BookBrowse Reviews Daughters of the Flower Fragrant Garden by Zhuqing Li

BookBrowse:

A poignant and informative nonfiction account of two sisters torn apart by the Chinese Civil War.

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Our First Impressions readers found Zhuqing Li's nonfiction account of her aunts' lives during and after the Chinese Civil War moving and enlightening. Daughters of the Flower Fragrant Garden received an exceptional average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars.

What it's about:

The author's aunts, Jun and Hong Chen, were two years apart in age, living as privileged and educated women in Nationalist China due to their father's position in the government. The family lived in a spectacular house with gardens, maids and all the trappings of wealth and power in China in the 1930s. All that changed when the Communists defeated the Nationalists in the Civil War. Through sheer accident, the sisters were separated and would not see each other again until they were well into their 80s. Jun ended up in Taiwan married to a general in the Nationalist army and became an entrepreneur. Hong lived her entire life in Communist China as a doctor. As each sister pursued the life she was thrown into, one can see the pain of separation they suffered. Each eventually succeeded in her chosen path but that pain was always there (Patricia C).

Many readers noted that they learned a lot about the history of China and Taiwan from the book:

I truly enjoyed the book. In addition to being a great story, I gained a much better understanding of the contrast between life in mainland China and on the island of Taiwan after the Communists came to power (Dianne Y). Coming from a background of zero knowledge of the history of China's civil war and subsequent horrors, I found Daughters of the Flower Fragrant Garden both heart-wrenching and fascinating. To have a biographical story telling of two sisters who, by chance, found themselves on opposite sides (physically and literally) of a war that ripped families apart gives this major historical event a human touch that quite literally left me stunned and lost in thought after many late night readings (Melissa S). Out of all the books I've read set in China, this one gave me the most abundant sense of what life was really like during China's civil war and behind the bamboo curtain. Highly recommended! (Sharon P).

And several noted that the historical background information is very relevant today:

I highly recommend this compelling historical account of those living in China during a time of political upheaval. One cannot fail to see the parallels in the story between China and Taiwan then and tensions now in the forefront of current events (Carol S). This is an important personal recounting of Chinese history that brought about the splitting of China and Taiwan and will certainly provide understanding as we face the uncertainties of that situation in our present time (Lynne B).

Readers also appreciated Li's depiction of the bond between Hong and Jun, and found both women to be inspiring:

As I was reading the well-written story of the two sisters, I could not decide which one was the bravest. The important part, however, was obvious — the love each had for the other even though their lives and political views were so different (Patricia C). Li has crafted a marvelous account of how these two very different women, her aunts, acclimated to their respective political climates, raised children and still managed to forge a path ahead. Li's perceptive rendering of their different approaches to life provides added depth. I was immersed in this book from the moment I began reading! (Jean F). This riveting and deeply personal account is a celebration of these remarkable ladies' legacies (Carol N). Blending the personal with the political, Li is a sensitive chronicler as she invites the reader into her family's intriguing story. It is a story of two ambitious, intelligent and talented women who make the best of their lives (Peggy K). This was, without a doubt, not an easy read by any means — hearing Jun's and Hong's stories, with the unflinching descriptions of harrowing experiences they had to endure and the political undercurrents that dominated their entire lives, it was hard not to be moved by the resilience and endurance of these two remarkable women (Louisa Liu).

The book was also deemed a great choice for book clubs:

Zhuqing Li places her family history in the context of the Chinese Civil War and the many cultural and economic changes that took place in China in the 20th century. I think this would be a great book club choice. The themes of war, endurance and strong family ties could spark an interesting discussion (Ellen H). This is a well-written book full of historical facts that keeps the reader's interest — one I will recommend to my book club (Sylvia F). I found it fascinating to read about the lives of people who lived during this time. The writing is excellent; even though this is a true history, it almost reads like a novel. I will definitely recommend this book to my book club and other friends (Doris K).

This review was originally published in The BookBrowse Review in August 2022, and has been updated for the July 2023 edition. Click here to go to this issue.