The Jade Peony, by Wayson Choy

Set in Vancouver’s Chinatown in 1930s and ’40s, The Jade Peony combines the stories of three Chinese-Canadian siblings Jook-Liang (Only Sister), Jung-Sum (Second Brother), and Sek-Lung (Third Brother) at pivotal moments in their lives. These kinds of stories are often referred to as “coming-of-age” stories, though in this case they are much more. Appropriately enough [...]

Read Full Post »

The Carnivore, by Mark Sinnett

Reading The Carnivore was an interesting experience for me, because I’ve never been so engrossed in a story centered on characters I couldn’t stand. Both of the protagonists teetered on the border of unbearable, and perhaps it was because I anxiously wanted to see what abyss they’d sink into next, but I just couldn’t get [...]

Read Full Post »

Pioneery Preserves

I was reading an article in this Saturday’s Globe on the canning/preserving craze that’s sweeping the nation, and it re-ignited a simmering desire I’ve had to read a good pioneer-living novel. Because while the 18 uses of one hog or the healing properties of the cranberry make some people run for the hills, I find [...]

Read Full Post »