The Walking Boy

by Lydia Kwa

The Walking Boy is a quest novel set in early eighth-century Tang Dynasty China, in the final days of the rule of the first Female Emperor Wu Zhao. The ailing hermit monk Harelip sends his disciple Baoshi on a pilgrimage from Mount Hua to Chang'an, the Western capital; Baoshi is the "walking boy" charged with locating Harelip's missing former lover Ardhanari. Baoshi lives with a secret only his Master knows, and he is filled with fears of being discovered. On his journey, Baoshi crosses paths with both commoners and imperial officials, as well as others who take delight in their queer identities; in doing so, he is released powerfully from his past shame.

Lydia Kwa's novel is a book of quiet subversion, upending classical Chinese tropes with contemporary ideas around gender and feminism. Filled with psychological complexities, magic and poetic allusions to classical Chinese literature, The Walking Boy explores the intrigue of inner alchemy while exorcising the ghosts of history.

Genres: Fiction, Historical, Historical Fiction, Asian Literature, Queer, Canada, Asia

280 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2005

Reviews

[Lara Samulenok · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although this is the second novel in a trilogy, the book stands well on its own. I can see how there is room for a first and third book, however enough is eluded to and the style is smooth enough to make a story fulfilling on its own.

[Donald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Books like this always make me feel a little guilty about not exploring other cultures more via books. The middle of a trilogy, although written first, and retconned and re-issued when the first/second book was published, I think it stands alone perfectly well...

[Hasan Namir · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very beautifully written novel with rich characters, written so eloquently and very moving ! Highly recommended.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm really glad I recommended that my library purchase this book. I read Oracle Bone first and was suitably impressed. In addition to being a writer, Lydia Kwa is also a practicing psychologist and poet.

The Walking Boy is set in China's Tang Dynasty with the infamous female emperor Wu Zetian in power. There are some historical facts mixed into this fantastical tale such as her infamous cruelty and torture as well as the (double standard, in my view) arching condemnation of her taking on some young boy toys. [Male emperors commonly had thousands of concubines in the palace and nobody batted an eyelid]. Those who die become vengeful spirits scaring the daylights out of the living, with exorcism rituals to appease them.

I appreciate Kwa's precise and authentic naming of the year and time in Chinese as well as her phonetic spelling of terms. The writing flows lyrically and the beauty is conveyed well e.g. when describing Buddhist sculptures in a cave. Kwa inserts Taoist and Buddhist concepts into the story seamlessly as well as Chinese literature and poetry - a delight! Also noted is Kwa's natural representation of same sex couples in a Chinese historical fantasy setting with its attendant yearning, affection and complications. The other writer I'm aware of writing in this niche is JY Yang. There have been homosexuals in early China documented (read the origin of the term 'cut sleeve') and it's nice to see them getting some representation, depicted in a non sensationalized manner.

Lastly, I like the concept of The Walking Boy, similar to when the monk Xuan Zang walked thousands of miles to India to bring Buddhist sutras back to China. In fact, Xuan Zang is mentioned as a character in both book 1 and 2 of the Qhuanqi trilogy.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found out about halfway through that it was the second book in a trilogy, but that didn't matter much. It works well as a self-contained novel, except for the... well, I don't want to call it an open-ending. After all, there's no sense of incompletion that happens occasionally in trilogies. But I got the sense that there could easily be more to the story. I'll probably keep my eye out for books one and three, unless, of course, I forget.

[Deodand · Rating 2 out of 5]

I couldn't get interested in this book. It just wouldn't capture me. I was also annoyed to find a casual mention of the fact that this is the second novel of a trilogy. Believe me, it reads like the second novel. That would've been more helpful on the cover, no?

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was kind of a surprise. Who would have thought that 8th century China would have cafes where Hindu men dressed and danced as women? And why not. Probably we have more in common with other eras than we'd care to admit. A thoughtful,interesting, very humanistic vision of another time and place.

[May Wong · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like books that make me think.
Lydia Kwa shows us life through the "innocent" eyes of the Walking Boy.How do we judge people and how are we judged? What is the nature of love? How do we deal with evil and how can it affect us?
I would read other other books.

[Sony · Rating 4 out of 5]

the first chapter is kind of greulling, but its worth sticking around for the rest of the book. Along with a interesting storyline theres lots of spiritual,empathetical insight.

[Sunshine Jeremiah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story and has social identity complexity which I really liked.