Wooden Fish Songs: A Novel

by Ruthanne Lum McCunn, King-Kok Cheung (Foreword)

“Wooden fish songs” were the laments sung by Chinese women left behind by husbands, sons, and brothers who, in the nineteenth century, sailed to America in quest of the good life – and found instead years of indentured servitude and racial discrimination. This novel focuses on Lue Gim Gong, a real-life Chinese pioneer, who seized the opportunity to go to America’s “Gold Mountain.” The story of his attempt to assimilate the new culture, his few successes and his frequent setbacks, is told not by himself but by the women who cared most about his mother in China, a New England spinster who loved him, and a friend and coworker who was the daughter of slaves. Ruthanne Lum McCunn brings her characters to life against a backdrop that ranges from China, with its deep roots in tradition, to the stern imperatives of a New England mill town and to 1870s Florida, where Lue developed the new species of frost-hardy oranges for which he is today remembered.

First published in 1995, this new edition includes an introduction by King-Kok Cheung, University of California, Los Angeles, and an afterword by the author.

For more information about the author go to

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction

408 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Ruthanne Lum McCunn is an American novelist and editor of Chinese and Scottish descent.

Reviews

[Alcornell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned about the Chinese Exclusion Act, Chinese agricultural practice in the 19th century, the importance of ghosts in the traditional life of Chinese peasants, missionaries in China, a black non-slave woman's view of post Civil war southern life, the influence of religious fundamentalism on race relations in America, and about the complicated relationships between immigrant groups, non-immigrant whites and African-Americans in 19th C. America.

This story is a beautiful lament, grounded in well researched history, told from the 1st-person viewpoints of 3 very different women who knew best the central character, Lue Gim Gong: his mother, Sum Jui, his mentor/friend, Fanny, and Sheba, daughter of a slave who worked with him in the groves of Florida. The author's rendering of place, personal nuance, and cultural complications drew me in as if these were my stories. Never again will I drink orange juice in winter without thinking of this story.

This was not an especially easy read in the beginning, but as the characters and customs were sorted out, the stories wove together to fill in the large gap in my knowledge of cross cultural realities of Chinese, Americans and women in both China and America of the 19th C. This was unexpectedly satisfying and moving.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on the life of a Chinese immigrant, Lue Gim Gong, whose horticultural discoveries hugely benefitted the citrus industry, this is a 19th-century story told alternately through the voices of three women: Lue Gim Gong’s mother, the white woman in Massachusetts who supports and sponsors him, and the black woman who works in their Florida household. These three distinct voices bring to life the ethnic and cultural differences that reflect the world of that time – both in China and the U.S. Through all the economic ups and downs, the family rivalries, and the religious conflicts, Lue Gim Gong’s search for strength in plants by cross-fertilization becomes a metaphor for the wisdom of embracing diversity among people – a lesson that, tragically, none of them can fathom.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was so timely to read this book right now because of the three perspectives it's told from: a Chinese woman, a White woman, and a Black woman. We get an understanding of how the Chinese fared in the US and what the perceptions were "back home" in China about the US and its people. We get a sense of "white savior" actions and how people of color got treated during this time period (late 1800s). A lot of patronizing, but no real acceptance or inclusion. Seeing people through eyes of ownership.

It was hard to read about the things Sum Jui did that she thought made sense because of her ghost mark. I was upset that she didn't allow Elder Brother and Sister to have her second grandson. I understand the why behind her decision to kill the boy instead so that she didn't allow those terrible people (Elder Brother and Sister) to ruin something else, but she lost much more because of that decision--her first grandson and a chance at some much needed sustenance for her and four other members of her family. It was interesting to see how much I could dislike characters like Elder Brother and Sister, that people like that do exist in the world. 

Ruthanne signed my copy of this book and it was fun to see in the acknowledgements that my professors at UCSC had a hand in helping with this book, like Yvette Huginnie and Judy Yung. I have a feeling I read this book before, probably around 2002, because some of the story was familiar but I'm glad to have read it again. Historical fiction.

SUM JUI
"'Your father and brother will be back with the coffin soon. You must not tell them about the kitten breaking Yeh Yeh's journey.'
My mother's warning puzzled me, but I did not dare chance another outburst. So I said nothing. Sighing, she continued, 'The first hours of death are important because the spirit is reluctant to let go. We the living must encourage the spirit to leave and help guide it into the afterworld. Otherwise the person cannot go on to his next turn in the wheel of life.'" pg. 5-6

"Over the years I had, like all women, saved my hair from combings for my old age when I would need to fill out my thinning bun. During Gim Gong's first days back, while he was too weak to rise from his bed, I fashioned this hair into a queue for him." pg. 221

FANNY
"And the Master did give him strength equal to each day. But I knew from sore experience that endurance is a thin gruel. It sustains life; it does not nourish." pg. 233

SHEBA
"'Sheba and me, we ain't got but a few Africa ways,' Jim said real quiet. 'All the same, we got the color of its people. Just like Miss LaGette got her people's color and you got yours. And there's no throwing off color, no getting round it--not with money or land or nothing.'" pg. 372

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lue is known as the citrus wizard in Florida because of his brilliant abilities in plant breeding and creating a hardy orange there. The book is an interesting telling of his life by three women. The first is his mother, second the American who taught him English and adopted him into her family, and third a slave who worked with him in Florida. I really enjoyed the perspectives that are gained through these three, each is seeing Lue through different eyes, different cultures, different classes in society. I think the book paints an informative picture of China in the 19th century and the life of Chinese immigrants.

[Mary Pinke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marvelous look at the clash of cultures and religion in the US and China. The long history of both encouraging and forcing foreign workers to come to America is told in painstaking detail. The outstanding contribution to horticulture made by a Chinese immigrant was told beside the history of his struggles and the dismissal of his accomplishments was heartbreaking in parts. Excellent read.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Learned a little of Lue Gim Gong in an elementary school language arts curriculum! So glad this novel is out there to try to fill in the holes in history.

[Merredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book a couple months ago. It is the fictionalized account of Lue Gim Gong, a real person who created the type of hardy oranges and such that grow all over now. The book is narrated by three women - his mother, his puritanical white teacher/friend in New England, and a black maid in Florida, and we see his life as it happens through their eyes. I did not like Lue or his teacher, the maid was ok, but I loved his mother. The parts she narrated, about her marriage at a young age, and the hardships they had in China, the drought and starvation, her farming work, were the best. I really felt for her character, and there were lots of heart breaking moments. I would, and have, recommend this to anyone, so that they can get a feel for how people lived both in China and over here in the US in the 1800s. Even though Lue was (or was painted as) a selfish and not so caring man, I still do enjoy the fruits of his labor, and his story to the end was a sad one.

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book centers on the life of Lue Gim Gong. he leaves his home and family to make a better life for all of them in america. the narrative switches between gong's mother, his patron in america, ms. fanny, and sheba, a daughter of slaves who comes to work in ms. fanny's house in florida. i enjoyed the different points of view and the glimpses into each woman's life, but Faith, this was SUCH a depressing read. it seemed to me that for every piece of good fortune these families experienced, they suffered yet more loss. from the prejudices of the superstitious clans in china, to those against asians, african americans and women, reading the stories of these women made me appreciate my own life, and made me realize how very much i take for granted.

[Marilyn Saul · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this is the first book I have ever liked in which I totally disliked all of the characters. It was well-written (after all, it aroused such feelings of disgust, especially for Fanny) and was an interesting concept, using the voices of women who had known the protagonist (Lui). The forces that religion (Buddhist/village, Christianity, and African/slave) played in shaping (or unshaping) the lives of the tellers and Lui was disturbing, but probably accurate for the time (and perhaps even relevant for today). But the book left me longing for the real story of Lui, rather than the imagined.

[Infogoddess · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was quite enlightening about the Chinese American experience in the late 19th/early 20th century. The main character, Leu Gim Gong, was real, and the research behind this book is excellent. However, it is classified as fiction because there are so many gaps in the real story that Ms McCunn filled in to make the tale complete. However, she did so much research that the fictional part is authentic and the whole thing is very readable.

[Debbi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hearing the story of one man's life through the eyes of three very different women in his life was incredible! Each woman has a very different perspective, and I felt like the combination helped me get a clearer and more complete vision of who he was. Based on a real person and using memoirs and historical documents.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gave a feel of what it was like to be a Chinese immigrant in 19th century US. It is told from the perspective of three women in the main character's life. The conflict between cultures and race presents a life of loneliness for Lue Gim Gong, the main character. It also gave an interesting account of the Chinese superstitions that are really akin to religion. I enjoyed this book.

[Elaine Cougler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wooden Fish Songs by Ruthanne Lum McCunn is a novel richly told by three women who best knew Lue Gim Gong--his mother, his benefactress and his friend, a former slave. There is much to learn here about Chinese beliefs and culture as well as embellishments on racial prejudice against Chinese and Blacks in America. I shall look for this author again.

[Jamie Bryson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Caught me right away...kept my interest...could have ended with more umph but it did say all that was needed to say. Good book-would read it again.

[Linconter · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting treatment of prejudice and class bias, from 19th century China to the American south then and later.

[Amethyst Travis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heart-breaking story so beautifully written whose characters are captivating. A wondefull weave of different voices.This will live on in my heart forever.