The first critical article I found was written by David Callahan in the Canadian Ethic Studies Journal. It was published fairly recently, in 2005. Most of the article contains main points of the novel, summarizing it here and there. It seemed the author only had positive things to say about Wayson Choy.
All That Matters could be described as the 'sequel' to Wayson Choy's previous novel, The Jade Peony. They both follow the lives of the Chen family and their struggles to maintain a Chinese culture while being immersed into a whole different one. His recent piece of work, All That Matters, is just like The Jade Peony in the way that they are both equally history rich. It is evident that Choy did previous research on the social history and common events that occurred during the story's time. He uses the research and information that he collected and perfectly creates a fiction storyline that could easily make the reader think everything written in the novel was from a true story. Chinese families who lived in Vancouver at the time all struggled, either financially, socially, or culturally. But they believed that things will be better in the end, despite the horrible conditions they might have in the present, it may get better for the future generations. Endurance and diligence is key to success and that is portrayed through the Chen family. They try their hardest to balance old Chinese traditions and culture while pertaining and adapting to the new North American culture. Choy shows their endurance by addressing the family's aspirations and successes, but also their frustrations and difficulties. He captures what life was like for the average Chinese immigrant of that time in Vancouver. Choy's writing is kind when it comes to people who do not have knowledge of the common Chinese events, culture, and language. He implements small Chinese/English translations throughout the whole novel, giving the book a foreign, oriental feeling. One thing that makes this novel different from other culture conflicts related to Chinese immigrants in Vancouver in the 1930's, is the remarkable transition the younger generation makes throughout the book. Kiam-Kim's relationship with an Irish boy, Jack O'Connor, beautifully connects the two cultures together. Their relationship makes it easier for the reader to notice differences between the two cultures. The immense detail on the little things in Choy's masterpiece All That Matters is what keeps the reader turning the pages.
No comments:
Post a Comment