The ghost bride by Yangsze Choo

"The ghost bride" by Yangsze Choo. The book was published by Hot key in 2013 and has 200 pages.

Li Lan, 17 and daughter of once wealthy family, gets a  proposal to become ghost bride of the deceased son of Lim family in 1890 Malysia. At the same time she is attracted towards Tian Bai, Lim family's nephew. Then her soul travels the spirit world while she is alive. Here she meets another irresistible person. 

Will Li Lan agree for a ghost marriage? Will she become ghost bride? What would happen to her body while she is in the sprit world?

Characters in this book are rich. Thian Bai who should have been the real heir of Lim family. Lim Tian Ching who is vindictive, possessive and unscrupulous even after death. Ghost of Fan, who can't leave her living lover and pass to another world. Ama, who raised Li Lan's mother and then her. Er Lang guardian of spirit world, extremely handsome & interesting who wants to apprehend corrupt officials and goes out of the way to save his witness, Li Lan. Li Lan who is torn between two men, one dead another alive and is also attracted to a mysterious third. She enters the spirit world as a care free 17 year old but returns a mature lady. 

When Li Lan enters spirit world she discovers many things about the world of dead and secrets of living. The spirit world consists of Plains of the dead, the Hungry ghosts who did not get proper funeral, paper Funeral offerings (like horses, palanquins, houses etc.) burned for dead so that they can get these material things in afterlife. It was interesting to read that spirit world works on funeral money burned by the relatives of dead and the food offered by them. The spirit world officials are corrupt and take bribes in return for favors. There is friendliness, rudeness, hatred and betrayal. All the human emotions are carried over. In fact it is so closely related to human world that you hardly find differences. This world is interesting and appears like a distorted replica of human world.

The main theme of the book starts with a proposal of spirit marriage, a historical Chinese custom, mainly followed by overseas Chinese. Then it moves to spirit world and its machinations. Finally comes back to the world of living. 

Character of Thian Bai suddenly takes a back seat. Why? Don't know. Li Lan's final choice is also baffling and appears impulsive. 

The story slows down in certain sections. But author manages to keep the audience interested. Author confesses that she has added the plains of dead in the story that do not exist in Chinese belief. All in all its a good package.

Yangsze Choo is a fourth generation Malysian of Chinese decent. She lives in America. 

Why did I read this book? Blurb. Spirit marriage custom. 

What I didn't like? There is no ghost marriage and hence no ghost bride. 

What did I like? Novelty. Chinese spirit world. 

A very good change. Recommend reading.