Where to Start with Amy Tan

By Nicholas Parker
February 17, 2017
black and white photo of an Asian woman's face, smiling but looking off camera

Amy Tan, known for her moving stories of Chinese American mothers and daughters, has written six novels, several works of nonfiction, two children's books, and two memoirs in her more than thirty-year career. Her first and best-known novel, The Joy Luck Club was a finalist for the National Book Award and the Orange Prize and spent over forty weeks on the New York Times Bestseller List. If you haven't read any Amy Tan, her work is a treasure trove of beautiful stories about immigration, intergenerational division, and the Chinese-American experience. Check out our list of recommended novels to start with.