Tea That Burns: A Family Memoir of Chinatown

by Bruce Hall

In Tea That Burns, Bruce Edward Hall uses the stories of these and others to tell the history of Chinatown, starting with the tumultuous journey from an ancient empire ruled by the nine dragons of the universe to a bewildering land of elevated trains, solitary labor, and violent discrimination.

A vivid and tactile story, rich with the sights, sounds, and sensations of Chinatown then and now, Tea That Burns reads like a novel, but is history at its best.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Sheila Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. But I have been studying Chinese American history and paper son narratives. This book was rich in historical detail. I could imagine my own great-grandfather's journey and experience. Now I understand why the Chinese immigrants didn't talk.

[Catherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hall’s ancestors helped to create New York’s Chinatown. His research is extensive, overly abundant, and would serve as excellent source material for anyone wanting to study in intricate detail the history of Chinatown.

I would have liked more personal stories about his family members. Their characters aren’t well fleshed out and it takes away from the human element of what was supposed to be the main focus of the book.

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

The history is well researched, the story is okay. I have to say that I'm probably two-thirds of the way through but it has been a struggle to stay interested and I probably won't finish it ... at least at this time.

[Linda]

His story resonates with my life.