Miah

by Julia Lin

Fiction. Asian American Studies. MIAH means "fate" in Taiwanese. Spanning much of the twentieth century, these linked, subtly understated stories trace the destinies of simple folk from the brutal Japanese occupation of the early twentieth century through to the "White Terror" of the exiled Chinese Mainlanders and the Kuomintang, and finally to modern Taiwan and Canada.In the powerfully gripping MIAH, a girl from Vancouver accompanies her mother to Taiwan for her grandmother Ah Mah's funeral. There she discovers the tragic story of Fifth Uncle, who was hounded by Kuomintang forces until he took pesticides and died.... In "The Colonel and Mrs. Wang" a Mainlander officer and his Taiwanese-raised son confront each other over politics. One day, the son is betrayed to the authorities. Who was the anonymous informer?... In the touching story "Lysander," a modern day Taiwanese boy is sent to Vancouver for his education. A diamond cannot be polished without friction, he has been taught. He must bear the hardship in an alien teenage culture where he tries to desperately cope and eventually loses himself.MIAH is a rare look at Taiwanese and modern Canadian life, historical, and personal, and completely honest.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction

172 pages, Paperback

First published October 15, 2012

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

I usually avoid short story collections if i’m being honest 😅 I find i become invested in certain stories only to be cut off and left wanting to read more which defeats the purpose of the ‘short’ story smh but I surprisingly loved this collection of short stories !!! I was skeptical at first bc this only had 16 ratings on Goodreads and i really wasn’t expecting to enjoy it as much as i did but this was such a treat and i’m so glad i wasn’t disappointed.

This collection of short stories revolves around a person’s ‘miah’ meaning one’s ‘fate’ in Taiwanese to live either a life of luck or a life of misfortune. It follows a multitude of characters dealing with situations pertaining to first generation Taiwanese immigrants in Vancouver, familial disputes, the toll and trauma of war on individuals and families, the ‘normalcy’ of female oppression during war times, the insidious racism between mainland Chinese and Taiwanese people during the Japanese and Kuomintang rule, and the divide between generations of immigrants esp those of mixed race and social class.
I supposed i enjoyed this read bc while it was a series of short stories, the character perspectives throughout were somehow related to one another (told from the perspective of someone’s daughter, granddaughter, mother, store keeper, family friend, etc.) so despite there being an obvious division between the stories, the entirety of the book still flowed throughout.

This read was v informative and raw and i experienced a range of emotions while reading this which is not a typical reaction for me after finishing a short story collection. I’m very proud to have this on my shelf.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Through interconnected characters that span generations in Taiwan and Canada, MIAH examines each character's "miah," Taiwanese for fate, and how their agonizing pasts of Japanese colonization followed by the White Terror under Kuomintang rule affect their future. Jumping in time and space, MIAH might be confusing for readers unfamiliar with Taiwanese history, and I find the stories to be more telling than showing. Regardless, MIAH powerfully portrays the oppression and violence Native Taiwanese* experienced for almost a century. My heart aches as I read this book and reflect on the lost lives of my ancestors and many others. MIAH is a painful yet essential read for those interested in learning about Taiwanese history.

*Native Taiwanese, also known as Benshengren (本省人), are ethnic Hoklo or Hakka Taiwanese nationals who settled on the island prior to or during the Japanese colonization of Taiwan. Native Taiwanese should not be confused with the indigenous peoples of Taiwan, who come from various recognized or unrecognized Austronesian tribes. [Wikipedia]

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always self-identified as someone who doesn't particularly enjoy short stories, but I think I've changed my mind. This collection of stories about various members of a Taiwanese family across years and miles is simply incredible. The stories are often painful and powerful -- I rarely started a new story immediately after finishing one, because I had to take some time to process. Not easy reading, but immensely rewarding. I really can't recommend this collection enough.
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[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply superb. This book of interconnecting short stories tells us so much about the human condition. Each has many layers, much depth and was a joy to read. I truly feel an understanding of the situations of the protagonists.

[Jennifer Chow · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid collection of Taiwanese-Canadian stories. I really admire how Lin put so much research and authenticity in the historical settings. Also, she was able to weave in very different characters (age, gender, etc.) and connect them through subtle ties. The parts that resonate with me the most are the emotional reflections of the characters, especially the female ones. I did have a slight issue with the density of the language. Sometimes the wording felt overelaborate (e.g. college level or higher), which may not have fit in with some of the narrators' perspectives. Likewise, there are a few marvelous analogies, but they often allude to very specific scientific descriptions and traits involving nature. Overall, though, a worthy anthology that brings to light much needed exploration of Taiwanese and Canadian identities.