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.
This article appears in Sep 24-30, 2009.
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)
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.