Book Review: Pik-Shuen Fung's "Ghost Forest"

Canada is no stranger to Asian immigrant stories. However, in my academic and reading experiences, I haven’t read much literature written by Hong Kongese. I knew I wanted to rectify that when I requested Ghost Forest, written by Pik-Shuen Fung. I think the main difference that I noted between other Asian Canadian literature (mainland Chinese, Korean, Japanese, etc.) and Hong Kongese Canadian literature is that the protagonist’s family had the ability and money to travel to and from Canada, HK and mainland China. This isn’t a con, it just stood out to me.

This story is a novel told in vignettes. I love this form! I read Sandra Cisnero’s The House on Mango Street a few years ago when I lived in Shanghai and loved it and the form of the text. I think that what makes this form work in Ghost Forest is that Fung clearly understands the structure, components and purpose of vignettes and executes it almost flawlessly.

I loved and appreciated the story of a woman who constantly moves and travels for work and family (as I also live this life). Fung highlights how hard the protagonist’s parents work to build a life in Canada for their daughters after the handover of HK to China. But it was the experiences of living their lives that are steeped in two seemingly different cultures which spoke to my heart (I’m half Japanese and half Canadian). I felt how the protagonist struggles at times to find her footing while she’s in Asia but also how she reconciles the generational differences to be something that is commonly found in Asian Canadian literature—this thematic element felt like a warm, comfy blanket.

I recommend this novel for lovers of The House on Mango Street. Alternatively (or additionally!), if you’re looking for a Asian Canadian immigrant story that will simultaneously make you laugh and cry, then I highly recommend Pik-Shuen Fung’s debut, Ghost Forest as it reminds readers—regardless of who you are and where you come from—that we all walk in a forest alongside the ghosts of our family for we carry them with us wherever we go.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - One World for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review! Ghost Forest will be available on July 13, 2021 for purchase.

Link to information on goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55333961-ghost-forest
Link to review on NetGalley: https://www.netgalley.co.uk/book/214775/review/717671