NONFICTION - April 9, 1995

THE CONCUBINE’S CHILDREN by Denise Chong (Viking: $21.95; 266 pp.) No one in Denise Chong’s family had any miraculous achievements or dramatic failures. These were fairly ordinary Chinese people who lived under difficult circumstances and did the best they could with what they had. It is a testament to Chong’s writing, that in the telling of her family’s history, she manages to portray the struggles of her grandparents and mother, their public and private lives, with such care that every character becomes utterly fascinating.

May-Ying, the author’s grandmother, was an enigmatic woman. After immigrating from China to Vancouver in 1924, she became the concubine of Chang Sam, eventually having three daughters with him, two of whom were raised by Chang Sam’s wife back in China, while the third, Hing, remained in Canada. May-Ying, who dominates the book, was an alcoholic waitress dividing her time between gambling and abusing Hing, the author’s mother. She was also beautiful, charming and desperately hungry for something--love, fulfillment, it’s never clear what--and that hunger made her disagreeable and unhappy. Chng strikes a delicate balance, showing true sympathy toward her grandmother, while never excusing her obvious shortcomings.

In addition to a being a vivid family portrait, “The Concubine’s Children” is filled with well-placed historical information about China and Canada. It is a pleasure to read such a generous book.