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A review by carriekellenberger
The End of East by Jen Sookfong Lee
5.0
The End of East is a beautiful and slightly haunting tale of a young Chinese man named Seid Quan who moves to Vancouver's Chinatown in Canada at eighteen years of age to build his future, and how his future unfolds for future generations in his family.
The story opens with young Sammy Chan returning to Vancouver for her sister's wedding after leaving Vancouver over six years ago. Sammy's return stirs up all sorts of emotions. She also feels abandoned by her four older sisters. While caring for their mother, Sammy starts to uncover and piece together her family history, which begins in 1913 when her grandfather, Seid Quan, moves to Canada to earn money for his village in China.
Lee skillfully weaves past and present together into a beautiful story of longing, loss, and loneliness.
After being alone for many years, Seid Quan is finally able to bring son Pon Man to Vancouver, but it turns out that Pon Man feels scorn for his father and their relationship is tumultuous.
Pon Man's mother Shew Lin eventually joins them, and then soon enough, it's Pon Man's turn to bring his bride over from Hong Kong. Her name is Siu Sang, and the family expects much from her as the new young woman of the house.
Meanwhile, Siu Sang starts to fray around the edges. As a Hong Kong bride, her expectations of Canada were dreams of attending parties and social engagements with her handsome husband, not the dull drudgery of days at home scrubbing every inch of the house and preparing every meal. She is constantly berated by Shew Lin, and despite giving birth five times, she never gives the family what they want. She is a constant disappointment to everyone.
As Sammy's family history unfolds, she finds herself in a terribly difficult relationship with her mother and with a new man in her life. She is also still reeling from the memory's of her father's illness.
A raw, honest, and ruthless account of growing up in Vancouver's Chinatown and what it's like to be a stranger in a strange land.
The story opens with young Sammy Chan returning to Vancouver for her sister's wedding after leaving Vancouver over six years ago. Sammy's return stirs up all sorts of emotions. She also feels abandoned by her four older sisters. While caring for their mother, Sammy starts to uncover and piece together her family history, which begins in 1913 when her grandfather, Seid Quan, moves to Canada to earn money for his village in China.
Lee skillfully weaves past and present together into a beautiful story of longing, loss, and loneliness.
After being alone for many years, Seid Quan is finally able to bring son Pon Man to Vancouver, but it turns out that Pon Man feels scorn for his father and their relationship is tumultuous.
Pon Man's mother Shew Lin eventually joins them, and then soon enough, it's Pon Man's turn to bring his bride over from Hong Kong. Her name is Siu Sang, and the family expects much from her as the new young woman of the house.
Meanwhile, Siu Sang starts to fray around the edges. As a Hong Kong bride, her expectations of Canada were dreams of attending parties and social engagements with her handsome husband, not the dull drudgery of days at home scrubbing every inch of the house and preparing every meal. She is constantly berated by Shew Lin, and despite giving birth five times, she never gives the family what they want. She is a constant disappointment to everyone.
As Sammy's family history unfolds, she finds herself in a terribly difficult relationship with her mother and with a new man in her life. She is also still reeling from the memory's of her father's illness.
A raw, honest, and ruthless account of growing up in Vancouver's Chinatown and what it's like to be a stranger in a strange land.