Good Luck Life: The Essential Guide to Chinese American Celebrations and Culture [Paperback]

Rosemary Gong (Author), Martin Yan (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 25, 2005

Good Luck Life is the first book to explain the meanings of Chinese rituals and to offer advice on when and how to plan for Chinese holidays and special occasions such as Chinese weddings, the Red Egg and Ginger party to welcome a new baby, significant birthdays, and the inevitable funeral. Packed with practical information, Good Luck Life contains an abundance of facts, legends, foods, old-village recipes, and quick planning guides for Chinese New Year, Clear Brightness, Dragon Boat, Mid-Autumn, and many other festivals.

Written with warmth and wit, Good Luck Life is beautifully designed as an easily accessible cultural guide that includes an explanation of the Lunar Calendar, tips on Chinese table etiquette for dining with confidence, and dos and don'ts from wise Auntie Lao, who recounts ancient Chinese beliefs and superstitions. This is your map for celebrating a good luck life.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Charming...a good buy.” (Library Journal )

“Good Luck Life is a great resource to Chinese traditions and celebrations, offering explanations of the customs and their symbolism.” (Ming Tsai, Food Network chef and author of Simply Ming )

“Good Luck Life is a cultural treasure chest - it’s a wonderful legacy to pass on to future generations.” (Martin Yan )

“Finally, a guidebook I can refer to for answers on how and why Chinese Americans celebrate and observe special occasions.” (Judy Yung, Professor of American Studies, University of California, Santa Cruz, and author of Unbound Feet: A Social History of Chinese Women in San Francisco )

About the Author

Rosemary Gong is a third-generation Chinese American. Born and raised in California, she and her family were the only Asians in their Central Valley town, school, and church. A graduate of San Jose State University's School of Journalism and Mass Communications, she moved to San Francisco to join Saatchi and Saatchi Corporate Communications Group. Chinatown was her choice of residence -- just around the corner from her grandparents. There, she developed an affinity for the places and the customs inherent in her culture. Rosemary shamefully admits her Chinese vocabulary totals around twenty-nine words. Thus, she considers one of her greatest achievements to be ordering a plate of noodles in her native Cantonese.

Product Details

• Paperback: 270 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks (January 25, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060735368
• ISBN-13: 978-0060735364
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #17,656 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #2 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Holidays
  • #7 in Books > Cookbooks, Food & Wine > Regional & International > Asian > Chinese

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating and fun to read!, January 25, 2005

By 

Paola Gianturco (Mill Valley, California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Good Luck Life: The Essential Guide to Chinese American Celebrations and Culture (Paperback)

A treasure chest...and a treasure, Good Luck Life is a compelling collection that's as fun to read as it is fascinating.

You'll discover:
*Rosemary Gong's graceful poetry and memories of Chinese-American celebrations
* Legends and lore---secrets and significance---facts and history-to define each holiday
* Recipes and check lists for creating your own authentic Chinese-American occasion

My son and his Chinese-American wife just had a baby. Thanks to Good Luck Life, this Italian-American grandmother is already planning a Red Egg and Ginger Party to welcome her first grandchild! Starting from almost no knowledge about Chinese-American traditions, I was delighted to discover this rich resource; you will be, too!

Paola Gianturco

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You don't have to be Chinese-American to love this book!, January 28, 2005

By 

Random reader (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Good Luck Life: The Essential Guide to Chinese American Celebrations and Culture (Paperback)

It's packed with information, from practical tips on what to do when you're invited to a Chinese-American wedding to how to get better service in a Chinese restaurant. Great stories and legends, too -- the book will make you far more aware of the depth of this fascinating culture. Highly recommended.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent book for chinese culture and celbrations, March 10, 2006

By 

Galen Gee (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Good Luck Life: The Essential Guide to Chinese American Celebrations and Culture (Paperback)

this is an excellent book in explaining whys, whats and hows in chinese cultural events. being 1/2 euro caucasian and 1/2 chinese and growing up with grandmother and father from china, i was always curious to why we did certain things and the reason why things are a certain way. this book explains all in detail and it also has EXCELLENT RECIPES for certain all time favorite dishes...this book made everything i grew up with become clear.
this is a keeper on the self for future reference and to share with other family members and friends.