It is 1905 and brothers Yung and Shun eke out a living as green grocers near Wellington's bustling Chinatown. The pair work to support their families back in China, but know they must adapt if they are to survive and prosper in their adopted home. Nearby, Katherine McKechnie struggles to raise her rebellious son and daughter following the death of her husband Donald. A strident right-wing newspaperman, Donald terrorised his family, though was idolised by his son. Chancing upon Yung's grocery store one day, Katherine is touched by his unexpected generosity. In time, a clandestine relationship develops between the immigrant and the widow, a relationship Katherine's son Robbie cannot abide. As World War I rolls on, and young men are swept up on a tide of macho patriotism, Robbie takes his family's honour into his own hands. In doing so, he places his mother at the heart of a tragedy that ill affect everyone and everything she holds dear.
Powerful, moving and unforgettable, As the Earth Turns Silver announces the arrival of a bold new voice in contemporary fiction.
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"Stunning book - absolutely loved it. Set in late 1800s to 1920s, the book illustrates the plight of the Chinese in NZ and the terrible prejudice they endured. Katherine, a widower, falls for Yung, the local greengrocer, and their affair covers most of the book. Beautifully written and very moving." — Bachyboy (5 out of 5 stars)
"Stunning book - absolutely loved it. Set in late 1800s to 1920s, the book illustrates the plight of the Chinese in NZ and the terrible prejudice they endured. Katherine, a widower, falls for Yung, the local greengrocer, and their affair covers most of the book. Beautifully written and very moving."
" It's a lovely quick read but it didn't really hold my interst for very long. I actually read about 3/4 and just couldn't finish it. "
" my book club book this month. It is a bonus book for the holidays. It takes place in wellington about 1920. Readable. "
" Really enjoyed this, beautifully written. I loved that it dealt with the chinese immigrants that lived in Wellington prior to WW1, and of course I love to read Kiwi authors. "
" Excellent - and I learnt a lot too. Never knew about the Chinese in New Zealand, and Wong expertly weaves real-life people and events into the narrative. Sad little story. "
" This was a lovely but sad book. It has the mark of a poet and touches on a time and section of society i knew nothing about: the Chinese in early 20th Century NZ. A Kiwi Maxine Hong-Kingston? Recommended to all esp. ladies....Anyone else read any books? Any danger? "
" Very good insight to the Wellington of Old, warts and all. Beautifully written. Can see why this book has won awards. "
" A really interesting and beautifully written book. "
" A beautiful love story in a background of the prejudices and cultural confinements of the time. Wellington was like one of the cast of characters to me. "
" Very beautifully written novel, I must admit though it takes time for it to grow on you and for you to really be aware just how amazing and poetic the writing in this novel is. "
" Good first time novel by a NZ writer. Very simplistic plot but enjoyable to read and I enjoyed the Wellington history element and inter racial relationship issues. "
" Well written poignant nz novel "
" This is a great first novel or second or third even...which shows in a very low key way the racism and prejudice that the Chinese experienced in early new Zealand . Although low key it is powerful in portraying beauty and ugliness "
" This is a lovely story, despite all of its tragedy and heartache. A love story set in Wellington during the early 20th century between a Chinaman and an English women. "
" Beautiful book. Very easy to read peppered with poetic portions. Great to take a step into the past and visualise Wellington a hundred years ago. "
" Interesting novel on the tensions between New Zealand Europeans and Chinese immigrants in the early days of Wellington. Sympathetic characters and well researched. "
" So Sad. A New Zealand woman falls in love with a Chinese man, just before WW1, when such relationships were highly controversial, and treated with derision and disgust. "
" A large number of people in Lower Hutt want read this after me. As this library book has lots of reservations I'm going to try it over the long weekend. Labour Day for us this weekend. "
" Lovely lovely book. Very moving. "
" I enjoyed her style of writing and eloquent descriptions, and that it took place in Wellington!I was hoping for a different ending, but the journey was enjoyable. "
" A very interesting insight into life in Wellington. How New Zealand society has changed in some ways and not in others. "
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