Reading Asian Canada

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Reading Asian Canada

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1betterthanchocolate
Modifié : Fév 26, 2007, 5:42 am

What do you love about Asian Canadian writing? the Ascan lit scene? Which book, writer or literary experience defined your engagement with Asian Canadian literature? Where has it been and where is it going?

Whether you are a hard core academic in the field or an interested reader, please share your experiences here.

Added on: Bookishbunny, you suggested the term Canasian, and perhaps we can hyphenate As(aje)/Can to make sure it doesn't get mistaken phonetically for something else. Is it an official term? I don't think so; but I have heard the term used on the street in casual chat about Asian Canadian writing.

Madeline, you suggested I recommend some specific books or authors. For me, I'm always on the look-out for new books by the following authors:

Rita Wong (Monkey Puzzle) to see if she has any new poetry out;
Jen Lam (Serial Cockroach) to see if she got published by a larger press and has written or performed new stuff;
Evelyn Lau to monitor any new writing directions;
Jim Wong Chu to see if I can pick up a copy of one of his earlier books of poetry;
Any new poets;
Any new voices.

How about you? How do you read this particular genre?

2SqueakyChu
Fév 16, 2007, 2:34 pm

What is Ascan literature? What authors are you yalking about? Can you recommend some specific books?

3bookishbunny
Fév 16, 2007, 3:41 pm

Is Ascan an official word? Canasian may be better. It's harder to confuse it with a...um...cruder phrase.

4brin1956 Premier message
Fév 17, 2007, 1:04 am

I loved the concubine's children by Denise Chong Very real and easy to read. A true story about a Chinese concubine's life in Canada seen through the eyes of her daughter.

Brin1956

5xiaolung
Fév 20, 2007, 11:08 pm

Lets see – as a Canadian Asian, I recommend the following:

Wayson Choy’s The Jade Peony or All That Matters – these are contemporary looks at Canada’s largest Chinatown – Vancouver.

Hiromi Goto – Hopeful Monsters

Joy Kogawa – Obasan and its sequel Emily Kato – a good novel about the Japanese internment during World War II and its aftermath

David Rotenberg – he has written a five novel series about Det. Zhong Fong of Shanghai. This series is on hiatus while he currently writes a long multi-generational novel about Shanghai.

6SqueakyChu
Modifié : Fév 20, 2007, 11:46 pm

--> 5

Joy Kogawa – Obasan and its sequel Emily Kato – a good novel about the Japanese internment during World War II and its aftermath

I guess I'll start with that one because I'm on a bookring for it.

7Airycat
Modifié : Fév 21, 2007, 2:53 am

Don't mind me. I'm just putting the titles and authors on the Touchstone list at the right.

Denise Chong

Wayson Choy The Jade Peony All That Matters

Hiromi GotoHopeful Monsters

Joy KogawaObasan Emily Kato

David Rotenberg

Joy KogawaObasan Emily Kato

8betterthanchocolate
Modifié : Fév 26, 2007, 5:42 am

Yes 1956 (message 4), I really loved The Concubine's Children by Denise Chong. Of all the books in its genre I've read (or skimmed through), this one is definitely one of the best I've come across. I particularly enjoyed Chong's narratives of growing up in British Columbia Chinatowns. Amy Tan's novel The Hundred Secret Senses seems to echo the same theme but I always go back to Chong's book for the real thing.

9betterthanchocolate
Modifié : Fév 28, 2007, 10:39 am

Ah yes! Here's a great gem I picked up this past summer: Judy Fong Bates' latest novel, Midnight at the Dragon Cafe. It's a coming of age tale of a young Chinese Canadian girl growing up in small town Ontario. Vivid description of small town life twinned with a fresh new take on first generation experience make for a good read.

I also recently revisited Stuart Mclean's narrated story, "Kenny Wong's Practical Jokes," from his 2002 Vinyl Cafe recordings. I'm a fan and always laugh out loud either listening or reading. ("Dave cooks the turkey" was one crazy subway ride!) It's a great story. I haven't gotten around to figuring out if it's in print, too. Anyone know?

10torontoc
Avr 1, 2007, 8:47 am

Hello
Just visiting your group but I would like to recommend Madeleine Thien 's book of short stories Simple Recipes

11betterthanchocolate
Avr 14, 2007, 11:17 am

Thanks, torontoc, I'd like to add Thien's book to my list of asian canadian authors to look out for.

12Oryphany
Sep 24, 2012, 1:00 am

>4 brin1956:

Will agree. Concubine's children was quite a surprise. Didn't realize Canada has much of a Chinatown heritage and was a quick, but filling, read.