The Ghost Bride

by Yangsze Choo Narrated by Yangsze Choo

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

Ghost Bride is a stunning cross-genre historical exploration of period colonialism, a murder mystery, a speculative jaunt through life and death and all woven with gorgeous Chinese folklore.

A startlingly original voice makes her literary debut with this wondrous coming-of-age story infused with Chinese folklore, romantic intrigue, adventure, and fascinating, dreamlike twists

One evening, my father asked me whether 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, traditional ghost marriages are used to placate restless spirits. 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 Lims' 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.

Editorial Reviews

AUGUST 2013 - AudioFile

Author Yangsze Choo narrates her lovely historical novel, set in colonial Malaysia. The story’s protagonist, a young Chinese woman, is likable due in large part to Choo’s sympathetic characterization and portrayal. Her soft tone and gentle cadence resonate with the novel's ghostly aura as the main character is haunted in her dreams. Choo differentiates between the various characters by changes in pitch, most notably in the much older woman, Amah. Rich description, precision of detail, and a slight hint of a British accent establish the uniqueness of this coming-of-age novel. Those looking for a literary novel that is enhanced in the audio version will not be disappointed. M.R. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine

From the Publisher

Choo’s clear and charming style creates an alternate reality where the stakes are just as high as in the real world, combining grounded period storytelling with the supernatural.” — Publishers Weekly

“Captivating epic . . . [this] impressive first novel takes readers on one of the wildest rides since Alice fell down the rabbit hole.” — San Jose Mercury News

“Choo’s remarkably strong and arresting first novel…is sure to garner much well-deserved attention.” — Booklist

“Choo’s fascinating debut . . . rich in Chinese folklore, mores and the supernatural…intriguing and enlightening. A haunting debut.” — Kirkus Reviews

“Li Lan’s odyssey keeps her on the brink of earthly demise and keeps the reader riveted to the page . . .” — New York Journal of Books

“Delicate and thought-provoking . . . sure to be a hit with supernatural and historical fiction fans alike.” — Library Journal

“Unlike any book I’ve ever experienced, with its meld of historical fiction coupled with a fascinating culture, murder mystery, the wandering of spirits of the dead and not-so-dead, romance, and adventures in the afterworld . . . one revelatory experience after another.” — Bookreporter.com

Bookreporter.com

Unlike any book I’ve ever experienced, with its meld of historical fiction coupled with a fascinating culture, murder mystery, the wandering of spirits of the dead and not-so-dead, romance, and adventures in the afterworld . . . one revelatory experience after another.

New York Journal of Books

Li Lan’s odyssey keeps her on the brink of earthly demise and keeps the reader riveted to the page . . .

San Jose Mercury News

Captivating epic . . . [this] impressive first novel takes readers on one of the wildest rides since Alice fell down the rabbit hole.

Booklist

Choo’s remarkably strong and arresting first novel…is sure to garner much well-deserved attention.

Booklist

Choo’s remarkably strong and arresting first novel…is sure to garner much well-deserved attention.

AUGUST 2013 - AudioFile

Author Yangsze Choo narrates her lovely historical novel, set in colonial Malaysia. The story’s protagonist, a young Chinese woman, is likable due in large part to Choo’s sympathetic characterization and portrayal. Her soft tone and gentle cadence resonate with the novel's ghostly aura as the main character is haunted in her dreams. Choo differentiates between the various characters by changes in pitch, most notably in the much older woman, Amah. Rich description, precision of detail, and a slight hint of a British accent establish the uniqueness of this coming-of-age novel. Those looking for a literary novel that is enhanced in the audio version will not be disappointed. M.R. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940173428905
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	08/06/2013
Edition description:	Unabridged
Sales rank:	764,293

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