Amy Tan: A Critical Companion (Critical Companions to Popular Contemporary Writers)

Amy Tan has established a reputation as a major novelist of not only the Asian American experience but the universal experience of family relationships. With the publication of her first novel, __The Joy Luck Club__ in 1988, which touched the hearts of millions of readers, Tan joined the ranks of major contemporary novelists. Adapting her brand of Chinese traditional talk story as a vehicle for exploring the lives of the mothers and daughters at the center of her novels, Tan allows readers to experience the lives of her characters from multiple perspectives in parallel and intersecting narratives. In this first full-length study of her work, E.D. Huntley explores the fictional worlds Tan has created in her three novels, __The Joy Luck Club__, __The Kitchen God's Wife__, and __The Hundred Secret Senses__. A biographical chapter discusses the relationship of Tan with her own mother and its influence and that of her family on the subject matter of her novels. A chapter on Tan's literary heritage places her squarely in the tradition of Asian American literature. Each novel is discussed in a separate chapter and includes sections on plot development, character development, narrative structure, literary devices, setting, and major themes. Each chapter also includes an alternative critical reading from which to approach the novel to help readers see the novel in a different light. A complete bibliography of Tan's writings, writings about her work, and a list of reviews of each novel completes the work. This study is the ideal guide for students and readers of Tan's novels. Amy Tan has established a reputation as a major novelist of not only the Asian American experience but the universal experience of family relationships. Adapting her brand of Chinese traditional talk story as a vehicle for exploring the lives of the mothers and daughters at the center of her novels, Tan allows readers to experience the lives of her characters from multiple perspectives in parallel and intersecting narratives. In this first full-length study of her work, E. D. Huntley explores the fictional worlds Tan has created in her three novels, The Joy Luck Club, The Kitchen God's Wife, and The Hundred Secret Senses. Examining the characters, narrative strategies, plot development, literary devices, setting, and major themes, Huntley explores the rich tapestry created in each of the novels. A Guide To Reading And Understanding Three Novels Written By Asian American Writer Amy Tan That Includes Information On The Characters, Narrative Strategies, Plot Development, Literary Devices, Setting, And Major Themes Of Each Novel. Life Of Amy Tan -- Amy Tan And Asian American Literature -- Joy Luck Club (1988) -- Kitchen God's Wife (1991) -- Hundred Secret Senses (1995). E.d. Huntley. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [151]-159) And Index. A Critical Companion 3 Contents 7 Series Foreword 9 Acknowledgments 13 1 The Life of Amy Tan 15 2 Amy Tan and Asian American Literature 33 3 The Joy Luck Club 55 4 The Kitchen God s Wife 93 5 The Hundred Secret Senses 127 Bibliography 165 Index 175 ISBN 0–313–30207–3 Examines the works of the Chinese American author, describing her characters, narrative strategies, plot development, literary devices, settings, and major themes