Amy Tan

Amy Tan is a Chinese American writer whose works explore mother-daughter relationships. Upon its publication in 1989, Tan's book—The Joy Luck Club-- won enthusiastic reviews and spent eight months on The New York Times bestseller list. The book has been translated into 17 languages, including Chinese. Her subsequent novel, The Kitchen God's Wife (1991), confirmed her reputation. 

Since then, Amy Tan has published two books for children, The Moon Lady and The Sagwa, and three novels The Hundred Secret Senses (1995), The Bonesetter's Daughter (2001) and Saving Fish from Drowning (2005).

Amy Tan was born in Oakland, California. Her family lived in several communities in Northern California before settling in Santa Clara. Both of her parents were Chinese immigrants.

Amy Tan appears in the following:

Amy Tan: Pick Three

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Amy Tan is best known for The Joy Luck Club and The Kitchen God's Wife, and her just-released book The Valley Of Amazement. Hear the acclaimed author talk about the new book, and shar...

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Amy Tan Picks Three; Terry Teachout On Duke Ellington; Matana Roberts Plays Live

Friday, January 10, 2014

In this episode, Soundcheck revisits a few recent favorite segments. 

First: Best-selling author Amy Tan talks about her first book in eight years, The Valley of Amazement, tells us what playing in a band with Stephen King is like, and, she plays a few favorite songs for Soundcheck's Pick Three series.

Then: Duke Ellington is one of the towering figures in American music, but there's more to his story than hits like "Take The A Train." Cultural critic and writer Terry Teachout discusses his new comprehensive biography about the iconic jazz composer and bandleader.

Plus: The jazz sax player and composer Matana Roberts continues her CoinCoin Project, which explores the history of "free people of color" in the early United States and her own family's long and widespread American tale.

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Amy Tan's The Valley of Amazement

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Amy Tan discusses her latest novel, The Valley of Amazement. It spans more than 40 years and two continents, and resurrects pivotal episodes in history: from the collapse of China’s last imperial dynasty to the rise of the Republic, the explosive growth of lucrative foreign trade and anti-foreign sentiment to the inner workings of courtesan houses and the lives of foreign  “Shanghailanders," both erased by World War II.

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Author Amy Tan; Writers Club: Women In Music; Bela Fleck And Brooklyn Rider

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

In this episode: Best-selling author Amy Tan talks about her first book in eight years, The Valley of Amazement, tells us what playing in a band with Stephen King is like, and, she plays a few favorite songs for Soundcheck's Pick Three series.

Then, this week's Writers Club: Women In Music series continues with NPR Music's Ann Powers and RookieMag music editor Jessica Hopper, who share their favorite books about women in music.

And, the borders between musical styles come crashing down as the globetrotting banjo player Bela Fleck and the adventurous string quartet Brooklyn Rider play a live set in the Soundcheck studio.

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Amy Tan's Novel The Valley of Amazement

Tuesday, November 05, 2013

Amy Tan discusses her latest novel, The Valley of Amazement. It spans more than 40 years and two continents, and resurrects pivotal episodes in history: from the collapse of China’s last imperial dynasty to the rise of the Republic, the explosive growth of lucrative foreign trade and anti-foreign sentiment to the inner workings of courtesan houses and the lives of foreign  “Shanghailanders," both erased by World War II.

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