The first time state librarian Jo Ann Schindler read "The Joy Luck Club," she identified with the Americanized daughters.

"Now I have much more sympathy for the mothers," she said.

Evolving perceptions like Schindler's help to show why Amy Tan's multilayered story about a quartet of friends and their immigrant mothers is worth another look.

Thanks to "The Big Read," many people in Hawai'i will be doing just that.

Cross Oprah's Book Club with a government-sponsored literacy effort and you'll have a sense of what the Big Read is all about. Communities pick a book, then use a National Endowment for the Arts grant and other funds to spread the word about reading it.

On O'ahu, "Joy Luck Club" stuff is popping up all over, from staged readings to bookstore events — even a full recitation of the book over the course of nine weeks. For that last one, O'ahu listeners can spend their lunch hour at the Hawai'i State Library as the book is read aloud.

The Big Read is an NEA initiative that aims to "revitalize the role of literature in American culture and bring the transformative power of literature into the lives of its citizens," according to a statement.

"Locally, a broad range of partners came to the table," said Susan Killeen, special project manager for the Hawaii Capital Cultural District,which is spearheading the effort here. Those groups include neighborhood nonprofits and state agencies. It's Hawai'i's first time taking part in the national project, Killeen said, and the read will span the Islands.

"Joy Luck Club" was chosen from an 11-book list of offerings — including "Fahrenheit 451" and "To Kill A Mockingbird" — because its themes dovetail with Hawai'i diversity of cultures.

"The scenes of family and immigration resonate throughout the community," said Schindler.

Adds Killeen: "We thought the themes of the book were perfect for us. (Tan) deals with the cross-cultural aspect of mothers-daughters coming from two very different cultures. ... She does that magnificently, showing people holding on so dearly to their own beliefs that it makes it difficult to see what's going on in the lives of those they love so dearly."

Library discussions will have a scholar/facilitator on hand to discuss issues raised by the book, including alienation and family bonds, Killeen said.

An appearance by author Tan was initially on a wish list of events, said Schindler, but the budget didn't match her speaker's fee. A surprise celebrity tie-in, however, proved serendipitous.

Wayne Wang, who directed the big-screen version of "Joy Luck Club," planned to unveil his "Princess of Nebraska" film at the Hawai'i International Film Festival in October. After some coordination between Big Read organizers and HIFF, it was agreed that Wang's movie version of "Joy Luck Club" could be shown as part of the film festival.

After the showing, there will be a panel discussion with local luminaries discussing "Books to Film: Crossing Boundaries, Creating Worlds."

For October, the targeted time for the Big Read, there are youth service projects that will be paired with senior programs.

In addition, the Motheread/Fatheread prison reading program will try its hand at "Joy Luck Club." Incarcerated parents will be reading "Joy Luck Club" while their children read a companion piece, "Grandfather's Journey" by Allan Say. Then, the families reunite to discuss the stories.

"The objective of (Big Read), to bring the community together to read one book, is really quite exciting to me," said Schindler. "Anything that encourages reading, from our point of view as librarians, is a good thing."