Another batch of book reviews from Goodreads:

Book Review from Wade Hayes:

A well-written memoir that was fascinating if only because the author is exactly my age, born the year I was born, and lived a life so different from my own. As she described each stage of her upbringing, I found myself thinking about what I had been doing at that same age and marveling that the two of us could possibly have occupied the same world at the same time. I envy her when I should probably not — her life was not easy, but it had been rich with experiences. The other reason I enjoyed this book was the sometimes startlingly candid and dispassionate voice of the narration.

There’s a lot of beauty in this prose, even the most terrible parts of her story she details beautifully. Her style shows a restraint that I fully appreciate (others may find it disquieting). She unflinchingly describes her life and does not apologize for it nor cheapen it by gaudily harping on lessons she has learned. She gives the reader credit for figuring it out. Sometimes quite funny. In the end, uplifting and powerful.

Must-read. You will learn something!

From Anthony Johnson:

“The sun was bright, the air was warm, and the afternoon was peaceful and lazy with the sound of cicadas. Having just finished their lunch, the adults retreated to the guest house to resume their game of mahjong. The main house and the big, walled-in yard were empty once more. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves. Under the trees, the dense shade was cool and inviting. After putting some candy and crackers in a small basket, the little girl went exploring in the yard again.”

Another in my fifty-two- books Around the World Challenge, Memoir of Half a Banana is the kind of book I have been hoping to read.  Ms. Fay Chou grew up in Taiwan, the opening lines in the book taking place in Taiwan, an island province of China. There is such a sense of place in this memoir; you can see it, smell it, taste it. And be horrified by it. And be in awe of it.

 And yet, it is not only about Taiwan. It is about a young girl living, coming of age, and finding out where she belongs.  I love taking notes when I read books, especially nonfiction works, and I took SO many notes as I was reading this book. I’ve never read anything that dives so deep on the Asian American experience, and I’m glad a book like this has FINALLY been published.

Filled with Chinese family traditions and American Chinese cultures, this book is compelling and beautifully written. As a reader, one cannot help but be in awe of Fay Chou’s honesty, strength, and ability to inspire, to teach, to shake us up, bring us together, and maybe even change the way we see each other.

I recommend this book without exception.

From Brian Williams:

I read an article by a book reviewer a little while ago in which they talked about how sick they were of “growing up in fill-in-the-blank” books and wished people would be more original. I think that’s incredibly misguided. Growing up isn’t a cliché; it’s something that happens that’s important. So, people are going to write about it, and it’s good for them.

They don’t usually write about it this well, though. This is one of those books that tops out on many different levels. The language is beautiful, the dialogue is great, and the people come alive for you, it’s educational, it’s sad, and it deals with the subject of entrenched racism incredibly well by telling the truth about what people did without forcing a political point.

A well-written memoir. The author did an excellent job of plucking out the most memorable moments to produce a flowing narrative.

Recommended.

From Charles Jones:

I enjoyed this book. Fay Chou’s life and growing up experiences were so different than my own; it was fascinating for me to read about her.

 I feel that Fay Chou has exposed her soul to us, sharing thoughts and experiences that many of us would find unlikely to confess even to ourselves. How can we, as simple readers who haven’t experienced 10% of what she has been through, write a text saying, ”this is good” or ”this is bad”? I was touched by her story, and I was convinced of the inadequacy of our progressive era. Once again, I understood how difficult it is for us to be different.

This is not an overly intellectual book, but it’s a smart one and requires focus. I love writing that demands this. Here is a book that feels no need to dumb it down for anyone; it asks for your attention and gets it, and I became addicted to that feeling of thinking about only what Fay Chou was saying, and not the million other things that tend to crowd my mind.

There is much to be learned from her story, which she has written with stunning clarity and purpose. I originally bought this book for my sister, and now I have come to love it as my own.

Truly glad to have read this book.

From Christopher Brown:

Well-written, fascinating, and emotional. At first, the structure is somewhat confusing, especially the first few chapters; I kept losing track of what year it was and how old the author was at that point. But after a while, I settled right in. I was sad when the book ended; it’s been a long time since I enjoyed a book that much.

Memoir of Half a Banana is also a wonderful history book. There’s much background about the Chinese people going back centuries and recent history. It made me sympathize with the difficulties of the immigrant experience, especially for those who settle in a place so different from their homeland.

I learned so much about the Chinese traditions; I knew little before reading this book, and what I knew contained some inaccuracies or at least a lack of context. As I was reading, I was struck by how cultural differences can hinder communications if they’re not acknowledged and attempts made to bridge the gap. This is a great book to read if you want to understand people who are different from you.

Highly recommended. Memoir-lovers: check this one out!

Recently I received some wonderful reviews from readers who posted them on Goodreads. I am copying and pasting them here with deepest gratitude:

From Mary Hall:

Everyone loves a good story, and writer Fay Chou’s material is the best East-to-West story that you can’t put down. Some writers may have a more polished style, but Fay Chou’s compelling story more than makes up for it.

 First, the language is beautiful and lyrical while staying accessible to middle-grade readers. The themes and metaphors are complex enough to engage YA and adult readers. The plot flows nicely and doesn’t have any of the narrative hiccups that verse memoir is prone to.

The most important element of this memoir is that it shows the conflicts that many Americans have only seen one side of. This would be a great companion read for middle and high school students learning about the differences between Chinese and American cultures.

The amazing thing about family histories is that they follow one story, so you learn about history through a focused lens. Stories are the most powerful tools of retelling history.

Fay Chou is a gifted and talented writer with a great capacity for detail. This will become one of my favorite memoirs, and one that I cannot praise enough. I highly recommend it!

From John Smith:

I wish I could give this book more than five stars. I have read many books about China by other authors because I have a passion for Chinese history, language, and culture, and this was my first exposure to this author’s life.

 In this memoir, Fay Chou reflects on her life. She is an incredible woman, in my opinion, and it’s been great reading her journey. I think memoirs help put life into perspective. I went through a whole range of emotions while reading this, and I think that’s what makes a book great. By the time she moved to the United States, it felt like she’s already lived several lives. Throughout this book, you can see her bravery, courage, and determination. The writing in Memoir of Half a Banana doesn’t come across as your typical memoir, and I found that refreshing.

 Since I enjoy works by Chinese and Indian authors a great deal, I’ve given it some thought. Despite the drastic differences, I find a core that connects me to writers from those cultures. Fay Chou’s work is an example of that accessibility.

From Patricia Allen:

The title itself is a catchy one; however, I must add that it is an important book. There are so many aspects of this memoir that I value.

As an avid reader, it often surprises people when they learn that I rarely re-read books. I know that a lot of people find great enjoyment from repeat readings, discovering new layers to the story, and gaining a better understanding of the book. I look at it a bit differently. There are so many wonderful books out there, and I’ll never read them all. Usually, when I choose to re-read a book, I feel like I’m wasting time that could be devoted to reading a new one.

My reason for sharing this is to inform you that I have read Memoir of Half a Banana not once, not twice, but three times! There is no stronger endorsement I can give. Fay Chou takes risks with her writing, and I found myself marveling at her bravery. It’s always risky to deviate from standard writing format. Some people can be put off immediately, but I found it charming.

So, if you are interested in China, and reading about the strength and power that people have in the most difficult times, then this is a book you would not put down. Read this!

From Linda Young:

This is one of my top-ten favorite memoir books of all time. It’s a compelling memoir, well-written, poignant, but not maudlin. I’ve read it twice and feel another reread coming on.

The ingredients necessary for a great memoir are all present. The reader is transported back in time. I felt as if I were in Taiwan, experiencing Fay’s life for myself. She doesn’t shy away from showing her family for who they are, warts and all.

The book cycles from heartbreaking episodes to moments of crystal-clear beauty and life-affirming incidents. It’s a sensual book, her sharp prose conjuring up the sights and smells of the Taiwan countryside so vividly that I missed it when the book was over. Hence the duplicate readings.

 You will not expect the ending or the logic of family behavior. There are no “cute” bits, and even the occasional softening of some parts have a range of payoffs. A fiction writer could not have written this book. Read it as a story, and you’ll see a book that needed to be written. Read it as a bio, and you’ll see a story that can barely fit into the book. Fay Chou did a good job of making this tale comprehensible, and she deserves credit for that.

From Barbara Hernandez:

I especially appreciate books that help me see the world differently, whether they are mysteries, literary fiction, vampires, or nonfiction. When they are as thoughtful and engaging as this one, I have found a treasure.

As a born and bred American and having lived here my entire life, I can only imagine what emigrating from another country must be like. It makes me wonder how I would deal with the language barrier, the differences in culture and tradition, observing and obeying the laws of the land, and that of a society different from the one I came from. But Fay Chou makes my imagination come alive in this novel with well-written and carefully chosen words that make you feel a part of the story.

Memoir of Half a Banana is a beautifully written story that reminds its readers of the importance of appreciating different cultures. I was fortunate enough to learn about this book while taking a Children’s Literature class over the summer. I loved the author’s life story and her style of writing, so I finished it in one sitting because I couldn’t put it down.

As a teacher, that is a feeling I want my students to have when they read for pleasure. Since this is a book I enjoyed reading, I hope by sharing it with other readers (young or old), they will experience the same joy that this story brings.

I would like to announce the 2020 Book Fairs that my book will be displayed in:

January 24 – 28, American Library Association – Midwinter Show, in Philadelphia, PA

March 10 – 12, London Book Fair, in London, UK

June 25 – 30, Association of College and Research Libraries Conference, in Chicago, IL

As always, you are more than welcome to go see those exhibits if you happen to travel there.

大學畢業後，第二年結了婚，移民美國，打造自己的小家庭。在美國打工、開餐館、去公司上班、自己創業、最終還是回到本行做編輯與翻譯。忙碌於生意時，在台灣、美國、大陸與香港之間來回奔波，但還是以美國為家，不知不覺一住四十餘年。隨著經驗的纍積與歲月的歷練，自己的心性也改變許多，唯一不變的是寫作的欲望仍未熄滅。近年來，回台照顧與陪伴年邁的父母，退而不休，比較有了點自己的時間，寫作終於冒出頭，成爲我首要的興趣和任務。

回顧過去一甲子的歲月，自覺有些經歷還比較奇特，值得與人分享，親眼目睹的事跡、親身體驗的事實，不但印證了大時代的刻痕，還可遺留給後代做個念想，因此，我的第一本書「半根香蕉的回憶錄」 便問世了。曾聼人說，如果某個西方白人對中國文化特別認同，行事作風都像個中國人，那他可被稱為鷄蛋，外面白裏面黃（應當是煮熟的蛋）。反之，則可被稱為香蕉，外面黃裏面白。我待在美國太久，很多方面都與台灣的親友不同了，因此有一天，我就跟兒女說，我是個香蕉。沒想到牙尖嘴利的女兒反駁道：「妳不是香蕉，我們才是香蕉！」顯然，在他們看來，我還是很中國。那麽，就只算半根香蕉好了 – 這就是書名的由來。

小學快畢業時，父親被任命到華府做財務官，母親和我有機會到美國住了三年。初到美國的日子，充滿了新奇與驚喜，卻也飽嘗學習的障礙與夢幻的破滅。我原本跟著祖父母住在左營眷村，直到十一歲才去到台北和父母同住，雖然享受到爺奶的慈愛，難免嚮往父母的陪伴，好奇著在父母跟前撒嬌的情景。然而，年輕的父母親忙於工作，只知督促我的學業和嚴加管教，未曾特意去培養本就欠缺的親情。於是，那成了我生命中的遺憾，與父母的關係，總覺好似感恩與盡孝的義務多過天然自發的孺慕之情。

不過在學業方面，倒還真算順利，即便是在美國唸初中那頭一年，由於不懂英文、不知如何做功課而急得每晚哭泣，第二年開始，也就漸漸趕上，甚至名列前茅了。囘台灣插班唸高中，又是另一番磨練，因爲中文也忘得差不多了。又花了一年時光，才趕上北一女超高的要求，適應了三天一小考、五天一大考的慣例。有了英文的底子，台大外文系磚頭似的原文書便不算難事，大學畢業時，我甚至覺得自己是天之驕子，可以成就任何事情。然而數年後，我沒有成就任何事情，於是我明白，學校内的成績與社會上的成就並不必然相等。(待續）

I’m happy to announce that Memoir of Half a Banana is going to be displayed in these other Book Exhibits in 2019:

1. Oct 16 – Oct 20: Frankfurt International Book Fair in Frankfurt, Germany
2. Nov 6 – Nov 16: Sharjah International Book Fair in Sharjah, UAE
3. Nov 21 – Nov 23: National Council Teachers of English Convention and Exhibition in Baltimore, Maryland, USA
4. Nov 30 – Dec 8: Guadalajara International Book Fair in Guadalajara, Mexico

As usual, you are more than welcome to attend if you happen to go to these places.

My book, Memoir of Half a Banana, is going to be exhibited at Beijing International Book Fair in Beijing, China, this year from August 21 through 25. The fair is open to the public, so if you are going to be in Beijing at that time, you are more than welcome to attend the fair and see the new books from all over the world.

今年北京的國際書展將於8月21日至25日舉行，免費入場，如果您那時剛好在北京，歡迎您去參觀，看看全世界今年出版的新書有哪些。我的書Memoir of Half a Banana（半根香蕉的回憶錄）也會陳列在該書展，請多多指教。

Welcome. My name is Fay Chou, author of Memoir of Half a Banana. I’m so happy to have you as a visitor to my blog about my new book. This project is very special to me, and I hope to share some of that excitement with you here.

I’ll be using this blog to interact with you about Memoir of Half a Banana, expanding on some of the topics in it and blogging on some of the ideas related to my book. This is a great place for you to get to know me, and I’m looking forward to getting to know you, too. What did you think of Memoir of Half a Banana? What questions do you have for me? How do you relate to my book?

I’ll be returning here frequently with new posts and responses to feedback from you. Until next time, tell me a little bit about yourself.