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meghaha's review against another edition
4.0
I listened to The Ghost Bride on audiobook, narrated by author Yangsze Choo herself. She has a lovely voice --as nice as a professional audiobook narrator--and it was such a treat to hear the author reading it, because everything is said exactly as the creator intended.
The Ghost Bride was especially interesting for me, as it was set in 1890's colonial Malaysia -- a time and place I know little about-- and also drew from the mythology of the Chinese afterlife for its fantastical elements. I can't stress enough how fascinated by myths, folktales, and fairytales I am, and by extension, the novels that retell them or are inspired by them. It was a delightful broadening of the mind to read something based on Chinese myths rather than the Greek and Grimm tales I am so accustomed to.
Before reading this book, I knew nothing about the Chinese afterlife. The notion of ghost marriages -- between dead people, or extremely rarely, in this book's case, between the living and the dead -- was new. As were the ox-head demons; the hungry ghosts; the stages in the underworld (involving judgement and retribution for past misdeeds); and the final reincarnation into animal or human after drinking a potion/tea that makes you forget your past life.
I know about the Greek underworld, and the Christian hell, but this was all new for me. My mom grew up in communist China and later converted to Christianity, so perhaps that accounts for why I wasn't told about any of this. When I asked her about the afterworld and ghost brides after reading this book, she knew exactly what I was talking about, though. I regret that it's a bit late now to learn about these beliefs. Just as it's too late to speak Mandarin as a native language, no matter how much I study. Even if I read or learn about these myths, they won't be a part of me just like Mandarin isn't. Some things -- language and stories -- need to be internalized as a child. Ah well. Enough about me, and back to the The Ghost Bride:
I feel like another big reason why I enjoyed this book was that I was getting really strong Spirited Away vibes once Li Lan goes to the underworld and meets Er Lang. Anything that reminds me of Spirited Away is delightful to me.
This is historical fantasy, but the historical element was strictly adhered to, at least in relation to main character Li Lan. She, like any upper class Chinese woman of that era, was never allowed to leave the house on her own, and is extremely naive for this reason. I think Choo navigates the restrictions on Li Lan's character well so that we as modern readers can understand her limitations and way of thinking rather than feel irritated by them.
I think this book also really hammered home for me how in the past, your entire future as a woman hinged on your marriage. It's something you had to agonize over, and it's analogous to how we nowadays might feel agonized over choice of career. In the modern world there are many paths to forge a happy life, but unrequited love or a bad marriage match was motivation enough to believe your whole life was ruined in the past. Romance, necessarily, in historical settings, has higher stakes, and it's something you could die over, whereas it'd seem melodramatic to me in modern times.
Choo is writing another book (it seems she mentioned something about 1930's Malaysia) and I will definitely be reading it.
The Ghost Bride was especially interesting for me, as it was set in 1890's colonial Malaysia -- a time and place I know little about-- and also drew from the mythology of the Chinese afterlife for its fantastical elements. I can't stress enough how fascinated by myths, folktales, and fairytales I am, and by extension, the novels that retell them or are inspired by them. It was a delightful broadening of the mind to read something based on Chinese myths rather than the Greek and Grimm tales I am so accustomed to.
Before reading this book, I knew nothing about the Chinese afterlife. The notion of ghost marriages -- between dead people, or extremely rarely, in this book's case, between the living and the dead -- was new. As were the ox-head demons; the hungry ghosts; the stages in the underworld (involving judgement and retribution for past misdeeds); and the final reincarnation into animal or human after drinking a potion/tea that makes you forget your past life.
I know about the Greek underworld, and the Christian hell, but this was all new for me. My mom grew up in communist China and later converted to Christianity, so perhaps that accounts for why I wasn't told about any of this. When I asked her about the afterworld and ghost brides after reading this book, she knew exactly what I was talking about, though. I regret that it's a bit late now to learn about these beliefs. Just as it's too late to speak Mandarin as a native language, no matter how much I study. Even if I read or learn about these myths, they won't be a part of me just like Mandarin isn't. Some things -- language and stories -- need to be internalized as a child. Ah well. Enough about me, and back to the The Ghost Bride:
I feel like another big reason why I enjoyed this book was that I was getting really strong Spirited Away vibes once Li Lan goes to the underworld and meets Er Lang. Anything that reminds me of Spirited Away is delightful to me.
This is historical fantasy, but the historical element was strictly adhered to, at least in relation to main character Li Lan. She, like any upper class Chinese woman of that era, was never allowed to leave the house on her own, and is extremely naive for this reason. I think Choo navigates the restrictions on Li Lan's character well so that we as modern readers can understand her limitations and way of thinking rather than feel irritated by them.
I think this book also really hammered home for me how in the past, your entire future as a woman hinged on your marriage. It's something you had to agonize over, and it's analogous to how we nowadays might feel agonized over choice of career. In the modern world there are many paths to forge a happy life, but unrequited love or a bad marriage match was motivation enough to believe your whole life was ruined in the past. Romance, necessarily, in historical settings, has higher stakes, and it's something you could die over, whereas it'd seem melodramatic to me in modern times.
Choo is writing another book (it seems she mentioned something about 1930's Malaysia) and I will definitely be reading it.
samsquanch's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
natprince's review against another edition
5.0
WOW!!! I Loved this one from start to finish! So exciting, imaginative, and descriptive. It really gave me a fantastic well built world to dive right into! Li Lan was so well written, and such a great heroine. I wish this book was part of a series, but it seems like it might be a stand alone? I learned about Malayan and Chinese culture, picked up some new words, and really just fell in love with the whole thing. 10/10 would read again! I’m excited to see more from this author.
e_len's review
DNF at page 300. I haven't been able to force myself to pick this up again for 2 weeks.
Its pace is too slow, nothing seems to happen and the story itself is too YA for me. The MC is an insufferable teen girl.
The best parts of the book are the Chinese folklore worldbuilding aspects, but sadly, they are just thrown in there like dictionary excerpts and adapted to modern American tastes. I'm rather familiar with Chinese folklore, there was mostly nothing new and I'd rather go and read Chinese translations instead.
I was a bit interested to see how the romance would develop with this Underworld official (a dragon?), but not enough to force myself through the saggy middle of the book.
Its pace is too slow, nothing seems to happen and the story itself is too YA for me. The MC is an insufferable teen girl.
The best parts of the book are the Chinese folklore worldbuilding aspects, but sadly, they are just thrown in there like dictionary excerpts and adapted to modern American tastes. I'm rather familiar with Chinese folklore, there was mostly nothing new and I'd rather go and read Chinese translations instead.
I was a bit interested to see how the romance would develop with this Underworld official (a dragon?), but not enough to force myself through the saggy middle of the book.
jessicas_bookshelf's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
busyreadingbooks's review against another edition
Lost interest to read this book, so I'm unhauling it!
a_chickletz's review against another edition
4.0
Buddy read with my favorite, Sophie!
I've wanted to read this since it came out but I never got around to reading it on my old kindle and or I pushed it to the side. Sophie offered for us to read it and I said, sure, lets do it! I had just gotten an actual paperback copy. I also took note of the adaptation for Netflix.
The book had a MirrorMask vibe to it. Alternate side of the real world. In this cause, for our focus, it is the land of the dead. There is also a bit of a mystery too, and 'Lord of the Dead'. (That is something else i enjoy - when the girl becomes involved with Death.)
The Asian-centred cultures really have a fascination with Death as some sort of a sex symbol. Which isn't bad for me. (Takarazuka's version of Elisabeth das Musical is an example, or the Toho production.) So having the Death character help the character out or act as some hidden desire (which could also linger to some hidden desire for macabre) is fun.
I enjoyed watching the girl figure out the mystery and also feel torn between the man she craves for in the real world and Death who she develops feelings for in the land of the dead. I didn't see it as the normal love triangle, nor did I see is a battle for the lead character either.
The outcome of the story was interesting and I guess one that I would have to ponder more on, so the ending felt a tad weak to me in that aspect. Still it's a good book and it made me put the authors other book on my to-read list.
I've wanted to read this since it came out but I never got around to reading it on my old kindle and or I pushed it to the side. Sophie offered for us to read it and I said, sure, lets do it! I had just gotten an actual paperback copy. I also took note of the adaptation for Netflix.
The book had a MirrorMask vibe to it. Alternate side of the real world. In this cause, for our focus, it is the land of the dead. There is also a bit of a mystery too, and 'Lord of the Dead'. (That is something else i enjoy - when the girl becomes involved with Death.)
The Asian-centred cultures really have a fascination with Death as some sort of a sex symbol. Which isn't bad for me. (Takarazuka's version of Elisabeth das Musical is an example, or the Toho production.) So having the Death character help the character out or act as some hidden desire (which could also linger to some hidden desire for macabre) is fun.
I enjoyed watching the girl figure out the mystery and also feel torn between the man she craves for in the real world and Death who she develops feelings for in the land of the dead. I didn't see it as the normal love triangle, nor did I see is a battle for the lead character either.
The outcome of the story was interesting and I guess one that I would have to ponder more on, so the ending felt a tad weak to me in that aspect. Still it's a good book and it made me put the authors other book on my to-read list.
minimumzero's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
mysteriesofmar's review against another edition
5.0
hello i have a new favorite book don't @ me
(actually, @ me, i'd love to talk more about this book but alas responsibility calls)
(actually, @ me, i'd love to talk more about this book but alas responsibility calls)
thelibraryduck's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25