I came to know these people every bit as much as I know people in real life.Īlongside the epic sweep of the plot are themes that reflect humanity in all its guises. Henry’s transition from being Renshu, Melin’s bravery and stoicism, Lily’s search for identity and the depiction of even the most minor characters feels vivid and real. I thought the characterisation was pitch perfect. The use of the senses, the glorious descriptions, and the perfectly wrought relationships all combine into a wonderful, wonderful story so that I felt the narrative rather than simply read it. Reading Melissa Fu’s exquisite prose is to be transported back in time with Meilin and Renshu and to be immersed in the story through assiduously researched historical detail. As a result, Peach Blossom Spring is at once historical, modern and, I fear, prescient. What Melissa Fu achieves so flawlessly is to translate the macrocosm of international events into the microcosm of individual lives in a way that hits the reader with emotional force right in their very soul. The first half of the story is a heartbreaking reflection of man’s inhumanity to man, that is being acted out in modern day Europe even as I read about 1930s China and Japan. Peach Blossom Spring is a sumptuous, mesmerising book that I loved unreservedly.
It’s about the power of our past, the hope for a better future, and the search for a place to call home. 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. How can he keep his family safe in this new land when the weight of his history threatens to drag them down? His daughter is desperate to understand her heritage, but he refuses to talk about his childhood. Years later, Renshu has settled in America as Henry Dao. Its ancient fables offer solace and wisdom as they travel through their ravaged country, seeking refuge. For comfort, they turn to their most treasured possession – a beautifully illustrated hand scroll. A young mother, Meilin, is forced to flee her burning city with here four-year-old son, Renshu, and embark on an epic journey across China. It is 1938 in China, and the Japanese are advancing. With every misfortune there is a blessing and within every blessing, the seeds of misfortune, and so it goes on, until the end of time. Published by Headline imprint Wildfire on 17th March 2022, Peach Blossom Spring is available for purchase through the links here. My thanks to Anne Cater of Random Things Tours for inviting me to take part in this blog tour. Thanks to the wonderful Caitlin Raynor, I’ve had Peach Blossom Spring by Melissa Fu sitting on my TBR since July 2021 so I’m thrilled finally to be able to share my review. Netgalley Advocate Netgalley General Data Protection Regulations A Publication Day Extract from The Night She Met the Duke by Sarah Mallory.An Extract from The Nice Guy and the Devil by Tom Trott.
0 kommentar(er)
