Hunger by Lan Samantha Chang (Page 1-38)

SUMMARY:
A woman named Min moved to New York from China because living conditions were bad in China and there was a war going on. She escaped to China alone and she felt like she didn't fit in. Her mom told her to learn English because she needs to know it to communicate with people. Min didn't feel like she belong in New York until she met a man named Tian. When Min and Tian got married, they moved to Brooklyn. There life was picture perfect because Tian was a musician. He didn't make much money but he had a strong passion for playing the violin. When Min was pregnant with their first child, Tian wasn't happy about it. He was more into his career more than anything. Min wanted to give birth to a son because it was Chinese tradition. Having a son will help carry on the family's name. Her first child was named Anna, but Min really wanted a son for her husband but Tian said "No son". He didnt think it's time to have another child because of their condition. Min felt like she doesn't know Tian on a deeper level. She felt like he was a stranger sometimes but she only kept that to herself.
QUOTES:
"It is yuanfen," (Chang 17).
"It means: that apportionment of love which is destined for you in this world," (Chang 17).
REACTION:
I think this book is a great book to read. It really explain the struggles that Chinese women may have when they first come to the United States. Many Chinese people want to learn English when they come to live here, but it's not as easy as it seem. In this novella, Min tried but something is holding her back. She doesn't want to loose her Asian culture in a way.
This book also demonstrates the struggles that Chinese may have. Because they are not educated to speak proper English so they had a hard time tofind a job. Tian is a musician, he gave up his family to move to Brooklyn to persuade his dreams. When he got laid off on his job, he didn't have money to support the family. Min in a way had different goals, she wanted to have a son. A son that can carry on their family name. Many Asian cultures think having sons are better than daughters because they are thought to be smarter and more useful. This novella so far demonstrated the beliefs of asian cultures and the life some Asians may have when they move away from China.