Amy Tan

Amy Tan
Tan in 2018
Tan in 2018
BornAmy Ruth Tan
(1952-02-19) February 19, 1952 (age 72)
Oakland, California, U.S.
OccupationWriter
EducationSan Jose State University (BA, MA)
Notable worksThe Joy Luck Club (1989), The Bonesetter's Daughter (2001)
Notable awards
SpouseLou DeMattei (m. 1974)
Signature
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese譚恩美
Simplified Chinese谭恩美
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinTán Ēnměi
Yue: Cantonese
JyutpingTaam4 Jan1mei5
Website
www.amytan.net

Amy Ruth Tan (born February 19, 1952) is an American author best known for her novel The Joy Luck Club (1989), which was adapted into a 1993 film. She is also known for other novels, short story collections, children's books, and a memoir.

Tan has earned a number of awards acknowledging her contributions to literary culture, including the National Humanities Medal, the Carl Sandburg Literary Award, and the Common Wealth Award of Distinguished Service.

Tan has written several other novels, including The Kitchen God's Wife (1991), The Hundred Secret Senses (1995), The Bonesetter's Daughter (2001), Saving Fish from Drowning (2005), and The Valley of Amazement (2013). Tan has also written two children's books: The Moon Lady (1992) and The Chinese Siamese Cat (1994), which was turned into an animated series that aired on PBS. Tan's latest book is The Backyard Bird Chronicles (2024), an illustrated account of her experiences with birding and the 2016-era sociopolitical climate.