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keysersuze's review against another edition
4.0
This is the story of sisters, of family you wish you had and which you didn’t know you have. It’s about navigating painful family secrets and present day challenges.
Sook-Yin moves from Hong Kong to London in the 1960s, with a dream of becoming a nurse. She’s utterly bewildered in the culture change, grateful for the friend she makes and the friends from home who are also in London. She leaves behind her small family, including a mean spirited brother.
In a dual timeline, and 30+ years later, we meet Li-Li/Lily, Sook-Yin’s daughter. She’s got her own struggles, recovering from a recent bout of depression. Compared with her successful sister, Maya, she feels inadequate. This mirroring of mother and daughter continues throughout the book, in a thoughtful, subtle way.
Lily gets a mysterious letter, informing her that she’s inherited a large sum of money, from someone she doesn’t know. The caveat is that she needs to go to a specified address in Hong Kong, within the mourning period. Her sister Maya has had the same letter, and declares that she’s not interested in the cash. But Lily needs the money, her dream of becoming a concert pianist is no longer possible.
WIz Wharton’s writing is beautiful, and I could actually see this on screen as a miniseries - the contrast between London in the 1960s and Hong Kong on the eve of being returned to China, would be a really effective way to tell the story.
I thought it all wrapped up quite quickly - the last chapter or two seemed to be centred on tying up loose ends, in a little bit of a rush. It felt like it could have been a bit longer, as if there was something edited out or removed from the original narrative. I would have liked to have read more about the glamour in Hong Kong.
It reminded me of Yolk, specifically the relationship between the sisters. Also Brit Bennett’s The Better Half, and actually, Fleabag (the TV series), again, around the sister dynamic. This should definitely be more prominent on social media, and I’m surprised it’s not been promoted very much, I really enjoyed it.
Sook-Yin moves from Hong Kong to London in the 1960s, with a dream of becoming a nurse. She’s utterly bewildered in the culture change, grateful for the friend she makes and the friends from home who are also in London. She leaves behind her small family, including a mean spirited brother.
In a dual timeline, and 30+ years later, we meet Li-Li/Lily, Sook-Yin’s daughter. She’s got her own struggles, recovering from a recent bout of depression. Compared with her successful sister, Maya, she feels inadequate. This mirroring of mother and daughter continues throughout the book, in a thoughtful, subtle way.
Lily gets a mysterious letter, informing her that she’s inherited a large sum of money, from someone she doesn’t know. The caveat is that she needs to go to a specified address in Hong Kong, within the mourning period. Her sister Maya has had the same letter, and declares that she’s not interested in the cash. But Lily needs the money, her dream of becoming a concert pianist is no longer possible.
WIz Wharton’s writing is beautiful, and I could actually see this on screen as a miniseries - the contrast between London in the 1960s and Hong Kong on the eve of being returned to China, would be a really effective way to tell the story.
I thought it all wrapped up quite quickly - the last chapter or two seemed to be centred on tying up loose ends, in a little bit of a rush. It felt like it could have been a bit longer, as if there was something edited out or removed from the original narrative. I would have liked to have read more about the glamour in Hong Kong.
It reminded me of Yolk, specifically the relationship between the sisters. Also Brit Bennett’s The Better Half, and actually, Fleabag (the TV series), again, around the sister dynamic. This should definitely be more prominent on social media, and I’m surprised it’s not been promoted very much, I really enjoyed it.
nina_reads_books's review against another edition
3.0
Ghost Girl, Banana by Wiz Wharton is historical fiction focussed on a woman from Hong Kong who is exiled from her family to London and what happens once she marries an English man and has two daughters. It is a dual timeline with the chapters set in 1966 onwards told from the point of view of Sook-Yin Chen and her time in both Kowloon and London and then the chapters set in 1997 focussed on Sook-Yin’s adult daughter Lily. The title draws from this dual focus with Lily the Ghost Girl (a bi-racial woman who doesn’t know her cultural heritage) and Sook-Yin the Banana (only yellow on the outside).
In 1997 we learn that Sook-Yin died when Lily was a small child and she has lived in London with her dad and older sister ever since, estranged from all of her mother’s family. When Lily learns that she has been named as a beneficiary in the will of a rich Chinese stranger, she travels to Hong Kong to find out who this man was and how he was connected to her mother. In doing so she connects with her lost cultural identity and uncovers deep secrets about her family.
The premise of this book really appealed to me but I’m not sure that it fully delivered on its potential. While I enjoyed the themes presented in the novel such as mother-daughter relationships, cultural identity and feeling torn between two cultures, the execution didn’t work for me. The chapters are short which makes for a page turning read but it also felt like the story didn’t ever go deep enough. I found the inclusion of the male characters exasperating. Sook-Yin’s British husband and brother back in Hong Kong are both awful. In particular I found her husband a manipulative asshole! Some of Sook-Yin’s chapters were so drawn out and frustrating because of this.
Another aspect I found didn’t work was that Lily’s visit to Hong Kong coincided with the British handover of Hong Kong and while this had some interesting historical connections it felt like a tokenistic addition.
Overall this was a quick and easy read but it didn’t really grab me strongly enough to be a favourite.
Thank you to @hachetteaus for my #gifted copy.
In 1997 we learn that Sook-Yin died when Lily was a small child and she has lived in London with her dad and older sister ever since, estranged from all of her mother’s family. When Lily learns that she has been named as a beneficiary in the will of a rich Chinese stranger, she travels to Hong Kong to find out who this man was and how he was connected to her mother. In doing so she connects with her lost cultural identity and uncovers deep secrets about her family.
The premise of this book really appealed to me but I’m not sure that it fully delivered on its potential. While I enjoyed the themes presented in the novel such as mother-daughter relationships, cultural identity and feeling torn between two cultures, the execution didn’t work for me. The chapters are short which makes for a page turning read but it also felt like the story didn’t ever go deep enough. I found the inclusion of the male characters exasperating. Sook-Yin’s British husband and brother back in Hong Kong are both awful. In particular I found her husband a manipulative asshole! Some of Sook-Yin’s chapters were so drawn out and frustrating because of this.
Another aspect I found didn’t work was that Lily’s visit to Hong Kong coincided with the British handover of Hong Kong and while this had some interesting historical connections it felt like a tokenistic addition.
Overall this was a quick and easy read but it didn’t really grab me strongly enough to be a favourite.
Thank you to @hachetteaus for my #gifted copy.
ethel1995's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
I liked the story but I found the writing too floofy at times. You can just say “he bit into the apple” instead of “his pink mouth parted like the sea as he bit into the crisp tree bound fruit” you know? Descriptions are cool and all but it can just be a normal book too!
emily_madcharo's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bookofcinz's review
3.0
A page turner, with a cast of characters you want to hear more from
Wiz Wharton Ghost Girl Banana goes from the 1966 during the “Chinese Windrush” and 1997. During the 1966 we meet Sook-Yin who leaves Kowloon to go to London for a better life. Her family sends her off to restore their honor, make more money and help them at home. Sook-Yin must make a life in gloomy London, while being exposed to racism and trying to find community. She started her training as a nurse but things go south very fast.
Fast forward to 1997 we meet Lily who never got over the death of her mother. She goes through a rough patch during university and her bigger sister is constantly trying to protect her from everything. One day she receives a letter saying she has an inheritance but she must return Hong Kong to collect it. Of course she thinks it is a scam because nothing like this ever happens to her. With some digging Lily decides to go to Hong Kong to find out more about her past. What she finds, out shakes her reality.
I really enjoyed the storytelling in this book. I do have thing for alternating POV, especially when it is during different time periods. I loved how the author handled mother-daughter relationships and the theme of grief, loss and regret. I thought the ending was very rushed but overall, I did enjoy being in the pages of this book.
Wiz Wharton Ghost Girl Banana goes from the 1966 during the “Chinese Windrush” and 1997. During the 1966 we meet Sook-Yin who leaves Kowloon to go to London for a better life. Her family sends her off to restore their honor, make more money and help them at home. Sook-Yin must make a life in gloomy London, while being exposed to racism and trying to find community. She started her training as a nurse but things go south very fast.
Fast forward to 1997 we meet Lily who never got over the death of her mother. She goes through a rough patch during university and her bigger sister is constantly trying to protect her from everything. One day she receives a letter saying she has an inheritance but she must return Hong Kong to collect it. Of course she thinks it is a scam because nothing like this ever happens to her. With some digging Lily decides to go to Hong Kong to find out more about her past. What she finds, out shakes her reality.
I really enjoyed the storytelling in this book. I do have thing for alternating POV, especially when it is during different time periods. I loved how the author handled mother-daughter relationships and the theme of grief, loss and regret. I thought the ending was very rushed but overall, I did enjoy being in the pages of this book.
cosmiccam's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
hjf95's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
angelfish257's review
3.0
I was really looking forward to reading this, having seen quite a bit of hype around it.
The story is told over dual timelines, Sook-Yin in the 60s and her daughter Lily in the 90s. Sook-Yin moves to London to work as a nurse initially and we follow her as she tries to find her way through different jobs before ending up married to an Englishman due to unexpected pregnancy. Julian promises the world but seems to expect things to land at his feet with no effort or any expectation of a return from him.
In the UK we see how she is the victim of racism and discrimination (while her husband remains oblivious/pretends its not really happening) and after things come to a head there they move back to Hong Kong. Julian shows just how financially incompetent he is among other things and Sook-Yin is determined to provide for her daughters and create a safe space for them.
In the chapters with Lily we begin to understand how her memories of her mum have been slowly been eroded over time by her dad and sister. Lily looks like her mum whereas Maya is white-passing and this adds to Lily's feelings of isolation and being 'less than', especially as she considers Maya to be more successful.
When the mysterious letter arrives advising of an inheritance from a stranger which she must travel to Hong Kong to accept, Lily decides to take action and travels alone to find out more about her family, her mum and how she died.
I did not find this the easiest read, at times I struggled with the slow pace especially with Lily's chapters. I am glad I stuck with it as overall I did enjoy the story, it just did not engage me as much as I was expecting it to. I felt there were gaps that were never properly filled, such as Lily's relationship with her dad and how the discovery of his behaviour affected her memories/feelings toward him. We see a bit of her relationship with Maya towards the end, but I felt this could have been developed more.
I also felt Sook-Yin's brother was treated too leniently - when he finally admitted his reasoning for treating her so poorly there was no resolution. I guess I was hoping for some form of karmic intervention, but the same with Julian - he basically got away with his horrendous behaviour and learned nothing.
Lots of people have loved this book and I'm sure plenty more will - it just didn't engage me like I hoped it would.
The story is told over dual timelines, Sook-Yin in the 60s and her daughter Lily in the 90s. Sook-Yin moves to London to work as a nurse initially and we follow her as she tries to find her way through different jobs before ending up married to an Englishman due to unexpected pregnancy. Julian promises the world but seems to expect things to land at his feet with no effort or any expectation of a return from him.
In the UK we see how she is the victim of racism and discrimination (while her husband remains oblivious/pretends its not really happening) and after things come to a head there they move back to Hong Kong. Julian shows just how financially incompetent he is among other things and Sook-Yin is determined to provide for her daughters and create a safe space for them.
In the chapters with Lily we begin to understand how her memories of her mum have been slowly been eroded over time by her dad and sister. Lily looks like her mum whereas Maya is white-passing and this adds to Lily's feelings of isolation and being 'less than', especially as she considers Maya to be more successful.
When the mysterious letter arrives advising of an inheritance from a stranger which she must travel to Hong Kong to accept, Lily decides to take action and travels alone to find out more about her family, her mum and how she died.
I did not find this the easiest read, at times I struggled with the slow pace especially with Lily's chapters. I am glad I stuck with it as overall I did enjoy the story, it just did not engage me as much as I was expecting it to. I felt there were gaps that were never properly filled, such as Lily's relationship with her dad and how the discovery of his behaviour affected her memories/feelings toward him. We see a bit of her relationship with Maya towards the end, but I felt this could have been developed more.
I also felt Sook-Yin's brother was treated too leniently - when he finally admitted his reasoning for treating her so poorly there was no resolution. I guess I was hoping for some form of karmic intervention, but the same with Julian - he basically got away with his horrendous behaviour and learned nothing.
Lots of people have loved this book and I'm sure plenty more will - it just didn't engage me like I hoped it would.
kate66's review
4.0
4.5 stars
A great book. Thoroughly absorbing, different, harrowing at times but enjoyable.
I only knocked off half a star because the moves from one timeline to another came too fast at the beginning; I was just getting into one story when we jumped. Towards the middle of the book I became grateful for those quick changes.
Anyway the story is split between Lily in 1997 and her mother, Sook-Yin, from 1966 to 1977. It's a story about discovering who you are, where you fit in your world, love and betrayal. Lily was too young to remember her mother who died when she was four but a mysterious letter offering a huge inheritance gives Lily a chance to escape her fractured life to find out what really happened to her mother in Hong Kong.
This book started slow for me but it builds momentum throughout until I was racing through it, unable to pit it down until I polished off the second half in one sitting.
This may be Wiz Wharton's debut novel but I certainly hope it won't be her last. She has an undoubted talent for story telling and even though this was based on her own ancestry it became a novel through an obviously vivid imagination.
Highly recommended.
A great book. Thoroughly absorbing, different, harrowing at times but enjoyable.
I only knocked off half a star because the moves from one timeline to another came too fast at the beginning; I was just getting into one story when we jumped. Towards the middle of the book I became grateful for those quick changes.
Anyway the story is split between Lily in 1997 and her mother, Sook-Yin, from 1966 to 1977. It's a story about discovering who you are, where you fit in your world, love and betrayal. Lily was too young to remember her mother who died when she was four but a mysterious letter offering a huge inheritance gives Lily a chance to escape her fractured life to find out what really happened to her mother in Hong Kong.
This book started slow for me but it builds momentum throughout until I was racing through it, unable to pit it down until I polished off the second half in one sitting.
This may be Wiz Wharton's debut novel but I certainly hope it won't be her last. She has an undoubted talent for story telling and even though this was based on her own ancestry it became a novel through an obviously vivid imagination.
Highly recommended.
jessonthames's review
5.0
4.5 but then reading the acknowledgments pushed it up to 5 ⭐️ A recommended read, like it was to me.