Swimming Back to Trout River gripped me from the beginning and my interest never flagged. Beautifully written with characters who are individual and complicated, hopeful and talented, and then confronted with the Cultural Revolution's efforts to purge capitalism, foreign influence, and tradition. Young intellectuals were sent to the countryside to experience manual labor and "rehabilitation."
Momo, Cassia, and Dawn were young and talented, but the upheaval in their lives after being sent to the countryside required remarkable resilience. When the Cultural Revolution ends, Momo, Cassia, and Dawn attempt to rebuild their lives in different ways, and Junie, Momo and Cassia's daughter is left in China with her beloved grandparents.
Momo's goal is to reunite with Junie, to bring her to America. Junie, however, cannot imagine a life away from Trout River.
One of the most impressive elements in the story in the influence of music on the main characters and the importance of art and creativity in their lives.
Beautifully written, thoughtful, and perceptive, Linda Rui Feng has written a novel that will linger with its readers in many ways. It is one of my favorite novels of last year. Highly Recommended.
Read in December; blog review scheduled for April.
NetGalley/Simon & Schuster.
Multicultural History. May 11, 2021. Print length: 272 pages.
It's been awhile since I've read any book set in China, let alone during the Cultural Revolution. What a challenging time that was for so many people. I might have to buy this one; I know both my mom and my sister would really like it. (And me, too, of course.) :D
ReplyDeleteThis is Feng's debut novel. She is definitely an author to keep an eye on! The novel is poignant, but never maudlin, and the characters are complex and resilient and so very human.
DeleteI need to read this as after reading 3 books set in Japan this year, I've wanted one set in China. So happy you mentioned this one.
ReplyDeleteThis was a 5/5 for me. Momo's instant and capacious love for his handicapped daughter despite the cultural preference for boys is a strength of the novel, as is the grandparents love for Junie and their efforts to accommodate her lack of lower legs. There are so many themes running through this touching novel, and all of them are handled so skillfully.
DeleteLike Lark, it's been a while since I've read a book set in China. And this book sounds interesting given the topics and the Cultural Revolution. Hopefully my library has a copy.
ReplyDeleteIt is really good, Melody! Not one I'll quickly forget.
DeleteI've read quite a few books set in China in the last few years, mostly fiction, but almost none of them have been about, or set in, the Cultural Revolution period. I think I've been reluctant to read books set then because it's all so depressing. What happened there to "intellectuals," and later in places like Cambodia is really disturbing to me. This one, though, does sounds a little out of the ordinary, so I'll take a look.
ReplyDeleteI've read several good books about this period, but this one was different and the writing and characterization is excellent. The period of the Cultural Revolution is disturbing and frightening, but it is also interesting in the way students moved beyond it--damaged, but trying to recover what they could of their lives.
DeleteI haven't read much about the Cultural Revolution but this sounds like a good place to start, given your recommendation. And you know I have a Special Education background and affinity.
ReplyDeleteThis is a good book to start with, and yes, Junie would interest you, Teresa. And there is so much more. :)
DeleteI haven't really read much about the Cultural Revolution so I think this would be a fascinating novel to read. So glad to hear it was a winner for you and it's going on my TBR.
ReplyDelete