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Pao

By: Kerry Young
Narrated by: Kerry Young
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Publisher's summary

As a young boy, Pao comes to Jamaica in the wake of the Chinese Civil War and rises to become the Godfather of Kingston's bustling Chinatown. Pao needs to take care of some dirty business, but he is no Don Corleone. The rackets he runs are small-time, and the protection he provides necessary, given the minority status of the Chinese in Jamaica. Pao, in fact, is a sensitive guy in a wise guy role that doesn't quite fit. Often mystified by all that he must take care of, Pao invariably turns to Sun Tzu's Art of War. The juxtaposition of the weighty, aphoristic words of the ancient Chinese sage, with the tricky criminal and romantic predicaments Pao must negotiate builds the basis of the novel's great charm.

A tale of post-colonial Jamaica from a unique and politically potent perspective, Pao moves from the last days of British rule through periods of unrest at social and economic inequality, through tides of change that will bring about Rastafarianism and the Back to Africa Movement. Pao is an utterly beguiling, unforgettable novel of race, class and creed, love and ambition, and a country in the throes of tumultuous change.

Kerry Young was born in Kingston, Jamaica, to a Chinese-African mother and a Chinese father - a businessman in Kingston's shadow economy who provided inspiration for Pao. Young moved to England in 1965 at the age of ten. She earned her MA in creative writing at Nottingham Trent University. This is her first novel.

©2011 Kerry Young (P)2012 Audible, Inc.
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Critic reviews

"Against a backdrop of Jamaican history, a likable Chinese-Jamaican runs rackets in this eye-opening, rambunctious debut.... Young leads from the heart (her father served as a model for Pao) to celebrate a resilient world that tourists never see. You’ll enjoy the view." (Kirkus Reviews)

What listeners say about Pao

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A great story thats hard to hear

I absolutly love this book. the story is engaging and interesting and i thurally enjoyed the entire experience. Now my only gripe with this book is that its in broken English all throughout with the exception of a couple Americans and britins who speak proper engliah. but other than that its mostly the same, hard to understand at times, Jamaican English fused with chinese Engrish. It IS an autistic choice and one that i enjoyed but i recommend you try the sample before you buy.

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Amazing

Historical, well-written, amazingly performed: this was a delight from start to finish! I recommend highly!

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who knew - Chinese in Kingston

the authenticity of the voices takes getting used to and the opening chapters were a blur from not being able to understand. I wished i could see the written words and almost gave up. glad I stuck to it and then I enjoyed the voices. it's a sweeping story about complex family dynamics, struggles with identity, one's love of place and country in the face of these difficulties, and a vivid painting of the Jamaican history. the heat and humidity comes through in the text along with the glorious beauty of the island.

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