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Jade Peony
Jade Peony | Wayson Choy
8 posts | 14 read | 15 to read
Chinatown, Vancouver, of the early 194Os provides the backdrop for this fresh, uplifting, award-winning first novel, told through the reminiscences of the three young children of an immigrant Chinese family. Jook-Liang is the "useless girl" of the family, who dreams of becoming Shirley Temple and escaping the rigid, old ways of China. Jung-Sum is the adopted middle son who triumphs over loss and prejudice through boxing, and soon finds himself grappling with a bewildering sexual attraction. Lastly, Sekky - the sickly youngest child - surprises the entire family by teaching them how to mourn, and how to go on living. Finally, there are the secrets and magic of two respected elders: Old Wong, "The Monkey King, " whose past returns to threaten his present and 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, discovering a new land without forgetting their common ground.
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LeahBergen
Jade Peony | Wayson Choy
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@BarbaraBB ! I almost forgot to enter your #ThinkLocalGiveAway!

This Canadian novel is set in Vancouver‘s Chinatown in the 1940s and tells the story of three siblings growing up as immigrants when their family is still very much a part of ‘Old China‘.

Vancouver is not my hometown (it‘s in the next province) but I‘ve spent a lot of time there (and in Chinatown, as well). This is a beautiful first novel and I highly recommend it.

BiblioLitten Those shoes😍 4y
LeahBergen @BiblioLitten Aren‘t they cool? They‘re 4-inch little handmade lotus (bound foot) shoes that I bought in Asia years ago. Most people think they‘re hideous. 😆😆 (edited) 4y
vivastory Why would you enter against me? I thought we were friends. 😜 4y
See All 12 Comments
LeahBergen @vivastory Why, you rotten... wait... I think there are two winners?? 😆😆😆 4y
BiblioLitten Very cool! I would totally buy them if I ever see. 😍 4y
vivastory Oh, yeah I see now you're right. I guess I won't block you 😆 4y
LeahBergen @vivastory Okay, I‘ll let it go. THIS time. 😂😂 4y
MsMelissa I‘ve never read this one. Those shoes! Ever since reading about foot binding in Snow Flower and the Secret Fan I inwardly cringe when I see little shoes like that 😬 4y
Reviewsbylola Those are such a cool piece of history. 4y
Leftcoastzen The tiny shoes ! I read Snow Flower & the Secret Fan . Fascinating, cringeworthy, a complicated history. 4y
KVanRead This is one my mom loves, but it‘s still on my ever growing TBR. 4y
BarbaraBB I love the picture and the book seems great! Thanks for entering my friend 💕(sorry, @vivastory 😉) 4y
83 likes6 stack adds12 comments
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Augustdana
The Jade Peony | Wayson Choy
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Very sad to hear of the passing of Wayson Choy. He came and talked to my English class after we read his book. He stayed after and signed all of our copies. During his talk, I remember him saying something along the lines of: This life we have is so sweet, anything else after is icing on the cake.

Riveted_Reader_Melissa I love the way he signed that! 6y
Augustdana @Riveted_Reader_Melissa me too! He signed over a hundred that morning! 6y
9 likes2 comments
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Bibliogeekery
The Jade Peony | Wayson Choy
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RIP Wayson Choy. Thank you for your beautiful words! ❤️

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Gailthurber
The Jade Peony | Wayson Choy
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Ok to get the "limelook" I may have had to do a weee bit of photoshop @LeahBergen #challengeaccepted

LeahBergen Haha!! 7y
LeahBergen And I loved The Jade Peony. 7y
Gailthurber And in the end it was mint green? 7y
shawnmooney The Jade Peony ❤️❤️❤️❤️ 7y
17 likes1 stack add4 comments
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laytonwoman3rd
The Jade Peony | Wayson Choy
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Award-winning story of an immigrant Chinese family in Vancouver, BC, in 1941, struggling to find the balance between Old Ways and Canadian ways. Similar to The Hotel at the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, but better, I think. #immigrantexperience, #catsoflitsy

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DreesReads
The Jade Peony | Wayson Choy
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Pickpick

Three Chinese-Canadian siblings narrate defining times in their childhoods during the Depression and World War II in Vancouver. Relationships are key, and all have strong relationships with those other than their mom and dad. The ending is a punch to the gut though 😕

shawnmooney ♥️♥️♥️♥️ 8y
22 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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DreesReads
The Jade Peony | Wayson Choy
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Waiting for the game to start. Running behind...

shawnmooney Such a tender-hearted novel! ♥️♥️ 8y
19 likes1 comment
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shawnmooney
The Jade Peony | Wayson Choy
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A writer I like very very much who I would consider to be underhyped is Wayson Choy, a gay Chinese Canadian novelist and memoirist, now pushing 80, whose books have never gotten the attention they so richly deserve--especially outside of Canada. I would suggest starting with The Jade Peony (a tender, meditative, coming-of-age novel set in WWII-era Vancouver) and going from there.
#AugustPhotoChallenge
#UnderhypedBooks

BookishFeminist Great choice! I need to read her stuff. 8y
Lindy I second that! Choy's writing reflects his huge heart. 8y
shawnmooney @BookishFeminist I hope you enjoy HIS writing :-) 8y
See All 11 Comments
DreesReads I just requested it from the library! I've been letting my queue run down (intentionally) and after a couple of disappointing reads I need something random to me. 8y
shawnmooney @AudreyMorris Sweet! I hope it's a book-slump-ending read for ya! 8y
Dragon Wayson Choy gave a great talk at the Chinatown Lioness banquet . He was so interesting and charming 8y
BookishFeminist @shawnmooney OMG sorry! I promise that was a typo. 😳 I've seen you post a book of his before and knew this. Good lord, maybe I need to start switching it up a little more and read more male writers again! LOL 8y
shawnmooney @BookishFeminist Ha ha - no worries, and certainly no offense taken. Old queen that he is, Wayson Choy would probably cackle at the pronoun switch! 8y
LeahBergen Omg! I was going to choose The Jade Peony today, too! I've read all of these and love him. I've been to a few readings of his and he signs with beautiful calligraphic flowers and such. ❤️ 8y
Bibliogeekery Love Wayson Choy! 8y
Sue Thank you - added to my TBR! 8y
40 likes5 stack adds11 comments