Yangsze Choo

#ReadAroundTheWorld. #Malaysia

This is a historical mystery set in Ipoh and Batu Gajah in Malaya in 1931, by Chinese Malaysian author Yangsze Choo. It has elements of magical realism, Chinese mythology, mystery and romance. There are weretigers, ghosts and Chinese Numeral Superstitions and the five Confucian virtues.

The story involves Ren, an 11-year-old, who works as a houseboy servant for the aging Dr Macfarlane. Before he dies the doctor entrusts Ren with the task of finding his missing finger and returning it before 49 days are up, so his soul can rest in peace. Ren is taken into the household of another young doctor, William Acton, who is said to have performed the finger amputation years ago. The story shifts between Ren and Ji Lin, a girl who grows up in a poor and troubled household. Unable to fulfill her dreams of going to university, she works as an apprentice dressmaker, in addition, doing shifts as a dancehall girl to try to repay her mother’s mahjong debt. Ji Lin is left a mysterious severed finger in a glass vial by one of her dance partners. She and her stepbrother Shin combine forces to try and solve the mystery of the missing finger and the events and deaths that are set into play surrounding it. Then there is the man-eating tiger that appears…

This was an intriguing story with a vivid setting. I enjoyed the mystery and elements of Chinese culture and folklore. I didn’t enjoy the romance basically as I’m not a fan of stepsibling or any kind of sibling action. It also seemed a manipulative, forceful kind of relationship. but I will definitely read another of this author’s books. 4 stars for me.… (meer)

A young woman calling herself Snow - a fox - travels on a revenge trip, intent on killing the photographer Bektu Nikan in Manchuria, 1908. Meanwhile, an investigator Bao who has the talent on being able to tell truth from lies is asked to investigate the mysterious death of a young woman - could it be the work of a fox?

Choo draws on the Chinese mythology of foxes to tell a compelling, lyrical story of Snow and Bao, and the family that Snow meets and gets involved with in the course of her mission to find the photographer. With an evocative atmosphere and complex characters but very deliberate pacing, this is a book to sit down with for long stretches and get lost in.… (meer)

# ReadAroundTheWorld #Malaysia

This is a historical fantasy and romance by Chinese Malaysian debut author Yangsze Choo. Choo spent her early childhood in Malaysia before her father, a diplomat, was posted for extended periods to Japan, Germany, Thailand and the Philippines. She then moved to the USA for university. This story is set in Malaya (Malaysia) during the British colonisation in the 1890s and is based on Chinese mythology.

17 year old Li Lan is the daughter of a respectable family living in a crumbling mansion with her opium-addicted father and her old Amah. Her father surprises her with a proposition from the wealthy Lim family to marry their late son, Tian Ching, and become his ghost bride, a rare tradition amongst the Chinese diaspora. When Li Lan goes to visit their house she finds herself attracted to Tian Bai, the living heir and cousin to her proposed fiance.
After this Li Lan is plunged into a world of superstition and the supernatural, with Tian Ching haunting her dreams. She then becomes separated from her body and finds herself in the spirit world trying to avoid hungry ghosts, malevolent spirits, family plots and machinations. She meets the rather spoiled Fan, waiting for her lover to join her in the realms of the dead. The pair go to Malacca in the Plains of the Dead. Li Lan meets the mysterious Er Lan who helps her in her quest. Li Lan is caught between two worlds and uncertain if she can return to the world of the living. She is also caught between two men, the Lim cousins, both of whom she has been promised to at different times, and an attraction to a third.

The story is richly told, with the traditional clothing and food of both Malay and Chinese heritage described. Choo makes the comment about Malaysia that, “It seemed to me that in this confluence of cultures, we had acquired one another’s superstitions without necessarily any of their comforts.” I found this to be a book that sets a historical and cultural scene. The storyline in the spirit world became a little convoluted and complex. I did not feel I really connected with any of the characters, but this was nevertheless an entertaining read. 3.5 stars for me.… (meer)

According to the National Wildlife Federation, foxes are the most widely distributed carnivorous mammals in the world.
This novel is a very readable story filled with interesting folklore regarding the nature of foxes and fox spirits...
"a drug that should be taken only in small doses." ( p.324)
Vengeful, seductive, curious these fox spirits can turn themselves into humans and wreak havoc.
In this story, Snow is seeking revenge for the death of her daughter. She crosses paths with Bao, a detective who has the talent of hearing lies, brought on by an early encounter with a fox god.

Read more on my blog!
https://lovelearning619870804.wordpress.com/2024/03/26/book-review-a-foxy-lady-i...… (meer)