Joan is Okay

Name: Joan is Okay
Brand: Penguin Random House NZ
SKU: 9781922458483
Price: 34.0 NZD
Availability: InStock

By Weike Wang

0.0 (0 reviews)

3.66

( 18,077 ratings, 2,869 reviews)

Summary

Joan is Okay by Weike Wang follows Joan, a dedicated Chinese American ICU doctor who is navigating her identity and cultural expectations. Her orderly life is disrupted by her father's death and her mother's demands, prompting her to reassess her priorities. The novel explores themes of belonging, work, and family as Joan strives to balance her professional dedication with personal obligations.
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Format: Paperback / softback

$34⁰⁰

Elsewhere:

~~$37⁰⁰~~

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Joan is Okay

$34⁰⁰

Elsewhere:

~~$37⁰⁰~~

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you enjoy character-driven narratives rich with humour and poignancy, exploring themes of cultural identity and personal autonomy. With its keen observations of the immigrant experience and life transitions, it's perfect for readers seeking an insightful and nuanced depiction of balancing expectations between different worlds.

Joan is Okay

A wry and insightful portrait of contemporary life, this is the much-anticipated follow-up to the award-winning novel Chemistry.

Description

Joan is a thirty-something ICU doctor at a busy New York City hospital. She is intensely devoted to her work and happily solitary, but she sometimes wonders where her true roots lie: at the hospital, where her white coat makes her feel needed, or with her family, who try to shape her life according to their cultural and social expectations.

After moving to the United States to secure the American dream for their children, Joan’s parents have returned to China, hoping to spend the rest of their lives in their homeland now that Joan and her brother are well established in their careers. But when her father suddenly dies, a series of events sends Joan spiralling out of her comfort zone, forcing her to consider her life anew.

Deceptively spare, quietly powerful and shot through with sharp humour, Joan is Okay is a portrait of a marvellously surprising woman you won’t forget.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Weike Wang’s Joan Is Okay is praised for its incisive and witty exploration of the immigrant experience, grief, and cultural identity through the character of Joan, a Chinese-American ICU doctor. Critics highlight the novel's humour and its poignant, often funny portrayal of complex familial and societal dynamics. The narrative’s sharp observation and unique style create a powerful, moving story that is both engaging and thought-provoking.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781922458483

Publisher: Text Publishing

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 01 February 2022

Country: Australia

Imprint: The Text Publishing Company

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 153.0mm

Height: 235.0mm

Weight: 0g

Pages: 224

Collections

Fiction General Fiction Literary Fiction Penguin Books Weike Wang

About the Author

Weike Wang was born in Nanjing, China, and grew up in Australia, Canada, and the United States. She is a graduate of Harvard University, where she earned her undergraduate degree in chemistry and her doctorate in public health. Her first novel, Chemistry, received the PEN/Hemingway Award for Debut Fiction, the Ploughshares John C. Zacharis First Book Award, and a Whiting Award. She is a ‘5 Under 35’ honouree of the National Book Foundation and her work has appeared in the New Yorker. She currently lives in New York City.