Rating: 
Summary: Gripping and moving. Worth the effort!
Review: I read this book at the recommendation of a good friend. I had spoken with her about a decision to purposely read more books by women and minorities -- Amy Tan was recommended (along with The Awakening, The Bluest Eye, A Thousand Acres, and Jane Eyre).I'm very glad to have read this. The struggle between mother and daughter was beautifully presented, and heightened with the struggle between cultures. However, this book is NOT just for mothers and daughters -- my wife and I BOTH read this, and we were both moved by Tan's ability to draw the reader into the emotional conflict of her characters. I found myself frustrated at times, and realized that I was feeling what the characters would have been feeling. Excellent read, and highly recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: Good plot but too confusing!!
Review: The Joy Luck Club is a very interesting yet confusing and symbolic book. I recommend this book to someone that analyzes books very closely. This book wasn't for me!!
Rating: 
Summary: A VERY RARE BOOK!
Review: I'm the type of person who would think of the next book to read even before arriving at the half-way page of the book I would be still reading. But while reading this beautifully structured novel, filled with mesmerizing vignettes that really keeps one awake, I somehow was able not to force my self from planning the next novel to read. Just read it if you really want to have a great read and for once feel satisfied after having it, for this novel is very enriching, and I'm telling the truth. Go ahead and look for this book, grab it and read it. You'll have the most worthwile read (probably) this year.
Rating: 
Summary: Is ZERO stars a possibilty?
Review: After being forced to read it for summer reading i have wondered why anyone would CHOOSE to read this book. What is it with making high school students read books such as this one or THe Woman Warrior with a Chinese American background. DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK!
Rating:
Summary: Packs an emotional punch but lacking in substance. Contrived
Review: 'The Joy Luck Club' as a purely entertaining, dramatic novel is very good. You really get involved with the characters and get drawn into the story. In every other sense, however, I find it seriously flawed. Amy Tan seems to sell herself as an 'Asian-American' voice and puts herself in a position of literary authority when it comes to 'Asian-American' matters. Most readers approach this novel as a legitimate example of 'Asian-American' literature. However, in her approach to complex matters of race and identity, she is no different from a white man with an Asian fetish. She grossly exoticizes 'China' (which she apparently had never visited until after she wrote this novel) and uses China and America as foils for hell and heaven, oppressive and egalitarian, bad and good, respectively. Her observations into American society and race politics, when she makes any are cliche and contrived. Her Chinese female protaganists fall into the range of stereotypes from aggressive Dragon Ladies to demure proper Chinese 'ladies'. Her Chinese-American protaganists are spoiled, self-centered, apologist Chinese-American women who are preoccupied with marrying white men and being as accepted as an 'American'. Their hostility towards their mothers (representing 'traditional' China and their 'Chinese identity') and inability to question their own lives in an intelligent and fully race-concious matter turned me off. This is a very tired theme revolving around very unlikable characers. At least, I didn't like them at all. It is a very pat, Hollywood kind of novel. Do not expect any insights or meaningful discussions on racism or being Asian in America. If you find pretension and melodrama boring, you will be bored by this book. I think the reason other reviewers found this book dull is because it tries so hard to be 'meaningful' and is geared towards giving non-Asians a palatable 'look' into Asian-American lives. This is an EXTREMELY OPPORTUNISTIC work by an ethnic Chinese who seems to be milking her race for all its got. Think 'Flower Drum Song' (the musical) and you get the picture.
Rating:
Summary: Non-fiction feel to a fiction story
Review: I read the JOy Luck Club for a school report and enjoy every minute of it. Each individual story of each woman is very realistic and very personal. It gives you a feeling that you are reading their diaries. Most stories include each womans childhood and romantic life. For ages 10 and up. STRONGLY suggest to all woman and men with a senitive side!
Rating:
Summary: a spiritual journey
Review: i enjoyed this book and the spiritual journey that it took me on....i believe that we are all connected and this book reveals that connection beautifully.
Rating:
Summary: Just about the worst book I have ever read.
Review: A very boring book. Lots of pointless hidden meanings, symbolism, and that sort of stuff. If you like that stuff this may be a book for you, but I prefer something a little more exciting and a little less confusing. Anyway, I don't recommend it. It is like The Catcher in the Rye. They are pretty similar. If you read that book and didn't like it, this isn't the book for you.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent story!!
Review: I enjoyed this book immensely. Joy Luck is a very charming, well written novel. Each story acts as a separate color; when joined, together they form a rainbow of history! This is a very good book for Asian-american females to read! Kudos to Amy Tan for her effort!
Rating:
Summary: Astounding
Review: This book was a bit hard to follow, because it is hard to put yourself in so many character's places, but all around, it's an amazing book!
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