A History of China

Following the death of her father, Sasha Jean attends a family reunion, after years of estrangement, with the uncomfortable knowledge that she has inherited the estate where her relatives live. "The History of China" explores the multi-generational stories that shape this complicated family.

Ploughshares, the literary magazine of Emerson College

©2016 Emerson College (P)2016 Audible, Inc.

It is NOT a History of China

Guess I should have read the description before adding to my library, but I don't think its unreasonable to expect a book titled "A History of China," to be, you know, like a History of China. This book isn't. Its some kind of chick-lit social justice whining about a family reunion. If you're into that sort of thing, maybe you'll like it. I'm not. I didn't.

Don Juan is possibly an idiot

It’s easy to understand that a title labeled fiction and named a “Ploughshares Solo” would be, in fact, fiction. Not to mention that a book covering the history of China should easily exceed an hour.

Regardless of my critique of a previous reviewer, let me say this story is a time hopping close up of a woman’s intersectional family life. The narration is clear, undaunted by the heaviness of the lives within the story, able to revel in the two-sided nature of close relationships— love and loss, affection and grief.

The tension is held delicately. The pace is made with care. A short story you will savor, you will turn over in your mind many times with care, admiration, and, perhaps, a bit of trepidation.

I eagerly await the release of the author’s novel (on my birthday, no less). ♥️