Scan barcode
A review by grayjay
Do Not Say We Have Nothing by Madeleine Thien
5.0
I knew so little about the Cultural Revolution in China that this novel sometimes felt like a dystopian science fiction. It followed a similar structure to many dystopian novels I've read. We are introduced to characters' lives and then read on as society changes violently around them. It is a book about revolutions within revolutions. How can something be counter-revolutionary? Can you start a revolution against the revolution?
At the same time, it is a touching and mournful family epic. I was drawn to consider the relationships between children and parents, between generations. How can we learn to bridge the gap in understanding? How can we learn to forgive our parents' generation for the harm they caused doing what they thought was best? Can our parents forgive us for not fulfilling the lives they fought for us to be able live?
At the same time, it is a touching and mournful family epic. I was drawn to consider the relationships between children and parents, between generations. How can we learn to bridge the gap in understanding? How can we learn to forgive our parents' generation for the harm they caused doing what they thought was best? Can our parents forgive us for not fulfilling the lives they fought for us to be able live?