Amy Tan English II Biotechnology High School

Birth and growing up  Born in 1952 in California  Bicultural and bilingual household  Middle child  Only daughter

Parents  Father emigrated from China in late 1940s  Before Communist Revolution  Became Baptist minister  Mother left Shanghai in 1949  Had 3 daughters from arranged marriage  Divorced first husband  Parents married; 3 children

Family History  Grandmother  Jing-Mei  Lost husband to flu epidemic  Raped by wealthy man  Forced her to be concubine  Suicide  opium

Name  American name: Amy  Chinese name: An-mei

Expectations  Mother wanted her to become doctor  To play piano in concert

Jobs  Switchboard operator  Carhop  A&W Root Beer  Pizza baker/server  Never taught

College  Attended FIVE colleges!  B.A.: San Jose State University  M.A.: San Jose State University  Studied for Ph.D. from UC Berkeley  Never completed program  Honorary doctorates  Parking spots!

Novels  The Joy Luck Club  The Kitchen God’s Wife  The Hundred Secret Senses  The Bonesetter’s Daughter  Saving Fish from Drowning

Connection with Joy Luck  Mother’s heart attack  Interest in Chinese heritage  Traveled to China  Met three half-sisters

Marriage  Married to Lou DeMattei since 1974  No children  Two dogs (Bubba and Lilli)  Had a cat

Awards  Nominated for National Book Award  Nominated for Los Angeles Times Book Prize  Pulitzer??

Interesting facts  Agent encouraged her writing  Contracted Lyme disease  Helped set up foundation  Lives in a condo in San Francisco  Lots of stairs!  Performs in a garage band  Rock Bottom Remainders  Wears red wig!