A review by jayisreading
The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See

challenging reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

It’s very clear that Lisa See spent a lot of time researching Pu’er and the Akha people to craft a unique story that follows the journey of Li Yan. And Li Yan is such a complex character who is truly shaped by her culture and surroundings. All of this adds to the overall narrative to make for a rich, immersive reading experience. It’s actually surprising just how much information See packs into one novel: immigration, transracial adoption, discrimination, general information about the Yunnan province, and so on. It occasionally felt like you had a lot of information dumped on you, but maybe this is distinct to See (I’m not sure, since this is the first time I’m reading one of her books).

So much of this book is shaped by the idea of choices and coincidences based on circumstances, and goodness, there are so many to consider that are all interwoven with one another. It’s to the point that the plot begins to muddle towards the end in an attempt to have everything connect. It gets a little too ham-fisted, trying to force this idea that everything is connected.

I also wish Li Yan’s adopted daughter was given more time to shine and be further developed. I felt there was so much that lacked, especially how her story really didn’t seem to manifest until the very end of the book (which felt rushed). I think considering how important the daughter was to Li Yan’s development, it would have really helped to get more from that perspective. Perhaps replace some of the in-depth, near-anthropological, descriptions of the cultures of tea, Akha, etc.? (Not that I’m saying they’re unimportant. It’s a matter of striking a balance...)

Not wanting to end this review on a negative note, I will say that I genuinely enjoyed the novel. See really knows how to tell a story, and I found myself immersed in the world she crafted. I know this won’t be the last See novel I’ll be reading, especially given the dedication she puts into her work. 
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