LAKEPORT, Calif. – Amy Tan’s book “The Joy Luck Club” tells the stories of the women who belong to the Joy Luck mahjong club and their Chinese-American daughters.

“The Joy Luck Club” is the 2013 Big Read selection.

The Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest. The Lake County Library will present three Big Read events in October.

Lakeport Library invites people of all ages to a free Big Read Mahjong Night on Wednesday, Oct. 16, at 5:30 p.m.

Librarian Christopher Veach will teach mahjong, a traditional rummy-like game to the players. The library will supply the game materials and Chinese snacks will be served courtesy of the Friends of the Lake County Library. The library is located at 1425 N. High St. and the phone number is 707-263-8817.

In mahjong four players draw and discard tiles or cards to form hands using strategy and skill while trying to succeed against chance.

The origins of mahjong are murky and many theories try to explain the game’s history, which dates to the late 19th century, if not before, in China.

Mahjong became popular in the United States in the 1920s. The People’s Republic of China banned mahjong and other games in 1949, but the ban was lifted in the 1980s and mahjong is once again popular in China.

Two Big Read events for children will take place at libraries in Lake County.

Lakeport Library and Redbud Library in Clearlake will present special story times featuring stories and crafts centered on themes from “The Joy Luck Club.”

Lakeport Library’s Chinese story time will be on Friday, Oct. 18, at 10:15 a.m.

Redbud Library’s Chinese story time will be on Friday, Oct. 25, at 3 p.m. at 14785 Burns Valley Road, Clearlake, telephone 707-994-5115.