A review by sdawginthebuilding
Peach Blossom Spring by Melissa Fu

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.
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