{"product_id":"chengyu-chinoiserie-9781913499044","title":"chengyu: chinoiserie","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe \"chengyu\", Mandarin Chinese for idiom, condenses a \u003cem\u003efeeling\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003esentence\u003c\/em\u003e and more often than not a \u003cem\u003estory\u003c\/em\u003e into four characters. Similarly, each of Leung's poems is a cross-section; aiming to capture a slice of the world, or a relationship and presenting them to the reader as representations of the whole.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEach of the poems in \u003cem\u003echengyu: chinoiserie \u003c\/em\u003eare literal translations or re-interpretations of a Chinese idiom, referencing the duality of identity in Leung's bilingual and cross-cultural upbringing; each idiom and poem a succinct summary of an important relationship, person or part of her life. The meaning of \"chinoiserie\" is subverted in her poems as these idioms reimagined as English poems are neither particularly \"chinese-esque\" or \"un-chinese-esque\", though the author is very much fully Chinese herself. This is done because the Asian author writing in English does not have the obligation to only strictly write about Orientalist themes, nor should they avoid writing about their culture should they have something they wish to express.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe author's first collection is an earnest exploration into the themes of young love and coming-of-age, which are so often looked-down upon in poetry as immature and unimportant. Leung also explores the meaning of sociocultural as well as personal identity through a world of visuals and objects.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Hedgehog Poetry Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 03\/09\/2020\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781913499044\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 30\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.11lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.27h x 5.83w x 0.07d","brand":"Rachel Ka Yin Leung","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":36670559027356,"sku":"9781913499044","price":11.04,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/0804\/6492\/products\/img_ac5dcef0-5ff6-4c71-a458-bcbc69972f37.jpg?v=1603922999","url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/chengyu-chinoiserie-9781913499044","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}