The Witch's Market
Mingmei Yip, 2015
Kensington Books
304 pp.
ISBN-13: 9781617733239
Summary
Chinese American assistant professor Eileen Chen specializes in folk religion at her San Francisco college. Though her grandmother made her living as a shamaness, Eileen publicly dismisses witchcraft as mere superstition. Yet privately the subject intrigues her, especially after she accidentally finds out she has supernatural abilities.
When a research project takes her to the Canary Islands—long rumored to be home to real witches—Eileen is struck by the lush beauty of Tenerife and its blend of Spanish and Moroccan culture. A stranger invites her to a local market where women sell amulets, charms, and love spells.
Gradually Eileen immerses herself in her exotic surroundings, finding romance with a handsome young furniture maker. But as she learns more about the lives of these self-proclaimed witches, Eileen must choose how much trust to place in this new and seductive world, where love, greed, and vengeance can be as powerful, or as destructive, as any magic. (From the publisher.)
Author Bio
• Birth—N/A
• Where—Hong Kong, China
• Education—P.D. University of Paris, Sorbonne
• Currently—lives in New York, New York, USA
Mingmei Yip was born in Hong Kong, China, and received her Ph.D. from the University of Paris, Sorbonne. She has published fourteen books, written for seven major Hong Kong newspapers and appeared on many national and international television and radio programs. Mingmei's novels have been published in ten different languages. She is also an accomplished musician and calligrapher whose performance venues include Carnegie Hall and Metropolitan Museum of Arts. (From the publisher.)
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Book Reviews
Yip is truly a master. Everything about this story was enthralling...strong, memorable characters, unique setting...an emotional roller coaster.
Examiner.com
Fans will enjoy this emotionally poignant novel.
Booklist
Boundless energy that propels the reader to gratifying conclusion.
Kirkus Reviews
Intriguing backdrop...The first person narrative perfectly matches Yip's heroine's thoughts as she strives to find a safe life and love in a changing world (4 Stars).
RT Book Reviews
Rich in detail... should please readers.
Authorlink.com
Discussion Questions
1. Surveys show many people still believe in witches. Are you one of them? If so, why?
2. What is the difference between a shaman and a witch?
3. Do you believe that some people possess supernatural powers such as the ghost-seeing yin eye?
4. Should Eileen continue to be a professor of witchcraft, or should she follow her Laolao's footstep and be a shamaness?
5. Do you think Eileen would be happier with the poor furniture maker Luis, or with her rich ex-boyfriend, Ivan?
6. Each character in the novel teaches us a different life lesson. What do you think these lessons are?
6. Alfredo’s maid, Maria, is loyal to him until his death. What do you think of what she does after?
7. Laolao and Uncle Wang both seem to have supernatural powers. Do you think these powers are real? What do you think about how each uses them?
8. The protagonist, Eileen Chen, learns much of importance from her dreams. Do you learn from your own dreams?
9. Divination, or fortune-telling, plays an important role in the novel. What do you think of using divination to make important life decisions?
(Questions courtesy of the author.)