Joy Luck Club Post #3

   While reading this section of The Joy Luck Club, I found that many of the characters are easy to relate  to, especially being a teenage girl in high school. Throughout the course of the day, teenagers overcome numerous obstacles and still manage to keep a smile on their face. Lena St. Clair and her husband have some obvious problems in their marriage, but they smile to cover it up. "None of our friends could ever believe we fight over something as stupid as fleas, but they would also never believe that our problems are much, much deeper than that, so deep I don't even know where bottom is," (163). Their marriage is barely hanging on by a thread, but to everyone else they appear to be happy and in love. That was easy to relate to, because I usually find myself smiling to conceal any obstacles that I find myself trying to overcome daily. Another point in the book that many people in America, girls especially, could relate to is when Lena finds herself skipping meals to be thin to be "fashionably anorexic like all the other thirteen-year-old girls who were dieting and finding other ways to suffer as teenagers," (166). Many endure endless pressures to be thinner, more fit, and to just look better in general which can even drive some to stop eating all together as it did to Lena. Lena St. Clair was a very relatable character as she talks about many of the struggles that she gets through everyday.

Lancellotti--Post 3

After reading this portion, I am left with a lot of thoughts due to the multitude of symbolism and motifs that have been scattered throughout the pages. This is one of the primary reasons why I am so fascinated by Chinese culture; they're use of short stories and parables, while unique to their culture, are also relatable to everyday life in any nation, regardless of ethnicity.
One of the most significant quotes that I thought was very applicable to people of today (although it is not really presented in that context) was when June talks about the crab that she "befriended" when she was young, but then her mother threw it into the boiling pot of water. June reflects on this episode, stating, "...I also try to convince myself that they don't have enough brains to know the difference between a hot bath and a slow death" (226). While this quote may reference how the crabs feel, I had a deep revelation about one of those "there are two types of people in the world" sayings. So, without further ado...There are two types of people in the world: those who think that they're only in a relaxing hot bath, and those who realize that they're dying a slow, painful death. That is to say, some people are too naïve to comprehend the severity of the situation that they are in while others can identify exactly what is going on. Reading this, I felt like it was a very accurate and meaningful way to view the world, and may have some connections to the phrase 'too much of a good thing.' In comparison, a person may be manipulated by the overwhelming pleasure of the 'goodness' they possess, basking in the glory as if taking a hot bath. Others may be disillusioned on the premises of 'too good to be true' and may recognize danger immediately. This saying has obvious roots in the business realm as well, where those attuned to the practice will have a better chance of working their way out of a scam or bad deal than a rookie who will be caught in the piles of paperwork after chasing a false offer. Another of my favorite quotes has made many appearances throughout the story as the meanings of the different elements--air, water, fire, metal, and wood--in people's lives. Rose iterates a lesson her mother taught her when she was younger, saying, "A girl is like a young tree...You must stand tall and listen to your mother standing next to you. That is the only way to grow strong and straight. But if you bend to listen to other people, you will grow crooked and weak. You will fall to the ground with the first strong wind. And then you will be like a weed, growing wild in any direction, running along the ground until someone pulls you out and throws you away" (213). This should be the mantra of parents everywhere. I feel as though kids today do not respect their parents as much as they should, and as a result, they become too influenced by other people's opinions, thus wavering on the path of life. Granted, there are those who we all know are not very good parents (take Huckleberry Finn's for example--his dad is the town drunkard), but for the most part, mom and dad have very valuable pieces of wisdom and advice to give their children, and we would be smart to listen to them.

Nick Lancellotti--Blog Post #2

The odd pattern of Tan's writing formula is starting to make some sense--the first part of the novel focuses on the back stories of the four members of the Mah Jong table. The second part of the novel focuses on the children of those four women (or siblings, but they are all related in someway--the last names of the second four correspond with the first four). I found a particular interest in this portion of the book because it was centered on hardships and certain facets that can deteriorate our relationships with others. For example, Waverly Jong, after becoming essentially a globally renowned child prodigy of chess, is embarrassed when her mother is constantly pointing her out to strangers and bragging that Waverly is her daughter. Fed up with the awkward stares, Waverly says under her breath, "'I wish you wouldn't do that, telling everybody I'm your daughter'" (101). "'Embarrass you be my daughter?'" her mother shouts angrily. Unfortunately, this is a scene that is all too common with the average teenager. Whenever we seem to do something right (for a change) our parents feel the need to boast about every little accomplishment we achieve. While this may act as a much needed relief from the normal trials of adolescent life, eventually the heightened emotions wear out and the spotlight becomes unbearably hot for our burning eyes to handle. The light, however, refuses to be extinguished, and the constant praise begins to irritate the desire for a returned normalcy. Thus, we lash out. Unnecessary publicity is exactly the opposite of what a disgruntled teenager wants. Don't give it to them! One of the parts of the novel that I was somewhat confused while reading was when Lena St. Clair was listening to the conversations and arguments of the girl and her mother in the room next door. I could never tell if a murder was taking place or if this was just an exaggeration (still more evidence of Amy Tan's literary mastery). The quote that stuck out in my mind most from this section was perhaps right before Lena meets the girl next door on the landing between their rooms. Just before the cut to a new scene, Lena says, listening to the fighting, "a voice pressing against my wall telling me that this was the worst possible thing that could happen: the terror of not knowing when it would ever stop" (114). This seems to be a reverse case of an abusive childhood, where the person who is scared for the unknown is not even a participant of the violence themselves. Lena stands on the sidelines, imagining what could possibly be going on beyond the white, comfortable walls of her own apartment. I almost feel as though Lena was envisioning herself as the girl, experiencing every circumstantially terrifying event in her mind. Have you ever watched or listened to someone, or something, being mistreated or mishandled so badly that you actually become that thing and run through a blow-by-blow scenario of how you would fight back? Depending on the situation that thing was in, how did it make YOU feel? In reality, did you intervene with the conflict, knowing that there was an opportunity for you to amend the situation, or were you like Lena, separated by some physical or invisible boundary? If this chance existed, why, or why didn't, you take it? How did everything play out in the end?

Blog Post #2

Right away, within the second section of the reading, I picked up on a very valuable life lesson - to listen to elders. The parable described a scene of a young, American-raised daughter and a Chinese-speaking mother. The daughter was determined to ride her bicycle around, but her mother warned her of the dangers that could befall upon her when she is away from the protection of her home. Because of innate human qualities such as greed, arrogance, and strong-mindedness, the daughter wanted to prove her mother wrong. She sped off on the bicycle and immediately fell before she even reached the corner. This scene shows the importance of human experience and the stubbornness of humans. Instead of listening to another's lessons, one usually always chooses to execute their thoughts. Once someone has their mind on something, it is often times hard to persuade them that they are making the wrong decision. This just goes to show that humans, although very trustworthy, are not very trusting until they make a mistake. Many people have advised me to make different choices because they could forsee the outcome. Me, being the stubborn person that I am, wanted to prove them wrong. Instead of proving them wrong, however, I proved their point. But if I hadn't made that mistake, I would never truly learn. Even though it is good to listen to elders and adhere to someone else's experiences, it is also good to make experiences of one's own.

Joy Luck Club Post Part 2

      While reading this part of The Joy Luck Club, it helped me to gain insight as to how the Chinese culture views Americans. They seem to have a more negative view that we are lazy and careless. Much of this was learned through Waverly Jong. "Chinese people do many things... Chinese people do business, do medicine, do painting. Not lazy like American people," (92). I think it is a bit hurtful to feel Americans placed into such a negative generalization. While some Americans are definitely lazy, many are just the opposite. Countless discoveries in the world would not even be a thought had it not been for Americans. However, I can see how the American culture would seem lazy to others. We have so many opportunities  and luxuries right at out fingertips that many citizens of other countries can only merely dream of. Another generalization of Americans made in the book comes from Lena St. Clair; "Why do you Americans have only these morbid thoughts in your mind?" (105). Again, I think it is unfair to say this about all Americans as if none of us ever have anything positive or pleasant to say. However, it was interesting to learn how other countries view Americans. I had never heard that point-of-view before and it was something new to me.

Colby Dressler Joy Luck Club Post 1

As an avid fan of Asian and Asian-American culture, it seems obvious that I would be a fan of the great Amy Tan. In The Joy Luck Club, the stories of four different women are told simultaneously. While this style of writing has been widely considered confusing among my classmates and I, it makes me wonder what motivation Tan had in creating the story this way. Perhaps Amy Tan wanted to write a story that offered several different perspectives of Chinese and Chinese-American culture. The part of the story that compels me the most so far is the challenge of Jing-Mei Woo and the pressure and expectations she faces trying to live up to her mother's name. I particularly enjoy this plot because I have family of different culture, nationality, religion, and I am just one person. I have expectations and pressures such as everyone does, but the story of Jing-Mei Woo just seems to particularly attract my attention, "My father has asked me to be the fourth corner at the Joy Luck Club. I am to replace my mother, whose seat at the mah jong table has been empty since she died two months ago." (Tan, 5) Regardless of how simple or diverse one's family and culture is, people will face expectations and pressures regarding family, and Woo is describing how she must live up to her deceased mother. Another quote that particularly speaks to me regarding the transition and combination of cultures is being Jewish and having family members that are both Jewish, and Christian. I realized this similarity in the cultural differences that are described in the preface, "And she waited, year after year, for the day she could tell her daughter this in perfect American English." (4) This quote is very significant as it stresses the existence and impact of the different cultures, such as she wants to tell her daughter her message in perfect American English, emphasizing the American culture that has been intertwined with the Chinese culture. This quote also foreshadows the theme of finding one's identity through culture, as the American culture and Chinese culture intertwine upon Jing-Mei Woo. As the story is told through various perspectives, I can only anticipate what perspective will come next and what it will offer.

Nick Lancellotti

The Joy Luck Club

Blogger Entry 1

 

Reading this book, I was reminded of how much I admire and respect Chinese culture and the deep wisdom and myth that accompany it. After having the pleasure of reading another one of Amy Tan’s books, The Hundred Secret Senses, I have found her style of writing to be quite enjoyable and easy to follow. Completing the first 83 pages of The Joy Luck Club, I found her four-way story approach to be a little confusing to follow as a unit, but individually I felt each story to be absolutely beautiful in both writing and message. At the same time, I do somewhat appreciate the Love, Actually-style storyline and I am anticipating the moment when all the separate sections collapse into one and layer themselves into a stunning conclusion.

One of the reasons why I have grown to love reading books that include Chinese culture is because of the abundance of proverbial messages and life lessons that permeate the stories. The metaphors used to describe certain circumstances and situations I believe to be very relatable and useful, even to people not of Chinese ethnicity. This book certainly is no exception to this pattern. One of the most powerful themes can be found at the very end of the “Red Candle” chapter. Lindo Jong has just finished telling her story of the arranged marriage and how she came to escape her terrible predicament. She admits how glad she was to have been rid of all the gold and silver jewelry that Huang Taitai showered her with, revealing that she was then profuse with the metal element, which causes one to become burdened with dependence; consequently a lack of metal causes one to “think as an independent person” (59). She then continues, after finishing her story, to say that at the same day each year, on the Festival of Pure Brightness, she removes her elaborate clothing and gold bracelets to preserve the memory of that day. She exclaims, “How nice it is to be that girl again, to take off my scarf, to see what is underneath and feel the lightness come back into my body!” (63). This is very symbolic of society today, and the fact that an excess of metal is considered to hamper one’s independence is even more prophetic to modern times. Metal, of course, is a symbol for wealth, and copious amounts of it create a person who is dependent on it and its benefits.  These people are so consumed with maintaining the image of prosperity that they ultimately lose their individual prosperity. They may be wealthy, but they are slaves, held captive in gold chains that mock and jab at their conscience. Those who are not wealthy or possess modest funds are not tied to their money, that is, they are not concerned with being looked upon as being of a higher status, for it does not matter. Such people live their lives with humility and work day after day just to get by, but they have more happiness than all the gold in the world can buy. America is a very prosperous nation, but it needs to wake up to the fact that many of the rich are dead; they have spiritually died. No more do they feel the pleasures of simplicity, rather they seek “aggressive” entertainment. Take The Great Gatsby for example, where Tom and Daisy are so bored with their lives because they have already done everything and seen everything and tasted everything that the world can offer. Their enormous wealth has caused them to experience a life’s worth of pleasure in just a few years. Now, they feel empty with a hole that cannot be satisfied, and consent to sitting idly while they dream of what has come to pass. These are the people who have died. They are emotionally barren and squandered of all desire. In comparison, those who are less fortunate can experience life’s pleasures sparingly and with great distance between episodes, so that the exhilaration of the one before can last all the way to the second. These people are not bored, but excitedly anticipate life’s next great adventure.

Joy Luck Club Post Part 1

             While reading this part of The Joy Luck Club, I noticed some similarities between this book and The Great Gatsby. When Lindo Jong opens up her chapter saying, "The American soldier promises to come back and marry the girl. She is crying with a genuine feeling and he says, 'Promise! Promise! Honey-sweetheart, my promise is as good as gold.' Then he pushes her into bed. But he doesn't come back." (42). While reading that, I couldn't help but notice the similarities to the scene of The Great Gatsby when Daisy and Gatsby separate as he goes off to war.Although he does not come out and say that he promises to come back and marry her, it is an unspoken agreement between the two that they are meant to be together. And although Gatsby does return for her, the two of them never end up together, so in a way he never really came back. Another similarity that the two books share are when Lindo Jong speaks about how she is not happy in her marriage and never really has been; "But I know what really happened, because I stayed up all night crying about my marriage." (55). This reminded me of Daisy and her not wanting to marry Tom. This is apparent in the scene of the night before her marriage when she is hysterically crying and telling everyone to tell Tom that she has changed her mind. Neither of the two characters want to be married to the people that they are, but the two women both continue to stay with their husbands. The similarities between the two books are uncanny.

Blog Post #1

The Joy Luck Club

Briana Pangborn

When I read the excerpt in the beginning of the novel, I immediately felt a connection to the text. The author's descriptive and passionate phrases along with her writing technique captivated me to continue reading. So far, this novel has revealed my interest in the Chinese culture - with the use of ethnic slang and the incorporation of Chinese traditions, it has given me a newfound respect for it's heritage. Suyuan's experiences and struggles throughout the first quarter of the novel are very thought-provoking and exciting to hear about. During the war in China, she was forced to leave her whole life behind - including her husband and twin children. After she immigrated to America, remarried, and bore another child, Suyuan found herself in another predicament. The language barrier between herself and her Americanized daughter made it extremely difficult to make a thorough connection to her child. It's hard to imagine, if I were Suyuan's daughter, the absence of a mother-daughter relationship. My mom and I are very close and it seems almost impossible to envision my life with a sense of unfamiliarity towards her. This book also presented me with some valuable life lessons. For example, when Suyuan told her story to Jing-mei (June), she described how people criticized her along with other members of the Joy Luck Club in Kweilin, China, during the war period: "How could we laugh, people asked... people thought we were wrong to serve banquets every week while many people in the city were starving... had lost homes and fortunes, and were separated, husband from wife, brother from sister, daughter from mother..." (11). Suyuan told her daughter to never dwell on anything - during times of aggravation, frustration, and tension, it is best to appreciate one's own life while one is still living. She went on by saying that, "it's not that we had no heart or eyes for pain... but to despair was to wish back something already lost - or to prolong what was already unbearable" (11). It reminded me of one of my favorite quotes: "you can't start the next chapter of your life if you keep rereading the last one". This is a very valuable life lesson - for it tells one not to dwell on the past, but instead, move on. Hence, I am very admirable of Suyuan's experiences and am very interested in Jing-mei's quest to fulfill her purpose of somehow connecting spiritually with her mother since she was never able to do so mortally.