Peony in Love by Lisa Lee is my FIRST 'chinese' novel - and since then, i hunt for more chinese-culture-related novels. Shortly after Peony in Love, my next love are Anchee Min's rich Chinese history novels- Empress Orchid and The Last Empress (and of course other book by hers as well)- i even surprise a bookstore owner (that i happen to make friend with somewhr in PJ) that these type of books doesnt bore me or even lull me to sleep. nah-ah.
All these book by the authors are a dear collection to me and i treasure it much. It doesnt surprise me when i saw this new book by a new author; The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo. I only read the synopsis halfway before i picked it up and paid to the counter without doing any research (you see, i'm pretty picky and stinky too about books and i always google the synopsis, read reviews from GoodReads, Amazon and Nobles & Barnes before i decided to buy or not. This book average rating is 4.5+ in amazon btw hehe).
But this book - the title itself just enough to trigger my interest and i couldnt help relate that this book might purposely released for the Hungry Ghost Festival Celebration
And boy that purchase was worth it. After i read it in less than 2 days, some character had imprinted into my mind until today (today mark 2 weeks already and i on the 3rd book after Ghosy Bride). That is how i perceive a good book. You can easily remember your fav. character in the book despite reading so much other books (with so many characters and story).
Anyway here's the synopsis of it. and yeah - it does related to ghost festival somehow hahaha. and you will find that the story back ground is familiar because it is in Malacca. haha!
This book deserve 5 star from me. Its a refreshing genre instead of the typical cliche twilight's or the paranormal world or the Fifty Shades of Grey, black, pink watever.
"One evening, my father asked me if I would like to become a ghost bride..."
Though ruled by British overlords, the Chinese of colonial Malaya still cling to ancient customs. And in the sleepy port town of Malacca, ghosts and superstitions abound.
Li Lan, the daughter of a genteel but bankrupt family, has few prospects. But fate intervenes when she receives an unusual proposal from the wealthy and powerful Lim family. They want her to become a ghost bride for the family's only son, who recently died under mysterious circumstances. Rarely practiced, a traditional ghost marriage is used to placate a restless spirit. Such a union would guarantee Li Lan a home for the rest of her days, but at a terrible price.
After an ominous visit to the opulent Lim mansion, Li Lan finds herself haunted not only by her ghostly would-be suitor, but also by her desire for the Lim's handsome new heir, Tian Bai. Night after night, she is drawn into the shadowy parallel world of the Chinese afterlife, with its ghost cities, paper funeral offerings, vengeful spirits and monstrous bureaucracy—including the mysterious Er Lang, a charming but unpredictable guardian spirit. Li Lan must uncover the Lim family's darkest secrets—and the truth about her own family—before she is trapped in this ghostly world forever.
Anyway i thought this is funny. hehehe.
"What did the ghost bride throw to her bridesmaids? Her boo-quet."
Anyway, if you have an account at Goodreads, add me - Feon Feonn!
