eat a bowl of tea novel

The text even portrays family ties overriding the law. The first novel to capture the tone and sensibility of everyday life in an American Chinatown, it is an incisive portrayal of Chinese America on the brink of change. In Sunwei, the "Golden Mountain" discussed represents America. [Ah Song rapes Mei Oi] "In the kitchen the white-enameled pot stood mute and unused, the lone cup of tea on the table forgotten and untouched. It's a shame that Louis Chu is no longer with us, he could've authored more books -- "Wow, your mother!" The story shows the dynamics between the older the generation and the younger generation and how they have either adapted their beliefs or maintained them. Due to its influence and popularity, the Pan Asian Repertory Theatre in New York City produced the novel for the stage[citation needed] and Wayne Wang directed a film version in 1989. Ben Loy regains his masculinity only when he establishes himself as an independent person and as the dominant one in the relationship. $12.39. $18.36. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. However, because he is so well-connected in his tong through multitudes of devoted and powerful family members, he is not penalized for his actions. In 1989 it was made into a. February 1st 2002 He and Wah Gay decide that Ben Loy will go to China and bring back Mei Oi as his bride. I guess it's your basic, first generation vs. second generation, moving to America, cultural mix story, but I think this is one of the best. The narrative then jumps back in time to "several months before the wedding" (15) and continues chronologically from this point on. She continues her affair with Ah Song, oblivious to the increasing gossip that she is "knitting Ben Loy a green hat" – sleeping with another man. It was the first Chinese American novel set in Chinese America. This discontent boils over when Mei Oi has an affair and the community learns of Ben Loy's humiliation.Eat a Bowl of Tea remains a groundbreaking and influential work. Ben Loy visits another Chinese herb specialist and decides to take the doctor's advice and "eat a bowl of tea" to treat his impotence. "...Ben Loy seemed like a little boy, lost in the wilderness, not knowing which way to turn" (126). Chu makes the stylistic choice to italicize certain words and phrases of his text. Publication date 1989 Topics immigration, … We’d love your help. Yet, thoughts and feelings of minor characters are usually withheld in order for readers to focus on relating to the major figures in the novel. I really enjoyed this book. Those feelings had more to do with how the story was told. (86). Refresh and try again. Big pains. The story shows the dynamics between the older the generation and the younger generation and how they have either adapted their beliefs or maintained them. The doctor responds, "Eat a bowl of tea and we'll get you on the way to recovery" (244). Chu utilizes various literary techniques to make his story come alive for readers. Read for personal and historical research. [2] It was made into a film of the same name by Wayne Wang in 1989. Not sure when it was set, but post-WWII. This book is hilarious and very enjoyable - and not just because of old Chinese men telling each other your mom all the time. [1] It has been cited as an influence by such authors as Frank Chin and Maxine Hong Kingston. His exploration of the effects of exile on the most vital and cherished components of traditional culture is pervaded by … All of our paper waste is recycled within the UK and turned into corrugated cardboard. But he eventually warms to the idea of bringing a bride with him back to America and raising a family, and he assents to his family's wish. However, she feels lonely in the city and spends her days sobbing over her deteriorating marriage, not understanding the causes of Ben Loy's impotence. Very interesting look at that segment of society. [Ben Loy beats Mei Oi] "He...picked up his leather slipper from the floor. Author:Chu, Louis. His hand must have come down at least half a dozen times" (146). Louis Chu's novel Eat a Bowl of Tea (1961) places the reader in the isolated, bachelor-dominated culture of New York's post-World-War-II Chinatown. you ever read a book and can't tell if the misogyny is purposefully written to depict the time and present it as a problem OR if it is because the author really does view women that way?? The neighborhood eventually assumes the identity of the man as Ah Song, and Ben Loy and Mei Oi move to Stanton to avoid further embarrassment. Not a great book, but one that improves the further you read. ''Eat a Bowl of Tea'' is rated PG-13 (''Special Parental Guidance Suggested for Those Younger Than 13''). The tong mocks the family and Mei Oi realizes the magnitude of shame she has brought upon them. Their Chinese wedding is mirrored by a Chinese wedding banquet back in Chinatown. Eat A Bowl Of Tea: A novel of New York's Chinatown by Louis Chu (2002) Paperback: Books - Amazon.ca It was the first Chinese American novel set in Chinese America. I found Ben Loy incredibly amazing as a husband, for the most, despite how he used to sleep with prostitutes. [Snow in New York] "White flakes floated down upon the street...like white-grained rice husks flying from the milling closet" (35-6). It is only socially accepted for a man to have an affair: Therefore, Mei Oi becomes the "man" in the marriage when she has an affair; this is reflected in Ben Loy's loss of manhood. Chin Yuen is the only one Ben Loy confides in about Mei Oi's affair, but readers know that Chin Yuen fantasizes about having an affair with Mei Oi. For much of the read, I had feelings of apprehension; sort of like, "I'm not sure that I'm comfortable with what's going on." [dubious – discuss] Because of its portrayal of the "bachelor society" in New York's Chinatown after World War II, it has become an important work in Asian American studies. Wah Gay, crazed by the shame this affair has brought upon his family, lurks near the apartment and attacks Ah Song as he leaves, slicing off his ear. Even the affections of Chin Yuen, Ben Loy's closest companion, cannot distract Mei Oi from the pain she feels away from Ah Song, and she eventually convinces Ben Loy to move back to New York. Only a Chinese American could have written a novel of such vigor and authenticity. "Facing the Incurable: Patriarchy in, Li, Shu-yan; "Otherness and Transformation in, Ling, Jinqi; "Reading for Historical Specificities: Gender Negotiations in Louis Chu's, By: Oakes, Pamela J. "...she [Mei Oi] was like a child lost in thick forest" (129). There are no discussion topics on this book yet. I was happy for Ben Loy. The book was delightfully brought to the big screen in 1989 by grandmaster APA filmmaker Wayne Wang, starring his wife Cora Miao, Russell Wong, and Victor Wong.Review: “Asian American Titles,” What Do I Read Next [Ben Loy's reaction to the prospect of Mei Oi's affair] "The question exploded on Ben Loy like ten thousand firecrackers" (140). Although they made love during their first few weeks of marriage, since their arrival in New York he no longer appears to desire her affection, even when she attempts to arouse him. One of my favorite parts of the books was when the men would get together in the clubhouse and say their own version of a "your, I had to read this book for my Asian Pacific American Literature class. Only a Chinese American could have written a novel of such vigor and authenticity. Free shipping . An illustration of two cells of a film strip. Whether it is the herbs or the increase in Ben Loy's independence, his masculinity is finally restored in all senses of the word. After such ceremonial practices as the employment of matchmakers and the approval of the Fourth Uncle, the families plan a traditional wedding. Additionally, it represents Ben Loy's decision to release himself from the pressure and control of his father and independently create a life for himself and his family. Get Free Eat A Bowl Of Tea Eat A Bowl Of Tea Thank you very much for downloading eat a bowl of tea. When he is not busy working at the restaurant (in the fictional suburb of Stanton, Connecticut), he and his roommate Chin Yuen visit white prostitutes in New York City, a habit Ben Loy picked up while serving in the Army during World War II. [Money Come] "...the room was like a dimly-lit tunnel" (139). I liked this book. Back in the old apartment, the affair resumes right where it left off. Publisher:Kensington Publishing. The birth of their child, Kuo Ming, and a new environment allow them to grow closer and mend previous wrongs. More on. PROBLEM SOLVED!!! [Louis Chu] Home. Eat a Bowl of Tea is a 1989 film directed by Wayne Wang based on the novel of the same name by Louis Chu. By doing so, Ben Loy regains his masculinity both literally and figuratively. The story then jumps backwards several months to the "Money Come" gambling house and the men who spend their days there: Wah Gay, Lee Gong, Chong Loo and Ah Song. Eat a Bowl of Tea by Chu, Louis Paperback Book The Fast Free Shipping. There were some touching moments towards the end, and it was nice to see the main relationship mature and develop, almost making the final problem to be solved mute. A lot of the Chinese culture reference, I did not initially get, but once I was told in class, the irony was very prevalent. Anyway, I liked the end and I liked their journey. Ben Loy becomes addicted to these sexual flings, often sleeping with numerous prostitutes in a night. By avoiding graphic descriptions, these passages remain tasteful and allow readers to use their own imaginations to obtain closure. An interesting book about Chinese-American men living in NYC. This article is about the novel. Books. Eat a Bowl of Tea came out in 1961 and it is the first Chinese American novel set in Chinese America. Eat a Bowl of Tea: Chu, Louis, Ng, Lecturer Fae Myenne, Chan, Professor of Asian American Studies and English Jeffery Paul: Amazon.com.au: Books I found Moi Oi to be really disgusting for such a 'beautiful woman'. For the film, see, Learn how and when to remove these template messages, Learn how and when to remove this template message, Brief description of Chu's background and the public's response to, Brief summary, rating, and reader’s reviews, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Eat_a_Bowl_of_Tea&oldid=882458951, Articles needing additional references from January 2008, All articles needing additional references, Articles that may contain original research from January 2008, All articles that may contain original research, Articles with multiple maintenance issues, Articles with disputed statements from July 2012, Articles with unsourced statements from August 2009, Wikipedia articles needing clarification from August 2009, Articles with unsourced statements from January 2008, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Ex: "Wow his mother/father", "Go sell your ass", "sonovabitch", "dead girl/boy", Text parallels the speech of Asian Americans by sporadically including, Ex: "You have a warm heart" (173), "green hat" (127), "Don't stand on ceremony" (164), "Fatty water should not be permitted to flow into another's rice paddy" (158). Chinese men who had emigrated to the United States were known as gimshunhocks, or "sojourner in Gold Mountain" from the Chinese name for America. Ah Song, on the other hand, is exiled for five years. Chu uses their stories illuminate conflicts between Chinese ideals and traditions and contemporary American society. Search. It highlights the cause of Ben Loy's impotency and the effect this has on Mei Oi, foreshadowing the deterioration of their relationship. The text depicts the close friendship between Wah Gay and Lee Gong (both Chinese immigrants with wives back in Guangdong (Canton)), and a conversation concerning their unmarried children ensues. Eventually Soon Lee Gong, Wah Gay, and finally Ben Loy learn of the affair. Free shipping . Be the first to ask a question about Eat A Bowl Of Tea. Danielle Evans was just 26 when she released her short story collection Before You Suffocate Your Own Fool Self in 2010, a multi-award-winning... A compelling story of life in the Chinese-American community of New York City. Without the permission of his father – who wants Ben Loy to stay in Stanton, away from the temptations of New York – Ben Loy and Chin Yuen move to an apartment on Manhattan's Catherine Street. The fact that the lack of an erection is what needs to be solved is kinds of amusing, but in an unintentional way. Seattle, WA 98195 . Eat a Bowl of Tea is a 1961 novel by Louis Chu. Maybe you have knowledge that, people have search numerous times for their chosen novels like this eat a bowl of tea, but end up in infectious downloads. The pages of this novel come alive with the maneuvers of the Tong leaders, the colorful visitors to the Money Come mah-jongg clubhouse, and the complex gossip of closely knit Chinatown. Search for Library Items Search for Lists Search for Contacts Search for a Library. [Lee Gong's reaction] "Lee Gong let go a typhoon-sized sigh of relief" (151). The two men write their wives (Lau Shee and Jung Shee) in anticipation. Classic comedy usually depicts a change from one kind of society to another. It is now considered a primary work in Asian American literature, and Louis Chu has been praised repeatedly for creating an honest portrayal of Chinese American culture. Although the novel does not begin at the earliest chronological point of the story (ab ovo), it also does not follow the typical structure of in medias res. $4.99. The title of the novel comes into play when Ben Loy takes the initiative to ask a Chinese herb specialist, Dr. Suey, if he has anything that would cure his impotence. They are abruptly awakened by a prostitute ringing the doorbell. Well written, diverting, and true-to-life. As letters, free discourse, and songs allow round characters to reveal a deeper side of themselves, the terms provide readers with a taste of Chinese culture. Exact words, though, are "wow your mother". A lot of the Chinese culture reference, I did not initially get, but once I was told in class, the irony was very prevalent. Eat a Bowl of Tea (1989) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Whether it is the beneficial effect of the tea or a change in Ben Loy himself, Ben Loy regains his manhood at the conclusi… Eat a Bowl of Tea Wayne Wang returns to Chinatown with Eat a Bowl of Tea, and recaptures the relaxed humor and deep emotions of his earlier Dim Sum in the process. Upon learning that Wah Gay has a marriageable son (Ben Loy) here in the States, Lee Gong spies on him at his restaurant and decides that he is the right man for his daughter (Mei Oi), who is still in China. The final page roughly reads that Ben manages to get and keep an erection, and then he and his wife have sex. at times Mei Oi's character DID have a sense of agency and I felt he wrote her in a sympathetic way? Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Audio An illustration of a 3.5" floppy disk. Although Ben Loy seems to be the epitome of a "good boy," he has a secret life. In 1989 it was made into a feature film by the highly respected director Wayne Wang. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of, Published In July, an unexpected visitor appears at their apartment: Ah Song, a frequent Money Come guest who flirts shamelessly with Mei Oi while Ben Loy is at work, claiming to be deeply in love with her and divulging Ben Loy's secret shameful past. Her arrival in New York should be a happy time for Mei Oi, as she is finally able to meet her father and to experience life in a big city. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. On the surface, Ben Loy appears like a "good boy", yet he is covering up secrets of a promiscuous past. Video. Find books like Eat A Bowl Of Tea from the world’s largest community of readers. The novel is told by a third-person omniscient narrator – one who is able to reach and relay the thoughts, feelings, and actions of the characters. Eat a Bowl of Tea remains a groundbreaking and influential work. The doctor responds, "Eat a bowl of teaand we'll get you on the way to recovery" (244). A compelling story of life in the Chinese-American community of New York City. With this sudden remembrance, the narration describes Ben Loy's rendezvous with a prostitute through third person direct discourse. Eat a Bowl of Tea, Louis Chu (University of Washington Press, April 2020) In the book, the elders of New York’s Chinatown are loud and unapologetic, often cursing their friends’ mothers; Chu doesn’t translate when his characters speak in the Toishan dialect. "Mei Oi had discovered that the movies had a relaxing influence on her; so that, after a night out, her inner frustrations became less compelling" (83). That alone should motivate you to buy this book. Both Ben Loy and Mei Oi are described as "being lost in a forest", showing their confusement: Many characters give luck credit for events: "He attributed to good luck the peaceful situation of his first case of love theft" (148). Although the tea is "thick, black, bitter...[and] not easy to swallow" (246), Ben Loy "kept going back to the herb doctor uncomplainingly" (246). After the war, many elderly men were confined to the cities of San Francisco, Seattle, Los Angeles, Boston, and New York City, as the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act and Immigration Act of 1924 had prevented them from returning to their wives and family in China and also from bringing these family members to the United States. Another aspect of the novel is the effect of Chinese American men on life back in China. Start by marking “Eat A Bowl Of Tea” as Want to Read: Error rating book. By setting an ominous tone and introducing complicated primary characters, the first chapter engages readers and creates a desire to know more about their history and future. The title comes from an old Chinese herbal remedy: eating a bowl of tea is believed to restore a man’s potency. [Snow in New York] "Everything was white. Koh's Picks to Celebrate Asian American Voices, 'The Office of Historical Corrections' and the Power of the Short Story. In fact, the conflict of the novel arises from the repeal of the Exclusion Act in 1943, for Mei Oi could not have come to the States before then. The novel focuses on four primary characters: a young married couple, Ben Loy and Mei Oi, and their fathers, Wah Gay and Lee Gong. Ben Loy, ashamed of his pre-marital history with prostitutes, lies to protect his secret from his "innocent, pure" wife. To see what your friends thought of this book. Confused and overpowered, Mei Oi is raped by Ah Song. hard to rate. I hated his wife. The title of the novel comes into play when Ben Loy takes the initiative to ask a Chinese herb specialist, Dr. Suey, if he has anything that would cure his impotence. The Best of the University Presses: 100 Books to Escape the News, E.J. "Filial Duty and Family Survival in, This page was last edited on 9 February 2019, at 06:45. There are points in the novel when the reader knows more about a situation or character than anyone in the actual story – this unique situation allows for thorough analysis or characters and the development of suspense. An excellent look into the lives of Chinese immigrants in the 1950s. After this scene, the story returns to normal, chronological order. The fact that. It's a shame that Louis Chu is no longer with us, he could've authored more books -- "Wow, your mother!" An illustration of an open book. Publisher for the University of Washington Member of the Association of University Presses Book Binding:Paperback. These men were highly desirable husbands for young women in China, as is seen in Mei Oi's willingness to marry Ben Loy. [Ben Loy's depression] "His head spun with pains. It's not a book I would have sought out on my own, but it was an enjoyable read and provides interesting historical insight into Chinese immigrants to America during the twentieth century. Initially, Ben Loy is reluctant to travel to China to marry, as he has been … Although Wah Gay attacks Ah Song, he receives no punishment and Ah Song is exiled. In Eat a Bowl of Tea, both Wang Wah Gay, owner of a mahjong club, and Lee Gong, a retiree, are old “bachelors” in New York City’s Chinatown. Eat a bowl of tea by Louis Chu, 1961, L. Stuart edition, in English

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