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A review by jenbsbooks
The Chinese Groove by Kathryn Ma
4.25
I enjoyed this so much more than I thought I would going in. I picked it up in physical format from a library sale. Meant for my LFL182597, I figured I'd give it a read first, even though it didn't really call to me (not the blurb, title or cover). Sometimes going in with low expectations is a good thing! I was able to get the audio and Kindle copy from the library, and I went primarily with audio. I appreciated the accents in the audio, although some of the voices weren't completely consistent, and a character named Yu (pronounced "you" and me hearing it that way much of the time) made it a tad confusing in parts.
1st person/past tense, very easy/conversational tone. Just the slightest (intentional I think) feeling of "English as a second language" ... some phrasing not exactly as most would put out. I think this is actually where the book really stood out for me, the language Shelly uses, the alliteration and rhyme at times, it just tickled me! Listening to the audio, I probably didn't note them all, but I stopped to find and highlight some of them: Being gangly made me prone to getting tangly. The crease of cajolery, the parabola of persuasion. A pair too proud to parley, too boxed-in to bend. Mischief-making monkey-wrencher. Coming home empty-Henried. MVP , Minimum Viable Politeness. The Chinese groove kerflopped.
These little phrases made me smile and really enjoy the story. It was fun to follow the MC as he thought he was coming to America, to wealth and ease, and found things not exactly as expected. It was enjoyable and there were things that could be addressed for further discussion (bookclub, etc) ...
I've really enjoyed the trend of author's/publishers including "discussion questions" with their books. Just as I've loved joining a couple a book clubs, or even helping my sons through some English class assignments, sometimes being nudged to delve a little deeper can up the appreciation. Discussion question can do that, even on my own ... None were included IN the book, but I found some online:
1. There are multiple clues that Shelley could be an unreliable narrator. How did you feel when Shelley addressed the reader directly? Did it change your feelings toward the novel in any way?
2. The ‘Chinese groove’ has a multitude of different meanings and uses. How would you best describe its meaning?
3. How does Shelley and his story change your perception of modern Chinese immigration in America? What about Yu and Deng’s journeys?
4. Do you feel there’s an equivalent of the ‘Chinese groove’ in your own culture? While reading, did you find yourself thinking of your own familial customs and norms? Or how you might’ve felt in Shelley’s shoes?
5. What is the meaning behind Shelley’s ‘black tummy fish’?
6. How do you feel about storytelling as a theme in the novel? From Shelley’s father’s stories for him and his mother; Aviva’s for the kids at the library; Ted’s freelancing and ghostwriting; to Shelley’s own bedtime stories for Leo and his daughter, how are each of these forms of storytelling connected? How are they different?
7. When Shelley is at his lowest, Cook gives him some powerful insight. Do you agree that genius comes from suffering? What are some other perspectives? Do you see this reflected in any other characters?
8. There are a couple of chapters in the novel that stray from the established format: Chapter 11 “Once Shunned, Chinese American Grocer Now Beloved” and Chapter 18 “The Story of the Peach Blossom Forest.” How do you feel about them? Do you think they help enrich the story? If so, how?
9. The idea of East versus West plays a big role in the novel as Shelley navigates his new life in America while processing his past in China. His world view and the way he lived completely changed. What are some of the biggest changes you saw in Shelley during his time in America? What stayed the same?
10. How do you think the treatment of the elderly differs between the East and the West? How did it make you feel when Henry said, “Old people in America, they turn invisible to the rest”?
11. What do you think about the differences between believing in fate and a higher power versus manifesting your own destiny?
12. Shelley’s Three Achievables are Family, Love, and Fortune. Do you think he ultimately succeeded, and do you think his ideas of success changed throughout the novel?
13. After his two-week stay at Ted and Aviva's, Shelley struggles to find a place to live, finally ending up sleeping in the park. How are the themes of housing and home developed in the novel? Are Shelley's difficulties unique to his situation? At one point, Shelley says, "once a body has a home (you know as well as I), the momentous things in life that one profoundly desires feel within fingertip reach." Do you agree? What might you say to Shelley on this subject?
14. How does Ted’s relationship with Henry compare to that of Shelley’s with his father? Do you think they serve as parallels or foils?
15. In the novel there are many characters dealing with grief. How does loss affect the characters and their relationships with one another?
Credit: https://sfpl.org/books-and-media/read/one-city-one-book-chinese-groove
There was a little proFanity (x6) and some mention of sex, but nothing explicit/descriptive.
There were 31 chapters, listed numerically and they also had headers (included in the Kindle and audiobook). Per the new norm ... the physical copy doesn't even provide a TOC.
1st person/past tense, very easy/conversational tone. Just the slightest (intentional I think) feeling of "English as a second language" ... some phrasing not exactly as most would put out. I think this is actually where the book really stood out for me, the language Shelly uses, the alliteration and rhyme at times, it just tickled me! Listening to the audio, I probably didn't note them all, but I stopped to find and highlight some of them: Being gangly made me prone to getting tangly. The crease of cajolery, the parabola of persuasion. A pair too proud to parley, too boxed-in to bend. Mischief-making monkey-wrencher. Coming home empty-Henried. MVP , Minimum Viable Politeness. The Chinese groove kerflopped.
These little phrases made me smile and really enjoy the story. It was fun to follow the MC as he thought he was coming to America, to wealth and ease, and found things not exactly as expected. It was enjoyable and there were things that could be addressed for further discussion (bookclub, etc) ...
I've really enjoyed the trend of author's/publishers including "discussion questions" with their books. Just as I've loved joining a couple a book clubs, or even helping my sons through some English class assignments, sometimes being nudged to delve a little deeper can up the appreciation. Discussion question can do that, even on my own ... None were included IN the book, but I found some online:
1. There are multiple clues that Shelley could be an unreliable narrator. How did you feel when Shelley addressed the reader directly? Did it change your feelings toward the novel in any way?
2. The ‘Chinese groove’ has a multitude of different meanings and uses. How would you best describe its meaning?
3. How does Shelley and his story change your perception of modern Chinese immigration in America? What about Yu and Deng’s journeys?
4. Do you feel there’s an equivalent of the ‘Chinese groove’ in your own culture? While reading, did you find yourself thinking of your own familial customs and norms? Or how you might’ve felt in Shelley’s shoes?
5. What is the meaning behind Shelley’s ‘black tummy fish’?
6. How do you feel about storytelling as a theme in the novel? From Shelley’s father’s stories for him and his mother; Aviva’s for the kids at the library; Ted’s freelancing and ghostwriting; to Shelley’s own bedtime stories for Leo and his daughter, how are each of these forms of storytelling connected? How are they different?
7. When Shelley is at his lowest, Cook gives him some powerful insight. Do you agree that genius comes from suffering? What are some other perspectives? Do you see this reflected in any other characters?
8. There are a couple of chapters in the novel that stray from the established format: Chapter 11 “Once Shunned, Chinese American Grocer Now Beloved” and Chapter 18 “The Story of the Peach Blossom Forest.” How do you feel about them? Do you think they help enrich the story? If so, how?
9. The idea of East versus West plays a big role in the novel as Shelley navigates his new life in America while processing his past in China. His world view and the way he lived completely changed. What are some of the biggest changes you saw in Shelley during his time in America? What stayed the same?
10. How do you think the treatment of the elderly differs between the East and the West? How did it make you feel when Henry said, “Old people in America, they turn invisible to the rest”?
11. What do you think about the differences between believing in fate and a higher power versus manifesting your own destiny?
12. Shelley’s Three Achievables are Family, Love, and Fortune. Do you think he ultimately succeeded, and do you think his ideas of success changed throughout the novel?
13. After his two-week stay at Ted and Aviva's, Shelley struggles to find a place to live, finally ending up sleeping in the park. How are the themes of housing and home developed in the novel? Are Shelley's difficulties unique to his situation? At one point, Shelley says, "once a body has a home (you know as well as I), the momentous things in life that one profoundly desires feel within fingertip reach." Do you agree? What might you say to Shelley on this subject?
14. How does Ted’s relationship with Henry compare to that of Shelley’s with his father? Do you think they serve as parallels or foils?
15. In the novel there are many characters dealing with grief. How does loss affect the characters and their relationships with one another?
Credit: https://sfpl.org/books-and-media/read/one-city-one-book-chinese-groove
There was a little proFanity (x6) and some mention of sex, but nothing explicit/descriptive.
There were 31 chapters, listed numerically and they also had headers (included in the Kindle and audiobook). Per the new norm ... the physical copy doesn't even provide a TOC.