20 years ago and realized that I had never thought about how big the cultural shift from Chinese life in China and Chines life in the US was. I loved the book… and got introduced to Mahjong!
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This is why I love Amy Tan’s books, she brings you knowledge and you don’t even realize it’s happening. I love Mahjong! 🙂
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Very beautiful post.
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Thank you 🙂
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On your recommendation, I will give her a try! Thanks.
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I hope you enjoy what you read, and share your thoughts when you do. 🙂
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The Joy Luck Club has been on my to read list for ages. Which of the novels would you most recommend as an introduction to her writing?
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I haven’t read as many as I would like, but I would say Joy Luck Club is a good start, since its already on your tbr list “The Valley of Amazement” is also a very captivating story and hard to put down. From my understanding most of her books are like this.
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Great! I’ll get it read 🙂
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It was interesting reading that bit of background about Amy Tan. I’ve only read Joy Luck Club (a long time ago) and The Kitchen God’s Wife, but I liked both of them. I was surprised by how sucked in I got to the story in The Kitchen God’s Wife (it also has elements of Tan’s mother’s past). What I loved the most was the historical and cultural information I learned about China through the story. So interesting.
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She paints the culture wonderfully and laces in bits of history just right.Reading her books feels very realistic and deep.
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The Joy Luck Club was excellent. I didn’t know about that fun fact – how interesting! I’ll put her other books on my TBR list.
Thanks!
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I hope you enjoy them just as much. 🙂
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Amy Tan is a fantastic writer.
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I couldn’t agree more. 🙂
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I’ve only read The Joy Luck Club, but I adored it immensely! I need to read more of Amy Tan. I have the Bonesetter’s Daughter. I’ll probably start with that 🙂 Thanks for sharing this post, and reminding me of this great author!
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Let me know what you think of it! 🙂
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I love Amy Tan. I’ve only read The Joy Luck Club, but the The Opposite of Fate is on my shelf and I’ve been meaning to read it. I agree that she has a beautiful, raw style, and her depiction of familial relationships and Asian culture is really excellent!
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Exactly. 🙂 I’d like to read that as well.
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Besides personal taste, I find her tentative myself, just one remark. Lately I find more and more novelists, are not using culture nor history, but some very corrupt versions of either one. And to be honest that is something that bothers me. (Amongst a few other things, in some cases the authors, could learn from primary school children on how to write.)
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I loved The Joy Luck Club and especially The Kitchen God’s Wife, but I was disappointed with The Valley of Amazement. I’ve had The Bonesetter’s Daughter and Saving Fish from Drowning on my shelves for a few years, but somehow haven’t gotten to them yet!
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When you do, I’d love to know what you think of them. 🙂
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Amy Tan is amazing. I’ve only read 2 of her books but I love them. Hopefully going to read all of them soon.
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Which books about your read?
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The Kitchen God’s Wife and The joy Luck Club.
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How was The Kitchen God’s Wife? I haven’t read that one yet.
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I really liked it!
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I also loved Saving Fish From Drowning. The Hundred Secret Senses is on my TBR shelf. She is an amazing writer.
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Those two I have not read yet.
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I liked The Kitchen God’s Wife also. I’m a huge fan of Amy Tan’s novels–I’ve read and re-read The Joy Luck Club and The Bonesetter’s Daughter several times. I love the emotional depth of the relationships she creates, especially the complexities of mothers and daughters who love each other, but don’t fully understand each other’s worlds. She does such an amazing job of portraying characters who are trying to reach across that gap.
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That’s exactly why I love her writing! 🙂
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I read Amy Tan then I cook. I chop vegetables. Saute meat. Sprinkle a little soy sauce, a dash of sesame oil . A smidge of Hoisen sauce. Can you ask more of a book than to have it take you into the kitchen and cook?
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That’s so wonderful, talk about inspiration! 🙂
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The Joy Luck Club movie still makes me cry every time I see it! I haven’t read anything by her, but I bet they are amazing!
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🙂
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Abbie, as to the “Valley of Amazement”, I have not read the book, however the review you posted reminds me of one of my all-time favorite stories, “Wild Swans” by Jung Chang.
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I haven’t heard of that book, I am intrigued and will be looking it up. Thank you for sharing! 🙂
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The Bonesetter’s Daughter still haunts me!
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Have you read any others by Amy Tan?
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Only the Joy Luck Club. I liked them both, and I cried during both. I love to cry when I read books!
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Amy Tan is a good author for that, she knows how to evoke the emotions.
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I have never read anything by Amy Tan – what a brilliant ambassador you are for her – she is definitely now on my list for 2016! Like some of your other commentators, I have some reading goals this year, not least to get through 50 books. I am looking forward to including Tan’s work in the mix. 🙂
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Thank you! 🙂 I love hearing everyone’s goals, it inspires me to set my own!
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Reblogged this on KCJones.
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I loved The Joy Luck club, both the book and movie, but that was such a long time ago! I haven’t read any of her others, but will be putting her on my reading list now for sure!
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Glad to hear it! I hope you enjoy them 🙂
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Pingback: Tribute to Amy Tan | Cafe Book Bean
Wooooow! You make me love this woman more and more. I will look for her book with zeal as if am looking for the very essence of my existence. Thanks for giving me this new revelation. You are such a darling.
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I’m so glad! Thank you for your kind words. 🙂
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You are welcomed.
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