The Ghost Bride
by Yangsze Choo
Yangsze Choo’s The Ghost Bride deeply delves into the underbelly of Malayan afterlife; after the son of a rich household dies without a wife, Li Lan’s family is approached with an offer for her to become a “ghost bride” to the deceased. Naturally, Li Lan balks, but not before forming what can only be described as a crush on the nephew of the household, Tian Bai.
When a medicinal treatment goes awry, Li Lan learns firsthand what the spirits in the Malayan afterlife experience; she is not yet a ghost but she is not fully in the land of the living. A rich mythology of beliefs combine to form a fascinating portrayal of the afterlife: will Li Lan be able to find her mother, long since deceased, in the Plains of the Dead? Can the mysterious Er Lang assist her in breaking the bonds with her near-ghost-husband?
I found this to be a very dream-like novel, one in which Malayan notions of the afterlife were so contrary to my own that it was difficult for me to relate. However, it is truly fascinating, and Choo does a commendable job in melding together multiple religious viewpoints (as is the case with such territories as Malaya). Perhaps the ending tied up too neatly and quickly, yes. And perhaps I finished the book and found the notes, and thought, “How handy this would have been beforehand!” So, if you haven’t read this yet, definitely be aware there are nifty notes in the back that explain quite a bit.
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