The Loyal Daughter

by Nancy Lam

The Loyal Daughter is a novel in stories, told from the perspective of mother, daughter, and granddaughter and spans the 1940s to modern day. A young woman in a village in Communist China finds herself scraping her way through the crowded streets of Hong Kong. She immigrates to an isolated Northern Ontario city and finally settles in Toronto. When she finds herself stuck in a small apartment above a clothing store, with four kids, her mother, two siblings, and a husband who is never home, the promise of a new beginning fades. Filled with heart-breaking sacrifices, struggles, and secrets that shape her identity, The Loyal Daughter stands testament to a woman’s true resilience.

Genres: Fiction

392 pages, Paperback

Published September 15, 2022

Reviews

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Loyal Daughter is a meaningful book that allows you to step into the dynamics of a Chinese family that spans 3 generations. Our book club loved discussing this fictional account of Lam's family immigration story. There are cultural, relational, and political aspects of immigration and what it means to give up everything (even love) for the betterment of your family. Told from the perspective of grandmother, mother and daughter, and how our choices change our trajectories completely. I highly recommend!!

[Jeanette Williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always enjoy reading stories told through the voice of generations of women. Nancy Lam’s debut novel is a rich recounting of a Chinese woman making her way to Canada to build a life and raise a family. A Loyal Daughter is an important read to understand and appreciate the strength and determination of immigrants and the sacrifices they make to be part of the fabric of Canada.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful first novel by Nancy Lam. Her research and sharing are greatly appreciated, setting the context for a beautiful and challenging story that rings true about the Chinese Canadian experience.

[Lucy Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Loyal Daughter by Nancy Lam is the compelling story of the Lee family’s immigration from Communist China in the 1940s to North Bay, Ontario. Loosely based upon Lam’s own family history, the novel covers three generations of women and their journey through poverty, adversity, culture clash, racism and trauma. The promise of easy opportunity and wealth draws Mai Chung to Canada where her cousins have arranged a marriage for her to Ming Lee. Mai leaves behind a secret love interest in order to pursue the prospect of a better life for herself and her extended family. Mai’s incredible resolve and determination drive the family’s fortunes, as she plans and plots a path forward for all of them. Also narrating the story are Mai’s daughter, Amy and granddaughter, Zoe. Each of these women encounter their own challenges as life unfolds and we are given snapshots of the types of difficulties that these second and third-generation women experience. This is a well written and thought-provoking novel about female agency and resilience, with well-developed characters that give the reader an intimate glimpse into immigrant experience. Recommended.

[At Bay Press · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Loyal Daughter is a novel in stories, told from the perspective of mother, daughter, and granddaughter and spans the 1940s to modern day. A young woman in a village in Communist China finds herself scrapping her way through the crowded streets of Hong Kong. She immigrates to an isolated Northern Ontario city and finally settles in Toronto. When she finds herself stuck in a small apartment above a clothing store, with four kids, her mother, two siblings, and a husband who is never home, the promise of a new beginning fades. Filled with heart-breaking sacrifices, struggles, and secrets that shape her identity, The Loyal Daughter stands testament to a woman’s true resilience.

[Janet Trull · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Loyal Daughter by Nancy Lam is a treasure. Like Mai’s name, it is brimming with beautiful gold, shining with new understandings of the wealth that is family and offering fresh definitions of loyalty. This is a story of strength and resilience to illuminate the very best of Canadian diversity.

[Lynn Vaillancourt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book spans multiple generations of women in China, Hong Kong, and Canada. It's also based on the author's own family. It's a unique and powerful novel.

[Darcy Gabe · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, rounded up.

This is not a memoir, rather a historical fiction novel closed tied to the author and her mother’s life. As I understand it, many of the themes, anecdotes, and personalities in this story are based on real events/people, but the author took artistic license to turn them into these fictional characters.

The author chose to tell this story through 3 perspectives: Mai (~60%), Mai’s daughter Amy (30%), and Amy’s daughter Zoe (~10%).

There’s some great stuff in this novel. I picked it up off the shelf totally randomly at my public library in Oregon, because anything with Chinese culture interests me, as a first born daughter the title interested me, and I love multi-generational stories. I’m glad I did! It was really interesting, and I loved getting a glimpse into these characters lives.

That being said, parts of this novel feel very distant. You rarely get a glimpse into Mai’s inner thoughts or feelings. It’s written in a narrative style, so the author tells rather than shows. I really wanted to understand why Mai was the way she was, and what motivated her to take certain actions. I couldn’t understand why Mai dropped out of nursing school and went to Hong Kong- if the answer was out of a deep-seated loyalty and obligation to her mother, we never saw that previously.

We see a bit more introspection from Amy, probably because Amy is modeled after the author herself, although a lot of that comes through dialogue with the therapist rather than woven into the novel. The fights between Amy and her siblings feels distant and avoidant too- we never understand how or why the fight came to be.

But, to be fair, the author also explains how Chinese culture often means an avoidance of feelings.

I could see this being adapted for the theater very well.

Overall, I liked it, but I prefer novels with more human exploration and character development.

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Loyal Daughter is about a young woman, determined to make a better life for her and her family, who immigrates from a small village in China to a town in Northern Ontario in the 1960s and marries a man she barely knows. The novel is told through the perspective of three women: Mai, the woman who immigrated from China; Amy, Mai’s daughter; and Zoe, Amy’s daughter and Mai’s granddaughter. Overall I enjoyed the story and I was engaged, however, the Amy and Zoe parts (which were thankfully relatively brief) were meh and the ending just sort of fizzled out.

*The following is not relevant to the story and is not a spoiler in my opinion, so I am not putting it behind a spoiler tag.*
 
While reading Amy’s section, Amy is talking to a therapist and mentions that as a child, she had gotten a small part on a television show, but her mother was not supportive and made her quit because she did not want her to miss school.  The show was The Kids of Degrassi Street, the first of the popular Degrassi franchise.  I had to stop for a moment to remind myself that Loyal Daughter is a work of fiction and that “Amy” was not one of the child actors on the show. 

Coincidentally, after recently reading The Mother of All Degrassi: A Memoir by Linda Schuyler, creator of Degrassi, and Girl in the Middle by Anais Granofsky, an actress from the show, I watched a few episodes of The Kids of Degrassi Street, so this reference to The Kids of Degrassi Street stood out. One of the episodes I watched introduced the character Irene (Irene Moves In), and the name of the actress who played Irene is named Nancy Lam. And The Loyal Daughter is based on Lam's mother's immigration story to Canada. Hmmm...

[Jason DeCourcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've just finished reading this moving book that delves deep into the remarkable journey of immigration to Canada. The author skillfully crafts a touching narrative that follows her mother's path to a new life, filled with heartwarming moments and overcoming adversities. It's a compelling read that offers profound insights into the immigrant experience, fostering a greater understanding and empathy for those seeking a place to belong.

I highly recommend this touching account to anyone seeking a captivating and enlightening read. It's a powerful testament to the strength of the human spirit and the enduring hope that accompanies each step on the road to a new life.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I really liked this book, it rang very true of so many Chinese immigrants and the mindset that they bring to their new lives - superstition, inability to value happiness as a goal, criticism as a form of "love" etc. As a 3rd generation Asian, I have seen this in myself and my own family. I found it hard to keep the generations straight as the main character became Poh Poh and her daughter became Mom. I also didn't understand why Amy's siblings were so mean to her - it would have been nice to have some backstory on where this rift came from. I felt sorrow for Mai's sad life, but I also thought she was an overbearing, opinionated cow!

[Patricia North · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting read! Incredible immigration story told through three generations of women. Based on a true story of the author’s mother making her home in Canada after escaping communist China, and a love story in the shadow or an arranged marriage. Beautifully written, gripping and relatable. Highly recommend!!

[Monica Haiu · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is well written that you feel as though your part of the journey of each character’s story. Nancy incorporates humour and heartbreak throughout the book. The name of the book speaks for itself. The courage and determination, and resilience of the main character is truly inspiring. This is a unique Chinese immigration story that looks at the sacrifices a family must make.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved and was inspired by the strength, loyalty, resilience and determination of so many of the characters. I have a new appreciation of what it feels like to be a new immigrant, and loved learning about new cultural beliefs and traditions. Thank you Nancy for sharing your family’s journey.

[HadiDee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed this, especially the story of Mai. I would have liked to know about her life as it unfolded rather than her daughter and grand-daughter. It got a bit disjointed towards the end, with huge time jumps, and Mai an old woman. Enjoyed reading it.

[Nicole Stockdale · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and the storyline of 3 generations of women. This is not a book I would typically read, and I think that’s why it was even more enjoyable. I liked Mai’s character a lot. She was a strong woman who sacrificed a lot to follow the dream of coming to Canada.

[Jocelyn Claybourne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't put it down. Nancy paints three beautiful stories through her main characters Mai, Amy & Zoe. This book will have you wondering about the stories that come before us. Great read!

[Marcy Rae Henry · Rating 3 out of 5]

in truth, gave it a speed read. was interested in the format.

[Sandy Leppan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the book, partly because I grew up in North Bay. Bought it for a number of others who will enjoy it for the same reason.