Born in the U.S. to immigrant parents from China, Amy Tan rejected her mother’s expectations that she become a doctor and concert pianist. She chose to write instead.
Her novels are The Joy Luck Club, a National Book Award and National Book Critics Circle Award finalist, The Kitchen God’s Wife, a New York Times Notable Book, The Hundred Secret Senses, finalist for the Orange Prize, The Bonesetter’s Daughter, a New York Times Notable Book and Saving Fish from Drowning. She is also the author of a memoir, The Opposite of Fate, two children’s books, The Moon Lady and Sagwa, The Chinese Siamese Cat, an e-book short story Rules for Virgins and numerous articles for magazines, including The New Yorker, Harper’s Bazaar, and National Geographic. Her work has been translated into 35 languages, from Spanish, French, and Finnish to Chinese, Arabic, and Hebrew.
She served as Co-producer and Co-screenwriter with Ron Bass for the film adaptation of The Joy Luck Club. She was the Creative Consultant for Sagwa, the Emmy nominated PBS television series for children. Her essays and stories are found in hundreds of anthologies and textbooks, and they are assigned as required reading in many high schools and universities. She appeared as herself in the animated series The Simpsons.
Ms. Tan also wrote the libretto for The Bonesetter’s Daughter, which had its world premiere with the San Francisco Opera in September 2008. Prior to their disbanding, she served as lead rhythm dominatrix, backup singer, and second tambourine with the literary garage band, The Rock Bottom Remainders, whose members included Stephen King, Dave Barry, and Scott Turow. Their yearly gigs raised over a million dollars for literacy programs. Her next novel, The Valley of Amazement, will be published in 2013 by Ecco/HarperCollins.
We are very sorry to announce that Joan Didion has had to cancel her June 5 appearance due to an unforeseen personal conflict. However, we are thrilled that Amy Tan will be appearing in her place. If you have ticket questions, please email our Box Office or call us at (206) 621-2230.
