Agent: Clare Alexander, Aitken Alexander Assoc. The result is an affecting if somewhat scattershot tale of love, loss, estrangement, and heritage. As their stories diverge, the author devotes long sections to each protagonist, slowing the frenetic pace to focus more on character development, which yields a stronger second half. Fu spends the first half of the novel ping-ponging between mother and son, shuttling them through 20 years of tragic struggle. Meanwhile, Meilin reconnects with her brother-in-law, who tries to woo her into marriage. In 1960, Renshu leaves Taiwan and his mother behind for graduate school at Northwestern University, entering this new chapter as “Henry.” He builds a life in America, starting both a career and family. After the war, as Communism takes hold of China in the late 1940s, the mother and son escape to Taiwan, where Meilin works as a maid and Renshu focuses on his education. 3 months ago Beautiful Historical Piece 4.5 rounded up 4.5 rounded up Thankful for my desire to leave no started book unread, this story has become one of my favorite historical fiction reads.Initially traveling with relatives to avoid Japanese bombings, Meilin and Renshu get separated from the group. 18 of 15 Reviews Sort by: Featured NKBD Georgia Reviews Votes Reader Type: On-Trend Reader Spanning eight decades, Fu’s poignant debut opens in 1938, as recently widowed Meilin and her three-year-old son, Renshu, flee their home in the Hunan Province of China during the Second Sino-Japanese War.
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