You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.21 AVERAGE
4.21 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Once again, I’m such a sucker for multigenerational stories that span decades, and this one really puts into perspective the amount of trauma and historical events that can occur in a single lifespan. I loved how the folktale of Peach Blossom Spring became a theme throughout. I do wish the story had stayed more evenly split between the characters as it got closer to the end. Meilin was such a strong and interesting character, and she almost disappeared from the story once Lily grew up.
It serves it’s purpose. Very sweet book. Imagery about the peach blossoms was consistent and really nice, and the effects of the war were very apparent. Definitely recommend.
Peach Blossom Spring is a story of resilience spanning three generations of a Chinese family. It follows Meilin and her son, Renshu, as they flee their home torn by violence and endure horrors no one should. Geographically, it traverses China, Taiwan, and America. Eventually, a third perspective in Lily joins the others and rounds out our main characters.
While I found the beginning to be a bit slow, I eventually became invested in these characters and could not put the book down after the halfway point. My favorite kind of historical fiction is one that has me looking up the history involved to learn more, and Peach Blossom Spring is no exception.
Thanks to Goodreads and the publisher for this free book in exchange for my honest review.
While I found the beginning to be a bit slow, I eventually became invested in these characters and could not put the book down after the halfway point. My favorite kind of historical fiction is one that has me looking up the history involved to learn more, and Peach Blossom Spring is no exception.
Thanks to Goodreads and the publisher for this free book in exchange for my honest review.
4.5? 5? Can’t quite decide…sometimes I think I’m a little *too* finicky with how I rate the books I read.
Not really in my list to read but saw it in the library and borrowed it, turned out I enjoyed reading it!
Peach Blossom Spring is a story following three generations of Chinese family in desperate need of finding home. It is 1938 and the Japanese are gains ground. Meilin and her four year old son Renshu flee their home and travel through their ravaged countr, seeking refuge in safe places. Before her husband is caught, he left her a beautiful hand made scroll that tells ancient fables that would keep them company and solace in their situation. With hard work and a little help from her husband’s brother, Renshu is able to study in America as Henry Dao, settles down and marries eventually. While Henry’s daughter is curious about his past and learn who she is, he avoids talking about his childhood and how he gets where he is. Spanning continents and generations, this is a story of modern China through the family’s experiences, learning from their past in order to face a better future.
I appreciate learning about history in my reading especially the part wherein I’m not familiar with, in this case during WWII set in China. I love how the author incorporates their traditional Chinese stories in the book. Her writing is lyrical and the characters are done well.
As it talks about decades worth of stories with one family involved, there are some parts that are slow. I prefer story of Meilin over the others. And I also felt that it’s a long story, interesting as it maybe, without any major dramatic tension happening. But still love the story and would recommend if you are a fan of historical fiction on WWII set in China.
Peach Blossom Spring is a story following three generations of Chinese family in desperate need of finding home. It is 1938 and the Japanese are gains ground. Meilin and her four year old son Renshu flee their home and travel through their ravaged countr, seeking refuge in safe places. Before her husband is caught, he left her a beautiful hand made scroll that tells ancient fables that would keep them company and solace in their situation. With hard work and a little help from her husband’s brother, Renshu is able to study in America as Henry Dao, settles down and marries eventually. While Henry’s daughter is curious about his past and learn who she is, he avoids talking about his childhood and how he gets where he is. Spanning continents and generations, this is a story of modern China through the family’s experiences, learning from their past in order to face a better future.
I appreciate learning about history in my reading especially the part wherein I’m not familiar with, in this case during WWII set in China. I love how the author incorporates their traditional Chinese stories in the book. Her writing is lyrical and the characters are done well.
As it talks about decades worth of stories with one family involved, there are some parts that are slow. I prefer story of Meilin over the others. And I also felt that it’s a long story, interesting as it maybe, without any major dramatic tension happening. But still love the story and would recommend if you are a fan of historical fiction on WWII set in China.
3.75 ⭐️
The first half of the book amazing (Melin and Renshu’s story through war) but the last half felt rushed and scattered. 70 years in less than 400 pages, with side character stories taking up space in the last half. Great story on the complexities of war and growing up in it.
The first half of the book amazing (Melin and Renshu’s story through war) but the last half felt rushed and scattered. 70 years in less than 400 pages, with side character stories taking up space in the last half. Great story on the complexities of war and growing up in it.
If your reading preferences run to epics, then I have the book for you. Peach Blossom Spring is an ambitious and sweeping epic novel, that still has a very personal feel to it, where Melissa Fu tells the story of the foundations of modern China.
In this book, we see through the eyes of one family, and follow their experiences of war and forced migration through the later half of the 20th Century. This period in China is not something I know a great deal about, so there is plenty of contextual information to get your teeth into and stimulate further reading, but it is the personal view of Meilin and Renshu that is really gripping here.
Not only does the book look at modern China, but much of the wisdom that Meilin passes on as she and Renshu travel is based in the ancient folk tales that she was told as a child and were collected on a hand-painted scroll – the only thing remaining from Renshu’s father and their old, privileged life. The stories keep their spirits up and remind them of their connections to home and family.
From fleeing the war, to fleeing the communist regime and landing in Taiwan, Meilin and Renshu’s story is one of uncertainty and struggle and, although there are obvious geographical differences, there are clear parallels to the current situation in Ukraine – millions of displaced people being forced to flee with little to remind them of their old lives.
A really interesting aspect of the novel is Renshu’s move to America, where he becomes known by his english name, Henry Dao. Although Henry is living a less restricted life in America, he still lives in fear of the ruling regime in Taiwan – his activities in the US have the potential to be reported back to the authorities, which leads to an intense paranoia that lasts throughout Henry’s life.
It’s poignant to see this fear and paranoia lead to Henry losing touch with his heritage, and not repeating the stories of his childhood to his own child – his half-chinese daughter grows up without a sense of herself which, in some ways, nullifies the sacrifices Meilin made for him all those years ago.
Despite the personal and public tragedies in this book, it does end on a hopeful note, giving a lesson that perhaps we all need to learn – clinging on to the past doesn’t often do us any good and looking to the future with hopeful eyes is something we should all aim for.
In this book, we see through the eyes of one family, and follow their experiences of war and forced migration through the later half of the 20th Century. This period in China is not something I know a great deal about, so there is plenty of contextual information to get your teeth into and stimulate further reading, but it is the personal view of Meilin and Renshu that is really gripping here.
Not only does the book look at modern China, but much of the wisdom that Meilin passes on as she and Renshu travel is based in the ancient folk tales that she was told as a child and were collected on a hand-painted scroll – the only thing remaining from Renshu’s father and their old, privileged life. The stories keep their spirits up and remind them of their connections to home and family.
From fleeing the war, to fleeing the communist regime and landing in Taiwan, Meilin and Renshu’s story is one of uncertainty and struggle and, although there are obvious geographical differences, there are clear parallels to the current situation in Ukraine – millions of displaced people being forced to flee with little to remind them of their old lives.
A really interesting aspect of the novel is Renshu’s move to America, where he becomes known by his english name, Henry Dao. Although Henry is living a less restricted life in America, he still lives in fear of the ruling regime in Taiwan – his activities in the US have the potential to be reported back to the authorities, which leads to an intense paranoia that lasts throughout Henry’s life.
It’s poignant to see this fear and paranoia lead to Henry losing touch with his heritage, and not repeating the stories of his childhood to his own child – his half-chinese daughter grows up without a sense of herself which, in some ways, nullifies the sacrifices Meilin made for him all those years ago.
Despite the personal and public tragedies in this book, it does end on a hopeful note, giving a lesson that perhaps we all need to learn – clinging on to the past doesn’t often do us any good and looking to the future with hopeful eyes is something we should all aim for.
I really enjoyed this book. It was well written and I felt pretty connected to the characters. I’d give it 4.5 stars if I could!
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Interesting historical context I was previously unfamiliar with (china in the early-mid 20th century). Family drama spanning 3 generations. Some of the writing was a bit cloying/unrealistic