A Hundred Flowers

A Novel

De: Gail Tsukiyama

Narrado por: Jane Carr

Gail Tsukiyama's A Hundred Flowers is powerful novel about an ordinary family facing extraordinary times at the start of the Chinese Cultural Revolution

China, 1957. Chairman Mao has declared a new openness in society: "Let a hundred flowers bloom; let a hundred schools of thought contend." Many intellectuals fear it is only a trick, and Kai Ying's husband, Sheng, a teacher, has promised not to jeopardize their safety or that of their young son, Tao. But one July morning, just before his sixth birthday, Tao watches helplessly as Sheng is dragged away for writing a letter criticizing the Communist Party and sent to a labor camp for "reeducation."

A year later, still missing his father desperately, Tao climbs to the top of the hundred-year-old kapok tree in front of their home, wanting to see the mountain peaks in the distance. But Tao slips and tumbles thirty feet to the courtyard below, badly breaking his leg.

As Kai Ying struggles to hold her small family together in the face of this shattering reminder of her husband's absence, other members of the household must face their own guilty secrets and strive to find peace in a world where the old sense of order is falling. Once again, Tsukiyama brings us a powerfully moving story of ordinary people facing extraordinary circumstances with grace and courage.

Reseñas de la Crítica

<p>“Tsukiyama's tale of love, loss, and courage is brought to life by Simon Vance. Narrating in a soft, straightforward tone, Vance is understated but renders the characters well. With only minor shifts in tone and dialect, Vance creates well-rounded and believable characters without even remotely attempting to tackle a Chinese accent. The result is brilliantly realized listening that will have listeners enthralled from start to finish.” —<i>Publishers Weekly, starred review</i><br><br>“The point of view alternates among three generations of individuals, and Vance meets the challenge by adjusting his pitch and tone to telegraph each change. The character-driven novel is enhanced by Vance's insightful pacing and restrained use of drama.” —<i>AudioFile Magazine</i><br><br>“This brilliant portrayal of a family torn half apart and mending like the kapok tree that Tao falls from is brought to life by the familiar voice of Simon Vance…He brings Sheng's family to life with his warm and inviting voice. Tsukiyama's story and Vance's voice make for a delightful journey into the early years of Communist China, when the promise of a better China never seemed so bleak.” —<i>New World Review</i><br><br>“I was following this family almost as though it were my own and stayed all the way to the end of their story.” —<i>All Things Considered, NPR</i><br><br>“The tenderness [Tsukiyama] shows for her characters creates a sympathetic portrait of intellectuals trying to live honestly in the shadow of oppression.” —<i>Publishers Weekly</i><br><br>“Tsukiyama's close attention to detail and descriptive language paint a vivid picture of the daily life of Kai Ying and her family. Tsukiyama gently envelops the reader into the quiet sadness that permeates the entire household while weaving in the multiple hardships the family faces under communism. Strength of community; support and love of family, both natural and adopted; and the ability to heal and overcome loss are major themes within the moving novel.” —<i>Booklist</i><br><br>“Best-selling author Gail Tsukiyama, recipient of PEN Oakland/Josephine Miles Literary Award, takes us back to those times not by painting a panorama but in her thoughtful and forthright way by showing the consequences for one family.” —<i>Library Journal</i></p>

I loved this book!

I loved this book and learning about Mao's Hundred Flowers Campaign. The book was engaging and flowed. The characters came to life for me, and I became attached to them. Simon Vance is a wonderful narrator.

I want to listen to more of Gail Tsukiyama's books.

So,...what happens?

Narrator was excellent, storyline & characters engaging, however there was neither a real climax nor conclusion. Felt like a final chapter (or two) went missing. :/

a pleasure reading or listening

it is a pleasure reading or listening to Tsukiyama's stories. I can't wait for her next novel. I have read them all this is the first time listening to one of her books in audio.

A family's story in early Mao's China

When Mao Tse-Tung came into power in China he was supposedly improving the living conditions in China so that things would be more equal for all the people.  In 1956, he instituted a new policy where he asked the people to help him with ideas to accomplish this goal.  He said: "Let a hundred flowers bloom; let a hundred schools of thought contend." BUT, after a few months of ideas asking for changes involving changing Mao's policies, a reign of dictatorship began that eventually ended in millions of citizen deaths in China.  

As this story begins, Mao has just decided it's his way or no way. He ordered the round up of the intellectuals, wealthy families, artists, and everyone who dared to express anything but praise of Mao and his policies. The other citizens in China are finding their living standards plummet.  Private homes are forced into homes for multiply families.  Food is by coupons only, and it's becoming less and less available.

Gail Tsukiyama focuses her story on one family and their extended friends.  Kai Yung finds herself holding her family together after her husband is sent to a 're-education' center,  days away from home,  because of a letter criticizing Mao.  

I found the relationships in this little circle to be the best part of this difficult, terrible, but life affirming story.  Kai Ying is already a herbalist that the community depends upon to cure ills and pains.   She is a devoted mother to her 6 year old son; comforting daughter in law; and friend to all, including a run away pregnant fifteen year old who takes up residence in her home.  Her fervent hope is that her husband is safe and will return home soon, but after only two letter, and months and months away from home, her hope is more and more difficult to maintain.

This family's story was very engaging!!  There were a few great conflicts, traumas, and courageous acts that greatly added to the dramatic interest of this story, but mostly it's about a family seeking peace and hope in situations of great conflicts beyond their control in 1958, Mao's China.

Excellent book about China revolution.

This is the story of a Chinese family whose father and grandfather were part of the educated class in 1957 when Mao Tse Tung said that there should be “a hundred flowers” meaning people should feel free to criticize constructively the Communist party. But when people did, he had them arrested and sent for “re-education to labor camps. They arrested Shenn for sending such a letter. It turned out his father wrote the letter, but Shen took the punishment because he knew his father would never be able to survive labor camp. Shenn’s wife, Kai Ying, and his son, Tao, were very angry when they found out what happened. This family, taking in others who needed help as well, were surviving the grief of living without their father/husband/son. A very good book showing the very beginning of what turned out to be a nightmare history for China for the next 30 years. The author is interviewed at the end of the book.