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59th out of 100 books
—
16 voters
All That Matters
by
Wayson Choy
"A new book from Choy is an event. His writing has a quiet integrity and an exquisite grace."
—Maclean's
Winner of the 2005 Trillium Book Award, finalist for the 2004 Giller Prize, and long-listed for the 2006 International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, All That Matters is the eagerly anticipated sequel to Wayson Choy's award-winning first novel, The Jade Peony.
Kiam-Kim is th...more
—Maclean's
Winner of the 2005 Trillium Book Award, finalist for the 2004 Giller Prize, and long-listed for the 2006 International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, All That Matters is the eagerly anticipated sequel to Wayson Choy's award-winning first novel, The Jade Peony.
Kiam-Kim is th...more
Paperback, 432 pages
Published
February 17th 2007
by Other Press
(first published 2004)
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Ahhh, what to say about this much anticipated sequel to Choy's ''The Jade Peony''? This continuation of the Chen family's struggle in a new world is written in Kiam Kim, the first sons' voice as he climbs aboard a ship to sail to Vancouver where he matures and grows to adulthood. The beloved grandmother, Poh-Poh is ever present in this second novel and still dispensing her tales about ancient myths, omens, ghosts and superstitions. Kiam Kim wants to believe in the things his grandmother is telli...more
I really enjoyed this book. I have read the Jade Peony but it was a long time ago. the characters are thoroughly enjoyable and the setting I found is fascinating. I am from Vancouver and enjoyed the look into a different culture. I found the writing to be beautiful but not in a cloying way (I'm not a fan of poetry) the characters are all fully developed and perfectly depict the trials and tribulations of growing up. Kiam Kim, Jenny, Jack, Sekky etc.. are wonderful characters.i really enjoyed how...more
A Canadian great!
This is in connection with his previous novel 'The Jade Peony', and is equally as great. A rare gem that has the subtle effect of taking you back to your childhood, as I related to the events experienced by the character. Not simply a coming-of-age story, but an insight into the perceptions of a child as he grows up trying to cope with his inherited dual-nationality, insofar as to realize one for himself.
Perhaps this can be better related to males who read this book, but as prov...more
This is in connection with his previous novel 'The Jade Peony', and is equally as great. A rare gem that has the subtle effect of taking you back to your childhood, as I related to the events experienced by the character. Not simply a coming-of-age story, but an insight into the perceptions of a child as he grows up trying to cope with his inherited dual-nationality, insofar as to realize one for himself.
Perhaps this can be better related to males who read this book, but as prov...more
Jul 16, 2010
Moktoklee
added it
Pretty fun book, but I can't help but feel just a tad disappointed. I think I kind of went into the story expecting so much from the first book. I wanted this to expand on the first a little bit more than it did. Holes in the histories of certain characters were filled in like the lives of the Stepmother and Po-Po. Other characters were developed that were only given passing mention in the first book, Jack and Jenny Chong are glaring examples.
At first I didn't like the ending, but I've made my...more
At first I didn't like the ending, but I've made my...more
As soon as I found out Wayson Choy wrote a sequel to, "The Jade Peony," I immediately downloaded it and started reading. I was not disappointed.
It's not truly a sequel as the events are contemporary with those in, "The Jade Peony," but told from the missing point of view: that of First Brother, Kiam Kim.
Once again, Choy paints an irresistible portrait of Vancouver's Chinatown in the 30s and 40s. Ancient tradition, modern troubles, racial tension, and the struggles of immigrants to fit into a new...more
It's not truly a sequel as the events are contemporary with those in, "The Jade Peony," but told from the missing point of view: that of First Brother, Kiam Kim.
Once again, Choy paints an irresistible portrait of Vancouver's Chinatown in the 30s and 40s. Ancient tradition, modern troubles, racial tension, and the struggles of immigrants to fit into a new...more
As coming of age stories go, Wayson Choy has once more excelled at allowing one realize the Chinese perspective, even simply the "ethnic" perspective, of growing up in Vancouver/Canada and experiencing the joys of puberty, the trials, the realization of being different than one's white neighbours, but reveling in that unique and important portion of the urbane life of a Canadian city.
It's the mosaic of life that Choy draws with his magnificent style...his writing is spectacular and as real as to...more
It's the mosaic of life that Choy draws with his magnificent style...his writing is spectacular and as real as to...more
I enjoyed The Jade Peony but I loved this! The voice of Kiam feels so authentic and true, and lots of experiences resonate with my own immigrant childhood in the UK. I loved the subtext in the early chapters where Kiam is telling of incidents and comments made by his family - esp Poh Poh - without understanding what is really being said. The voice of Kiam matures through the book and suddenly I realised how I'd watched Kiam grow-up.
I did find the Kiam-Jack-Jenny triangle underwritten and the en...more
I did find the Kiam-Jack-Jenny triangle underwritten and the en...more
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Wayson Choy’s "All That Matters" reads like a true story. There is so much authenticity to the distinct characters, dialogue and interaction. He creates a realistic image of Vancouver’s Chinatown in the 30’s and 40’s. I felt for his characters and lived through their descriptions. He illustrates the culture and customs very well. Even though I didn't read "The Jade Peony" previous to this book, I got a good sense of the characters and their relationships.
It is interesting to me to notice that lately I am reading, not as a generic reader as I have always done, but as a developmental psychologist and especially with my eye on the theme of attachment.This has happened since I have worked up North, and realized the challenge of cross cultural understanding. To read about how other cultures mastered successful parenting, and, by contrast, what we have lost in North America is enlightening and sad at the same time. What I enjoyed was to notice the imp...more
04/13/08 It probably meant more to me, being a Chinese-Canadian myself, than it would for the average Joe. This is one of those books that you read and there really isn't anything huge or exciting about it but you still never want to put it down. As I got closer to the end, I found that I was sad that it was the last chapter because I wanted to know more, to read more about Kiam-Kim. All in all, a beautiful book.
Choy's delicate prose and lyrical approach to his follow-up novel to The Jade Peony is gently intoxicating and completely enveloping. Over the span of the two books, the four children and the grandmother especially, have grown near and dear to my heart like long-time neighbours that I have grown up with. This book is an essential Canadian read taking place in Chinatown before and during WWII, and I recommend it especially for anyone interested in immigration studies, and diaspora. Although they...more
I particularly like Asian-American literature and even like Asian-Canadian literature more, perhaps because of my years on the west coast. This is a gentle simple picture of the Chinese experience in Vancouver before WW II. It is the story of a successful immigration to the Gold Mountain - the story of growing up Chinese and the merging the old ways with new ways – no one is terrorized or beaten or sold or starved although these events are alluded to. It was a bit like my own story of growing up...more
The sequel to The Jade Peony is told through the eyes of the first son, Kiam-Kim. The same struggles are recounted but from a different perspective – Kiam is the oldest son and the honor of the family rests on his shoulders as well as setting the irreproachable example for his siblings. The story also details his everlasting friendship with Jack O’Conner.
All that matters is a beautifully crafted story about an immigrant boy's coming of age, and offers a unique perspective on Chinese culture and tradition. Wayson Choy's prose is lyrical and the story is tightly written. I found the characters to be compelling and vivid. The sights and smells of Vancouver's China town leapt off the page. I enjoyed every moment of it.
I love Wayson Choy's writing. This book introduced me to the term "Gold Mountain". It is an immigrant story - the story of a child growing up in two strong cultures. Lots to learn about Chinese-Canadian history here. Love that the setting is Vancouver.
It took me a few pages to get used to the style of writing but then thought "This is beautifully written". A very interesting tale of a chinese immigrant family coming to Vancouver's chinatown and their story in the years before and during World War II. The struggle of old vs. new culture is vividly portrayed through the characters Poh-Poh and Kiam-Kim. I was kind of disappointed in the ending though, it seemed to just drift off.
Someone else's recommendation, and I didn't expect to 'get into it', but loved it. Such a richly textured glimpse into a culture which had previously been 'other' and mysterious to me. Recommended.
An interesting book set in turn of the century Vancouver and written from the perspective of a Chinese immigrant. The book was a good read until the end which was very disappointing.
I welcomed the chance to re-visit the characters from "The Jade Peony",,,Poh-Poh, Liang, Sekky, Jung. Told this time from the perspective of First Son,Kiam-Kim, we get a vivid picture of Vancouver's Chinatown in the 30's-40's. I really enjoyed it...so beautifully written.
This is an absolutely incredibly well written, vivid book. I didn't know it was part of a series; it doesn't matter--it is such a great read.
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I loved this coming of age story about a Chinese boy in Vancouver in the 1930's/40's. Beautifully and simply written - I will definitely be hoping to read The Jade Peony (first of the series)
Facinating look at Chinese immigrants to Vancouver in early 1900s. A bit of Vacouver's history.
I loved learning about the history or constructing the physical and emotional landscape of Vancouver through non-white eyes. I'm always stricken when in Vancouver how tantalising the geography looks...at what price is seldom considered.
Another great novel that explores the Chinese American (well in this case North American) culture as well as growing up during the great depression in an industrialized town. I was disappointed in the ending, feeling like it just drifted off. It was a little confusing. But the rest of the book I found pleasant& intriguing. "In all the ways they lived their lives, survivors like Poh-Poh and Stepmother, Third Uncle and Father, and those elders who hacked their breath away, they were all saying...more
Meh. The insight into the Canadian-Chinese immigrant experience is enjoyable, but the story and characterizations are just kinda... meh.
Heartwarming novel about Chinese boy who emigrates to Canada. The Chinese immigrant culture and imagining how people adapted was very interesting.
Apr 02, 2013
Ashley
added it
A good read for sure.
Aug 06, 2012
Vanessa
added it
Don't remember it.
I loved the setting, the history, and the writing style. Sometimes I felt it got a little over-sentimental, or over-dramatic, but it is story that really draws you in.
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Born in Vancouver in 1939, Wayson Choy has spent much of his life engaged in teaching and writing in Toronto. Since 1967, he has been a professor at Humber College and also a faculty member of the Humber School for Writers. He has appeared in Unfolding the Butterfly, a full-length bio-documentary by Michael Glassbourg, and was recently a host on the co-produced China-Canada film In Search of Confu...more
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May 17, 2012 07:08am