As you read The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan, think about the cultures represented in the book. The author’s life can inform and expand the reader’s understanding of a novel. For example, authors often integrate
their expertise into the story. In The Joy Luck Club, Tan infuses the setting, characters and dialogue of the novel with real-life events and Chinese customs. While learning more about Tan’s life helps the reader more fully understand the book as a whole, the artistry of the novel does not succeed or fail based on the author’s life. The novel – a work of art – has an internal structure independent of the author’s personality. What are your thoughts about the book and Amy Tan's style? What messages did you get from the book?