I really wish I had a better understanding of the politics in China between 1945 & 1976 before reading this book. However, despite occasionally tripping over my lack of political knowledge and inability to pronounce Chinese names, I did find this book fascinating. The character study was indeed puzzling, triumphant, and pitiful all at once. The author, Anchee Min, has a beautiful writing style. It flows easily and she has the talent of being able to word a description simply and so fittingly that I would immediately have the picture in my head.

This is one of the best discussion books our club has read and I look forward to also reading the Red Azalea.