Amy Tan Speaks at Purdue University

“On paper, best-selling author Amy Tan’s teenage years — having graduated from high school in a Swiss resort town nestled near the French Alps — are worthy of envy.

“It sounds so hoighty-toighty. … But we got to Switzerland through a can of old Dutch cleanser,” Tan told a large crowd Thursday night at Purdue University.

The author of The Joy Luck Club, which explores the relationship between Chinese mothers and Chinese-American daughters, was relaying the story of how her mother decided to uproot the family from California to Holland.

The decision was made after Daisy Tan, described as a “germophobe” by her daughter, found the cleaner under the kitchen sink.

The tale was one of several Amy Tan shared during her talk before hundreds at Elliot Hall of Music, the third installment in the Purdue University Libraries Distinguished Lecture Series.having graduated from high school in a Swiss resort town nestled near the French Alps — are worthy of envy.

“It sounds so hoighty-toighty. … But we got to Switzerland through a can of old Dutch cleanser,” Tan told a large crowd Thursday night at Purdue University.

“The author of The Joy Luck Club, which explores the relationship between Chinese mothers and Chinese-American daughters, was relaying the story of how her mother decided to uproot the family from California to Holland.

“The decision was made after Daisy Tan, described as a ‘germophobe’ by her daughter, found the cleaner under the kitchen sink.

“The tale was one of several Amy Tan shared during her talk before hundreds at Elliot Hall of Music, the third installment in the Purdue University Libraries Distinguished Lecture Series.”

Read Sophia Voravong’s Article here.