The Jade Peony [Hardcover]

Wayson Choy (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: Picador USA (1995)
• ASIN: B001PNK9R0
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great tale of the pull between old and new culture, January 12, 2005

By 

Elizabeth (Calgary, Alberta Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Jade Peony (Paperback)

I was initially drawn to read The Jade Peony by a review in the National Post about Watson Choy's new novel, All That Matters. I have always been fascinated with literature about Asia and Asian culture (such as Life and Death in Shanghai and Wild Swans ) and novels about Asian-Canadian life, such as Denise Chong's Concubine's Children have held a particular appeal to me. Hence my interest in this book.

I found The Jade Peony enjoyable for two reasons. First, it is a tale of Vancouver's Chinatown during the Second World War. It gave me a glimpse into what life would have been like in this city and in Canada during that time. In particular, the forbidden relationship between a teenage Chinese girl and a Japanese boy really demonstrates the cultural struggle faced by Canadians during the war. The lines between friend and foe are confused by fear of dreadful events far away.

Second, it carefully and successfully expresses the delicate dance that immigrants and their children go through when they move to Canada: how to retain the old way and still embrace the new life. In The Jade Peony, we see these first-generation Chinese-Canadians want to run from the old culture and the older generation vainly grasping to keep them aware. It is hard to decide who should win out, because to change is required for survival but so much is dying out. (I suppose it is what every parent and grandparent goes through as they see their children grow up and away.)

If you have ever lived in or near Vancouver, read this book. If you have ever experienced the duality felt by anyone who immigrates to a new country or who is born of immigrant parents, read this book. If you have experienced or seen neither of these things, read this book to get a good sense of what you have missed.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful ...., April 29, 2000

By 

"peng-ah" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Jade Peony (Paperback)

THis is an amazing book! MY father grew up in Chinatown (Vancouver) at appox. the same time, it's nice to read and try to understand his early life.

I read the first part in a matter of days. It was so powerful that I cried, in the middle of the waiting room at my doctors office. I still have not read the entire book as I'm scared to experence such powerful emotions, in public. I will finish it though.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fantastic Read, March 17, 2005

By 

fiona (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Jade Peony (Paperback)

The Jade Peony is a poignant tale about three Chinese children growing up in Vancouver's Chinatown during world war 2.

Wayson Choy's writing is beautiful, searing, and eloquent. This book will keep you hooked. No wonder it won the Trillium Award.

I had the honor of meeting Wayson Choy. He is a delightful person, and his talent definitely shines through in his works.

Highly recommended to anyone!