★★★★★ Juliane 12.06.2023 amazon.de

What an amazing read. So well written, full of characters, wisdom and emotions I will always remember. I learned so much about China’s history and Taiwan as well as I was doing a bit of research along with reading the chapters. A story that follows three generations of a family from China to Taiwan to America. A story that explores what it can mean to be Chinese-American. What it means to survive war. What it means to find yourself, your identity. How trauma caused by war can effect you. It taught me so much.

★★★★★ Audrey Haylins 12.06.2023 amazon.de

Spanning six decades and three generations, this sweeping tale of identity and belonging possesses an emotional heft so intoxicating it makes you giddy. It is compelling and thought-provoking, a perfect blend of storytelling, history, and the exploration of the human psyche. It’s nigh-on perfect, and I loved it.It’s 1938 and the Japanese have invaded China. Newly widowed Meilin and her young son Renshu flee their home and join thousands of other refugees seeking sanctuary in the country’s hinterland. Years of deprivation, horror and tragedy follow, as does civil war, before they end up in the relative safety of Taiwan. Decades later, Renshu — now Henry — has made a new life for himself in America, with a family of his own. But the darkness of his past haunts him still, causing rifts with his loved ones that may never heal.This is a story that spoke to me on so many levels. I started with little knowledge of China’s tumultuous history, but Fu’s prose, shimmering with the most vivid evocation of time and place, transported me there. As a mother, I identified — in a way I can only describe as visceral — with Meilin’s primal urge to not only protect her child but to sacrifice her own happiness for his. And my heart ached for Renshu and the obstinate rejection of his heritage even as his American-Chinese daughter begged to know hers.But, while this is the story of one family, and a beautifully told one at that, it resonates with much wider meaning, shining a light on a multitude of interrelated complexities that thrum with relevance in our modern, globalized world: migration (forced or otherwise), the dilution of birthright (culture, language, religion, custom), the loss of roots, and the overwhelming human need to find a place to belong.The ending of this book simultaneously broke me and filled me with effervescent joy. Fu has written from a place of deep personal understanding, and this radiates from every page. As a debut, it is a triumph, and I can’t wait to read more of her work.Thanks for reading my review. I hope you found it helpful.

★★★★★ Elena 12.06.2023 amazon.de

One of the most anticipated books of the year for me