We see him glimpse but not understand his emerging homosexuality. Paper Shadows is a healing book about life, death and coming to terms with our pasts, real or imagined. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. Want to Read saving….
Want to Read Currently Reading Read. Other editions. Enlarge cover. Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Open Preview See a Problem? Details if other :. Thanks for telling us about the problem. Return to Book Page. Preview — Paper Shadows by Wayson Choy. From the author of the popular and widely acclaimed novel, The Jade Peony , comes this new autobiographical exploration of past and present, culture and selfhood, history and memory, immigration and family life--in other words, the modern-day collision of Eastern and Western experiences and worldviews.
Three weeks before his 57th birthday, Choy discovered that he had been ad From the author of the popular and widely acclaimed novel, The Jade Peony , comes this new autobiographical exploration of past and present, culture and selfhood, history and memory, immigration and family life--in other words, the modern-day collision of Eastern and Western experiences and worldviews.
Three weeks before his 57th birthday, Choy discovered that he had been adopted. This astonishing revelation inspires the beautifully-wrought, sensitively told Paper Shadows , the story of a Chinatown past both lost and found. From his early life amid the ghosts of old Chinatown, to his discovery, years later, of deeply held family secrets that crossed the ocean from mainland China to Gold Mountain, this engrossing, multi-layered self-portrait is "a childhood memoir of crystalline clarity" The Boston Globe that will speak directly and arrestingly to all students of Chinese immigrant history.
Get A Copy. Paperback , pages. Published October 5th by Picador first published October 1st More Details Original Title.
Other Editions 6. Friend Reviews. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. To ask other readers questions about Paper Shadows , please sign up. This question contains spoilers See 1 question about Paper Shadows…. Lists with This Book. Community Reviews. Showing Average rating 3. Rating details. More filters. Sort order. Dec 15, Glenn Sumi rated it really liked it Shelves: non-fiction , memoir , canadian.
RIP, Wayson Choy, I interviewed him once, and he was the loveliest person: generous, articulate, full of sly gossip and so very talented. As an Asian writer and particularly as an out, gay Asian writer, he was a pioneer.
And we see the true price that Chinese immigrants paid once they settled in Canada. View all 8 comments. Feb 13, George K. Ilsley rated it it was amazing Shelves: canada , non-fiction , history , memoir. This was a delightful memoir about family history in Vancouver and Victoria, B. Vancouver's historic Chinatown is currently in a serious state of decline especially suffering this year because of the pandemic and the absence of tourists , so it is fascinating to learn more about Paper Shadows: A Chinatown Childhood — A haunting memoir from the bestselling author of The Jade Peony.
Vancouver's historic Chinatown is currently in a serious state of decline especially suffering this year because of the pandemic and the absence of tourists , so it is fascinating to learn more about what it was like in the s and during the War. Wayson Chow was a gifted sensitive communicator. His writing appears smooth and effortless but manages to evoke so much in simple, straightforward prose. This author wrote his novel The Jade Peony about secrets in Chinatown, so it was a revelation, perhaps even karma, for him to then discover there were so many secrets in his own family that he did not stumble across until later in life.
More than a simple story of childhood, and intergenerational family dynamics, this book also touches on cultural history and the relationship between immigrant workers here in "Gold Mountain" the West and "Salt Water City" Vancouver and their families back in China who depend on remittances. Such relationships continue today for millions of workers all over the world.
This is a beautiful book about families, connections, and resilience. Mar 27, Peter rated it it was ok. Choy begins this book with the phrase "This memoir is a work of creative non-fiction. To what extent these photos were given a narrative context by his parents and to what extent he clearly himself remembers with specific detail, and to what e Choy begins this book with the phrase "This memoir is a work of creative non-fiction.
To what extent these photos were given a narrative context by his parents and to what extent he clearly himself remembers with specific detail, and to what extent his memory has become a poet for the sake of this book will remain speculative and illusive. To me, that's the weakness of the book. How am I as a reader to approach this narrative? Should I believe his father drank as much as it was stated, did his mother really take Wayton out as a child for all-night visits and games with friends as is stated, and was he such a disruptive student at Chinese classes?
These issues might well be mine as a reader, and I may have totally misjudged and misread the book. But these issues create clouds of doubt and cast shadows on a very important issue in this book which is how the Chinese population of Vancouver were treated by the rest of the population.
Further, how the extended family takes part in the raising of Wayton is a central motif in this book, and it is stated that this extended family was both very involved and very successful in helping Wayton navigate through the shoals of childhood.
Am I to believe that? I'm not sure if I am more disappointed with the book or my reading and understanding of it. Perhaps I deserve only one star. May 18, Jeannette rated it liked it. I liked this book because it takes place within my neighbourhood. The author actually lived in the same block and on the same side of the street where I currently live.
The only difference is there used to be houses here in the s and now there's just a gated co-op. The author bought hand-scooped ice cream at Benny's Market and I go to Benny's for their great sourdough bread.
Same family, a different time. I really liked reading about my neighbourhood and Vancouver's early Chinatown but this b I liked this book because it takes place within my neighbourhood. I really liked reading about my neighbourhood and Vancouver's early Chinatown but this book isn't so mindblowing that I'd recommend it to others who've never stepped foot in Strathcona before.
Nov 26, Tomiko Robson rated it liked it. It took me awhile to get through this one. My interest waxed and waned: sometimes it was fascinating; others, it lost me. Aug 11, CM Alsop rated it really liked it. I've heard the author speak at a few conferences and I finally bought three of his books. I read this one first. It has many endearing tales of his childhood that were nice to read.
However, as a whole there are some stories that break the themes and flow of the memoir. After all, you can't possibly tell every cool story that ever happened that's what bars are for. I could have lived without knowing about his difficult to train dog. The best stories were about his family. The ending was a whir I've heard the author speak at a few conferences and I finally bought three of his books. The ending was a whirlwind of "no way!
Seriously, people can be amazing and kind, and then some can be awful, and expect kindness from others. It reiterates, for me, that some people make this world a crummy place. But this is an amazing story if you like memoirs, Canadian Chinese history, and themes of family. Jul 13, Anne rated it it was amazing. I have strong roots in Strathcona and am already a fan of the author but would still recommend this for people who aren't familiar with him or the area.
He writes about his childhood using a dreamy, half-remembered style that captures the intensity of emotions that young people feel. From learning English from cowboy movies to hating itchy formal-wear to his earliest awareness of his sexuality, this book is vivid and charming.
View 2 comments. Aug 29, Vivienne rated it liked it Shelves: non-fiction. Chinese-Canadian memoir in the style of Angela's Ashes. Recommended to my by my local librarian after I read Obasan, an account of a Japanese-Canadian woman born in Vancouver around the same time. I have now read so many of Wayson Choy's memoirs I feel like we know one another - and I like him.
I wanted to like this book. It had its moments, but there is a long stretch during which Choy describes his childhood, and some of the "events" he describes seem pointless and not particularly relevant.
So what if he wet his pants? So what if his dog was hard to housetrain? I think this book could have used more judicious editing and a better overall sense of narrative. I almost gave up on it. I'm glad I didn't, I wanted to like this book. I'm glad I didn't, because the story of his family's secrets, which he picked up again toward the end of the book, was interesting.
However, I don't think I'd recommend this book to anyone. Jun 11, Paula Dembeck rated it it was amazing. He relives experiences from his Chinatown boyhood, his encounters with bachelor uncles and cowboys, and his relationship with his parents, and their at times stormy marriage. He also learns, three weeks before he turns fifty seven, that he was adopted, a secret that had been kept from him, and had remained unknown despite the trip from China across the ocean to Gold Mountain.
The second in the series of this memoir by a Canadian author who articulately describes the experience of an immigrant trying to adapt to life in an adopted country.
Aug 21, Ruthie rated it it was ok. I adored Choy's first 2 novels - Jade Peony and it's sequel, and the basis of this memoir sounded so intriguing- after discussing his first novel on the radio the author gets a phone call telling him heat his parents were not his real parents. What follows is is search for the truth, but first we get his memoirs. Sadly they are in dire need of an editor. There is too much repetition and too much time spent on boring details, on the other hand, intriguing details are given a bare mention and neve I adored Choy's first 2 novels - Jade Peony and it's sequel, and the basis of this memoir sounded so intriguing- after discussing his first novel on the radio the author gets a phone call telling him heat his parents were not his real parents.
There is too much repetition and too much time spent on boring details, on the other hand, intriguing details are given a bare mention and never elaborated upon. Jan 30, Susan rated it really liked it. He gives a clear picture of the struggles that the recent and not-so-recent Chinese immigrants faced back then. Growing up as an only child to hard working parents, Wayson learns much later on in life that he was adopted.
He admits that he probably could have investigated further into the lives of his birth parents, but he chose not to. May 07, HadiDee added it Shelves: non-fiction. Read this after enjoying Jade Peony and All that Matters. Opens with the fascinating revelation that at 57, Choy discovers he was adopted after a woman called him on a radio show. He picks this up again towards the end of the book but in between are a series anecdotes: some of them are charming and funny the uncle who inadvertently took him to a burlesque show, but many just left me puzzled as to why they'd been included.
Jul 25, Trudy Jaskela rated it liked it. A memoir of Wayson's childhood in east Vancouver. Born , an only child. Dad a chef on CPR ships, Mom played mah-jong all nite many nites a week. Book include lots of information about Chinese superstitions, culture, their lifestyle, paranoid thoughts, etc. Parents marriage in trouble. Dad away for months at a time.
At age 11 family moved to Toronto. Dad home every nite. Wayson learns at age 56 that he is adopted. An interesting read. Sep 07, Peter rated it liked it. Dec 13, Nancy added it. The American author John Steinbeck wrote a collection of short stories.
My three-hundred and thirty-six page edition of the novel was published by Rebel inc. He takes us from his early childhood adjustment to American life from German life, into his juvenile, hormone-driven, acne-ridden adolescence and finally into murky, alcohol-tinted college life.
In doing so, he highlights his love of literature, the economic and social changes under the banner of The Great Depression and World War Two; the gradual development of his apathy and brave contempt towards his aggressively repressive father; and ponders the ever-burning questions of. As a teen age boy who wants to find the secrets his girlfriend who left behind all these mysteries after her odd disappearance.
It also tells about the lost gothic girl, Anna Cayne, who meets the young high-school aged narrator. Throughout the postcards, a shortwave radio, various CDs, and many other irregular interest. It is sometimes said that his characters embodied everything he wanted to be biography. It was from his use of writing techniques like the use of setting, characters and theme that propelled London to become of the most famous writers of all time.
In addition to being written by the same author, the settings of both stories are quite similar in terms of area and even climate. Lacey, Ben, and Radar all come along for the 21 hour road trip and made it in time. When Margo and Q are finally reunited, they talk about things that happened during their childhood. They bury a journal that Margo had been writing stories and planning childish adventures to try and accept their. He the character had internal conflict and external because he had found out something tragic that he will not forgive his father for what he had done in the past.
The was some foreshadowing in the beginning so then they started to explain what have happen to that man hat have died. That would have gave the read some emotion to the story or thinking of the story of what they will be talking about or giving more info to answer the questions that the read had. I wanted excitement and danger and the change to sacrifice myself for myself a superabundance of energy which found no outlet in our life. Wayson choy, a writer, he was born in Vancouver in He is a Chinese-Canadian, He was known as "most gifted storyteller in Canada".
His works were very imaginative and it describes Chinese people who living in Canada. In his article, he also reflected the appropriate own life experiences. His works can be divided into three parts in his life: youth, middle age, and knows his real identity.
The first part of the work of his life is when he was youth. In , after he was born, he was adoption by another family. He spent his childhood and youth lived Chinatown in Vancouver. And his childhood living in Vancouver's Chinatown is full of nostalgia and memories.
During this period, he was accidentally born truth, a woman called him, said she has seen his real mother. This makes him mixed feelings. After this incident, he wrote a book: Paper shadow. This book is a memory of his childhood Cui new experiences. In Paper Shadows, his recreation of his earliest memories in Vancouver, after his "arrival" in , as his mother always referred to his birth, is both lyrical and powerful, and the element of mystery enhances his story.
Choy says that he wondered how he could possibly think that no more stories waited to be told.
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