International Women's Day - Novels in Celebration

 

 

These four novels that I wrote all celebrate heroic women from Chinese History who fought conventions in patriarchal societies. They all left a lasting legacy (political/artistic/social) on the Chinese civilization. Today is as opportune an occasion as any to read their stories of triumph!

 

They feature a shrewd Qing Empress who single-handedly pulled the fledgling Empire from the brink of disintegration (The Green Phoenix); three feisty Qinhuai beauties who fought fate with their talents (Tales of Ming Courtesans); and a gritty rebel leader sent from the Moon Palace who faced off a cruel tyrant to protect her village (The Heavenly Sword + The Earthly Blaze).

 

If you want to look for background/research information related to these novels, just click on the relevant button beneath the header image.

   

Zizhi Tongjian in Story Form

 

This is a Christmas present I bought for myself on my recent trip to Hong Kong.

 

This book looks like a fun way to tackle the massive history tome Zizhi Tongjian (Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance) 資治通鑑, as it is written in modern written Chinese and retells in story form an extensive selection of crucial events as cited in the original tome.

 

The original historiographical masterpiece was written/compiled by Song official/scholar Sima Guang 司馬光 (1019-1086) and his team of students and is a Chronicle of Chinese history spanning 1,362 years (16 dynasties) prior to the Song dynasty (from 403 BC to 959 AD).

 

 

 

Full Review of the Sword Maiden Duology by Jade Moon's Publisher

 

  

 

This review truly strikes a deep chord with me. It just shows how much the reviewer appreciates my efforts at bringing this story to life! Ivana is indeed a kindred spirit!

  

 

Book Review - Heavenly Sword and Dragon Saber

 

 

This was a reread for me after several decades!

The Heavenly Sword and Dragon Saber is Book 3 in the Condor Heroes Trilogy. Currently, no official English translation exists as yet, although it may be on the publishing agenda of MacLehose Press.

While I still love the complex plot overall, I'll admit that the protagonist Zhang Wuji has struck me as a non-trustworthy young man who's easily swayed one way or another, at worst fickle where his love interests are concerned, despite having acquired supreme martial arts skills. (Frankly, I hadn't paid attention to this deep personality flaw when I read the novel as a teen.) The author did explain in his Afterword that Zhang was meant to be flawed, as this way the character would be truer-to-life.

The main story line centers around Zhang Wuji's involvement in his foster father the Golden Hair Lion King's revenge feats, interwoven with a major subplot of a peasants' uprising against the oppressive ruling Mongolian Yuan dynasty and various subplots concerning his four love interests and violent conflicts among a host of martial arts clans/sects.

I love that Jin Yong always weaves history around his martial heroes' epic adventures, like in this instance. The realism in the history components serves to ground the fantastical story and gives it veracity and cultural authenticity. Also, I love the way the author expresses his negative opinion, through the POV of protagonist Zhang Wuji, of Zhu Yuanzhang (the rebel who managed to seize the throne and become the founder of the Ming Dynasty), which opinion I entirely agree with. I've read official and unofficial texts about Zhu and have always felt he was a roguish and vile opportunist.

For those readers who are intimidated by the dry and lengthy history books, reading Jin Yong's wuxia novels is certainly a good way to learn Chinese history. 

 

Book Review - "The Scholar's Blade" by Chris Emmett

 

A blistering, powerful retelling of one of the critical battles fought near Shanghai in 1860 between the Taiping Army led by Hong Xiuquan and a band of Euro-American mercenaries hired by the Qing government. The cinematic prose makes the action-packed scenes jump off the page, leaving the reader breathless from start to finish.

The Taiping Rebellion is a cataclysmic event that took place in 19th century China, which exposed the absurd incompetence of the Qing administration. Like other revolts in Chinese history, abject poverty and destitution of peasants exacerbated by famine was the root cause. On top of that, the Qing government had repeatedly bent to the will of foreign nations in terms of trade and territorial concessions and this had stoked the Han Chinese's anger and distrust of the Manchu rulers. Also, the Qing government shamelessly hired foreign military aid to crush the Han peasant rebels. It can be said that the Taiping Rebellion heralded the subsequent Boxer Rebellion.

There is an obvious dearth of English-language fiction that describes the Taiping Rebellion and this novel certainly fills a glaring gap. 

 

 

2023 Word Vancouver Author Panel - Sept. 16, 2023

 

 If you are in Vancouver on September 16, 2023, you're cordially invited to drop by and join us on this interesting panel about developing complex characters and relationships in novels.

 

Thanks to Asian Canadian Writers' Workshop's first-ever collaboration with Word Vancouver Festival, the largest literary festival in Western Canada, I've been invited to talk on the topic in relation my wuxia-fantasy novel The Heavenly Sword. I am so honored to be in the esteemed company of my co-panelists: Janie Chang (The Porcelain Moon) and Hiro Kanagawa (Forgiveness).

Time: 2:30 to 3:30 pm

Venue: UBC Robson Square Camp

Event Details: Link to Program

 

[The event will be streamed live on YouTube.]

 

Book Review - "A Hero Born" by Jin Yong

 

It was a lifetime ago that I had read Legend of the Condor Heroes in Chinese. I've long forgotten the plot and the myriad of characters. The only names that I still remember are perhaps Guo Jing and Huang Rong (renamed Lotus in this English version). As a primary school student reader, I certainly hadn't been able to grasp the significance of the historical background the story was set in. But what have really stuck in my mind all through the years are probably the themes of brotherhood loyalty and knight-errant righteousness.

I found that this first volume of the 4-book series was still very gripping as a wuxia story with its huge cast and complex plot twists. I was particularly impressed with the Temujin story, which closely adheres to The Secret History of the Mongols. The historical character Qiu Chuji (an irascible Taoist martial arts expert in the novel) was given a colorful treatment. The story was set against a tumultuous background of incessant conflicts/wars between the Song (Han Chinese), Jin (Jurchen) and Mongolian regimes and expounded on how the chaos impacted on individuals and society.

It appeared to me that Jin Yong's story structure with intertwining plot lines was more evocative of Dumas (Count of Monte Cristo) than Tolkien (Lord of the Rings).

The fight scenes, which make up half of the book's contents, were vivid and cinematic and never boring. On the other hand, the narrative did not lack poignant episodes. The only thing lacking was perhaps romance, at least in this volume. However, the final episodes seemed to have set the stage for the relationship between Guo Jing and Lotus to bloom into something more than friendship.

Some reviewers have complained about the literal translation of the character names. Perhaps the decision to do literal translations of names was out of concern that non-Chinese-speaking readers might find pinyin romanization a bit hard to follow.
 

 

History Professor's 5-Star Review of Tales of Ming Courtesans

It's never been easy to promote my historical Chinese novels to the English book world that's heavily Eurocentric in the historical fiction genre. But every once in a while, a reader appreciates the key message of your novel and writes a glowing review of it. Today I've come across one such review. I've reposted below the Goodreads 5-star review by history professor Harry Miller:-

 

"Tales of Ming Courtesans is a freedom book. Utilizing an approach that is very different from Lisa See’s in her Peony in Love, Alice Poon has created characters that do more than make the most of miserable situations. Rather, they rail at the injustice of them and seek liberation. In one passage, Poon credits very liberal expressions to the Hangzhou merchant Wang Ranming and includes a ringing endorsement from Liu Rushi, perhaps the most intrepid of the three Ming courtesans portrayed in this book:

‘Confucius was dead wrong to have classed women as inferior humans. Just think of all the female talent that has gone to waste over the past several millennia because of that stupid gender discrimination! Aiya, too tragic! And our society is so depraved to exploit girls from poor families and allow the thin horse [human trafficking and procurement] trade to thrive! Why aren’t learned men ashamed at just ignoring it and do nothing about it! Let me tell you this: [Qian] Qianyi and I have always shared the same view on this issue. We have even planned to jointly petition the Emperor to ban the slave trade. That’s why we are great friends!’

‘Ah, now I understand why you call your boat the “Untethered Villa”! You are a freedom lover, true? Wasn’t it the Song poet Su Shi who had used the term “untethered boat” to portray his freedom from the burdens of officialdom?’ (p. 183)

Such discourse was indeed atypical of old China, but it was not unimaginable in the late Ming dynasty, when traditional dogma came under bold scrutiny and received norms of gender relations were challenged. Of course, Liu Rushi and her sisters are not merely interested in “freedom from the burdens of officialdom” but are desperately seeking to escape from brutal chains of control and chronic abasement. As their desperation increases, idealistic talk of freedom fades, and only the struggle for survival remains.

Nonetheless, they fight the good fight. Tales of Ming Courtesans is compelling, very exciting, and hard to put down. Readers will be sorry when it’s over, and if they are like me, they will be eager to learn more about Liu Rushi and her extraordinarily forward-thinking times."

 

Book Review: "The Ming Storytellers" by Laura Rahme

 

This is a brilliant and humanizing portrayal of the great Ming eunuch navigator Zheng He, cast in an intricate and layered plot redolent of 15th century Chinese court machinations and commoners' fights for self-preservation and survival, with delicious side tracks to an array of ethnic and international scenes that are filled with indigenous colors, sights and sounds.

I can't imagine how copious the amount of research that was necessary to create this exquisite and complex story.

Having said that, I find some Chinese historical/cultural details to be a bit off, and that miraculous coincidences take place a touch too often throughout the story.

Overall, it was a most enjoyable read that's worth 4 full stars.

 

Book Review - "She Who Became the Sun" by Shelley Parker-Chan

 

This was absolutely one of my favorite reads in 2021! Finally I've found an author whose vibrant writing I want to study closely by re-reading. The publisher compares her writing with that of Madeleine Miller (I had read The Song of Achilles, and suffice it to say that Miller's style was a little too fluffy for my taste). But Parker-Chan's style resonates much more with me for its from-the-heart frankness and deep vibrancy in depictions of human nature and emotions.

The novel is marketed as fantasy, but in fact the fantasy element is minimal. A more accurate description would be alternative history fiction with a dash of sapphic romance.

The history of Zhu Yuanzhang's legendary rise from peasant status to become a rebel leader who eventually ends the Mongol-ruled Yuan dynasty and takes the throne as the first Ming Emperor would be well-known to most ethnic Chinese readers.

This novel upends the gender of this iconic historical character and creates an epic story out of the premise "what if he were a she?"

A discerning reviewer has commented that the novel is probably targeted at a bilingual audience, as Chinese slang/profanities and aphorisms are sprinkled throughout the novel. I have to say that this interesting observation was one of the things that nudged me to pick up the novel sooner.

Many secondary characters are real historical characters (like Ming Empress Ma, Zhu's closest allies Xu Da and Chang Yuchun, Yuan Mongol warlord Chaghan Temur, his nephew Wang Baobao etc.) A search of history texts has revealed that Esen Temur was actually the brother of the Yuan prime minister Tuo Tuo (or Toqto'a) who was not related to Chaghan Temur, but is fictionalized in the novel to play the latter's eldest son.

The novel basically centers on Zhu's internal struggles at first with an assumed identity (she took her brother's identity to survive) and then with her own justification in trying to acquire the throne at all costs. The main character General Ouyang is an entirely fictional character, and much care has been put into molding this deliciously dangerous and tragic antagonist who is a eunuch general fighting for the Yuan Mongols and who is tortured by hatred and unattainable love. The Ma character (whom Zhu would eventually marry) is given a portrayal of personality very close to real history.

The plot twists around thrilling political machinations and internecine feuds in both the rebels camp and the Yuan camp as well as field battles that keep readers on their toes, while also delving deep into sexual urges of lesbian and gay lovers, with overarching themes of loyalty, betrayal, racial oppression, vengeance and compulsive-obsessive ambitions.

This was one of the best reads for me in 2021. I'm giving it 4.7 stars rounded up. 

Book Review - "These Violent Delights" by Chloe Gong

 

I enjoyed the plot but thought the writing was over-the-top flowery and pretentious, which really created a snag in the flow of the narrative. This was especially problematic in the first half of the novel.

I liked the sense of time and place that the novel evoked. The history element was also handled with a lot of respect to accuracy.

The romance part was alright except that it also included a lot of teenage theatrics. I couldn't feel any connection with Juliette because her personality was just not likeable. The character of Roma was a lot better by comparison.

As for the fantasy part, the "madness" stretched the imagination a bit, but since it's the fantasy genre, I couldn't complain.

All in all, it was a curate's egg. I'm giving it 3.4 stars, rounded down.

 

1st Birthday Celebration Special Price Offer for Tales

 

This SPECIAL OFFER is only for ONE DAY!

 

 

Book Review - "The Last Quarter of the Moon" by Chi Zijian (Translated by Bruce Humes)

 

This was a very unique read about a little-known nomadic tribe called Evenki who are hunters and reindeer-herders living in the northern part of Inner Mongolia.

Through the eyes of an old woman, the bitter-sweet everyday life story of five generations of her clan unfolds in the time line spanning the 20th century. Descriptions of the wilderness scenery, of nature at its most charming and most cruel, of Evenki rituals and shamanic customs are interwoven with emotive relationships and interactions of the clan members as they gradually move away from their habitual and carefree nomadic lifestyle to one imposed on them by external forces like the Japanese occupation, the Chinese lumber trade and modernization.

The writing is plain (the novel is a translation) but the stringing of words moves you to the core. The tone is calm and quiet throughout, yet it tugs at your heartstrings.

 

 

Book Review - "The Search for Modern China" by Jonathan D. Spence

 

This is a must-read for anyone who wishes to make sense of present-day international relations.

This well-written and excellent piece of academic work is a concise and comprehensive history of China spanning 3-1/2 centuries from the end of the Ming Dynasty (1644) right through to the June 4th 1989 Tiananmen Square tragedy.

Included in it is an honest and neutral account of how 19th century Western imperialism and the imposition on China of opium trade, extraterritoriality and exorbitant financial penalties irreversibly debilitated the country. Juxtaposed with such account is a sweeping depiction of China's own encompassing domestic woes, including but not limited to the Qing government's incompetent rule, abject rural poverty, backwardness of society, ceaseless rebellions and warlords' power struggles. Against such backdrop and in face of 20th century Japanese (and European & Russian) aggression on Chinese soil surged civil wars between the Nationalists and the Communists. After the 1945 Japanese surrender, the Communists drove the Nationalists off to Taiwan and established the People's Republic of China. But the country continued to suffer atrocious political upheavals, often incited in the name of dogmatic ideology.

I like the way the author humanizes chronicles by invoking the works of writers, artists, activists and politicians to illustrate a point.

This last sentence in the book perhaps delivers a sobering statement:

There would be no truly modern China, until the people were given back their voices.

SCMP Review of Tales of Ming Courtesans

 

I had the privilege of being interviewed by the incredible Annemarie Evans in November, and am very thankful for her nice write-up on my novel Tales of Ming Courtesans for the SCMP. The article has been published today!

 

Excerpts:-

 

Although it is fictional, Poon meticulously researched the era, and her work is rich in its descriptions of the food, architecture, clothing, music, poetry, cultural references and calligraphy of the period. For those new to Ming dynasty courtesan culture, the poetry and constrained Confucian lives of both men and women of the era, hers is a gentle and descriptive introduction.

 

They (Liu Rushi, Chen Yuanyuan & Li Xiangjun) were central to China's cultural and literary life, and Poon was keen to give these women a voice so they would not be forever remembered as minor characters in historical narratives written by men. 

 

She writes about the perilous nature of the women’s existence: dependent on the whims of the households they were sold into, while trying to make sure their lovers did not come under too much pressure from their own families and wives.

 

Paintings exist of all three courtesans, and their stories have featured in televised and literary accounts. Now, Poon has offered an alternative, and perhaps more authentic, picture of their lives.

 

Link to the Full Article

The World of Chinese Review of Tales of Ming Courtesans

 

Having your historical novel reviewed in a popular cultural magazine is already quite a privilege. To see the review written thoughtfully by a well-known historian well versed in Chinese History is absolutely humbling. I owe a debt of thanks to Jeremiah Jenne the wonderful reviewer and The World of Chinese magazine.

 

Here's a quote from the review:-

 

"Though the super courtesan team-up probably never existed, it’s still fun to imagine the historical possibilities if it had—such is the liberating fun of reading a novelist who is also a historian. With characters as rich as these and a writer as expressive as Poon, who needs CGI, anyway?"

 

Link to the Full Review 

 

 

Book Review - "The Dragon Republic" by R. F. Kuang

 

This is sequel #2 in The Poppy War trilogy. It was as compelling as the first novel. The writing is lush and scenes are graphically presented. Rin’s internal torment and physical pain felt so real on the page!

The plot thickens as the Nikan Empire is stricken by the aftermath of the Mugenese invasion and the power struggles between the northern Warlords led by the Empress and the southern Warlords headed by the Dragon Republic leader Vaisra, Nezha’s father.

We see Rin guilt-ridden over her using the fire power of the Phoenix vindictively to annihilate the whole Mugenese island. While at a loss as to what to do next, Rin gets reunited with Kitay in the city under the control of the pirate queen Moag. Nezha appears at this juncture and convinces them both to join forces with the Dragon Republic to resist the imminent attack mounted by the Empress and her allies. Rin learns that Vaisra intends to enlist the help of Hesperia, the blue-eyed foreign nation, but she remains wary of the latter’s true intentions.

Meanwhile, her fire power is lost due to a god’s blockage. A fierce naval battle between the two sides breaks out at Lake Boyang. The Empress’s side has the help of the wind-commanding shaman Feylen, which gives her the edge. The plot then branches off to tell the history of enmity between the steppe shamans and the Nikan imperial rulers. By chance, with the help of a steppe shaman, Rin’s fire power is restored and enhanced by a spiritual bond forged with Kitay. They are ready to protect the Dragon Republic, but in the end find they have backed the wrong side. Unexpected perfidy forces Rin to assume a life-changing role in the civil war.

Here are some passages that I found resonating:

The sheer arrogance, Rin thought. It must be nice, possessing all the power, so you could approach geopolitics like a chess game, popping in curiously to observe which countries deserved your aid and which didn’t.

It’s not about who you are, it’s about how they see you. And once you’re mud in this country, you’re always mud.

‘Those devils are going to destroy our world. The Hesperians have a singular vision for the future, and we are not in it.’

The Nikara had been fighting among themselves for a millennium. Were they going to stop just because they could vote for their rulers? And who was going to vote for those rulers? People like Auntie Fang?

He could spout all the ideology he wanted, but she knew better. The Nikara were never going to rule themselves, not peacefully, because there was no such thing as a Nikara at all.

I’m giving this novel 4 stars. 

 

French Blogger's Review of Tales of Ming Courtesans

I've always had a soft spot for the French language and literature. Discovering a French blogger's genuine appreciation of the three heroines of my new novel Tales of Ming Courtesans is nothing less than sheer ecstasy, because this represents a mutual love of each other's literary culture!

This is my translation of the last paragraph of the blogger's (Une Occidentale en Chine) review:

"I heartily recommend this book to you, which, despite all the harshness it describes, also shows us the beauty and the power of these women who kindled and inspired the greatest literary icons of the period."

"Je vous conseille réellement ce livre qui malgré toute la dureté qu’il comporte nous montre aussi la beauté et la force de ces femmes qui ont enflammées et inspirées les plus grands littérati de cette période."

Here's the link to the full review in French (you can click on the language of your choice on the right-hand side of the website):

Full Review

 

 

Book Review - "Mistress Miao" by Yun Rou

I had the pleasure of reading an earlier version of the novel and was impressed with the writing and the author's knowledge of Chinese history and culture. The protagonist Miao is loosely based on a real-life 12th century female rebel leader called Yang Miaozhen, who married and joined forces with Li Quan, a Jurchen bandit leader. They first defected from the Jurchen Jin Dynasty to Southern Song, then rebelled against Southern Song, and later pledged allegiance to the Mongols.

The story runs on a dual time-line, alternating between present-day America and China, and 12th century China, and is punctuated with Chinese mythological elements. The bizarre happenings in the lives of present-day interracial couple Lulu (ethnic Chinese) and Solomon (American) and in the life of 12th century Miao are woven tightly and intriguingly to leave the reader breathless. The modern-day narrative in large part involves Solomon's visit to China in a desperate quest for a way to save Lulu's life. He discovers more than he can handle.

The novel was quirky in places but did have a deeper message. It was an entertaining read overall.

 

Book Review - "The Poppy War" by R. F. Kuang

This fantasy novel was grippingly immersive with a complex plot and creative execution! The narrative, though seemingly grounded in the Second Sino-Japanese War, is woven with heavy mythological elements and featuring fantastic characters and locales. It’s nonetheless not difficult to identify the real equivalents of major locales where key historical military events actually took place.

Part One tells how a young orphaned peasant girl named Rin, in order to flee her destiny of being married off against her will, succeeds against all odds in entering the Nikara Empire’s most prestigious military academy at Sinegard, the capital. All her fellow students come from noble families, which make her feel like a fish out of water. But her strong will, intelligence and grit pit her against Nezha, the brilliant and arrogant son of the Dragon Province Warlord, who is way beyond her match in combat training, and who has no qualms in belittling her. In a year-end tournament, she accidentally discovers that she can call up a hidden lethal flame. Her desire for supernatural power urges her to take up apprenticeship in Lore (which focuses on the study of shamanism) with Master Jiang, who teaches her to meditate in order to access the deities of the Pantheon, but warns her that asking for power bears a price.

During her two years at the academy, she comes to befriend Kitay, who is a walking encyclopedia, and she secretly admires Altan, the attractive and invincible combatant and the only war survivor from the island of Speer, which a few decades earlier was brutally annihilated by Mugen. Then comes the day when the academy students learn that the newly enthroned Mugen Emperor is planning to invade the Nikara Empire.

In Part Two we see the academy Masters and students being drafted into military divisions in preparation for Mugen’s invasion into Sinegard. During a bloody scuffle, Rin manages to call up her flame to incinerate Nezha’s attacker. When the Masters at the academy see that, they send her to the Cike, which is a group of assassins that will fight as the Thirteenth Division under Altan’s command. She then discovers that she is also a surviving Speerly, like Altan, and that the assassins are all shamans who can call the gods for aid. Under orders from the Nikara Empress, Altan leads the Cike to Khurdalain, the war front. After beating back the Mugenese army from the coast, Altan receives news that Golyn Niis to the south is under siege. The Cike must go to their rescue.

Part Three describes the carnage and aftermath of Mugen’s massacre at Golyn Niis, as recounted to the Cike by Kitay and another female student. Many of the academy Masters and students have been savagely killed. To avenge them, and to save the Nikara Empire, Altan and Rin want to seek help from powerful but retired shamans who are imprisoned in a stone mountain. On their way out, they are waylaid by Mugenese soldiers and unspeakable things happen to them. A brutal truth of betrayal is also revealed. Rin becomes so heart-broken and enraged that she is determined to ask the Phoenix (the goddess of fire and vengeance) to grant her the power for revenge, knowing full well that she has to pay a price for it.

I’m giving this book 3.5 stars.

I might mention that I had previously read The Good Man of Nanking: The Diaries of John Rabe, which is an eye-witness account of the Nanjing massacre. Here’s my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1961225283

PS: Since finishing all three books in the trilogy, I've had second thoughts about the author's plot points choices. It's well understood that the story is based on the Second Sino-Japanese War in general and the Nanjing massacre in particular. In The Popper War there's the insensitive playing upon the Nanjing massacre victims's sufferings for melodramatic effects. The whole idea of making a gender-bending parody out of a prominent albeit unlikable historical character (Mao Zedong) and of exploiting a piece of traumatic Chinese history for the sake of profit-making doesn't sit well with me.