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lalawoman416's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
4.0
Such an interesting take on ghost stories. The only way to describe it is if Shirley Jackson wrote Crazy Rich Asians.
brittney_tyler's review
4.0
Star Rating: 3.5 stars
After hearing about The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo from one of my favorite BookTubers, I decided to see if my local library had a copy (I don’t buy books for my own shelves that I haven’t read.), and when they did, I checked it out to read. This book tells the story of Li Lan, a young Straits-Born Chinese girl raised by her widowed father and nursemaid. Because of her upbringing, Li Lan hasn’t had many opportunities to explore the world, especially since her father has lost his passion for life after her mother’s death. As a result, she doesn’t have many marriage prospects, something that a young girl in her time period definitely needs to live a safe and comfortable life. One day, out of the blue, her father asked her if she wants to become a ghost bride, a rare occurrence within her culture but one that would ensure she was taken care of. It is her decision regarding this event that sets our story into motion.
My favorite part about this book was the time period it was set in as it was a time period that I haven’t read many books set in and an area in the world that I don’t read much from either. I’m an avid lover of history and historical fiction is my second favorite drama after science fiction and fantasy so it is quite a feat to find a book/story that features a time period or part of history that I don’t know at least a little about.
When it comes to this author in particular, I really liked how she handled the descriptions of how, due to Malacca’s unique status as a major port, there was a lot of cultural mixing, in that, our main character, Li Lan’s, life and world is deeply influenced by many other cultures, even if it retains its traditional Chinese roots. I also liked her discussion of women and their place in society, particularly when it comes to marriage. When you are writing about historical time periods, whether in an academic or literary perspective, you are supposed to dictate the confines of the time period or events with no basis, in other words, do not apply your modern perspective to a non-modern time period, and Choo handles this aspect perfectly in my opinion.
When it comes to the problems I have with this book, they have more to do with my personal taste then anything that the author did wrong. For one, I found the mystery element in this book to be very predictable and I also tend to like a lot more depth in my historical fiction, in other words, I personally wished that she had left the mystery out and instead focused on the historical discussion of the ghost marriage and how Li Lan’s unique position lead to this being an option for her, even possibly going so far to really dig into the other female characters in this book and how their marriages compared to Li Lan’s potential one. Essentially, I wished this book was more a discussion of women in this society and what they had to go through in order to achieve safety and comfort.
All in all, this book was a good escape from some of the heavier science fiction and fantasy books that I have been and will continue to be focusing on, even if it wasn’t perfect. 3.5 stars!!!!!!!!
After hearing about The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo from one of my favorite BookTubers, I decided to see if my local library had a copy (I don’t buy books for my own shelves that I haven’t read.), and when they did, I checked it out to read. This book tells the story of Li Lan, a young Straits-Born Chinese girl raised by her widowed father and nursemaid. Because of her upbringing, Li Lan hasn’t had many opportunities to explore the world, especially since her father has lost his passion for life after her mother’s death. As a result, she doesn’t have many marriage prospects, something that a young girl in her time period definitely needs to live a safe and comfortable life. One day, out of the blue, her father asked her if she wants to become a ghost bride, a rare occurrence within her culture but one that would ensure she was taken care of. It is her decision regarding this event that sets our story into motion.
My favorite part about this book was the time period it was set in as it was a time period that I haven’t read many books set in and an area in the world that I don’t read much from either. I’m an avid lover of history and historical fiction is my second favorite drama after science fiction and fantasy so it is quite a feat to find a book/story that features a time period or part of history that I don’t know at least a little about.
When it comes to this author in particular, I really liked how she handled the descriptions of how, due to Malacca’s unique status as a major port, there was a lot of cultural mixing, in that, our main character, Li Lan’s, life and world is deeply influenced by many other cultures, even if it retains its traditional Chinese roots. I also liked her discussion of women and their place in society, particularly when it comes to marriage. When you are writing about historical time periods, whether in an academic or literary perspective, you are supposed to dictate the confines of the time period or events with no basis, in other words, do not apply your modern perspective to a non-modern time period, and Choo handles this aspect perfectly in my opinion.
When it comes to the problems I have with this book, they have more to do with my personal taste then anything that the author did wrong. For one, I found the mystery element in this book to be very predictable and I also tend to like a lot more depth in my historical fiction, in other words, I personally wished that she had left the mystery out and instead focused on the historical discussion of the ghost marriage and how Li Lan’s unique position lead to this being an option for her, even possibly going so far to really dig into the other female characters in this book and how their marriages compared to Li Lan’s potential one. Essentially, I wished this book was more a discussion of women in this society and what they had to go through in order to achieve safety and comfort.
All in all, this book was a good escape from some of the heavier science fiction and fantasy books that I have been and will continue to be focusing on, even if it wasn’t perfect. 3.5 stars!!!!!!!!
davastewart's review
4.0
It took a little while for me to get into it, and now and then the story drug a little, but overall, I really liked this book. I found myself trying to describe the premise and realized what a complex world the author created.
It’s sort of historical fiction, more fantasy, and also a bit coming of age. If you like stories that take place in fantastical, somewhat historical settings, you might like this one.
It’s sort of historical fiction, more fantasy, and also a bit coming of age. If you like stories that take place in fantastical, somewhat historical settings, you might like this one.
noxxmog_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
fast-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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Drug abuse and Drug use
Minor: Fatphobia, Abortion, and Murder
kissmelicia's review against another edition
4.5
Wheelhouse elements:
Fantasy
Magical realism
Historical
Asian folklore
Non-human POV
Hidden worlds
Quest/journey
Atmospheric
Sleuthing
Secret identities
Food descriptions
Animal companion
Fantasy
Magical realism
Historical
Asian folklore
Non-human POV
Hidden worlds
Quest/journey
Atmospheric
Sleuthing
Secret identities
Food descriptions
Animal companion
readwithhugo's review against another edition
5.0
The Ghost Bride follows Li Lan, a young woman in 1890s Malacca as she receives an offer to become the ghost bride of a rich family’s recently-deceased heir. Li Lan is haunted by her would-be betrothed and is eventually drawn into the world of the Chinese afterlife. She needs to figure out who to trust in order to reunite her spirit with her body before it’s too late.
I’ve found myself in a bit of a reading rut lately so I wanted to step outside of my genre comfort zone. This book was something that I picked up on a whim via Kindle Unlimited and I’m truly glad that I did. I legitimately could not put this book down; I started it around 10am and had finished it by the time I went to bed that same day. I learned so much about Chinese folklore, superstitions, and afterlife while reading this novel. There are parts of the story that move a bit slow and probably could have been omitted or at least abbreviated, but the way the author weaves a story is so riveting that I didn't mind. The ending manages to be both conclusive and open-ended at the same time, and I am chomping at the bit for any sequel or prequel to this book that the author may write.
I’ve found myself in a bit of a reading rut lately so I wanted to step outside of my genre comfort zone. This book was something that I picked up on a whim via Kindle Unlimited and I’m truly glad that I did. I legitimately could not put this book down; I started it around 10am and had finished it by the time I went to bed that same day. I learned so much about Chinese folklore, superstitions, and afterlife while reading this novel. There are parts of the story that move a bit slow and probably could have been omitted or at least abbreviated, but the way the author weaves a story is so riveting that I didn't mind. The ending manages to be both conclusive and open-ended at the same time, and I am chomping at the bit for any sequel or prequel to this book that the author may write.
elyss_24's review
4.0
I personally love the detailing in this book, feel like I'm in the story itself. I also feel some comfort, cause it reminds me at how Asian family do in their houses. Really a good story to introduce Chinese Culture in South East Asia. But I don't like how this is end, half of the story, La Lan really wanting Tian Bian, but when she marrying him, she does not feel satisfied at all. I thought Er Lang just being a n adventure friend, but didn't think that she's in love with him.
sharnanigans's review
informative
mysterious
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? No
2.75
elizabethide's review
slow-paced
3.0
I had heard good things about this one and saved it to read in October but it just didn’t fully keep my attention. The writing was gorgeous and the world building was unique but I found myself skimming which I very rarely do.
“My two worlds overlap like distorted panes of glass. Haunted, I chafe at the tight orbit of mahjong parties that I once thought so glamorous, and glance over my shoulder for wind and shadows, yearning for the forbidden.”
“My two worlds overlap like distorted panes of glass. Haunted, I chafe at the tight orbit of mahjong parties that I once thought so glamorous, and glance over my shoulder for wind and shadows, yearning for the forbidden.”