To All Appearances a Lady

How sad to discover this book listed as 'Out of Print' here [it's still available at another on-line bookstore]. Bowering, who had published several volumes of poetry prior to this novel, has produced here a stunning work of prose.Any study of a person's historical roots should have universal appeal, and this one does the job better than most. Vancouver, like any West Coast city, has strong multi-cultural roots. Bowering brings that phenomenon into stark focus with her account of Robert Louis Lam's search for his parents' histories. His tour guide is an astonishingly 'real' ghost; his Chinese 'grandmother' who nudges him from one information source to another. She gives nothing away, but goads him when he flags in the quest. It's supposed to be a holiday, but Lam Fan prods him to delve further into family records to derive the story. As the account unfolds, Robert's search takes the reader into the seamier side of West Coast life, portraying the Chinese struggling for existence in the face of white North American attitudes. Robert's mother is driven to move adroitly between those worlds.Not enough praise can accrue to Bowering in her handling of the multitude of issues arising from depicting the West Coast scene at the turn of the century. Her characters, Lam Fan in many ways the most vividly portrayed of them all, are skillfully drawn. Bowering brings Robert Lam's mother, India Thackery, into the story with finesse, ultimately but subtly bringing her forth as the real lead character in a complex tale. This book has appeal for a variety of reasons. West Coast life in the early years of the 20th Century has been buried under gold rushes, railroad building, and two wars which have combined to give white North Americans a dominant voice in what is related. Bowering has opened new vistas for us to consider. She's done it with a fine sense of compassion for human values instead of lofty, unrealistic goals and crusades. Life isn't experienced only by the wealthy, white, comfortable controllers of history. Every major community has its underpinnings. Bowering's book should be restored for sale to those wishing to learn more about their neighbours.

coo

this rule

Found this treasure while visiting Vancouver Island, BC - the setting for the story. An unexpected tour guide, as well as a great read.