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"Beautifully written....It renders a complex and complete human world, which by the end we have learned to love."-The Boston Book Review Chinatown, Vancouver, in the late 1930s and '40s provides the backdrop for this poignant first novel, told through the vivid reminiscences of the three younger children
… More »"Beautifully written....It renders a complex and complete human world, which by the end we have learned to love."-The Boston Book Review Chinatown, Vancouver, in the late 1930s and '40s provides the backdrop for this poignant first novel, told through the vivid reminiscences of the three younger children of an immigrant Chinese family. The siblings grapple with their individual identities in a changing world, wresting autonomy from the strictures of history, family, and poverty. Sister Jook-Liang dreams of becoming Shirley Temple and escaping the rigid, old ways of China. Adopted Second Brother Jung-Sum, struggling with his sexuality and the trauma of his childhood in China, finds his way through boxing. Third Brother Sekky, who never feels comfortable with the multitude of Chinese dialects swirling around him, becomes obsessed with war games, and learns a devastating lesson about what war really means when his 17-year-old babysitter dates a Japanese man. Mingling with life in Canada and the horror of war are the magic, ghosts, and family secrets of Poh-Poh, or Grandmother, who is the heart and pillar of the family. Side by side, her three grandchildren survive hardships and heartbreaks with grit and humor. Like the jade peony of the title, Choy's storytelling is at once delicate, powerful, and lovely. The Jade Peonywas selected by theLiterary Review of Canadaas one of the "100 Most Important Books in Canadian History" in 2005. It was also an American Library Association Notable Book of the Year in 1998, and was winner of the 1995 Trillium Award (shared with Margaret Atwood).
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Summary
Add a SummaryThree Chinese Canadian siblings tell the story of their very different childhoods in Vancouvers's Chinatown before and during World War II.
Story of the life of a Chinese immigrant family through the eyes of second brother, third brother and only sister. It follows many aspects of Chinese tradition, such as superstition, while touching upon the war between China and Japan.
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Author Wayson Choy
Samantha Nutt discusses The Jade Peony
CBC Canada Reads celebrity panelist, Dr. Samantha Nutt, discusses her choice, The Jade Peony by Wayson Choy
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Add a CommentChoy’s first novel reads like a memoir and is a collection of stories about a family living in Vancouver’s Chinatown before and during World War II. Three siblings experience very different childhoods as they grow up amongst the strict structures of a traditional Chinese family struggling with poverty and a rapidly changing world. Sister Jook-Liang is entranced by her hero Shirley Temple, while her adopted brother Jung-Sum struggles with his sexuality and their brother Sekky becomes obsessed with war games. Stepmother is a house servant and concubine who gradually assumes the role of mother but can never achieve full status in the home. The complexity of the extended family is beautifully portrayed by Choy and his descriptions of wartime Vancouver are memorable.
Excellent novel deals with so many important topics. Not only that, it gives a glimpse into life in Vancouver during the 30s and 40s.
Must read!
It is a story told from three different perspectives that are all children of a Chinese immigrant family in Vancouver BC before and during WWII and how they are coping with a new culture, language and they fit in whilst their traditional Grandma (Poh Poh) is trying to ensure her grandchildren honour their heritage and culture and not be assimilated to their new country. A short read.
This book greatly illustrates the poverty and discrimination that the Chinese-Canadians went through during the Depression. Each character longs to be accepted in their own way, but it's all tied together. The language was a little difficult for me to understand; there's a lot of similies and metaphors, but if you don't struggle with descriptive vocabulary, it's a really good read.
Great book, really tackles many issues related with identity and what it means to be Chinese-Canadian. The historical backdrop of Vancouver during WWII to really adds to the story but never draws away from the characters themselves.
One of the 2 finalists in the Canada Reads 2010 competition losing to Nikolski. Authentic-feeling Chinese immigrant experience set in Vancouver during the 2nd world war. I liked it a lot more than Lisa See's Shanghai Girls.
Lovely, touching, poignant. Very beautiful book, with interesting structure. Reminded me of Shanghai Girls. Interesting to compare the two books. This would make a good winner for Canada Reads 2010, but I'm still hoping for Nikolski to win.
Book club.
A well crafted book that looks at a Chinese-Canadian and their battle for identity. A must read for all--especially for Chinese Canadians.