Readers of Western cultures often view these maternal scenarios as too severe or emotionally damaging on children yet, I find it interesting how we, in this part of the world, are gradually drifting toward the opposite extreme, where a parent cannot even physically discipline a disobedient child anymore without being denounced by neighbors, schools or the general public. There has been much attention given to novels that portray the very different family values Eastern cultures possess, as compared to our Western model of parenting: "Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother" by Amy Chua being a more recent example that has received very intense criticism, and a classic that still resonates with me after many years and "The Joy Luck Club" by Amy Tan, continues to captivate us with its unique perspectives on the mother-daughter relationship.Įven the novel I previously reviewed, "Friendship Bread" by Darien Gee, has the character of a Chinese cellist who contemplates how her parents' strict regimen for her music lessons has drastically affected how she deals with all aspects of her life. The tale is narrated from four different points of view within the family: the daughter Chi-hon, a widely recognized author whose relationship with her mother was not always peaceful the eldest son Hyong-chol, possibly the mother's favorite out of the five children, who feels he was burdened with the responsibility of watching over the whole family since childhood the father, a torn man who only now recognizes the deep feelings he has for his wife and the mother herself, as we see the strange journey she is undertaking and her reflections on her life.
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