Why Did Amy Tan Title Her Memoir Fish Cheeks?

Amy Tan titles her memoir Fish Cheeks because it signifies her culture and herself as well. During the Christmas dinner with Robert and his father, Amy Tan’s dad plucks out the eyeballs and the fish cheek and puts it on her plate. This was the first time she felt embarrassed of her culture. Fish cheeks were the reason why her memoir was created. That is why fish cheeks are so important to this memoir. Without it, she would not have realized her respect for her own culture and family. It played a big role in this story; it helped her realize that she should not be ashamed of her culture and her own favorite food just for a guy she has interest in. It gave her pride and respect. Every culture has their own different types of food that signifies them as well. For instance, Korea is known for their kimchi. The title, Fish Cheeks, also signifies the Chinese culture as well. It also exhibits the unification of two cultures. It combined Western with Asian, showing that two cultures can learn from each other. For example, the pastor probably learned that it was polite to belch loudly after a meal, which showed that you were satisfied for the cooking. This once again ties back to the question: Why did Amy Tan title her memoir Fish Cheeks? Although she could have titled it differently, she chose Fish Cheeks because her culture has their own unique types of food and in order to represent it, she puts it as a title. It was also a clever way to do so, because it makes the readers curious. Why did she title it Fish Cheeks? Not only was it just a title, but a way to help others gain knowledge of her culture as well.