cbr17bingo Diaspora
The post WWII years in China were tumultuous times. The Japanese, who had invaded and occupied a good deal of China, were leaving, but left in their stead a split China. There was the nationalist government, supported by the Allies (think Chiang Kai-shek), many of whom ended up retreating to Taiwan. Meanwhile Mao Zedong further expanded his alternative Communist regime. And caught in the middle of all this were people just trying to live their lives, such as Suchi and Haiwen.
The two meet as children in 1947 Shanghai. Suchi, cheerful and confident, dreams of becoming a singer, like her favorite radio stars. The more serious Haiwen, coming from a wealthier family, is training to become a violinist, passionately loving the Western classical repertoire. But the Nationalist Army is drafting, one son from each household, and Haiwen feels obligated to enlist, sparing his older brother, with a family. Unfortunately, he never tells Suchi why he left.
The time line is back and forth – from this beginning to when they happen to run into each other many decades later in Los Angeles (at 99 Ranch Market, of course!). Both have lost their spouses, but Suchi has managed to survive by only looking forward, and isn’t eager to rekindle old flames. Haiwen feels differently, but respects her choices.
I enjoyed how the plot goes from past to present, but gradually focusing in on the key elements of their lives as they separately fled Shanghai and Taiwan, and ended up in the US. If you understand the beginning and the end, the center becomes clearer.