Homebase: A Novel (Plume Contemporary Fiction)

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Summary: Rainsford Chan: A Man of Myth
Review: I think that this book is an extremely introspective piece about a young Chinese American boy who is discovering the balance between the Chinese heritage he has denied his entire life, as well as the American that he could never be. Wong's poetic nature surfaces in this prose through his lilting descriptions that disclose the connection Rainsford seeks to find between his heritage and this country who was so unaccepting of Chinese immigrants, and how possibly the nature of society has never really changed no matter how hard he tries just as his ancestors did.

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Summary: such an important book to read.....
Review: I was assigned to read HOMEBASE by Rainsford Chan in a American Ethnic Studies comparative literature course and I was so glad that I did! The author, Professor Wong, who was the head of the English department at the University of Washington, gives the Chinese Exclusion Act and the generations who followed it a face, a name and a story. Rainsford Chan, the main character, bridges three generations as he takes a look back at his identity as a Chinese-American in an adverse culture that will not accept him as truly "American" because of his Eastern features, the color of his skin and his last name. Though, his great-grandfather literally helped to build America, while constructing the Trans-Pacific railroad, Chan still feels he has no real place amongst the Whites who continue to question his authenticity.

Wong's style is intense, poetic and frank. This novel also brings up very important and timely points about cultural and social identity, and the connection between men, their fathers and the legacy they carry on even three generations down the line. Rainsford excels in American sports, earns a letterman jacket and must become the "man" in the family after his father dies, and also helps his mother in her flower shop. The duties of manhood and caring for his family are part of his identity that he must live up to, as well as the pressure of justifying his "American-ness" to everyone who insists he must be from Hong Kong. Even though he comes from the "home where the buffalos roam." Such an important book for anyone interested in cultural identity in the United States, and for those who are still struggling for fair treatment in a White world.

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Summary: Touching Story Not Often Heard
Review: Shawn Wong's homebase deals with a topic not widely discussed in literature. The author's early work (before American Knees) delves into his relationship between his father and heritage. the lesson I walked away was that by looking back at your heritage, you always can find a place you can call home. Whether it is in your family or friends, there is a special place you can go when you are seeking solace from the outside world. The language is magnificent and he has a strong writting style which draws you into his stories.