Peach Blossom Spring by Melissa Fu
A multi-perspective narrative spanning generations in modern China, this book is haunting and powerful. This story is honest and heart wrenching with striking writing. I can not believe that this is a debut novel; Fu did an amazing job of detailing the details of the war. The writing is detailed escaping you to a place with her words and her beautiful imagery can make you imagine that you are there.
“It belongs only to itself, the notes tumbling into his ears like waterfalls, drenching him in their urgent beauty.”
Peach Blossom Spring spans 70 years starting with Meilin in China after she is displaced by the war with her child Renshu. After they spend years fleeing the war Renshu moves to America with nothing but a few papers the first time being apart from his mum since the war began. As his life in America grows so does his family but once his child Lily starts asking questions about his part the lines between his American life and his Chinese life starts to cross.
This book is built on its characters. Meilin is a beautiful soul even after everything that happens to her in this book. Her determination and devotion to her son is unmatched and inspiring to read about. Renshu is confused about his past which causes his conflicting feelings surrounding that of his mother and his history. The conflict between him and his daughter is so hard to read knowing that Renshu knows he is protecting his daughter only for her to be so troubled by his past. The characters are so compelling to read from and creates a vivid story which at times makes you believe that these characters are real.
During this book I felt as though I learnt so many things despite it being a non fiction book. Finding out about the war and everything that happened to the people involved was heartbreaking to read about. It allowed them to show the various outcomes from being lost to the war to not surving the journeys they had to take as well as the unspoken deaths in the books. Seeing how many people were impacted by this war and seeing how long the impacts have lasted through this being a multigenerational narrative was hard to take in at times. After reading the authors note and discovering that this book is semi-biographical by honouring her fathers’ stories of the war makes this book even more heart wrenching. At times I struggled to follow it however this is due to my own unawareness on this war and now I want to know more.
“I guess the thing about Peach Blossom Spring is that if you are fortunate enough to find it, you are also unfortunate because you have to decide what to do. Do you stay, and forego all else? Or do you return home, with the understanding that you’ll never find it again? Is it a blessing? Or is it a curse?”
My favourite thing about this book was the beautiful fables woven into the story and teaches through the narrative such as the Peach Blossom Spring story. It adds a sense of place and discovery to the book and made me consider each of the lessons throughout.
This book was beautiful and I gave it a four stars because it just instantly transported me to a world I never knew existed. Learning all of this information about the war was heartbreaking but so informative. I am excited to see what Mellissa Fu brings out next and I think everyone should read this if only to learn about a war that most people don’t know what happened in.

A beautiful and moving story that follows a mother and son from his childhood that is sent off in a totally different direction when Japan invades China. We watch the family through the decades, guided by the stories pictured on a scroll that anchors the family together. Whereas so many books recently have zeroed in on a short period of time, I loved the opportunity to follow Renshu through his life, from an abrupt escape at the beginning on to his experiences far from China. Those who love a family saga set in a compelling part of history will adore this book.

Firstly, a huge thank you to Wildfire and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

CW: war, sexual assault

I completely adored this novel and the way we’re introduced to the Dao family and their struggles in the dangerous and ever-changing China. This novel spans decades but the pages just flew by, the pacing was wonderful, not only did we have the tension and urgency of Meilin constantly needing to flee and make the best decisions for her family, but there was also plenty of time to experience life in these different places and see the family develop.

I loved the way Fu illustrated familial relationships and how this can be impacted by cultural and societal expectations. Fu expertly navigated the complexities, but also the way these develop and change over the years. The mother and son relationship between Meilin and Renshu and how that developed. Meilin does everything she can to keep her son safe and it was so touching seeing how they adored each other and how so many of Renshu’s experiences with his mother as a child still state with him and resonate with him as he grows. I also enjoyed seeing how the roles reversed over the years with Renshu doing everything he can to protect his mother as well as his daughter, especially as you see so much of Meilin in Renshu’s adult self, but ever so slightly distorted where he had such a traumatic childhood.

The narrative shifts from Meilin to Renshu really well, Fu generally introduces the idea of Renshu taking over as the protagonist which meant that it wasn’t jarring at all and it flowed nicely. Even though I love stories told across generations, I’m always sad to see the narrator change, however, all the characters were so interesting and brought so many different perspectives to a terrifying situation. Through, changing the narrative from Meilin to Renshu was also really interesting to see how the war impacted them both and how they both live their lives after it. Additionally, how the way Renshu copes changes when he becomes a parent himself adds another great layer to further develop his character.

In fact, I was really fascinated with how Fu used Renshu’s family dynamic to explore what it was like being in the West after the war if you were of East Asian heritage. Not only that but, we get a deeply touching and enchanting look into how the world can appear to those who don’t understand their place in it, not just because they are born into two different cultures, but to have a piece of them remain a mystery to them for reasons that they don’t understand.

Overall, this novel was everything I hoped it would be and more - I’ve barely scratched the surface with this review! There are so many other characters and relationships that will stick with me for a long time. I also have to say that I loved the ending, whilst it may not fit everyone’s wants or expectations for the characters; Fu stayed true to the authenticity of the characters and the events by having a very real and genuine ending that manages to delicately balance a somber mood with one of hope.

This book has a very fascinating premise or background, however one might want to refer to it. The author has pieced together this story with her father's own narrative and added details that she could not possibly confirm. Since we are not sure of the exact amount of information that could be verified, this is listed under literary fiction.
That said, it reads like a personal story because of the emotional overtones. It had so much information about the history of China that I was previously completely unaware of. With every passing book, I find yet another stone to look under and learn something new.
This story talks of the more recent unrest(in the background) which shaped China into the way it is now and how the people in the story are moulded by it all. The biggest surprise was the focus on the languages (not dialects but individual languages that are no longer known by most of us!). I have told a lot of people that the languages in my country are separate ones with their own scripts and few overlaps while simultaneously thinking the same of China, which is quite laughable!
It is 1938, China is at war and Renshu and his mother are thrown into a very convoluted predicament. They traverse the large country, eking a life as they go. Renshu grows up, studies hard and goes to the US to find a whole new life. His experiences may have been typical of a person of his time, but it still feels like a bitter pill to swallow when it comes to the feeling of security.
The last section of the narrative ties up all the different lives quite effectively. The author's notes help bring the book to life as we can imagine her in the situations she previously describes.
I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to learn more about China's history and read an almost saga-like historical fiction.
I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

I absolutely loved loved loved this book.My favourite book of the year.I knew nothing of this era and to read this novel was so inspiring I hope Melissa writes many more books.

This one was a lovely read. I really enjoyed reading this one. I just love this kind of books.
4 stars read for me

DNF.
It was too slow after an interesting start. It wasn't for me. I wish it were written differently. Sorry!!

I would struggle to be able to review this book due to issues with the file/download. The issues stopped the flow of the book. The issues are:
- Missing words in the middle of sentences
- Stop/start sentences on different lines
- No clear definition of chapters.

Not sure if it was a file/download issue but there were lots of gaps and stops/starts which really ruined the flow. I would love the chance to read a better version as the description of the book appeals to me. I would be more than happy to re-read the book with a better file or as a physical book as the book topic and genre are of interest to me. If you would like me to re-review please feel free to contact me at thesecretbookreview@gmail.com or via social media The_secret_bookreview (Instagram) or Secret_bookblog (Twitter). Thank you.

This in an impressive book about war, love and family. I knew very little about Chinese history so found this very interesting and I really enjoyed the way it follows 3 generations of the family.

I previously read and loved Wild Swans and this definitely reminded me of that book. Despite the sad parts the book leaves the reader feeling hopeful. I didn't want it to end.

Have had this on my shelf for a very long time, and that's such a shame!
I enjoyed it very much, I enjoyed reading about the whole family saga. I'm not usually one that likes reading family stories that span over multiple generations, but as this was mainly focused on mother and son and I loved seeing how their relationships and stories developed through the years.

I found the beginning a little slow, but once it picked up, I was hooked.
I learned a lot about Chinese history, I honestly didn't know much about it.

Thank you for approving this for me.

amazing read. highly recommend!

- thanks to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with the ARC in exchange for an early review.

This is a multi generational family history set against the backdrop of a violent and brutal history of foreign invasion, political division, a quiet and powerful spirituality and the passing on of story from generation to generation.
The story starts with a young wife and mother, Meilin who is forced to flee Japanese invasion. Her journey is long and bloody as war takes hold..and along the way she keeps her son occupied with beautiful stories. The family settle in Taiwan where her son grows up..He then travels to America to study and eventually raises his own child.
There is so much history in this story covering many years of China’s history and I found this absolutely fascinating. Although I had studied this period at school this story really brought home a people’s history ..vivid, noisy, brutal, heartbreaking..
I particularly loved the first part of the story before Renshu gets to China..the beautiful, selfless love of a Mother for her child, the beauty and wisdom and spirituality embodied in the stories she tells him, the landscape and history of this dense land…
The American section focuses more on culture, individual history, identity..Renshu is torn between the desire of his daughter to really understand her cultural identity and his desire to divest himself of a cruel history which makes him vulnerable in America. I felt that this section was a little overlong..it seemed to be unsure of its ending.
This is a very beautiful and illuminating story with some wonderful characters and some gorgeous writing and I thoroughly enjoyed it. With many thanks to Netgalley and Headline for a digital copy of this book.

Peach Blossom Spring by Melissa Fu


With every misfortune there is a blessing and within every blessing, the seeds of misfortune, and so it goes, until the end of time.

It is 1938 in China, and the Japanese are advancing. A young mother, Meilin, is forced to flee her burning city with her four-year-old son, Renshu, and embark on an epic journey across China. For comfort, they turn to their most treasured possession - a beautifully illustrated hand scroll. Its ancient fables offer solace and wisdom as they travel through their ravaged country, seeking refuge.

Years later, Renshu has settled in America as Henry Dao. His daughter is desperate to understand her heritage, but he refuses to talk about his childhood. How can he keep his family safe in this new land when the weight of his history threatens to drag them down?

Spanning continents and generations, Peach Blossom Spring is a bold and moving look at the history of modern China, told through the story of one family. It's about the power of our past, the hope for a better future, and the search for a place to call home


As they are torn from the only home he has ever known, Renshu’s mother Meilin, tells him stories from a scroll she has carried with them as their most precious possession. One story she tells is that of Peach Blossom Spring, a fisherman passes through a cave that becomes so narrow he can only just pass through. There he finds a kind of Eden, with flowering peach trees and the all the wonders of nature. It’s a peaceful place and eventually there is a dilemma to solve. Once you leave this place, you cannot return. If you stay, you can never return home. Meilin tells him the fisherman stays and builds a life in this new place, leaving everything that came before. The book is divided into sections from WW2 to the latter part of the 20th Century as we follow events from China when Renshu is a little boy, to his middle age and the life of his daughter Lily in the USA. This structure allows us to see how his early experiences shape the man he becomes, but also the parent he becomes and the daughter he shapes along with his wife Rachel. The author weaves together themes of identity, women’s history, politics and conflict, as well as inter- generational trauma so beautifully, yet all the while framing Renshu’s life through this ancient Chinese story that’s still relevant today.

I think that reading this while watching the horrific images of war in Ukraine, really brought the plight of Meilin and her son more vividly to life for me. That fear, the desperation of grasping what you can, then running with only the things you carry. I’ve been thinking about it a lot. what we’re currently seeing enabled me to picture very vividly what these characters, and the real people who inspired them, went through fleeing from city to city as the war kept creeping closer until their only option was escape to Taiwan. These descriptions of fire bombed cities, cramped underground shelters, and particularly the terrifying trip down the white waters of a narrow river in a deep ravine. I found the descriptions of sheltering underground so claustrophobic as so many people are crammed in the air becomes limited and the bombs above are so loud you can’t even think. I could imagine being a child in that situation, totally powerless and trying to make sense of what you’re being told - the thing that scares you most is the only thing that might keep you alive. His panic was conveyed was so vividly by the author that it was no surprise when these panics resurface in middle age. Renshu (or Henry as he becomes known) is a curious, intelligent boy who loses his father before really knowing him and is reliant on his Mum for his very survival. We read these early turbulent experiences through Meilin’s eyes and what stayed with me so strongly was her quiet strength. Of course there are situations where it is impossible to have a voice, such as where she is a servant, or living in someone else’s home, but what also stayed with me is that the price of war is very different for women than it is for men.

Meilin does not even have time to process the loss of her husband, and has to live under the charity and protection of her brother- in -law. Even though he constantly tells her that they are family and it is his pleasure to look after them, she knows his wife does not feel the same way. She’s uncomfortable and thinks of returning to her own family, but in the chaos of conflict how does she know they’re even alive? The risks she takes to be independent from her husband’s family are huge and they don’t always pay off. I was particularly affected by the ordeal she endures while trying to sell their family scroll - the only thing of value they have left. Yet she’s resourceful, always looking for work and a roof over their heads, working hard to keep Renshu safe and financially provided for. I thought the author beautifully portrayed that painful knowledge of all the sacrifices she is making for him to go to a good school and university, only for every step to take him further away from her. She must be lonely, especially when the companionship and support she receives from other women is broken when their men return. She learns to rely on herself instead of others, especially men who always want something in return and curtail her freedom. She only relies on her brother-in- law where she knows his government connections will help Renshu get to school in America. Yet she doesn’t take his offer of marriage, even as they become older and she wonders if perhaps he’s the person who has known and understood her best after all. She never asks for anything from Renshu, even in the 1970s when President Carter wins the US election then officially recognises the communist government of China, it’s him who worries about bringing her to the US. In fact when they realise there’s a mix up in his own official paperwork, Meilin is quietly resigned to living out her days in Taiwan. She doesn’t seem angry at her brother-in-law’s ‘mistake’ even though I felt it was a deliberate ploy to keep her dependent on him. All she asks is for Renshu to plant an orchard, but it will take several years for him to fully understand her meaning.

The settings are so incredibly vivid and it was fascinating to compare Renshu’s surroundings in China and Taiwan with his new home in America. I experience synaesthesia and I found the settings of Shanghai and Taiwan an overload on the senses. In fact when Renshu reached his lodgings in America there was a sudden silence as if I’d gone deaf. Renshu himself has to go outside and marvel at the quiet of his street with everyone inside their homes. Compared to Meilin’s visit to market, filled with people, vendors shouting, the colour and variety of produce, it seems to lack colour. I saw one in colour and one in black and white. I wondered if the noise and bustle had simply followed on from the noises of war for Renshu to become his sound of home. He might have experienced less shock in a city like New York or Chicago, but in the mid-west it must have felt like the colour and music had been drained from the world. However, quiet doesn’t necessarily mean safe and there are insidious dangers in an anti-communist America of the 1950’s with McCarthyism in the air. Renshu’s Uncle has given him a contact in America who warns him of the dangers of seeming too sympathetic to his home country and it’s government. He suggests he stick to Henry, the Western name that Renshu chose on a friend’s advice, but also to avoid gatherings with other Chinese students. Anything anti-communist could see him in trouble with the government at home, whereas anything pro-Communist might mark him out as trouble to the American authorities. So, even as Henry, he is walking a tightrope, constantly on alert and perhaps missing out on friendships that might have made him less alone. His regular listening to Chopin in the university library is an expression of his emotions, he feels an affinity with the music as if it articulates something he can’t as yet.

In this epic story the author has beautifully portrayed inter-generational trauma, something that can’t be escaped no matter how many oceans you put between you and your past. There is a psychological theory that society’s seemingly expanding mental health issues are caused by trauma from as far back as the early Twentieth Century and is a legacy of two world wars. Men who went to war became distant and emotionally closed off fathers, a problem that then passes to another generation who don’t know how to be affectionate, emotional and available. The effect of that stiff upper lip mentality of the 1940s can be seen in a generation’s rebellion of the 1960’s. Just as the author describes the giant destructive force of the two bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, trauma creates a shockwave that rapidly spreads outward affecting everyone in its path. It takes a strong person to stand up and say I will not pass this trauma on to my children. Renshu is traumatised by war. His existence started with minute to minute thinking, the mind fully occupied with the basic needs of food, shelter and safety. Never in one place for long, Meilin and Renshu are powerless and can never really stop to enjoy any period of good fortune, because they know it can be taken away from them again in a click of the fingers. Meilin understands this. She sees that her boy has struggled to move fully away from that short term thinking - he has been able to have some aspirations though and the relative luxury of safety, a constant income and roof over his head, a long and happy marriage. Yet she sees that he still struggles to trust it all. This is why Meilin tells him to plant an orchard, because a man who plants an orchard knows there will be a tomorrow.

This stunning, stunning debut deserves a shower of praise! It was everything that I crave to read in a book - family dynamics, history lesson, captivating storyline, and exceptional writing which made it hard to pause reading.

Peach Blossom Spring is a three-generational story spanning 70 years in the backdrop of China, Taiwan and America, narrated through the journey of one family.

Meilin (mother) was the driving force of this entire story. It was gratifying to witness her resilience, perseverance, and relationship with her son. Or maybe I’m biased toward courageous women protagonists.

Melissa Fu merges her tender writing with details on Chinese fables, the Chinese and American civil war, conflict with Japan, 228 massacres in Taipei, immigrants trying to settle in America and surely I’m missing out on more. For someone who thrives on information, I’ve underlined almost every page on my iPad.

Overall, I would recommend this unknown gem, especially for lovers of The Mountains Sing, Pachinko, Homegoing, Wild Swans, or Lisa See books.

I really enjoyef this book. Although fiction it's based on the author's family history. I learned about the history of China from the 1940s until the 1990s which was interesting and informative. It's a story of 3 generations starting in China, moving to Taiwan and finally to the US. I'd definitely recommend this book, especially to anyone that has an interest in 20th century China.

I feel like this story and these characters are so important in terms of representation and exploring new stories and different perspectives on parts of history. This book ultimately is about survival, family and heritage and what a mother will do for her child and I loved that.
I will say the key issue I had that affected my enjoyment of this book was that the pacing felt off to me. I adored the first section and Meilin's story, but once Renshu went to America I found my interest waning. I would've much rather this book flip between the different timelines and storylines to keep my interest as opposed to being told linearly like it was.
Overall, I do recommend this as I learnt so much and felt so much whilst reading this book!

I really enjoyed the beginning of the book, however the rest felt a bit too dragged....
I do usually enjoy family sagas, but this book wasn't my cup of tea.
But I guess it will be good, for those who enjoy longer stories....
Also, audiobook felt more enjoyable.
DNF at 60%

A genuinely brilliant book. Engrossing, lyrical, moving, it's an insight into China in the twentieth century, into war and trauma, race and identity, into family and living and trust. I wish I could read it for the first time over and over again. Just so good.

dnf @ 18%

I liked the beginning and found it very enjoyable. The overall setup was brilliant. But the book began to lose me when the main characters began their travel. At that book, it became too repetitive. And after they settled down somewhere, the story was filled with the descriptions of their mundane lives.

I get that the author is trying to paint a picture of their mundane lives during the war. But I think she could've done it in a way that wouldn't feel so mind-numbingly boring.

Maybe it's because historical fiction in general isn't a genre I read a lot, or maybe it's just that this book wasn't for me. Either way, when the prospect of going back to a book seems like a chore, I know it's time to abandon it completely.

What a beautiful debut book.

Peach Blossom Spring is a unique historical novel that is full of compelling, engaging characters and Chinese history. This was so beautifully written.

Thank you to netgalley and to the publisher for the e-arc