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Book Review of The Concubine's Children: Portrait of a Family Divided

The Concubine's Children: Portrait of a Family Divided
reviewed on + 171 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4


Fascinating story about the author's mother and her life as a Chinese-Canadian. She was the daughter of a concubine to a Chinese man who chased the dream of a better life for his family by coming to the West to work. Through the whole time that Hing (Winnie as her English name) was growing up, she was aware that she had sisters and a half-brother in China - the "other" family. However, she did not meet with her Chinese family until she was an older adult. While full of tragedy, the story is not seeking sympathy, just telling what happened in the lives of both families - the one in China and the one in Canada. Good insight into traditional views of Chinese family structure as well.