Peach Blossom Spring by Melissa Fu – 400 pages
ARC from Little, Brown and Company and Netgalley for an honest review
Book Blurb:
Peach Blossom Spring: It is 1938 in China and, as a young wife, Meilin’s future is bright. But with the Japanese army approaching, Meilin and her four year old son, Renshu, are forced to flee their home. Relying on little but their wits and a beautifully illustrated hand scroll, filled with ancient fables that offer solace and wisdom, they must travel through a ravaged country, seeking refuge. Years later, Renshu has settled in America as Henry Dao. Though his daughter is desperate to understand her heritage, he refuses to talk about his childhood. How can he keep his family safe in this new land when the weight of his history threatens to drag them down? Yet how can Lily learn who she is if she can never know her family’s story?
Spanning continents and generations, Peach Blossom Spring is a bold and moving look at the history of modern China, told through the story of one family. It’s about the power of our past, the hope for a better future, and the haunting question: What would it mean to finally be home?
Peach Blossom Spring Review: 4 stars
Peach Blossom Spring by Melissa Fu is a debut novel that kept me rapt with attention as the people of China were fleeing from the Japanese army and then years later lived through China’s civil war. I knew so little about this part of history and found this author’s writing was able to teach history as she so fluidly wrapped it around an engaging story.
As a mother myself, I was able to relate to the protective nature of Meilin as she continually did everything to keep Renshu out of harm’s way. She lived a hard life and Fu brought her vividly to life. The stories she told Renshu from her treasured scroll were meaningful and I enjoyed how they came to light more than once in the story. Her half of the book was the most powerful for me.
When Renshu changes his name to Henry and moves to the US, I was schooled in the risks the Chinese students were dealt as they fell under suspicion of being either a communist or a spy. Once again, I learned something new. This is why I LOVE reading. I liked watching him grow but didn’t like how quickly Meilin got lost from the book. That feeling was further cemented when we meet Lily, Henry’s daughter.
I do wish this had a character chart as there were many characters and names that were similar. I do hope that the finished copy (I read the ARC – Advanced Reader Copy) has a character listing.
Overall, I was wowed by this debut author and hope she’s got another book up her sleeve.
Quotes I liked:
Within every misfortune there is a blessing, and within every blessing, the seed of misfortune.”
“Remember to have an orchard is to honour the generations that came before you and will come after.”
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