Amy Tan

A Novel

This narrative unfolds through the intermingled tales of tension between Chinese immigrant mothers and their daughters, born and raised in America. The focus lies on Jing-mei's journey to China to meet her half-siblings, twins Chwun Yu and Chwun Hwa, who were left behind amidst the chaos of World War II during their mother, Suyuan's, desperate escape from the Japanese invasion of Kweilin. Jing-mei, born to a different father in America much later, steps into her deceased mother's shoes, assuming her role in a mahjong club that her mother had introduced in San Francisco, which featured three of her mother’s closest friends and fellow immigrants. They continuously encourage Jing-mei to venture to China and reveal to her sisters their mother’s life story. However, Jing-mei doubts her ability to tell her mother’s tale accurately, inducing fear in the three older women that their daughters, much like Jing-mei, may not fully understand or value their mothers' stories.

The narrative is divided into four distinct sections, each offering four separate stories. The first part involves the mothers recounting their relationships with their own mothers, expressing concern that their daughters will not remember them as vividly. The second section narrates the daughters’ childhood memories of their mothers, thereby proving the mothers’ anxieties to be at least partially baseless. The third set of narratives revolve around the daughters’ adult tribulations—marital issues and career problems. Despite their belief that their mothers’ outdated notions are irrelevant to their American lifestyles, their quest for solutions inevitably leads them back to their relationships with the older generation. The final section follows the mothers as they attempt to provide solutions and support to their daughters, in doing so, enriching their understanding of themselves.

Despite Jing-mei's apprehensions about her competency in articulating her mother’s life, Suyuan’s story diffuses throughout the narrative largely through Jing-mei’s voice. This represents the struggle to perpetuate the mother-daughter bond across cultural and generational differences; Jing-mei, as her mother’s daughter, embodies the very bond that forms the crux of Suyuan’s story. Jing-mei's trip to China and her efforts to acquaint her half-siblings with their mother's memory strengthens the mother-daughter relationships. Her journey signifies the reconciliation of Suyuan’s two lives, two cultures, and the mother-daughter bond, bringing closure and resolution, not just to her mother’s tale, but also to her own. It also instills hope in the other members of the mahjong club that they too can reconcile the antagonisms in their lives between past and present, cultures, and generations.

The Joy Luck Club

The Kitchen God's Wife

The Moon Lady

Sagwa, The Chinese Siamese Cat

The Hundred Secret Senses

The Best American Short Stories 1999

Ruth Young is an accomplished ghostwriter residing in San Francisco, trying to balance her professional life, her relationship with boyfriend Art, and his two adolescent daughters. Ruth's aging mother, LuLing, is a complex person with a history of mental struggles who now shows signs of dementia. This revelation leads Ruth to strive to understand her mother's past better. LuLing once shared a document detailing her past, but Ruth struggled with the Chinese text. After her mother's diagnosis, Ruth finds the remaining pages, gets them professionally translated, and moves in with LuLing to care for her.

The translated manuscript unveils LuLing's story, born into a wealthy family of ink-makers in 1916 China. A significant figure in LuLing's life was her mute, scarred nursemaid, Precious Auntie. Precious Auntie's past is also a part of the document, which LuLing knows because of an older document passed down to her. Precious Auntie, educated and independent, was raised by a healer and bonesetter father. Her beauty led to proposals from two men - Chang, a coffin maker, and Baby Uncle, LuLing's youngest uncle. She chose Baby Uncle, but their wedding day turned tragic as bandits attacked, killing Baby Uncle and Precious Auntie's father. They believed the assault was orchestrated by Chang as revenge for his rejected proposal.

Surviving the attack, Precious Auntie was taken to the Liu family's home. In her grief, she drank burning ink, leaving her mute and scarred. When she got pregnant with Baby Uncle's child, the Liu family disguised the illegitimate birth, with LuLing being adopted by Baby Uncle's eldest brother. Precious Auntie remained as her nursemaid, but LuLing was never told about her real parentage. This secret was revealed to LuLing when Precious Auntie committed suicide to prevent LuLing's match with Chang's son. LuLing later ended up in an orphanage, married, and relocated to America after World War II, where she raised Ruth alone. Understanding her mother's past makes Ruth more empathetic, leading to her moving LuLing into a care home and growing closer to her own family history.

Amy Tan Books in Order (12 Book Series)

The Joy Luck Club

A Novel

The Kitchen God's Wife

A Novel

The Moon Lady

Sagwa, The Chinese Siamese Cat

The Hundred Secret Senses

A Novel

The Best American Short Stories 1999

The Bonesetter's Daughter

The Opposite of Fate

A Book of Musings

Saving Fish from Drowning

The Valley of Amazement

Post Pregnancy Diet

The Secret Recipes For New Mom

Where the Past Begins

What To Read Next

Amy Tan Books in Order (12 Book Series)

The Joy Luck Club

A Novel

The Kitchen God's Wife

A Novel

The Moon Lady

Sagwa, The Chinese Siamese Cat

The Hundred Secret Senses

A Novel

The Best American Short Stories 1999

The Bonesetter's Daughter

The Opposite of Fate

A Book of Musings

Saving Fish from Drowning

The Valley of Amazement

Post Pregnancy Diet

The Secret Recipes For New Mom

Where the Past Begins

What To Read Next

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