Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
Fascinating glimpse into a former time and place, compelling and evocativly portrayed.
I liked the story, but thought it was rough in some places. The editing was bad in some places. The sense of place was well done. The cultural differences were made very apparent. The injustices were well explained. The characters, other than Liang, were not as well drawn as they might
Interesting read. I picked this one up at a sale by the local library (5 books for 4 Euros) and just grabbed this one because I needed 2 extra books to get to 5.
I hadn't read anything before about Chinese immigrants in Canada during the 1920s-1940s so it was an educating book for me. Choy writes really well. The language is clear but never boring. Nice insight in a time and community I hadn't really read about - or thought about - before.
I hadn't read anything before about Chinese immigrants in Canada during the 1920s-1940s so it was an educating book for me. Choy writes really well. The language is clear but never boring. Nice insight in a time and community I hadn't really read about - or thought about - before.
This book has been on my shelf, unread, for years now. I picked it up thinking that I probably wouldn't really enjoy it but that it would be a few steps up from all the junky teen books I've been reading lately. I was very surprised when I actually liked it. The different narrators is what makes the book as good as it is and really gives you an insight as to what it was like to live in Chinatown during the war.
I picked this up at a library sale, and am glad I did. Often, I don't love stories told from different viewpoints because they can feel really disjointed. This one, though, is narrated by 3 siblings in the same household, so it stays connected and builds one story.
It's the story of a Chinese family in Vancouver in the 1930s and 1940s. The family is made up of Father, Stepmother, Poh-Poh or Grandmama, Kiam (First Son), Jung Sum (Second Son), Liang (First Daughter), and Sek Lung or Sekky — I'm not sure but I don't recall Sekky being called Third Son as you might expect. Stepmother is actually the mother of Liang and Sekky, but the whole family calls her Stepmother. Along with the family, the reader also gets to know the community they live in.
The setting (the time period as well as the physical setting) is important, almost to the point of being a character. I love how, as an adult reader, it's obvious that the family is terribly poor, but the children don't seem to realize it.
I'm not sure I've ever read another story that describes the experience of being a child immigrant, and enjoyed learning a little bit about that perspective, though it's fairly limited. But, even the limitations are revealing. The reader learns more about Stepmother in the last few pages than in the entire book based on one conversation Sekky recounts.
I'm thinking about finding the sequel, which is more about the oldest kid in the family, Kiam, who doesn't have a section in The Jade Peony.
If you like historical fiction, family stories, or stories about what it feels like to be an immigrant, maybe if you enjoy stories set during WWII, or coming of age stories (there's a little of both), you might like this one.
It's the story of a Chinese family in Vancouver in the 1930s and 1940s. The family is made up of Father, Stepmother, Poh-Poh or Grandmama, Kiam (First Son), Jung Sum (Second Son), Liang (First Daughter), and Sek Lung or Sekky — I'm not sure but I don't recall Sekky being called Third Son as you might expect. Stepmother is actually the mother of Liang and Sekky, but the whole family calls her Stepmother. Along with the family, the reader also gets to know the community they live in.
The setting (the time period as well as the physical setting) is important, almost to the point of being a character. I love how, as an adult reader, it's obvious that the family is terribly poor, but the children don't seem to realize it.
I'm not sure I've ever read another story that describes the experience of being a child immigrant, and enjoyed learning a little bit about that perspective, though it's fairly limited. But, even the limitations are revealing. The reader learns more about Stepmother in the last few pages than in the entire book based on one conversation Sekky recounts.
I'm thinking about finding the sequel, which is more about the oldest kid in the family, Kiam, who doesn't have a section in The Jade Peony.
If you like historical fiction, family stories, or stories about what it feels like to be an immigrant, maybe if you enjoy stories set during WWII, or coming of age stories (there's a little of both), you might like this one.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Story is centered on the lives of a Chinese immigrant family in Canada, during the 1930s to 1940s. The book is split up into 3 narratives -- Jook Liang (only sister), Jung-Sum (second brother), and Sek-Leung (third brother). They all revolve around the siblings' stories when they are young children. During this time period, we witness the intimate and personal current-effects/after-effects of Chinese Exclusion Act (1923), the Depression, and World War II (China, Japan, and Canada).
There was an element of mundane-ness to it, but it was still eventful. Rather than it being plot-driven, you're there to witness what the characters go through in their day-to-day lives, as well as the relationships they form. It felt real and raw, as well as insightful due to the time period of the book. A few moments where I teared up due to the cherishing of family, especially with seniors. I wouldn't go out of my way to read it soon again, but wouldn't mind picking it back up in many years time. Due to the split narratives, it never felt too slow since each character's stories are only focused on for <100 pages.
It's between a 3.5 and 4 stars for me.
There was an element of mundane-ness to it, but it was still eventful. Rather than it being plot-driven, you're there to witness what the characters go through in their day-to-day lives, as well as the relationships they form. It felt real and raw, as well as insightful due to the time period of the book. A few moments where I teared up due to the cherishing of family, especially with seniors. I wouldn't go out of my way to read it soon again, but wouldn't mind picking it back up in many years time. Due to the split narratives, it never felt too slow since each character's stories are only focused on for <100 pages.
It's between a 3.5 and 4 stars for me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: War
Minor: Racial slurs
emotional
informative
reflective
Divided into three sections, each section provides a first-person perspective, a snapshot- in- time of three children of a Chinese-Canadian family. The first section- of the only girl child in the family - is the weakest, reading like an after- thought. Rquested as an add-on by editors, perhaps, to boost the book's female representation? The writing doesn't flow, and the character and her thoughts feel underdeveloped and unrelatable (having been an 8-year old girl myself once). Perhaps the author just isn't as practiced at writing from the female perspective?
The rumours are true - this is a book where nothing much happens. In the second and third sections, this is not a negative. Sometimes you need a book that ambles along slowly, with little gems of information here and there that reveal facts and observations about a culture you know very little about. But this is not so of the first section, where the book is most at danger of losing readers. Regardless, do persevere, because the other two sections- about two boys in the family, are much better written, their thoughts and character much more well-developed, even poignant.
The third also features a female character, who reads like a romanticized version of a female character. There aren't too many roles afforded females here, beyond love, or in the case of the little girl, dance and pretty clothes. Unhappy events befall the female character, but as the narrator is a young lad of 8, it's significance is lost on him, and it's for the reader to read between the lines.
As a look into early Canadian history of Chinese immigrants, I would recommend this book. It's not exciting, and it can move at a snail's pace but the writing is tight, descriptions of scenes are colourful, and characters, for the most part, are memorable.
The rumours are true - this is a book where nothing much happens. In the second and third sections, this is not a negative. Sometimes you need a book that ambles along slowly, with little gems of information here and there that reveal facts and observations about a culture you know very little about. But this is not so of the first section, where the book is most at danger of losing readers. Regardless, do persevere, because the other two sections- about two boys in the family, are much better written, their thoughts and character much more well-developed, even poignant.
The third also features a female character, who reads like a romanticized version of a female character. There aren't too many roles afforded females here, beyond love, or in the case of the little girl, dance and pretty clothes. Unhappy events befall the female character, but as the narrator is a young lad of 8, it's significance is lost on him, and it's for the reader to read between the lines.
As a look into early Canadian history of Chinese immigrants, I would recommend this book. It's not exciting, and it can move at a snail's pace but the writing is tight, descriptions of scenes are colourful, and characters, for the most part, are memorable.
An excellent, rich story of life in Chinatown in Vancouver in the 1930's.
The author does a fantastic job of painting his life as a child of immigrants, and the struggle to balance the old and the new ways. The character of his grandmother is amazing, in her 80's and born in 1850 she is such a wealth of knowledge and really represents the ways of old China.
Many times with this book I found myself talking to family and friends about it, relaying how the Chinese all believed in ghosts, how they lived in a shack and you could see daylight through the walls, how every white person in their life was referred to as "White Demon".
Later in the book the author also illustrates very well the us vs them mentality of war. People who live across the street are suddenly violent enemies. At one point a lynch mob of sorts goes through Japan-town and breaks things, beats people up, and the small child narrator wonders why they didn't go help. But the older Chinese remember a time 30 years or so before when a similar mob went through Chinatown and know this is not the answer. This book is especially relevant now in our global village where lines are blurred and we are all on the same side.
The book was well put together and made me think. The only criticism I have is that it ended too suddenly and I did not feel the significance of the title was fully explored. Also as mentioned in the questions at the back of the book, not much happens in the story.
But I really feel these are minor complaints compared to the rich tapestry of life presented in the story. 4.5 stars, a must read for every Canadian.
The author does a fantastic job of painting his life as a child of immigrants, and the struggle to balance the old and the new ways. The character of his grandmother is amazing, in her 80's and born in 1850 she is such a wealth of knowledge and really represents the ways of old China.
Many times with this book I found myself talking to family and friends about it, relaying how the Chinese all believed in ghosts, how they lived in a shack and you could see daylight through the walls, how every white person in their life was referred to as "White Demon".
Later in the book the author also illustrates very well the us vs them mentality of war. People who live across the street are suddenly violent enemies. At one point a lynch mob of sorts goes through Japan-town and breaks things, beats people up, and the small child narrator wonders why they didn't go help. But the older Chinese remember a time 30 years or so before when a similar mob went through Chinatown and know this is not the answer. This book is especially relevant now in our global village where lines are blurred and we are all on the same side.
The book was well put together and made me think. The only criticism I have is that it ended too suddenly and I did not feel the significance of the title was fully explored. Also as mentioned in the questions at the back of the book, not much happens in the story.
But I really feel these are minor complaints compared to the rich tapestry of life presented in the story. 4.5 stars, a must read for every Canadian.