Joan Is Okay: A Novel
Jan 2022 · Sold by Random House
4.8star
6 reviews
Ebook
240
Pages
family_home
Eligible
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About this ebook
NEW YORK TIMES EDITORS’ CHOICE • A witty, moving, piercingly insightful new novel about a marvelously complicated woman who can’t be anyone but herself, from the award-winning author of Chemistry
LONGLISTED FOR THE ANDREW CARNEGIE MEDAL • “A deeply felt portrait . . . With gimlet-eyed observation laced with darkly biting wit, Weike Wang masterfully probes the existential uncertainty of being other in America.”—Celeste Ng, author of Little Fires Everywhere
ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The New York Times Book Review, The New Yorker, NPR, The Washington Post, Vox
Joan is a thirtysomething ICU doctor at a busy New York City hospital. The daughter of Chinese parents who came to the United States to secure the American dream for their children, Joan is intensely devoted to her work, happily solitary, successful. She does look up sometimes and wonder 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 by their own cultural and social expectations.
Once Joan and her brother, Fang, were established in their careers, her parents moved back to China, hoping to spend the rest of their lives in their homeland. But when Joan’s father suddenly dies and her mother returns to America to reconnect with her children, a series of events sends Joan spiraling out of her comfort zone just as her hospital, her city, and the world are forced to reckon with a health crisis more devastating than anyone could have imagined.
Deceptively spare yet quietly powerful, laced with sharp humor, Joan Is Okay touches on matters that feel deeply resonant: being Chinese-American right now; working in medicine at a high-stakes time; finding one’s voice within a dominant culture; being a woman in a male-dominated workplace; and staying independent within a tight-knit family. But above all, it’s a portrait of one remarkable woman so surprising that you can’t get her out of your head.
LONGLISTED FOR THE ANDREW CARNEGIE MEDAL • “A deeply felt portrait . . . With gimlet-eyed observation laced with darkly biting wit, Weike Wang masterfully probes the existential uncertainty of being other in America.”—Celeste Ng, author of Little Fires Everywhere
ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The New York Times Book Review, The New Yorker, NPR, The Washington Post, Vox
Joan is a thirtysomething ICU doctor at a busy New York City hospital. The daughter of Chinese parents who came to the United States to secure the American dream for their children, Joan is intensely devoted to her work, happily solitary, successful. She does look up sometimes and wonder 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 by their own cultural and social expectations.
Once Joan and her brother, Fang, were established in their careers, her parents moved back to China, hoping to spend the rest of their lives in their homeland. But when Joan’s father suddenly dies and her mother returns to America to reconnect with her children, a series of events sends Joan spiraling out of her comfort zone just as her hospital, her city, and the world are forced to reckon with a health crisis more devastating than anyone could have imagined.
Deceptively spare yet quietly powerful, laced with sharp humor, Joan Is Okay touches on matters that feel deeply resonant: being Chinese-American right now; working in medicine at a high-stakes time; finding one’s voice within a dominant culture; being a woman in a male-dominated workplace; and staying independent within a tight-knit family. But above all, it’s a portrait of one remarkable woman so surprising that you can’t get her out of your head.
Ratings and reviews
4.8
6 reviews
Janice Tangen
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October 2, 2021
expats, expectations, family-dynamics, friendship, workaholic, Chinese-culture, Chinese-customs, Chinese-languages, NYC***** The first half of the story is getting to know workaholic hospitalist called Joan and how she perceives herself and the world. Born in the US to parents who chose to return home to China once she was in college and with an older brother who had a diametrically opposed life view, her lifestyle reflects her need to be on the job at all times. Then father dies, she flies to the funeral and back, gets a new neighbor, and is bossed around by yuppie brother. Work goes well until she is forced to take an extended leave by the HR department and she finds another side of herself. While away in Connecticut with family, the Year of the Rat brings The Virus. Everything has changed for everyone. In the meantime we are given lessons in idioms in English and Chinese, Chinese culture, and lots more. The characters are well developed and engaging. There is lots of sly verbal humor that I could relate to. The ending feels as unfinished as our lives are since the virus has changed all of us. Great read! I requested and received a free ebook copy from Random House Publishing Group - Random House, Random House via NetGalley. Thank you!
Wendy Williams
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January 18, 2022
Joan Is Okay by Weike Wang is first-person account of Joan’s life as a New York City physician. Joan has a very unique point of view on almost everything. She works as a doctor in New York City during the COVID outbreak, but the book isn’t all about the pandemic, and mostly just touches on it for a part of the book. Joan is a very interesting person, and her outlook on life is different and interesting. Joan is a doctor in an intensive care unit at a New York City hospital. She’s the daughter of Chinese immigrants and has one brother, Fang. Once Joan and Fang were settled and in college, Joan’s parents returned to China. However, when Joan’s father suddenly passes away, Joan’s mother returns to the US to live with Joan’s brother Fang, and his family in Connecticut. Her mother’s return causes Joan to change her very insular life and move outside her comfort zone. When the COVID 19 pandemic hits New York City, Joan has to deal with her patients, but what is more difficult for Joan, is dealing with her mother, who can’t travel back to China due to flight restrictions. The writing for Joan is Okay is different and fascinating. It’s told from Joan’s point of view, and she has a unique and interesting look at life. The book follows her problems with her family and her work as an ICU physician, especially during a pandemic. I enjoyed her neighbor Mark, and her interactions with him. Her brother Fang is very successful and takes on the father role for Joan, which she is not happy about. I recommend Joan is Okay to anyone who enjoys women’s fiction and literary fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Candyce Chadwell
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March 21, 2024
I really enjoyed what I got a chance to read, I didn't, however, get any idea of what the story line is. I would have liked for the preview to be @ least another chapter or two.
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” honoree of the National Book Foundation and her work has appeared in The New Yorker. She currently lives in New York City.
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