I'm a huge fan of Amy Tan's work, especially her audiobooks, and THE JOY LUCK CLUB did not disappoint. The metaphor, the deceptively simple language, the exploration of familial love and culture: all the things I adore were there. All cranked up with the fresh eagerness of a first novel. Yes, I did cry, and yes, I was filled with a deep longing to hug my mother.

The structure was challenging at times, but I muddled through with the help of Tan's little reminders of which family experienced what. It would be interesting to re-read the book following one family's story at a time. As a person coming from Irish-Italian heritage, I found the window-peek into Chinese culture fascinating, but I'm dimly aware of the problematic portrayals. I'm Googling around to educate myself, but for now, I'm hugging this book and calling my mom.