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A review by sonalipawar26
Peach Blossom Spring by Melissa Fu
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