What I read this summer .......

David Nicholls’ One Day was the perfect summer read; an uncomplicated story line made it easy to pick up and put down as one goes about summer activities. There is also the fact that the one day in the title takes place on July 15 or as it is known in England, St Swithin’s Day.

The premise is reminiscent of the 1978 movie Same Time, Next Year with Alan Alda and Ellen Burstyn. One Day’s two main characters are not however as well developed; the author takes the easy writing route of giving them no subtleties or nuances. Emma Morley goes from an unmotivated, slovenly young female to overnight chic success by the mere stroke of her own pen and Dexter Mayhew becomes all about lost opportunity and his own bodily fluids.

An analytical reader may ponder whether there is any benefit to meeting a special someone on an annual basis? Does this opportunity of a regular reunion and subsequent verbal retrospection of the last 364 days make life more or less interesting? Other than that One Day doesn't warrant a lot of thought; take it for what it is, enjoy it, lend it to a friend and then move onto the next book.

The Concubine’s Children by Denise Chong

This is a good book, period. Well written, progresses at a strong pace and always interesting. It is one family’s indepth story which is also an integral part of both Canada and China’s history from the early 1900’s to 1987.

Denise Chong allows her family's past to reveal itself with no judgement. She brings the different generations, numerous relatives, individual narratives and historical background together with an expert hand. You are drawn into The Concubine’s Daughter in the same way as we keep turning the pages of a good work of fiction only this is real life.

For those of you who took offense to Amy Chua's Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother I strongly recommend that you read The Concubine’s Children. It will help you to see how vastly different the two cultures are; especially around family, relationships and parental roles. And hopefully it will lift you from the ‘their wrong, we’re right’ stance many readers took.

Chong’s book is an apt reminder of how cultural, historical and philosophical influences define us but isn't that a good thing? A homogenized world would be so boring.