Annotated Bibliography

Annotated Bibliography

Adams, Bella. 2005. Amy Tan. UK: Manchester University Press. Amy Tan’s four novels are analyzed in this book. The author also mentions the Chinese superstition in Amy Tan’s books as well as other essential elements that shape Amy Tan’s style.

Chen, Ai-Min. 2005. Foreigner Literature Studies - On the Presentation of Chinese Culture in the Chinese American Women Literature. Journal No. 42-1060/1<http://scholar.ilib.cn/Abstract.%20aspx?A=wgwxyj200506011 > This author analyzes how Chinese-American woman writers present Chinese cultures in their work of writings. The main elements include worshipping ancestors, Feng-Shui, and the five elements ..etc.

Dresslar, F. B. 1910. “Suggestions on the Psychology of Superstition” American Journal of Insanity < http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/reprint/67/2/213>. This research is based on the study of the superstitious belief from 875 subjects. The researcher, Dresslar, indicates that superstition is an important influence in human behavior and only human beings would conduct such manner. He also explains the possible reasons for superstition.

Hamilton, Patricia L. 1999. “Feng Shui, Astrology, and the Five Elements: Traditional Chinese Belief in Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club.” Journal Article Excerpt.<http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&se=gglsc&d=5001869311&er=deny>. Patricia analyzes that the communication problems occurred between the mothers and the daughters in The Joy Luck Club lay on cultural differences – American – rational; Chinese – superstitious.

Keinan, Giora. 2002. “The Effects of Stress and Desire for Control on Superstitious Behavior” SAGE publications: Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. < http://psp.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/28/1/102>. The researcher, Giora Keinan, experimented on the relationship of the stress that people suffer and their belief in superstition. Do people turn to the help of supernatural powers when they are highly stressed? The answer is positive. Stress and superstition are closely related to each other.

Pu, Xiumei. 2006. “Spirituality: A Womanist Reading of Amy Tan’s The Bonesetter’s Daughter.” Thesis for the Degree of Master of Arts in the College of Arts and Science, Georgia State University. <http://scholar.google.com.tw/scholar?hl=zh-TW&lr=&q=cache:fCYScd-T8rcJ:%20etd.gsu.edu/theses/available/etd-07192006-191437/unrestricted/Pu_Xiumei_200608_MA.pdf+related:fCYScd-T8rcJ:scholar.google.com/ > Xiumei discusses the “spirituality” in the Bonesetter’s Daughter, which contains “ghosts”, “ghostwriting”, and “nature” ..etc. Although this work is written in a womanist reading, it still provides the analysis on how the superstition of Luling affect both her and her daughter’s life.

Tan, Amy. 1989. The Joy Luck Club. US: The Random House Publishing Group. This book is Amy Tan’s first novel. Two of the Chinese-born mothers from China smartly used the power of superstition, people's fear toward spirits and bad luck, to escape from the unfavorable living conditions and won the great freedom for themselves. We can see how superstition influences and manipulate other people.

Tan, Amy. 2001. The Bonesetter’s Daughter. US: The Random House Publishing Group. This book is Amy Tan’s third novel. In the story, Luling, the daughter of the tragic figure, believed that she has been cursed since the day her mother killed herself by jumping off to the cliff. Luling blamed herself for the death of her mother for the rest of her life. The quilt and fear had driven her mad and she lived a miserable life. She always worried about the curse would lead her to a terrible life, but she herself was actually the one who did it! It shows how superstition affects one’s own mind.

T., Haenel. 1983. “Superstition, faith, delusion.” PubMed: A service of the National Library of Medicine and the National Institute of Health.< http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/%20query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=6669970&dopt=Citation. > This article explains the differences between “superstition”, “faith”, and “delusion”. Interestingly, different from other resources, “superstition” is said to be “a narcissistic attempt” to build up confidence for people. “Faith” is tightly related to “hope”, while “delusion” becomes the behavior of blind belief.

Vyse, Sturat A. 1997. Believing in Magic: the psychology of superstition. Oxford University Press. This book defines “superstition” and explains the possible psychological reasons for superstition. The psychological function of superstition is also discussed in the book.