In the Tongue of Ghosts

by Jade Cho

Jade Cho's debut book of poetry, "In the Tongue of Ghosts," builds upon her experience competing on the university slam poetry circuit. Coming out of a desire to be able to speak Toisanese with her grandparents who did not speak English, her writing explores diaspora, race, gender, ghosts, and the intersections of power and privilege.

--Frances Kai-Hwa Wang
"The Pulitzer, Comics, and Essays: Asian-American Literary Achievements to Read from 2016." December 28, 2016. NBC News

Genres: Poetry

Paperback

Published January 1, 2016

Reviews

[Natasha]

This took me back to my own "diaspora angst" of my early twenties. Emotive and visceral.

[An · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was feeling so stressed and overwhelmed on my commute home the other day, and my thoughts were spiraling... then I remembered I had this book in my backpack. I pulled it out, and as I read, these poems soothed me. I felt pulled out of my turmoil and transported to an Oakland home of comfort food and familiar unspoken words between generations. I felt grounded in the feelings of unrequited crushes and existing as Asian in America in the Bay. I felt humbled to be reading these stories and thankful that I get to exist alongside it. How beautiful that words are always here when our mind desperately needs a path to reconnect with our spirit. When I finished In The Tongue of Ghosts, I gave it a good hug close to my heart. This is a special book, and I highly recommend it. Thank you Jade Cho for birthing this into existence. Your words are a gift.

[Mike F · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute treasure, and to my mind groundbreaking work, in capturing the heart of Guangzhou villager immigrants to America's soil in the period around 1960s thru 1990s. I am so lucky to encounter this Asian-American indie bookstore just West of the UC/Berkeley campus while on a waiting list for lunch. I hit the Mother Lode in finding this book of deeply personal poems.

[Lean Deleon · Rating 5 out of 5]

For March, in celebrating Women’s Month and to highlight more Asian voices in the face of #StopAsianHate I read In the Tongue whose poetry is an ode to Oakland, Toisan, grandparents we can't communicate with, and redemption. I bought the book from East Wind Books in Berkeley (support local Asian bookstores)!

[Mills College Library]

811.6 C5451i 2016