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heathercjohnson 's review for:
Starry River of the Sky
by Grace Lin
In this story-within-a-story novel, characters and readers discover an intricately weaved plot, thoughtful character development, and valuable themes. The interior plot stories are a necessary construct of this novel, in order to create a resolution, develop characters, and establish meaningful messages of balance, harmony, peace, and forgiveness. As witnessed with these characters, storytelling serves different purposes and provides impact in different ways, such as coping and healing like Rendi, entertainment like MeiLin, solving problems like Mr. Shan, instructing like Madame Chang, or appreciating culture like author, Grace Lin.
Summary: The exterior plot follows the main character, Rendi (meaning “Enlightened by Benevolence”), who fled from his wealthy family and home and mistakenly begins work as a chore boy at a desolate inn operated by Master Chao (“Exceed, Surpass”) and his young daughter, Peiyi (“Upholding Friendship”) in the Village of Clear Sky. As he plans his way of escape, Rendi meets Mr. Shan (“Mountain”), an old man, who mistakes a frog for a rabbit; Widow Yan (“Strict, Stern”), an older woman absorbed in an ancient feud over snails with Master Chao; and MeiLan (“Pretty Orchid”), the beautiful daughter of Widow Yan who is engaged to Peiyi’s runaway brother, Jiming (“Carry Forward the Light”). Rendi continues to labor and reside in the Village of Clear Sky and is tormented by the haunting sounds of the empty sky that cries for the missing moon. One day, a mysterious guest, Madame Chang (“Moon Lady”), settles into a room at the inn and begins to tell Chinese folktales in return for Rendi’s tales.
Summary: The exterior plot follows the main character, Rendi (meaning “Enlightened by Benevolence”), who fled from his wealthy family and home and mistakenly begins work as a chore boy at a desolate inn operated by Master Chao (“Exceed, Surpass”) and his young daughter, Peiyi (“Upholding Friendship”) in the Village of Clear Sky. As he plans his way of escape, Rendi meets Mr. Shan (“Mountain”), an old man, who mistakes a frog for a rabbit; Widow Yan (“Strict, Stern”), an older woman absorbed in an ancient feud over snails with Master Chao; and MeiLan (“Pretty Orchid”), the beautiful daughter of Widow Yan who is engaged to Peiyi’s runaway brother, Jiming (“Carry Forward the Light”). Rendi continues to labor and reside in the Village of Clear Sky and is tormented by the haunting sounds of the empty sky that cries for the missing moon. One day, a mysterious guest, Madame Chang (“Moon Lady”), settles into a room at the inn and begins to tell Chinese folktales in return for Rendi’s tales.