Migration Songs, Anna Quon (Invisible Publishing)

Strong debut moves beyond the traditional

by Sue Carter Flinn

Anna Quon's debut novel Migration Songs is a hopeful sign for Atlantic Canadian literature moving beyond the traditional rural stories and recognizing that we don't all share the same history. Though Quon's Halifax is a blur---this is really a story about the interior life and struggles of Joan, a jobless 30-year-old loner, who feels out of place in this world: "Inside I am dark and shady, like a copper beech, rattling its leaves in the breeze." Joan's fragility is protected by matronly Hungarian neighbour Edna, Joan's British father, David, a staunch Mao supporter, and her mother Gillian, a Chinese-Canadian immigrant. Quon has already mastered the power of restraint, shrinking her character down in size, quietly living in the shadow of her parents and their stories. A strong debut from a new hopeful voice.

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congrats Anna we're very proud of your accomplishment. Thanks for putting this out there. I will try to get to the reading. can't promise but will definately try.

Posted by tiannasea on September 29, 2009 at 11:40 AM | Report this comment

Hear Anna read from her new book the Sunday @ Word on the Street in Halifax.
Anna will read @ 12h00 on the Book Club stage, with a q&a session and signing to follow.
(http://tinyurl.com/ybsst3s)

Posted by robbie.macg on September 26, 2009 at 10:12 AM | Report this comment