City News

In San Francisco, a group of mothers gathered in front of a mahjong table to play and share their stories. Suyuan, An-mei, Lindo, and Ying-ying had all left China in search of a better life. They hope to raise happy families in America. They are immersed in their cultural heritage and their life is influenced by it.

These moms know what’s best.

Their daughters, Jing-mei, Waverly, Lena, and Rose, grew up in San Francisco. Although they are interested in the Chinese culture, they are also interested in fitting in with all the other Americans. They wanted to be empowered, independent women and be able to do whatever they wanted.

These daughters know what’s best.

Naturally, these mothers and daughters didn’t always agree with each other.

My favorite set of conflict is between Waverly and Lindo. When Waverly’s brothers played chess, Waverly had watched from the distance and soon learned the rules by heart. She loved the game and was able to convince her brothers to let her play in exchange for her candies if she loses. Waverly lost a few candies at first, but she was soon able to beat her brothers. Her brothers refused to play chess with her anymore.

Although there was no one to play with, Waverly’s thirst for chess never declined. She found people in the park to play chess with and later attended her first competition. Her trophies soon piled up high over the windows and brought her the title of “Next World Champion.” Lindo, her mother, was so proud of Waverly that as she walked on the streets of Chinatown, she would shove Waverly’s magazine headline to every pedestrian.

Waverly didn’t like that. It embarrassed her to see her mom brag about her. It made her feel uncomfortable. It wasn’t her mom who won that national competition! She tugged on her mom’s sleeve and begged her to stop.

“One day after we left a shop I said under my breath, I wish you wouldn’t do that, telling everybody I’m your daughter." (Tan)

Her mother had stopped walking.

"Aii-ya. So shame be with mother?" She grasped my hand even tighter as she glared at me.” (Tan)

They’d caused a scene. In fright, Waverly shook off Lindo’s grasps, and ignoring her mother’s screams, Waverly took off running. Once the girl finally made it back home, Lindo was cleaning away the dinner, her eyes like daggers.

Waverly didn’t understand what she did to deserve this. She threw her chess pieces onto the floor and vowed to never play chess again, secretly hoping her mother would stop her. Lindo didn’t. Once Waverly had picked up chess again, she had lost her spark. Chess became another one of those childhood memories, faded and distant. It was only until Waverly became an adult did she truly understand Lindo and how her mother was only proud of her.

I rate The Joy Luck Club a 10/10. This isn’t about how many plot twists there are or how much literary devices the author used. (A lot, but that’s not the point) This novel is so heartwarming that I just have to give it the best rating. In this novel, the story changes from one character to another, from mother to daughter, to tell their conflict. As soon as you deemed one character as the “bad guy,” your perspective will completely change as you are exposed to the views of the “bad guy.” These mothers and daughters inherited different cultures, but despite their opposing mindsets, still managed to love and appreciate each other in the end. This book will make you ask your parents how they came to be and make you love them even more for all they have done for you.

Check out The Joy Luck Club at the Newport Beach Public Library.