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My Old Faithful: Stories
Evoking both the drama of familial intimacy and the ups and downs of the everyday, My Old Faithful introduces readers to a close-knit Chinese family. These ten interconnected short stories, which take place in China and the United States over a thirty-year period, merge to paint a nuanced portrait of family life, full of pain, surprises, and subtle acts of courage. Richly textured narratives from the mother, the father, the son, and the daughters play out against the backdrop of China's social and economic change.
With quiet humor and sharp insight into the ordinary, Yang Huang writes of a father who spanks his son out of love, a brother who betrays his sister, and a young woman who dares bring a brown man home to her conservative parents. She writes of an aging wife and the kindness she shows a young prostitute caught soliciting her husband; of a woman returning to China after many years to find her country changed in ways both expected and startling. This collection, by a writer who grew up in Jiangsu province and participated in the 1989 student uprisings, is remarkable in its sense of place and fidelity to lived human experience.
The selfish youngsters. What the son did --
pining yellow --
What the father wanted ... chimney --
What the mother did not know ... the birthday girls --
The willful teenagers. With whom the son took liberties ... if you were my legend --
What the younger daughter once aspired to ... the match --
How the older daughter looks ... the homely girl --
What the father is worried about ... the umbrella --
The women in love. What the older daughter has got ... dream lover --
What the younger daughter falls for ... the gourmet --
What the mother is afraid of ... my old faithful
With quiet humor and sharp insight into the ordinary, Yang Huang writes of a father who spanks his son out of love, a brother who betrays his sister, and a young woman who dares bring a brown man home to her conservative parents. She writes of an aging wife and the kindness she shows a young prostitute caught soliciting her husband; of a woman returning to China after many years to find her country changed in ways both expected and startling. This collection, by a writer who grew up in Jiangsu province and participated in the 1989 student uprisings, is remarkable in its sense of place and fidelity to lived human experience.
The selfish youngsters. What the son did --
pining yellow --
What the father wanted ... chimney --
What the mother did not know ... the birthday girls --
The willful teenagers. With whom the son took liberties ... if you were my legend --
What the younger daughter once aspired to ... the match --
How the older daughter looks ... the homely girl --
What the father is worried about ... the umbrella --
The women in love. What the older daughter has got ... dream lover --
What the younger daughter falls for ... the gourmet --
What the mother is afraid of ... my old faithful
184 pages, Paperback
First published March 23, 2018
5 people are currently reading
836 people want to read
About the author
Yang Huang
8 books171 followersYang Huang grew up in China and has lived in the United States since 1990. Her novel MY GOOD SON won the UNO Publishing Lab Prize. Her linked story collection, MY OLD FAITHFUL, won the Juniper Prize, and her debut novel, LIVING TREASURES, won the Nautilus Book Award silver medal. She works for the University of California, Berkeley and lives in the Bay Area with her family. To learn more about Yang and her writing, visit www.yanghuang.com or follow her on Twitter: @yangwrites.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
March 5, 2018
In a country steeped in an ancient cultural history and personal honor, one Chinese family’s saga is told over a thirty year period in short snippets that highlight each member through the joys and sorrows of time marching on. As China faces social and economic changes, this family will represent a slice of those changes as each member grows and the children leave to make their own way in the world.
MY OLD FAITHFUL by Yang Huang is a rich tapestry that unfolds to depict the trials of one close-knit family caught up in unprecedented social change from the traditional family unit to a more modernized version introduced by the three children. This family is not merely representative of a single country, it is representative of the world’s family units as they each face the day to day interactions and upheavals in a world that can be unsettling.
Yang Huang’s words are almost lyrical as they talk of a father’s disappointments in his only son, a mother’s hopes for her daughters and her buffering between father and son. Each child will describe their position in their family as they see them, parroting the words of their parents. For me, that is proof that no matter the culture, the family unit is the bedrock and the springboard for each generation to reach for “more,” unafraid to raise their collective voices to be heard.
Certainly not a rapid-fire read, this is one to savor for its rich flavor and heartfelt message that is timeless and enlightening. This is a story about families, love, coming of age and letting go of the the unnecessary pieces of the past while weaving the good that remains into the future.
I received a complimentary copy from Yang Huang!
Publisher: University of Massachusetts Press (February 12, 2018)
Genre: Family Saga | Short Stories
Paperback: 184 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
MY OLD FAITHFUL by Yang Huang is a rich tapestry that unfolds to depict the trials of one close-knit family caught up in unprecedented social change from the traditional family unit to a more modernized version introduced by the three children. This family is not merely representative of a single country, it is representative of the world’s family units as they each face the day to day interactions and upheavals in a world that can be unsettling.
Yang Huang’s words are almost lyrical as they talk of a father’s disappointments in his only son, a mother’s hopes for her daughters and her buffering between father and son. Each child will describe their position in their family as they see them, parroting the words of their parents. For me, that is proof that no matter the culture, the family unit is the bedrock and the springboard for each generation to reach for “more,” unafraid to raise their collective voices to be heard.
Certainly not a rapid-fire read, this is one to savor for its rich flavor and heartfelt message that is timeless and enlightening. This is a story about families, love, coming of age and letting go of the the unnecessary pieces of the past while weaving the good that remains into the future.
I received a complimentary copy from Yang Huang!
Publisher: University of Massachusetts Press (February 12, 2018)
Genre: Family Saga | Short Stories
Paperback: 184 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
May 11, 2018
“Families are messy. Immortal families are eternally messy. Sometimes the best we can do is to remind each other that we're related for better or for worse...and try to keep the maiming and killing to a minimum.”
----Rick Riordan
Yang Huang, an award winning Chinese writer, has penned a handful of short stories about a family in China in her new book called, My Old Faithful. The stories explore the lives of each family member and their secrets, desires, dreams and passion beyond the facade of a society stirred up due to China's one-child policy. Each family member opens up their heart about certain events of their lives that either affect the lives of their close ones mostly in an emotional way. The every day life and the struggles attached to it for a very simply family of five consisting of a mother, father, and three children, against the backdrop of China and America.
Synopsis:
Evoking both the drama of familial intimacy and the ups and downs of the everyday, My Old Faithful introduces readers to a close-knit Chinese family. These ten interconnected short stories, which take place in China and the United States over a thirty-year period, merge to paint a nuanced portrait of family life, full of pain, surprises, and subtle acts of courage. Richly textured narratives from the mother, the father, the son, and the daughters play out against the backdrop of China's social and economic change.
With quiet humor and sharp insight into the ordinary, Yang Huang writes of a father who spanks his son out of love, a brother who betrays his sister, and a young woman who dares bring a brown man home to her conservative parents. She writes of an aging wife and the kindness she shows a young prostitute caught soliciting her husband; of a woman returning to China after many years to find her country changed in ways both expected and startling. This collection, by a writer who grew up in Jiangsu province and participated in the 1989 student uprisings, is remarkable in its sense of place and fidelity to lived human experience.
Set against the backdrop of China and spanned over 30 years, the stories about Chen family, comprising of a husband and his wife and their three children, one son and two daughters, reflect a multitude of family dynamics through their struggles, secrets, desires, ambitions, grief and happiness that affect one another. There are 10 stories, the first story opens with the son, when he was a boy, and what happens when he loses his dog and how much it affects him and that finally leads him to become a thief. Next one, is about the father and his disappointment with his son and how much of a rebel he is becoming as he is growing up. The father is trying to comprehend with his unruly son's psychology, even though in the first story, the author projected the son as someone exceptionally thoughtful and sensible. Likewise, in the stories followed after, the author narrates some landmark events and memories of the rest of the characters, like the daughters, Rou and Lian and the nameless mother, who we will see her celebrating her birthday in one story and celebrating her 30th anniversary in the last story, but will always come across as someone extremely selfless and loving.
The characters are all very well developed by the author with a hint of realism and by keeping intact their flaws. Yes, they will come across as someone the readers know from their daily life. All of the characters exhibit enough honesty when they narrate their own memories and lives that eventually affect the rest of the family members either in a positive or a negative way. Like the son, Wei, exploits his sister sexually one time and how both of them intercepts the event in their own way is really clever and sensible. All the characters are laced with their fatal flaws, yet their down-to-earth demeanor will leave a lasting impression in the hearts of the readers long after the story has ended.
The author's writing style is extremely brilliant, laced with subtle hints of evocativeness and is also wrapped tightly with unpredictable turn of events that will eventually leave the readers engaged and curious to their very core. The narrative is authentic, free-flowing, often funny and is easy to comprehend with. The pacing is smooth and moderate as the story peels away so many layers of the characters not only through the character's own eyes but also from the perspective of the other characters.
The backdrop of China is vividly painted by the author, as the author has mentioned about the contemporary life style of a middle class Chinese family and their aspirations, the Chinese culture, the superstitions, the clothes, food, education and everything simply brings alive China in an exotic and never-before-seen way.
In a nutshell, this poignant story about a middle class Chinese family is a must read for all the contemporary fiction readers.
Verdict: A deeply moving portrait of a family against the backdrop of a contemporary China.
Courtesy: Thanks to the author herself for giving me an opportunity to read and review this book.
----Rick Riordan
Yang Huang, an award winning Chinese writer, has penned a handful of short stories about a family in China in her new book called, My Old Faithful. The stories explore the lives of each family member and their secrets, desires, dreams and passion beyond the facade of a society stirred up due to China's one-child policy. Each family member opens up their heart about certain events of their lives that either affect the lives of their close ones mostly in an emotional way. The every day life and the struggles attached to it for a very simply family of five consisting of a mother, father, and three children, against the backdrop of China and America.
Synopsis:
Evoking both the drama of familial intimacy and the ups and downs of the everyday, My Old Faithful introduces readers to a close-knit Chinese family. These ten interconnected short stories, which take place in China and the United States over a thirty-year period, merge to paint a nuanced portrait of family life, full of pain, surprises, and subtle acts of courage. Richly textured narratives from the mother, the father, the son, and the daughters play out against the backdrop of China's social and economic change.
With quiet humor and sharp insight into the ordinary, Yang Huang writes of a father who spanks his son out of love, a brother who betrays his sister, and a young woman who dares bring a brown man home to her conservative parents. She writes of an aging wife and the kindness she shows a young prostitute caught soliciting her husband; of a woman returning to China after many years to find her country changed in ways both expected and startling. This collection, by a writer who grew up in Jiangsu province and participated in the 1989 student uprisings, is remarkable in its sense of place and fidelity to lived human experience.
Set against the backdrop of China and spanned over 30 years, the stories about Chen family, comprising of a husband and his wife and their three children, one son and two daughters, reflect a multitude of family dynamics through their struggles, secrets, desires, ambitions, grief and happiness that affect one another. There are 10 stories, the first story opens with the son, when he was a boy, and what happens when he loses his dog and how much it affects him and that finally leads him to become a thief. Next one, is about the father and his disappointment with his son and how much of a rebel he is becoming as he is growing up. The father is trying to comprehend with his unruly son's psychology, even though in the first story, the author projected the son as someone exceptionally thoughtful and sensible. Likewise, in the stories followed after, the author narrates some landmark events and memories of the rest of the characters, like the daughters, Rou and Lian and the nameless mother, who we will see her celebrating her birthday in one story and celebrating her 30th anniversary in the last story, but will always come across as someone extremely selfless and loving.
The characters are all very well developed by the author with a hint of realism and by keeping intact their flaws. Yes, they will come across as someone the readers know from their daily life. All of the characters exhibit enough honesty when they narrate their own memories and lives that eventually affect the rest of the family members either in a positive or a negative way. Like the son, Wei, exploits his sister sexually one time and how both of them intercepts the event in their own way is really clever and sensible. All the characters are laced with their fatal flaws, yet their down-to-earth demeanor will leave a lasting impression in the hearts of the readers long after the story has ended.
The author's writing style is extremely brilliant, laced with subtle hints of evocativeness and is also wrapped tightly with unpredictable turn of events that will eventually leave the readers engaged and curious to their very core. The narrative is authentic, free-flowing, often funny and is easy to comprehend with. The pacing is smooth and moderate as the story peels away so many layers of the characters not only through the character's own eyes but also from the perspective of the other characters.
The backdrop of China is vividly painted by the author, as the author has mentioned about the contemporary life style of a middle class Chinese family and their aspirations, the Chinese culture, the superstitions, the clothes, food, education and everything simply brings alive China in an exotic and never-before-seen way.
In a nutshell, this poignant story about a middle class Chinese family is a must read for all the contemporary fiction readers.
Verdict: A deeply moving portrait of a family against the backdrop of a contemporary China.
Courtesy: Thanks to the author herself for giving me an opportunity to read and review this book.
August 14, 2018
This book isn't so much interconnected short stories as it is following a family through the years and getting various snapshots of their lives at certain times. It's divided into 3 sections, the first when the children are young, the second when they're teenagers, and the third when they're adults. But the five people in the family only get 2 stories each so sometimes a character is just mentioned in passing and decades go by in their lives before you see them again. It's a strange way to feel both intimately connected with characters but at the same time giving them space to grow and change as people naturally do.
I guess it's a sign of getting old, because I felt that the chapters from the parents were the ones that really resonated with me. Even when things shifted and I was closer in age with the children, aside from the last chapter with the eldest sister it was the parents I connected with.
What the book really allows you to see are the family dynamics at play. The older daughter's stories were always disconnected from the rest of the family and she sees herself almost as apart from them. But when she's mentioned or shows up in other people's stories, you can see how they hold her in high regard and the pride they have for her even if she can't really recognize it herself. There's the dynamic of the mother doting on her only son, but him being so spoiled and self absorbed that he doesn't notice any of it. There's little bits and interactions gives a lot of insight, but because we're only getting short snippets from various points of time, you never really get to know them as well as if it were a novel. And you never get a follow up of what happens in each story because of the shifting narratives and time jumps. There are certain chapters with more consequential events on the family (I'm thinking of the son's second chapter which was also his last chapter) and then instead of dealing with the after effects, it just sort of ends and moves on.
As a reader who prefers in depth character studies, it was a little disappointing because I am the person who wants more. But at the same time, there was something about the hints and brief mentions forcing me as a reader to get into the character's minds that was appealing. There's something almost voyeuristic about it. And what makes this work is that no story is really "too" anything emotionally. You really are just peaking into this family 10 times over several decades.
I can see how some people might complain about this book being empty emotionally because of the lack of big events/meltdowns/etc... But there is something easily relatable in every story and I did enjoy spending time with this family.
I guess it's a sign of getting old, because I felt that the chapters from the parents were the ones that really resonated with me. Even when things shifted and I was closer in age with the children, aside from the last chapter with the eldest sister it was the parents I connected with.
What the book really allows you to see are the family dynamics at play. The older daughter's stories were always disconnected from the rest of the family and she sees herself almost as apart from them. But when she's mentioned or shows up in other people's stories, you can see how they hold her in high regard and the pride they have for her even if she can't really recognize it herself. There's the dynamic of the mother doting on her only son, but him being so spoiled and self absorbed that he doesn't notice any of it. There's little bits and interactions gives a lot of insight, but because we're only getting short snippets from various points of time, you never really get to know them as well as if it were a novel. And you never get a follow up of what happens in each story because of the shifting narratives and time jumps. There are certain chapters with more consequential events on the family (I'm thinking of the son's second chapter which was also his last chapter) and then instead of dealing with the after effects, it just sort of ends and moves on.
As a reader who prefers in depth character studies, it was a little disappointing because I am the person who wants more. But at the same time, there was something about the hints and brief mentions forcing me as a reader to get into the character's minds that was appealing. There's something almost voyeuristic about it. And what makes this work is that no story is really "too" anything emotionally. You really are just peaking into this family 10 times over several decades.
I can see how some people might complain about this book being empty emotionally because of the lack of big events/meltdowns/etc... But there is something easily relatable in every story and I did enjoy spending time with this family.
February 5, 2019
This wasn't memorable for me. It was a good book - easy to read and definitely relatable.
Huang's biggest strength is how she is able to write from so many different POVs and make you love the narrator (most of the time), yet each character is dislikable when you are not reading from their POV. It's amazing and seamless how she is able to put you in the shoes of so many different people.
While the stories themselves didn't spark my interest, I definitely look forward to reading more of Huang's work. The author really made this book for me.
Huang's biggest strength is how she is able to write from so many different POVs and make you love the narrator (most of the time), yet each character is dislikable when you are not reading from their POV. It's amazing and seamless how she is able to put you in the shoes of so many different people.
While the stories themselves didn't spark my interest, I definitely look forward to reading more of Huang's work. The author really made this book for me.
March 4, 2018
As I wrote on my Amazon review, I began My Old Faithful with a desire to read deliberately, and to immerse myself in the layers and times of a culture that heralded such a momentous shift in China’s direction as a country. From the first of the ten linked stories (two for each member of a Chinese family), I could not have been more pleased.
Yang Huang deftly describes the thoughts, motivations and interactions of each family member against the backdrop of a richly detailed culture, and in doing so, holds up a mirror to show the reader that in each of the characters are qualities, insights and similarities that are strikingly familiar. Any parent will empathize with the love, fear, pride, stress, joy, protectiveness and heartache experienced by the parents in My Old Faithful. Anyone who has lived through childhood will undoubtedly identify with the aspirations, self-doubt and insights described by the children. Yang Huang’s narrations of the two daughters’ points-of-view resounded with me as depictions of various points of my own daughters’ lives.
My Old Faithful amuses at times, breaks your heart at others, and skillfully peels back the veil on contemporary Chinese family life; throughout her stories, Yang moves the reader with the characters’ utter humanity, while establishing a universe within which familial ties are tested, broken, renewed and reforged. Even while weaving this intricate story, Yang never left me with the sentiment that the characters were contrived or inauthentic. To the contrary, the characters are true to themselves, even when their own perspective differs (sometimes widely) from that of their family members.
As I made my way through the stories, I paused after the second arc (there are three), because I wanted to savor what I had already experienced. But that pause lasted about an hour, because I simply had to know more about Rou, Lian and their mother/family.
In short, My Old Faithful is a quick read, but an essential one. Yang Huang’s writing is magnificent and these stories are excellent. As Yang herself beseeched us in an interview about this book, “never give up. We are bigger and more resilient than our problems. Every one of us is unique, flawed, fragile, yet powerfully human. Please reach out and touch one another with your courage, compassion, and humility, before it is too late.” Her characters connect that way not only with each other, but with the reader as well. I suspect I’ll be thinking about this family for a long time to come. I loved this book.
Yang Huang deftly describes the thoughts, motivations and interactions of each family member against the backdrop of a richly detailed culture, and in doing so, holds up a mirror to show the reader that in each of the characters are qualities, insights and similarities that are strikingly familiar. Any parent will empathize with the love, fear, pride, stress, joy, protectiveness and heartache experienced by the parents in My Old Faithful. Anyone who has lived through childhood will undoubtedly identify with the aspirations, self-doubt and insights described by the children. Yang Huang’s narrations of the two daughters’ points-of-view resounded with me as depictions of various points of my own daughters’ lives.
My Old Faithful amuses at times, breaks your heart at others, and skillfully peels back the veil on contemporary Chinese family life; throughout her stories, Yang moves the reader with the characters’ utter humanity, while establishing a universe within which familial ties are tested, broken, renewed and reforged. Even while weaving this intricate story, Yang never left me with the sentiment that the characters were contrived or inauthentic. To the contrary, the characters are true to themselves, even when their own perspective differs (sometimes widely) from that of their family members.
As I made my way through the stories, I paused after the second arc (there are three), because I wanted to savor what I had already experienced. But that pause lasted about an hour, because I simply had to know more about Rou, Lian and their mother/family.
In short, My Old Faithful is a quick read, but an essential one. Yang Huang’s writing is magnificent and these stories are excellent. As Yang herself beseeched us in an interview about this book, “never give up. We are bigger and more resilient than our problems. Every one of us is unique, flawed, fragile, yet powerfully human. Please reach out and touch one another with your courage, compassion, and humility, before it is too late.” Her characters connect that way not only with each other, but with the reader as well. I suspect I’ll be thinking about this family for a long time to come. I loved this book.
June 27, 2018
Yang Huang’s impressive and uplifting short story collection, My Old Faithful, follows a Chinese couple over the course of many years as they raise their son and daughters. The stories are told from the point of view of each member of the family, and Huang, with her elegant and deft writing, gives each of them an authentic and distinct voice.
Huang’s stories are set in a country far from where I live, and the characters she has created live a very different life from my own, and yet, I felt so close to them. Here are a mother and father experiencing all the highs and lows of parenting just as I do - the gut-wrenching worry, the intense love, the disappointment, the quiet moments of joy that take you by surprise. If you are a son or daughter, wife or husband, sister or brother, or if you’ve ever been a child or teenager you will love this book, and you will find your own experiences reflected in it. Huang’s stories are for everyone, and your favorite might just depend on where you are in the life cycle at this moment.
We’re living through a scary and confusing time right now when it seems that everyone wants to go to a separate corner and focus on our differences. Huang’s book is a reminder of how alike we are. It’s a reminder of our shared humanity, regardless of where we’re living on this planet. Maybe the most important thing a writer can do is reveal to us how connected we are, and that we are most definitely not alone. For that, I am truly grateful to Yang Huang.
Huang’s stories are set in a country far from where I live, and the characters she has created live a very different life from my own, and yet, I felt so close to them. Here are a mother and father experiencing all the highs and lows of parenting just as I do - the gut-wrenching worry, the intense love, the disappointment, the quiet moments of joy that take you by surprise. If you are a son or daughter, wife or husband, sister or brother, or if you’ve ever been a child or teenager you will love this book, and you will find your own experiences reflected in it. Huang’s stories are for everyone, and your favorite might just depend on where you are in the life cycle at this moment.
We’re living through a scary and confusing time right now when it seems that everyone wants to go to a separate corner and focus on our differences. Huang’s book is a reminder of how alike we are. It’s a reminder of our shared humanity, regardless of where we’re living on this planet. Maybe the most important thing a writer can do is reveal to us how connected we are, and that we are most definitely not alone. For that, I am truly grateful to Yang Huang.
April 15, 2018
This was one of my favorite reads this year. Each of the stories from this family saga of connected stories strikes to the heart of the human experience, while at the same time carrying the weight of the Chinese socio-cultural narratives that are intricately woven throughout.
I particularly loved the way in which the stories spanned such an expansive time period and history and yet felt so personal. Yang Huang is a talented, compassionate writer who has much to teach us about the beauty and complexity of our lives.
I particularly loved the way in which the stories spanned such an expansive time period and history and yet felt so personal. Yang Huang is a talented, compassionate writer who has much to teach us about the beauty and complexity of our lives.
April 9, 2019
-“Sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and pungent, together creating harmony in the body.”
-“It made me think of family. No one can choose what family you want to be born into, but it sure makes a person out of you, doesn’t it? A good beginning is half of the success, and vice versa.”
These two quotes are wonderful summaries of Huang's short stories in the book.
My old faithful contains three phrases of family stories setting in China. The father is a professor who teaches Child Psychology and the mother is faithful to Guanyin (Chinese Bodhisattva, Goddess of Compassion, Mercy and Kindness). They have three children, the oldest daughter Rou, the middle son Wei, and the youngest daughter Lian. The short stories in the book characterized all the family members perfectly. The worries the parents have while the kids grow up (to punish Wei for his problems and to protect Lian from her PE teacher). The sexual curiosity Wei has during his teens. The eagerness Rou has to enhance her beauty at her first college year. The braveness Lian must have to show her Indian boyfriend to her conservative family. All the stories are woven together very well. They are simple yet sophisticated, sweet yet bitter. Just like a cup of warm Chinese tea you have on a spring afternoon. They touched me so much that I can't stop thinking of the book even after I've finished it. Yang Huang's wonderful writing makes the book absolutely worth it to read. Highly recommended!
Read
January 16, 20203.5 stars. I just don't think the writing, especially the dialogue, is written with much expertise. (I did wonder at times if she was trying to capture something about the Chinese language, but it's a very old and complex civilization, and this dialogue was simplistic and clunky.) The stories vary in quality, as stories will. The last couple seemed like the best to me, especially the one in which the mother is facing a hysterectomy and shows unexpected sympathy for a young prostitute (maybe you had to be there)--it at least surprised me. But the messages seem too explicit in most of them.
June 29, 2018
A thoroughly moving read, this spare book manages with just a few brush strokes to show the deep ties among the members of a family. A beautiful book.
July 27, 2019
Shortlisted for the 2019 Rubery Book Award
This is a collection of interrelated short stories focusing on a single Chinese family over a period of thirty years. The opening story, Pining Yellow, presents a young boy, Wei, who loses his dog and decides to replace it with a piece of dog-shaped confectionery. In order to raise the money to buy it, he steals a yellow plant that he hopes to sell to his teacher. It’s a touching piece about a child's attempts to come to terms with grief. The second story, Chimney, shifts to Wei’s father who smokes like a chimney, until his disobedient son strikes a bargain with him: Wei will behave if his father quits smoking. The Birthday Girls turns attention to the mother, who wants to give her daughter a religious momento, rather than a pair of Nikes, for her birthday: this, like many of the stories, is about desire, value, and tradition in late twentieth century China. We see the children develop over the course of the book, and the author's eye is invariably sharp, offering a poignant, often hilarious perspective on a changing culture. The book ends with the title story, where the mother, now in her fifties, is due to have a hysterectomy: the final image of her buying a peony picks up the flower imagery that began the book, and which is rich with symbolism throughout. Her final consolation is her belief that her god, Guanylin, “blesses a peony and the weeds by the roadside equally”, and thus time doesn't diminish her in the eyes of the eternal. A wonderful book that bypasses the political dilemmas of China and shines a light on the personal preoccupations of a very real family.
RuberyBookAward.com
This is a collection of interrelated short stories focusing on a single Chinese family over a period of thirty years. The opening story, Pining Yellow, presents a young boy, Wei, who loses his dog and decides to replace it with a piece of dog-shaped confectionery. In order to raise the money to buy it, he steals a yellow plant that he hopes to sell to his teacher. It’s a touching piece about a child's attempts to come to terms with grief. The second story, Chimney, shifts to Wei’s father who smokes like a chimney, until his disobedient son strikes a bargain with him: Wei will behave if his father quits smoking. The Birthday Girls turns attention to the mother, who wants to give her daughter a religious momento, rather than a pair of Nikes, for her birthday: this, like many of the stories, is about desire, value, and tradition in late twentieth century China. We see the children develop over the course of the book, and the author's eye is invariably sharp, offering a poignant, often hilarious perspective on a changing culture. The book ends with the title story, where the mother, now in her fifties, is due to have a hysterectomy: the final image of her buying a peony picks up the flower imagery that began the book, and which is rich with symbolism throughout. Her final consolation is her belief that her god, Guanylin, “blesses a peony and the weeds by the roadside equally”, and thus time doesn't diminish her in the eyes of the eternal. A wonderful book that bypasses the political dilemmas of China and shines a light on the personal preoccupations of a very real family.
RuberyBookAward.com
September 4, 2018
My old faithful is a beautiful book! I loved the glimpse into Chinese culture! I love the characters too! This is a great book! Highly Recommend!
December 30, 2024
A collection of short stories following a family of five, spanning three decades. Father, mother, older sister, brother, and younger sister once form a young family living under one roof. The family dynamics change over the years as
the kids fly out one by one, leaving the parents with an empty nest - with two sisters living in the US and coming back home in Nanjing, China only once in a while.
I loved following the evolving family dynamics, seeing the subtle changes from the parents being the caretaker/discipliner/guidance to them being just a place called home for the children.
This book feels really calm. All stories were well crafted and subtle, which makes me wonder why this book was recommended to me as a book you need to check out if you love messy families. To me, this was definitely not a messy-family book. Not at all.
As said, this book feels really calm. The stories together captured the life of a family and the changes they went through as the children grew up. There is no particular highlight to make it stand out, so I’m afraid I won’t think about this book ever again in a couple of months from now. I enjoyed reading it nevertheless.
the kids fly out one by one, leaving the parents with an empty nest - with two sisters living in the US and coming back home in Nanjing, China only once in a while.
I loved following the evolving family dynamics, seeing the subtle changes from the parents being the caretaker/discipliner/guidance to them being just a place called home for the children.
This book feels really calm. All stories were well crafted and subtle, which makes me wonder why this book was recommended to me as a book you need to check out if you love messy families. To me, this was definitely not a messy-family book. Not at all.
As said, this book feels really calm. The stories together captured the life of a family and the changes they went through as the children grew up. There is no particular highlight to make it stand out, so I’m afraid I won’t think about this book ever again in a couple of months from now. I enjoyed reading it nevertheless.
July 13, 2025
A Quiet Force in Literary Fiction
Yang Huang’s writing is a masterclass in emotional subtlety and cultural depth. My Old Faithful is a beautifully interwoven collection that offers a rare and intimate look into the lives of a Chinese family across decades and continents. Each story stands strong on its own, but together they create a deeply textured portrait of love, sacrifice, and change. Huang’s prose is elegant and understated, carrying profound emotional weight without ever becoming overwrought.
Her ability to illuminate both personal and political realities,without sacrificing narrative grace,is rare. From generational divides to cross-cultural tensions, she navigates these themes with compassion and precision. This is literature that lingers long after the final page.
I’m truly looking forward to Oasis, and I hope more readers discover the quiet brilliance of Huang’s work. She deserves to be widely read and celebrated.
Yang Huang’s writing is a masterclass in emotional subtlety and cultural depth. My Old Faithful is a beautifully interwoven collection that offers a rare and intimate look into the lives of a Chinese family across decades and continents. Each story stands strong on its own, but together they create a deeply textured portrait of love, sacrifice, and change. Huang’s prose is elegant and understated, carrying profound emotional weight without ever becoming overwrought.
Her ability to illuminate both personal and political realities,without sacrificing narrative grace,is rare. From generational divides to cross-cultural tensions, she navigates these themes with compassion and precision. This is literature that lingers long after the final page.
I’m truly looking forward to Oasis, and I hope more readers discover the quiet brilliance of Huang’s work. She deserves to be widely read and celebrated.
April 26, 2020
I liked this book a lot better after a video call between my book club and the author. She explained how the book is about the central place of family. From the author's website:
"The characters are honest with themselves when they are away from others’ watchful eyes. This authenticity is something that other family members don’t see in their interactions.
By juxtaposing these different perspectives, readers see how skewed the characters’ perspectives are. ... Just when you think you get the last word, other people will trump you with their fresh perspectives. There is an element of surprise that leads to insight and humility."
The individual stories are not so interesting, but they are a lot better taken as a complete "family". Also the details of China from that period are interesting.
"The characters are honest with themselves when they are away from others’ watchful eyes. This authenticity is something that other family members don’t see in their interactions.
By juxtaposing these different perspectives, readers see how skewed the characters’ perspectives are. ... Just when you think you get the last word, other people will trump you with their fresh perspectives. There is an element of surprise that leads to insight and humility."
The individual stories are not so interesting, but they are a lot better taken as a complete "family". Also the details of China from that period are interesting.
August 29, 2025
Rather than a collection of short stories, this book reads more like a novella of chapters told through alternating perspectives in a linear fashion. Each story provides a vignette of that moment in time and a glimpse into the innerworkings of that particular family member.
The backdrop of China's history can be felt throughout the narrative, and he unexpected reference to Raleigh Research Triangle Park was a pleasant surprise.
The prose is simple - sometimes a bit too simple - sparse in its details and emotional complexity. The stories don't go too far below the surface.
The backdrop of China's history can be felt throughout the narrative, and he unexpected reference to Raleigh Research Triangle Park was a pleasant surprise.
The prose is simple - sometimes a bit too simple - sparse in its details and emotional complexity. The stories don't go too far below the surface.
June 19, 2018
3.5 Stars. A series of interconnected stories following a family. I wish there had been a slightly stronger thread through them.
June 3, 2019
This felt familiar and homely.
April 3, 2019
This felt familiar and homely.
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