Amy Tan's The Joy Luck Club

by Harold Bloom (Editor), Henry W. Berg (Editor)

Presents the most important 20th-century criticism on major works from The Odyssey through modern literature.

The critical essays reflect a variety of schools of criticism.

Contains critical biographies, notes on the contributing critics, a chronology of the author's life, and an index.

Introductory essay by Harold Bloom.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Book Club, Family, Asia

223 pages, Paperback

First published December 19, 2001

About the author

Harold Bloom was an American literary critic and the Sterling Professor of Humanities at Yale University. In 2017, Bloom was called "probably the most famous literary critic in the English-speaking world." After publishing his first book in 1959, Bloom wrote more than 50 books, including over 40 books of literary criticism, several books discussing religion, and one novel. He edited hundreds of anthologies concerning numerous literary and philosophical figures for the Chelsea House publishing firm. Bloom's books have been translated into more than 40 languages. He was elected to the American Philosophical Society in 1995.
Bloom was a defender of the traditional Western canon at a time when literature departments were focusing on what he derided as the "school of resentment" (multiculturalists, feminists, Marxists, and others). He was educated at Yale University, the University of Cambridge, and Cornell University.

Reviews

[Horus Boris · Rating 5 out of 5]

💖

[Avalle Rei · Rating 4 out of 5]

4’5
Es una novela muy interesante de como unas madres y unas hijas sufren del choque generacional.
El Club de la Buena Estrella es como llaman a una reunión de amigos un grupo de personas chinas que llegaron a San Francisco más o menos al mismo tiempo. La historia transcurre en varias épocas, pero su actualidad es más o menos por los años setenta u ochenta.
El libro está dividido en cuatro partes. Empieza con la historia del pasado de cada una de las cuatro integrantes del grupo nos cuenta una historia de su pasado. Continuamos con sus hijas, que serán las que nos cuenten historias de su pasado viviendo en el barrio de Chinatown y el contraste entre lo que ellas ven y lo que viven en sus casas. Luego serán esas mismas mujeres las que nos pondrán al corriente de sus problemas en la actualidad y como se diferencian de sus madres y de como ella hubiese actuado, para terminar con el presente de esas mujeres que escaparon de una China asolada después de la Segunda Guerra Mundial.
Todas las historias son muy interesantes, algunas más ligeras que otras, pero todas bastante impactantes. Aun que es difícil comprender la cultura China, con estas historias puedes llegar a comprender mejor ese hermetismo de sus tradiciones, la presión social y sus particularidades.

[Edith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better than the movie, I was entranced by the book. The mother daughter theme really comes out.

[Simon Goulet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great window into the Chinese culture clash with american culture beautifully written.

[Michelle Hardigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I have reread it a few times. I love how the moms try to keep the Chinese traditions and the daughters have challenges trying to be more American and please their mom's.

[Ruby Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

It made me cry, I'll be honest. It's suburbly written, a beautiful, heart-touching, soul-crushing story. I identified so much with it.

Would highly recommend.

[Orchid Deer · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been a while. Need to read again

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amy Tan gives a window into Chinese life, and into Chinese-American society. This was her first novel, a set of interlinking stories about mothers and daughters.

[Melissa M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Appreciation for moms... especially those of Chinese heritage.

[Jerry]

review text for 3833

[Lara Steinke · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book.

[Trina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found it hard to keep the characters straight until I was a good ways into the book. Even then I sometime had to refer back to the page in the front that reminds you which daughter belongs to which mother. I also found it really difficult to feel really drawn into the characters until the end when it stuck more to the main character and her mother's story. It just felt open ended on so many levels to me. I needed more length to each story!

[Renie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book taught me that I would not like to be Chinese. First of all, everything they say has a double meaning and the whole time I was reading the book, I felt anxiety-filled. Secondly, I don't appreciate how this country allows people to become citizens simply because they deliver a child here....and I really don't appreciate how illegal aliens abuse and flaunt that aspect of the system.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had to read this in order to do a paper for a English class in college. As far as it being interesting, some of the points were but I also remember that some of the points where kind of 'stupid'. It was interesting see how another person interpreted her work though.

[Nou · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first Amy Tan book. I read it a long, long time ago, but I remember seeing the movie before I ever read the book. There aren't too many things I'm thankful for that I ever got from my ex, but there are two that I have to give him credit for: our daughter, and introducing me to Amy Tan.

[Danyel Bookworm Gaymer · Rating 5 out of 5]

How I love this book and tale of 8 Chinese women. I visit their stories often. This book really captivated me and makes me cry everytime i read it. It goes to show you that every person has a story. Gosh, I will forever be blessed by this book! The movie is VERY, VERY faithful!!!

[January · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a good read. I loved the insight of culture in this book.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

unbelievably depressing and yet i couldn't put it down.

[Ketteline Jacques]

great book

[Clare · Rating 4 out of 5]

kinda boring but otherwise good!

[Aditya Sylvana · Rating 5 out of 5]

suatu buku menarik tentang culture shock and intercultural relations.

[Noy · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the most inspiration and humorous book I've read in a long time.

[Melanee · Rating 2 out of 5]

((shrugging shoulders)) ~ not sure what the hype was about. A couple of pearls of wisdom but that was about it for me...

[Blubbyhueyling · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a heartfelt piece and the experiences shared by Tan were so evident in the Chinese culture.

[Chan Ling Yap · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. It made me laugh. It made me cry. It reminded me of my own life.

[Don · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good stories...interesting insights into Chinese culture.

[Janie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is an excellent you must read it.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

excellent book on audio cd by author...enjoyed her humor and description of life as asian american.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it! I can't wait to read the Bonesetter's Daughter! Amy Tan scratched my itch . LOL! I love books about Oriental people.

[Brittany T · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gosh these ladies had crappy lives