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serendipitysbooks's review
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It’s no surprise that I enjoyed Green Island since it involves several of my favourite bookish ingredients. It’s historical fiction covering more than 50 years of Taiwanese history. Taiwan is a country I know little about and this novel encompasses some significant events including the Chinese Civil War, the establishment of a very authoritarian government - effectively a military dictatorship, rapid industrialisation and the eventual shift to democracy. The book is also a family saga spanning three generations and an immigrant tale. I enjoyed seeing how these aspects intersected and played off each other, affecting the protagonist in different ways at different times. Shortly after she was born her father disappeared. The family feared he was dead but he was actually held as a political prisoner for more than ten years on Green Island, a small island off Taiwan’s southeast coast. This separation affected the father-daughter relationship in ways both expected and unexpected.
What made the most impact on me was when the protagonist and her husband provided shelter to a political refugee in the United States. The surveillance they were under quickly became clear and the threats from Taiwanese agents, and the pressure to provide information was chilling. It left me questioning how I would balance my personal and political beliefs with my love and responsibility for my family should the two ever come into such stark contrast.
All in all I enjoyed this piece of historical fiction. It wasn’t outstanding but it was definitely solid. That it featured some new-to-me history was a bonus.
What made the most impact on me was when the protagonist and her husband provided shelter to a political refugee in the United States. The surveillance they were under quickly became clear and the threats from Taiwanese agents, and the pressure to provide information was chilling. It left me questioning how I would balance my personal and political beliefs with my love and responsibility for my family should the two ever come into such stark contrast.
All in all I enjoyed this piece of historical fiction. It wasn’t outstanding but it was definitely solid. That it featured some new-to-me history was a bonus.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Murder, and Torture
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