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aemynadira 's review for:
The Phoenix Pencil Company
by Allison King
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The Phoenix Pencil Company by Allison King is a heartfelt blend of historical fiction & magical realism that's really compelling. The story moves between 2 perspectives: Monica, a software engineering student living in modern-day Massachusetts, & her grandmother Yun, whose life in 1940s wartime Shanghai holds the legacy of pencil company with a unique ability of reforging memories inscribed in graphite. While caring for her grandmother who's slowly losing her memory, Monica stumbles on traces of the past that slowly reveal her family's deep, tangled history. I found the contrast between Monica's digital, fast-moving world & Yun's slower, more tactile experience so striking. It made me think about how much of our connection to people & memory is shaped by the tools we use, whether it's tech or just a pencil.
One thing that stood out for me was how the novel explores memory. What we keep, what we let go, & what we may never know. Monica wrestles with whether to uncover the forgotten lives, or let them stay buried. There's this line that hit me: "if I don't tell her, the secret might die with us." It made me pause & think, how many stories from our families are already lost because no one asked, or no one remembered? It's emotional, especially in a time where everything feels rushed & disposable. It's so captivating how the author seamlessly intertwines the magic of reforging with real historical events, offering a fresh perspective on Chinese history.
This book is more than a tale of magical pencils; it's a moving exploration of how our past shapes our present & the importance of preserving our histories. For anyone interested in a story that delicately balances the realms of history & magic, this novel would be a good read.
One thing that stood out for me was how the novel explores memory. What we keep, what we let go, & what we may never know. Monica wrestles with whether to uncover the forgotten lives, or let them stay buried. There's this line that hit me: "if I don't tell her, the secret might die with us." It made me pause & think, how many stories from our families are already lost because no one asked, or no one remembered? It's emotional, especially in a time where everything feels rushed & disposable. It's so captivating how the author seamlessly intertwines the magic of reforging with real historical events, offering a fresh perspective on Chinese history.
This book is more than a tale of magical pencils; it's a moving exploration of how our past shapes our present & the importance of preserving our histories. For anyone interested in a story that delicately balances the realms of history & magic, this novel would be a good read.