Good Luck Life

April 1, 2005
Growing up in California, Gong didn't pay much attention to Chinese traditions. In this charming compendium of customs, beliefs, legends, traditions, and cultural inventions, she more than makes up for lost time. Part 1, "Annual Chinese Holidays," goes from Chinese New Year through Qing Ming, Dragon Boat, Hungry Ghosts, and Mid-Autumn on the authority of information from Gong's friends and aunties as well as reference books. Part 2, "Chinese Special Occasions," likewise follows the life cycle: weddings, births, big birthdays (especially the 60th!), funerals, and table etiquette. For most sections, there is a bit of poetry or story (who became the Kitchen God, and how?) or a genial recounting of beliefs and warnings -"don't sweep the floors on the first day of the New Year or good fortune will be swept away." Helpful tables list Chinese years, flowers, numbers, and animals. Scattered throughout are recipes, some of which are adapted for the average kitchen, others not -one calls for eight pounds of side cut of pork and three packages of dried bamboo leaves. A good buy for public libraries, particularly those serving Chinese American communities. -Charles W. Hayford, Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL

Copyright 2005 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.