SOUR SWEET OR BITTER SWEET?!?!?!?!

  The title of Sour Sweet by Timothy Mo has multiple meanings.  In one way, it represents the generalization and prejudice that the Chinese face when they immigrate to other countries.  Sour sweet is a type of Chinese cooking, but it is very westernized.  Still, it is one of the most popular types of Chinese food and for many people it is the only type of Chinese food that they know.  Just like the food, the Chinese family are put into a collection of stereotypes by the people around them, who see them from this view, instead of looking at who they really are.
   The title also reflects the overall tone of the book.  The book has a lot of happy parts, but it also contains many dark elements, like the triads and poverty.  Because of this, the book is not completely sweet.  It is bittersweet.  It is sour sweet.

What gets you thinking

Can a traditional Confucious family keep their traditions in a completely foreign land? I'm asking this question because Chen and his family are working to keep their culture alive in the UK, but it is not clear how long that will last.