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dunnadam's review against another edition
4.0
A heart-warming book, very engaging but a little lacking in narrative.
I loved Poh-Poh, the scenes with her made me remember times with my grandparents, times you never knew were fleeting until it was too late. I really enjoyed the Chinese customs with the spirits and seeing ghosts. The book mentions the family never let white people in and so it was great to have that peek behind the curtain.
I loved the woman mad at her daughter on page 70, "Stay here and die," Miss Chong said. "Dead Girl! Useless Girl!"
Could have used a little bit more to hold it together, occasionally I got lost. Overall though very well done.
I loved Poh-Poh, the scenes with her made me remember times with my grandparents, times you never knew were fleeting until it was too late. I really enjoyed the Chinese customs with the spirits and seeing ghosts. The book mentions the family never let white people in and so it was great to have that peek behind the curtain.
I loved the woman mad at her daughter on page 70, "Stay here and die," Miss Chong said. "Dead Girl! Useless Girl!"
Could have used a little bit more to hold it together, occasionally I got lost. Overall though very well done.
justabean_reads's review
3.5
This is a companion/follow up to Choy's first novel The Jade Peony, which was about the youngest three siblings of a Chinese family living in Vancouver on the eve of WWII. This book follows the older half-sibling, who was born in China, and how his experiences differ from the other three. I'm glad I read this so closely on the heels of the first novel, because while it covers a similar time period (starting a little earlier, ending a little later, taking a couple hundred extra pages to do it), Choy goes out of his way not to repeat material. A handful of scenes get told again, but for the most part, the reader is expected to go in knowing the other side of the story.
I appreciated the lack of "same scene from a new point of view" stuff, especially as those were the weakest parts of the book, and was glad to see that the story book had the same charm, humour and immersion in time and place as the first one. However, our hero in this outing just wasn't as interesting as his younger siblings, and throwing a love triangle into the mix didn't help his cause, so the book tended to drag. I'm glad to have spent more time in the world, but in the end, it didn't enchant me in the same way.
I appreciated the lack of "same scene from a new point of view" stuff, especially as those were the weakest parts of the book, and was glad to see that the story book had the same charm, humour and immersion in time and place as the first one. However, our hero in this outing just wasn't as interesting as his younger siblings, and throwing a love triangle into the mix didn't help his cause, so the book tended to drag. I'm glad to have spent more time in the world, but in the end, it didn't enchant me in the same way.
juicygreenmom's review
challenging
emotional
funny
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
4.5
druy10's review
emotional
reflective
sad
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
whatyouegg's review
3.0
I read this without knowing that it is a sequel to The Jade Peony, which I have not read but it is now on my list. This book had a lot of heart in the beginning but it seemed to fade as the pacing became uneven and felt a bit rushed. I still feel more drawn to the child version of the protagonist versus the teenager because the child's personality and development was expressed more clearly and impactfully. But I loved "The Old One" and it was interesting to imagine the lives of a Chinese family in 1930s Vancouver.
bibliophile_gurl's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
3.0
sammi_k's review
4.0
I read this when I was very young, but anytime I see this book my heart breaks. A significant novel from a Canadian author. I will have to re-read this again in the future as an adult.
blundershelf's review
4.0
My mum have me her copy of The Jade Peony when I was sixteen and it looms so large and gorgeous in my memory. Choy's prose is clear and unadorned and honest, and his characters are a joy to know.
kaneebli's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Grief, Death, and War
Minor: Child abuse, Rape, Suicide, Infidelity, and Abandonment