⋙ Descargar Gratis The Woman Who Breathed Two Worlds The Malayan saga Selina Siak Chin Yoke 9781503939349 Books

The Woman Who Breathed Two Worlds The Malayan saga Selina Siak Chin Yoke 9781503939349 Books

Download As PDF : The Woman Who Breathed Two Worlds The Malayan saga Selina Siak Chin Yoke 9781503939349 Books

The Woman Who Breathed Two Worlds The Malayan saga Selina Siak Chin Yoke 9781503939349 Books

I am delighted that I chose this novel. I wanted a unique vision of the world and I got it. As a child I loved Pearl S.Buck's "The Good Earth" so I was open to exploring, in print, a different culture than my own. The main character, a young mixed culture (Chinese and Malayan) girl born in the time of the Tiger, is a worthy heroine. The story is set in the colonial period and we see a people and a culture struggle to maintain ancestral ties.
I was worried that language and idioms of the time period would trip me up while reading, however, I adjusted easily thanks to a concise introduction by the author. The writing is lyrical but not flowery. I was transported to the time and place through the eyes of this feisty girl. I will give you a glimpse into the writer's skill. At the end of chapter one we can feel the promise of the rest of the novel "I can still picture the bright moon visible through the open air well, hear the clack-clacking of lizards scuttling about dark walls. In the rooms beyond chattering voices reverberated, while around me, stacked neatly on the floor and on wooden cabinets, were the utensils that would one day be my weapons."
Buy this book and I believe you will enjoy this as much as I have


Tags : The Woman Who Breathed Two Worlds (The Malayan saga) [Selina Siak Chin Yoke] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Facing challenges in an increasingly colonial world, Chye Hoon, a rebellious young girl, must learn to embrace her mixed Malayan-Chinese identity as a Nyonya—and her destiny as a cook,Selina Siak Chin Yoke,The Woman Who Breathed Two Worlds (The Malayan saga),AmazonCrossing,1503939340,Audiobook; Audio; Book; CD; Fiction; Literature; Literary,China;Social life and customs;20th century;Fiction.,Cultural Heritage,English Historical Fiction,FICTION Historical General,Families;Fiction.,Fiction,Fiction Cultural Heritage,Fiction Historical,Fiction Literary,FictionLiterary,Historical,Interpersonal relations;Fiction.,Literary

The Woman Who Breathed Two Worlds The Malayan saga Selina Siak Chin Yoke 9781503939349 Books Reviews

Selina has written a masterpiece saga on her ancestors who had settled in Malaysia (Malaya back then). One can tell she did her homework and research thoroughly, speaking with elderly family members and hearing the folklore and traditions that has been passed on for generations. Taking all this knowledge, she brought forth her protagonist Chye Hoon as she grew into a young, feisty teenager, who floundered about, trying to find her place in her world. Chye Hoon eventually went the way of her mother and previous ancestors (much to her mother's delight) and became a nyonya, a traditional Malay woman who also adopts her Chinese husband's culture, religion, and foods (mainly from southern China from the Han Province). Here a woman combines her traditions to the Babas. I'm not going to write more because the story is there for YOU to explore and delve into it yourself. Having grown up in Tanah Rata (going there required going through Ipoh) and also Penang, I can only say that this book brought on a barrage of memories of living there. Selina writes extremely well describing the local foods almost in a way you can smell and taste the foods being made! This book is wonderful for those who enjoy historical fiction! I didn't want the family saga to end...it's a page turner, for sure, so enjoy every page! And by ready to be a fly on the wall to Chye Hoon's extended family saga!
I really wanted to like this book. My father is from Malaysia and is Chinese -- my family heritage made this book even more appealing and was interesting to learn some history of my father's homeland. I've also spent an abundant amount of time in Malaysia.
And actually, there's much about this book that I appreciated, like the descriptions of the town, the atmosphere, the food. I love period books because it's like a glimpse into the past and learning the history of a place. The author does a fairly good job of bringing the characters to life and telling a relevant story.

The one thing I couldn't get over though, was the dialogue. It literally ruined the book for me.

From the very beginning, the main character, Chye Hoon, speaks in this broken English. But the thing is, she's not actually supposed to be speaking in English at all. It's translated dialogue. But WHY is it so broken?? Why is almost everyone's dialogue translated in broken English? Having spent time in Malaysia, I could hear the accents of the characters in my head and yes, that's how they would have sounded if they'd been speaking in broken English. But these characters aren't supposed to be speaking English. They're supposed to be speaking in their native tongues -- whether it's Chinese, Hokkien, or Malay. And those languages themselves are not just broken, choppy, unstructured languages. To translate them as such does a horrendous disservice to them.
Reading it as such turns the characters into some sort of crude, unevolved beings. It's infuriating because these characters are supposed to be smart and rich in culture... so why make them sound like they're ignorant all throughout?? For the bulk of the book, they're not ESL students. We are assuming they're speaking in their native tongues. Why are the languages being portrayed so poorly?

Also, the author's picking and choosing of when to translate and when not to translate and when to explain and when not to explain translations and meanings, is confusing. There's lines in the book that are direct translations of Chinese sayings, but the author doesn't note that it's a Chinese saying, being translated. And it makes seem like the characters are just spouting mumbo jumbo.

I really wanted to like this book, and I can appreciate the historical relevance, but the God-awful dialogue is genuinely insulting. Way to perpetuate stereotyping.
Interesting premise, definitely transported to another world. Reason for only 3 stars, the somewhat stiff and cumbersome prose style.
Wonderful book! Could hardly put it down. I love long historical novels. I am also interested these days in stories of this area. I had a little trouble following all the Chinese names, but it did not intrude in the enjoyment of the novel. It was one of the choices as my Prime free book of the month and I am so glad I chose it. I am hoping there is a sequel.
I am delighted that I chose this novel. I wanted a unique vision of the world and I got it. As a child I loved Pearl S.Buck's "The Good Earth" so I was open to exploring, in print, a different culture than my own. The main character, a young mixed culture (Chinese and Malayan) girl born in the time of the Tiger, is a worthy heroine. The story is set in the colonial period and we see a people and a culture struggle to maintain ancestral ties.
I was worried that language and idioms of the time period would trip me up while reading, however, I adjusted easily thanks to a concise introduction by the author. The writing is lyrical but not flowery. I was transported to the time and place through the eyes of this feisty girl. I will give you a glimpse into the writer's skill. At the end of chapter one we can feel the promise of the rest of the novel "I can still picture the bright moon visible through the open air well, hear the clack-clacking of lizards scuttling about dark walls. In the rooms beyond chattering voices reverberated, while around me, stacked neatly on the floor and on wooden cabinets, were the utensils that would one day be my weapons."
Buy this book and I believe you will enjoy this as much as I have