Online Book Club - Forget Sorrow, Week 4

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Forget Sorrow cover

In July 2012, our Online Book Club continues by discussing Forget Sorrow by Belle Yang. Each week, we'll put forth a different question to prompt reflection on the book and its themes.  We hope you will participate in the discussion, or communicate questions you might have of Forget Sorrow directly to author/illustrator Belle Yang.

 

Question for Week 4:

Belle had many turbulent events occurring in her life. What were they? Thinking about your own life, was there a particular event or experience that altered your course?

 

In her life, as recorded in Forget Sorrow, Belle Yang moves from east to west to east, and home again. From the year of her birth in 1960, through 1971, Belle experienced remarkable changes in cultures and languages as she and her family move from Taiwan to Japan, and then to California.  Within the golden state, Belle and her family find a home first in free spirited San Francisco and then in the more reserved enclave of Carmel, becoming American citizens in 1975. In 1978, Belle is off to UC Santa Cruz. Four years after graduation, Belle is home again, imprisoned by threats and violence delivered by a former boyfriend turned stalker. In 1986, Baba advises his daughter to flee the U.S. for a meditative stint and further artistic training in China. In 1989, following the Tiananmen Square massacre, where members of the People’s Liberation Army fired upon and killed their own citizens, Belle was pulled from a cab by the PLA and had her passport confiscated. As soon as she can, she returns home once more.

 

Reunited with her parents, Belle’s dreams are nightmares, burdened with scenes of capture (in the stalker’s hands) and escape (China). In her waking state Belle is simultaneously pulverized by her father’s voiced disappointments and  harsh criticisms: "All your friends are MDs and PhDs. Your life is a waste....At your age I was already dean, overseeing thousands of students....Look at you, doing nothing," and mentored by his encouragements: "You’ve got your mind and two hands, one hand for writing and the other for painting. ...If your soul achieves peace, you can attain your goals."  She does.

 

Belle writes, "I thank heaven for life’s jagged path, without which I would never have learned about solitude and patience." What in your life was difficult to experience and how have you changed because of that experience? What did you learn?

 

For additional reading: A very personal account of the writing of Forget Sorrow and the sense of liberation that followed, please see: http://www.belleyang.com/The%20Language%20of%20Dreams.htm



Posted by Deborah Estreicher on Jul 24, 2012 | Comments: 3 |
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Comments from our readers...

responses

Submitted by Belle (not verified) on Tue, July 31.
I am happy to hear you are enjoying the graphic novel/comics format. It is unique in that it is not 2+2=4, but akin to 2+2=8. The normally segregated media of prose and art comes together to form a much larger vision, so to say I’d rather read and then use my own imagination isn’t applicable here. You can’t separate the prose from the art and judge them separately; you evaluate the melding of the two media as a new animal—the whole shebang. This is especially the case when an author is also the artist. The author is not illustrating her prose. The prose is not describing the art. The two media come together like the yin-yang and revolve, move, and spin.
 
Dear House of Nguyen, My mother once wondered if there is anyone lucky enough never to have suffered trauma in life. I think there are some, but I think most of us in youth are like the brand new cars out of the factory: once we get on the road, we get dings, dents, get side-swiped or worse. I don’t envy a quiet life. We are rich with stories to tell for having overcome difficulties. When I visit schools, I ask the children to go home and ask their parents our kinsmen about their past, about family lore, and to have the children write them down. For those of us who are recent immigrants, our families are rife with stories of loss and triumph. Thank you for reading “Forget Sorrow.” I hope you will write your own stories down one day. Good luck!

Before the month gets over

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, July 30.
Before the month gets over tomorrow and we start with a new book I wanted to express my admiration for the graphic art form which had kept me entertained for the last two months.I also want to express my appreciation for submitting a link to the written prose form og Forget Sorrw which in my humble opinion gives more enjoyment for some of us who prefer to form in our mind our own images invoked by the excellently written words.

Week 4 Response

Submitted by House of Nguyen (not verified) on Sun, July 29.
There have been many episodes throughout my life, a bag full to be exact, from which one can be chosen. Belle has been through much as well. From her quarrels with the older generation to the repression felt from her one time "lover". Though, despite the "rugged path" she trekked upon, she came out of the darkness and found solace in writing and painting. Which is a good thing because if she hadn't found her "shade under the tress," i wouldn't have had the pleasure of reading a fine book, one such as this. :D. By and large, very much like Belle, though not exactly the same, i found my own solace through books. Imagine, a person speaking to you, pouring out their souls, hearts, and minds just for you through parchment and letters. Sometimes, times get tough, but just get a book and read. that's what i like to say. no, everyone has their own personal source of comfort, and mine just so happens to be reading, very much like how writing, painting and expression is for Belle. Thank you for letting me express myself. I found out about this online book club just a few days ago, so i rushed to finish this book on time just to express my views and express to Belle Yang what a wonderful book she had written/drawn/illustrated, you know what i mean. Amituofuo, everyone.