- Paperback: 320 pages
- Publisher: Picador (5 Mar 2010)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0330518984
- ISBN-13: 978-0330518987
- Product Dimensions: 21.2 x 13.4 x 2.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 820,582 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
As the Earth Turns Silver
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More About the Author
Product Description
Review
"As the Earth Turn Silver is a thing of beauty in its own way, just maybe not in the way I would have expected. Alison Wong's background is in mathematics and As the Earth Turn Silver is beautiful in the way a mathematical proof is beautiful."
--Bookmunch
`Wong's is an episodic novel, her short chapters lucid, fresh and bright, and seeming to bring with them a sense of that Wellington breeze. . . . Wong's gift for registering the passing weather of her characters' emotions entranced me.'
--The Lady
--Bookmunch
`Wong's is an episodic novel, her short chapters lucid, fresh and bright, and seeming to bring with them a sense of that Wellington breeze. . . . Wong's gift for registering the passing weather of her characters' emotions entranced me.'
--The Lady
Product Description
A haunting tale of love and prejudice, innocence and violence
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
This is a beautifully written novel which weaves an almost dream-like narrative between night and day, past and present, the living and the dead, China and New Zealand. It tells the story of two people in early 20th century Wellington, New Zealand, Chung-Yung, a Chinese immigrant, trying to survive in a hostile new country and a widow, Katherine McKechnie struggling to raise her son and daughter after the death of her unbearable husband.
Soon a clandestine relationship develops between Yung and Katherine. At a time when anti-Chinese legislation was at a height in New Zealand their relationship can only unfold during the mystical twilight hours of night which serves to heighten the sense of otherworldly magic which permeates the story.
This premise of two people from opposite sides is an obvious setting for tragedy which is not unexpected but no less saddening or terrible when it comes.
The only problem I had with the dream-like quality of the writing was that I never felt as connected to the characters, or the action, as I should have done, or would like to have done. I often felt detached from the main events, which is a shame because the writing is really amazing and poetic it just all seemed to wash over me and did not leave the impression the author was intending.
Soon a clandestine relationship develops between Yung and Katherine. At a time when anti-Chinese legislation was at a height in New Zealand their relationship can only unfold during the mystical twilight hours of night which serves to heighten the sense of otherworldly magic which permeates the story.
This premise of two people from opposite sides is an obvious setting for tragedy which is not unexpected but no less saddening or terrible when it comes.
The only problem I had with the dream-like quality of the writing was that I never felt as connected to the characters, or the action, as I should have done, or would like to have done. I often felt detached from the main events, which is a shame because the writing is really amazing and poetic it just all seemed to wash over me and did not leave the impression the author was intending.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
This novel is set at a very interesting time in a place where all the problems in the world seem to be magnified.
The immigration issue and the clash of the different cultures effects every society throughout the history of time to some degree - this book addresses how the New Zealand society deals with the influx of Asiatic people. There is a huge amount of irony, of course, in that the NZ society was made up mainly of British immigrants.
Another theme in the book is women starting to gain recognition within society. After Katherine's husband dies she has to make her own way and support her children in a society where women were not encouraged to be any sort of leaders.
Aside from the interesting history, the love story and the characters in and around it are beautiful - I was completely drawn into this book from start to finish and did not want to put it down.
There is a clever reflection to today's society - the different cultures are diverse in all aspects but ways have to be found to live together harmoniously or nothing good will happen.
I loved this book.
The immigration issue and the clash of the different cultures effects every society throughout the history of time to some degree - this book addresses how the New Zealand society deals with the influx of Asiatic people. There is a huge amount of irony, of course, in that the NZ society was made up mainly of British immigrants.
Another theme in the book is women starting to gain recognition within society. After Katherine's husband dies she has to make her own way and support her children in a society where women were not encouraged to be any sort of leaders.
Aside from the interesting history, the love story and the characters in and around it are beautiful - I was completely drawn into this book from start to finish and did not want to put it down.
There is a clever reflection to today's society - the different cultures are diverse in all aspects but ways have to be found to live together harmoniously or nothing good will happen.
I loved this book.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
This book had a quite unique feel about it; almost resembling the sort of jerkiness between words in the sound of the Chinese language. Perhaps I should describe it as a sticcato feel. The chapters were short and to the point, although I found the first few chapters extremely difficult to get into.
There isn't much plot, or, at least, the plot is almost totally revealed in the synopsis, so the book is left to rely heavily on the characters. Fortunately they are well drawn and the reader really senses the cultual differences between the Chinese and the New Zealand populations.
I was not aware that there were so many Chinese in New Zealand in the early twentieth century and it was fascinating that the author's ancestors had been amongst them. She was therefore in a unique position to write this book.
The reactions of the local population to the build-up of war were also interesting, very much mirroring what was happening in Britain at the time.
As Wong says in her Author's Note, many of the political characters mentioned were factual and while WWI was brewing, equally significant changes were happening within China, which greatly affected the immigrant populations.
When we meet Katherine she is married to the obnoxious Donald. Her two children, Edie and Robbie are studious and tear-away respectively. The whole family is traumatised by Donald's death but they all react differently.
Then Katherine becomes attracted to a local Chinese grocer and the repercussions affect everyone.
An enjoyable read that is lifted by the insights into Chinese immigrant life at the time.
Recommended.
There isn't much plot, or, at least, the plot is almost totally revealed in the synopsis, so the book is left to rely heavily on the characters. Fortunately they are well drawn and the reader really senses the cultual differences between the Chinese and the New Zealand populations.
I was not aware that there were so many Chinese in New Zealand in the early twentieth century and it was fascinating that the author's ancestors had been amongst them. She was therefore in a unique position to write this book.
The reactions of the local population to the build-up of war were also interesting, very much mirroring what was happening in Britain at the time.
As Wong says in her Author's Note, many of the political characters mentioned were factual and while WWI was brewing, equally significant changes were happening within China, which greatly affected the immigrant populations.
When we meet Katherine she is married to the obnoxious Donald. Her two children, Edie and Robbie are studious and tear-away respectively. The whole family is traumatised by Donald's death but they all react differently.
Then Katherine becomes attracted to a local Chinese grocer and the repercussions affect everyone.
An enjoyable read that is lifted by the insights into Chinese immigrant life at the time.
Recommended.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Beautiful, moving book with a real sense of atmosphere
I wasn't sure what to make of this book but when I started reading it I absolutely loved it. It's a love story, I guess, about a couple who fall in love against all the odds - a... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Gabrielle O
An unusual love story in immigrant New Zealand
It's the very early years of the 20th century in Wellington, New Zealand. Katherine McKechnie, widow to the awful Donald, and mother to two young children. Read more
Published 7 months ago by J. Cronin
Powerful and original story
Set in New Zealand just after the turn of the century, and highlighting prejudice against Chinese immigrants at the time, this is an impressive debut, a powerful and emotive novel. Read more
Published 11 months ago by S. Barnes
Haunting, beautiful love story
Set in in the early 20th Century in Wellington, New Zealand, it tells the story of Yung an immigrant Chinese shop keeper and Katherine, the downtrodden wife of a racist, boorish,... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Princess Mononoke
A gentle, poignant and poetic tale...
What an experience! I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy this book but since I'm of the mindset that one should always try new things, I took it with me on a long train trip. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Dr. Stephen J. Wooding
Compelling and Thought-Provoking
This is a beautiful novel set in Wellington, New Zealand just over a hundred years ago.
A story of love and tragedy, I was moved by the relationship between Katherine... Read more
A story of love and tragedy, I was moved by the relationship between Katherine... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Ben Whitehouse
Hard to get in to
I received this book on the Amazon Vine programme, and it wasn't really my cup of tea. It's a shortcoming of that programme that you have to order books on very short descriptions,... Read more
Published 23 months ago by A. K. Johnston
Beautiful. Poetic. Moving.
In 1905 in Wellington, New Zealand, Katherine McKechnie is struggling with life in a difficult marriage. When her husband dies, she begins a relationship with a Chinese immigrant. Read more
Published on 24 May 2010 by AR
A delicate and compelling work of art
Already established as a successful poet in her native New Zealand, Alison Wong turns her hand to more sustained and substantial fare with "As the Earth Turns Silver", her... Read more
Published on 19 May 2010 by Steve Benner
Unusual style, smoothly readable
An historical romance across the divide - not at all the kind of thing I usually read but this was a poignant, well-paced, beautifully written account of a tragic love-affair in... Read more
Published on 18 May 2010 by Mark Webb
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