(a delayed review, i thought I'd posted my review here but i hadn't!)
There are two things i would like to write about Spinster Kang by Zoë S. Roy.

The first thing is, I was first blown away by the magnificent attention to detail that the author, Ms. Roy, put into each setting and each character.

There was something so delicate yet lavish about the writing, and it immediately drew me in. I was and am in love with it. Having never read any of Roy’s other work’s, this was an excellent introduction.

The second thing about Spinster Kang was, of course, the story. It was so endearing and heartbreaking. A story of love and family, of immigration and hope. What more is there in a person’s life than wanting to put forth a life in which you can 100% say you have embraced it for you?

To me, that’s what this book was about. Becoming who you are and being comfortable about it. It wasn’t all cut and dry, the messy parts were heartbreaking and convoluted. It’s hard to really sum this book up and really appreciate everything it was for me.

The author herself can attest to how hard it was to get this review from me —between schoolwork, life, and emotionally digesting this book it truly took awhile —and I sincerely and wholeheartedly apologize, and in that same breath I wholeheartedly and sincerely thank you for the opportunity to read your book for this review!

I recommend this to everyone, no matter what genre you usually read. Give this a try, it’s something else. ( )

Spinster Kang is the story of a 30-something Chinese woman who immigrated to Canada in the hopes of building a life for herself in a new country. In the early part of the novel, we are introduced to Kang and follow her through her daily life in Toronto. We learn of her struggles to find and keep suitable, affordable housing and a job that pays well enough for her to be self-supporting as a student. As we follow the ins and outs of her struggles, we learn that when Kang was a girl in China, her older sister was raped. The rape and the social outcomes her sister experienced had a profound impact on Kang to the point where she developed a fear of men. We learn that in China she was called a spinster because her lack of interest in dating and marriage led her to be single into her third decade. We soon come to better understand why it was important for Kang to begin a new life for herself in a country where women have more options. As the story progresses, Kang finally finds lodging with an aging Russian immigrant called Tania. Tania is a single woman and retired academic who welcomes Kang into her home and treats her with kindness and hospitality. To help Kang financially, Tania offers her the job of proofreading her memoir. Kang is soon drawn into the story of Tania's early life in Russia and becomes intrigued by the depiction of unrequited love. Through the reading of the memoir and interacting with Tania and her nephew, Kang is eventually swept off her feet by both Tania's love story and a new friendship. Soon many of the fears and anxieties that she carried with her from China fell away as she gradually immersed herself in the mysteries of Tania's story and a newly formed relationship. To quell her growing curiosity, she travelled to Russia to see first-hand Tania's home and the setting for the love story depicted in the memoir. While in Russia, Kang both resolves a mystery she discovered in Tania's memoir and finds a romance of her own. She returns to Canada as a changed woman with a new life ahead of her.
This novel draws readers into the life of Kang and evokes concern for this innocent and somewhat naïve woman living in a large, cosmopolitan city. Yet, Kang proves herself to be strong, highly resilient and determined to succeed in her new life. As the story progresses, relevant and interesting historical and social details about Chinese and Russian life and culture are woven into the narrative. While Kang and other characters experience hardships and tragedies, the writing never becomes gloomy or heavy. Instead, the misfortunes are presented as part of the fabric of life and sometimes as a motivation or the cause of much of the action in the story.
Overall, this is a readable and enjoyable story which may be of particular interest to women who enjoy both a love story and learning about life in other countries. ( )

This story is about an immigration girl Kang who travel to Canada for life. She is fortunate to live a pretty smooth life no matter career or personal relationship. She has many nice and friend people helping with. And she is very enthusiastic and energetic about her living in Canada. Early 21 st centuary, it’s an very good age for those foreigner people to live very decently in a friendly country Canada. She has two part time jobs and trying to involve in a teaching program.
The real part of the story is that there’s another story intertwined in this story.
Kang has to find a place to live. It’s because her roommate has a boyfriend. And Kang feel very uneasy to live with a girl who has a boyfriend. Partly because that Kang has a very painful memory back home. It’s because that her sister get raped. Partly because she’s in the foreign country, she has to have a fully economic foundation for her to accept a man in her life.
So the first roommate she found is Nancy a very helpful woman, during the period time that SAS prevail in china, Canada was very much affected too. So Chinese people is a little discriminated. So Nancy help her with make up to hide the identity that she’s a Chinese. But what upset and scared Kang was that one night she found out that Nancy was gay. So she has to look for another place to live.
She is very fortunate to find this Russian professor Tania. She is willing to rent her place for free to Kang. Only if Kang can help with her housework. So Kang is lucky to live with Tania. What dramatic thing is that she change her attitude to accept a guy Brian into her life. Brian is a nephew of Tania. He is happy to meet with Kang. When Kang first met with him In Tania’s house because of water pipe accident. She start to be impressed by him, when later when Tania as Kang to read proof her book, she dig out a most importantly story in her life. This also strengthen her relationship with Brain, finally they decide to hold hands together, indeed they hold the hands by the way holding a wreath Brain made for Kang together, this equally means they choose their life together.
Tania’s story is about her early stage of life back in Moscow. He book wrote about a lover she met when she was home. The lover is a Chinese communist who study in Moscow. But under the pressure of the communist party he has to end up his study early. Fascinated by the story also out of curiosity of her father’s really experience in Moscow. Kang decide to travel to Moscow. Brain is feel afraid to go to Moscow. Because his parents died in this plane accident. But under the persuasion also affected by their love, Brain decides to go with Kang. They eventually went together and find the secret tube that Tanis buried when she was in Moscow. The information in the tune reveal that Tania’s lover true birthday. It turned out the lover is truly Kang’s father.
This is an easy understood story. It’s clearly written revealing a lot of fact about the time when Chinese and Russian are two big buddies. Their relationship has involved so much also affecting the people who live in that period of time. They exchange a lot of communication both in language and culture. It sound it still influence this generation in early 21st century.
It’s a beautiful memory. ( )

I really love this story its very empowering. Because of Kang's past well its hard and sad, but it becomes very interesting and funny when it comes to tell about her love story. I really enjoyed reading Spinster Kang. Zoe Roy does a amazing job in to creating a compelling story. I am very grateful that I've had the chance to read this amazing book. I definitely recommend this read. it is very beautifully written.

I got this book from a LibraryThing giveaway. Love Love Love It. ( )

Such a beautifully written book. The story is endearing and empowering at the same time. ( )