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deluna's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Rape, Grief, Death of parent, and War
sonalipawar26's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
When Meilin loses her husband in the war and her home is destroyed, she packs all the essentials, including a cherished scroll from her beloved husband, in a basket and runs to the station with her son, Renshu, on her brother-in-law's orders to escape death.
From walking on foot to carrying Renshu in carts and selling her precious jewellery to afford food and to the final journey to Taiwan, Meilin and Renshu travel long distances to escape war and bloodshed. However, on this long and arduous journey, they can’t escape time, as Renshu grows up despite it all, and heartbreak, as they lose friends and loved ones along the way.
My heart was 100 per cent into this generational saga until Renshu had to bid goodbye to his mother and travel across oceans to study further. For me, Meilin was the strong foundation of this book, and when she appeared less and less, I disconnected from the narrative.
But the story picks up again when Renshu's (now Henry) daughter, Lily, tries to navigate the mixed emotions accompanying being biracial. While the time jump made Lily's narrative slightly rushed, Fu beautifully tied it all together, making my eyes water. Not to mention, she is a fabulous writer, making prose feel like poetry.
I reckon I had too many expectations from the book, which led to my lukewarm response to this historical saga. Regardless, I’d urge you to read this book to get some background on the impact of the war and post-war uprisings in China.
From walking on foot to carrying Renshu in carts and selling her precious jewellery to afford food and to the final journey to Taiwan, Meilin and Renshu travel long distances to escape war and bloodshed. However, on this long and arduous journey, they can’t escape time, as Renshu grows up despite it all, and heartbreak, as they lose friends and loved ones along the way.
My heart was 100 per cent into this generational saga until Renshu had to bid goodbye to his mother and travel across oceans to study further. For me, Meilin was the strong foundation of this book, and when she appeared less and less, I disconnected from the narrative.
But the story picks up again when Renshu's (now Henry) daughter, Lily, tries to navigate the mixed emotions accompanying being biracial. While the time jump made Lily's narrative slightly rushed, Fu beautifully tied it all together, making my eyes water. Not to mention, she is a fabulous writer, making prose feel like poetry.
I reckon I had too many expectations from the book, which led to my lukewarm response to this historical saga. Regardless, I’d urge you to read this book to get some background on the impact of the war and post-war uprisings in China.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Rape and Violence
Minor: Xenophobia
sdawginthebuilding's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.75
I appreciated the multigenerational approach that this book took, with each generation dealing with a unique set of problems. I think reading from the perspective of a family over a couple of decades and through different members of the lineage highlights how inter-generational trauma can be transmitted, especially for those in the diaspora.
Although parts one and two contained the darkest and most violent chapters of the book, there were also many instances of Meilin’s hopefulness and promises for the future. One of the most heartbreaking realizations for me as the book progressed was that the goals that Meilin had set or promises she made to Xiaowen and Renshu had to be sacrificed or negotiated in order for them to survive.
Lastly, although this is fiction, I think PBS provided some good insight to the migration trajectories of people in China during WW2 and the Civil War and also of Taiwanese people during the Cold War.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read. For the most part, there weren’t many moments where the story was dragging or moved too slowly.
Lastly, although this is fiction, I think PBS provided some good insight to the migration trajectories of people in China during WW2 and the Civil War and also of Taiwanese people during the Cold War.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read. For the most part, there weren’t many moments where the story was dragging or moved too slowly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Rape
Moderate: Violence and War
maybe_a_cat's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Rape
ittywitty's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Rape
maritay918's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Reading the history of China and Taiwan through the lens of a family was an incredible experience. The resilience of Meilin, of everyone was heart-wrenching and inspiring at the same time. I don’t know how they walked through all that devastation over and over and we’re still hopeful, still willing to live on.
The picture into post WW2 America as it relates to immigrants, especially Chinese immigrants was not surprising, just disappointing. While I hated who Henry/Renshu became, I understood it. I am so very glad she allowed for redemption there. And even for Lily. Loved seeing her growth.
Stupendous work Melissa Fu!
The picture into post WW2 America as it relates to immigrants, especially Chinese immigrants was not surprising, just disappointing. While I hated who Henry/Renshu became, I understood it. I am so very glad she allowed for redemption there. And even for Lily. Loved seeing her growth.
Stupendous work Melissa Fu!
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Racial slurs, Rape, and Xenophobia
Minor: Suicide
quillathe_23's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and War
go2hellstephanie's review against another edition
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a really touching book. I've always loved generational stories, but the way Meilin, Renshu/Henry, and Lily's stories intertwined. This book was full of tragedies but also full of hope, and there were so many times I was emotional.
I really liked how Fu balanced the different perspectives as characters aged, become more or less present, and gain or lost focus. This was a stunning book.
I really liked how Fu balanced the different perspectives as characters aged, become more or less present, and gain or lost focus. This was a stunning book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Racism, Rape, and War
owlsreads's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
5.0
A beautiful and heartbreaking read. I cry so hard at the last few chapters that I gave myself a headache.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and War
Moderate: Racism and Xenophobia
ofwhimsyandsorrow's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape