Gold Mountain Blues [Hardcover]

 

 

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Chinese and Canadian history comes to life through the talented story telling by a young Canadian writer, Zhang Ling. She is an award-winning author in China, and the novel, GOLD MOUNTAIN BLUES (GMB), is her debut in English. This novel was first written in Chinese and is called GOLD MOUNTAIN. As one who has taught both Chinese History and Chinese literature, I am extremely impressed with her literary talents and meticulous historical research.

GMB reminds me of the traditional story tellers of the Song and Yuan dynasties. Zhang Ling is a mesmorizing story teller. However, be forewarned: once you start reading GMB, you won't want to put it down.

With GMB, a new transnational, panoramic perspective has arrived on our shores to inform and delight us. The English translation of GOLD MOUNTAIN by Nicky Harman is simply superb. I would dare to state that she is in the same league as the award-winning translator of Chinese literature, Howard Goldblatt, who has been translating Chinese literature into English for over 25 years.

GOLD MOUNTAIN BLUES is replete with Chinese History from Emperor Qian Long (11) to the 1896 visit to Vancouver by Li Hongzhang (99,149) and visits (1897, 1910, and 1911) by Dr. Sun Yat-sen (252). This historical framework [e.g., "... year five of the reign of Guangxu" (11)] may be a bit confusing if one does not have a background in Chinese History, yet it is balanced with a Canadian time frame (501).

The juxaposition of the history of these two great countries allows many voices to be heard. To me, that was her purpose. Within any family, there will always be those who have a particular viewpoint. That is even true about those who read the same piece of literature or historical document. We all have our own interpretations and our own perceptions. This is also another point that I love about Zhang Ling's novel: it causes the readers to reflect upon who we are, and how we wish to identify ourselves, as opposed to how others wish to label us. An example of this sense of belonging comes from the quote: "Grandad, why are you Chinese and I'm not?" (508) We don't need to accept the labels that others give us; we can identify ourselves as unique individuals. This Zhang Ling has done extremely well in her GMB.

Her literary references, such as the poems from the Tang dynasty (e.g., Du Mu, 99 and Wang Wei, 85) demonstrate her knowledge of the well-established Chinese literary traditions and just add to the richness of her stories.

In the next edition of this novel, I would like to make two suggestions: First, fix the only typo that I could find: "...the teign of Guangxu" (156), which is out of the hands of the author. Second, consider adding an Appendix (Study Guide with notes). High schools students could read this novel as a class project and mine the rich historical information therein. For example, group of students could look at the significance of Chinese names and note how they were changed as the names "immigrated" to a new country. Another group could look at the laws in Canada at that time and reflect on why they were made and why they were later changed.

Two worlds were divided by laws languages and stereotypes. Today the Chinese Exclusion Act (1923) has been repealed, and with GMB, Zhang Ling has overcome the language barrier and allowed us to hear some voices that we have not heard before. She has also tried hard to reduce the stereotypes, by bringing her Canadians with Chinese background to life and by allowing each of them to tell their own story in their own ways.

"First, the lucky spider, and now gthe magpie. She [Sixfingers] felt sure they were signs which boded well for the day ahead."(478) With GMB, Zhang Ling has brought great reading pleasure to this Canadian immigrant. In the words of so many Chinese who have called Canada home since the 1860s: M'goi saai [Thank you very much]. I look forward to reading your next novel with great anticipation.

Following a fictional family for several generations, this novel collects some of the familiar historical images of early Chinese immigrants and adds more that I never knew about. The voice was so intimate it gave me a start as a non-Chinese Canadian and must reassure and give voice to the many generations of Chinese Canadians. I particularly enjoyed seeing the impact of this exodus back in China. A treat for the history buff.

Parts of this book, except for change of character names, is the exact same as Disappearing Moon Cafe, published 1990.

Example.

From Disapearing Moon Cafe, (1990) pg.3

In grave danger, a young Chinese man is rescued and then cared for by a beautiful girl, Kelora, of rare Chinese/Native heritage.

From Gold Mountain Blues, (2011) pp. 256-285

In grave danger, a young Chinese man is rescued and then cared for by a beautiful girl, Sundance, of rare Chinese/Native heritiage.

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