“Peach Blossom Spring” by Melissa Fu starts in a haphazard, chaotic way that only tales of war can. China is under siege by the Japanese, and the war tears Renshu’s family apart in more ways than one. American history classes did not talk much about this, so there is no shame if you are learning about it for the first time.

The novel starts as a tale of a horrific but oddly familiar war-torn nation. As China exits World War II only to enter a rift with itself, things pick up as Renshu and his mother, Meilin, fight to survive.

Meilin fights to shield her growing son from the horrors of their civil war, but they struggle to find money. She lands a job at an emporium, which works until the Nationalists lose their wealth to spend on such extravagances. Even though she is a seamstress, a man assumes he has the right to rape her because she worked in an emporium.
Since the story spans decades, the family has multiple obstacles to overcome as China goes from one conflict to the other.

A brilliant scroll that Meilin possesses drives the beginning of the story. It has many inspiring stories, but one that stands out asks, “How do you know this is not a blessing?” every time something tragic happens. Renshu begins to think positively after each trial and tribulation as a result. After all of this, you start to root for the characters, even when cliché parts about the ultimate dream being a trip to America occur. Meilin was one of my favorite characters this year.

I connect “Peach Blossom Spring” to “Homegoing” because it sweeps through history and covers a significant period. To go through two wars and then experience the Kennedy assassination as an outsider covers a great deal of the Chinese and American experience. The best moments come between Renshu and his mother. I will not dare reveal the events later in the novel, but the strong character development made me want the best for our heroes.

The immigrant experience, which I can only imagine, feels authentic here, and we see both sides of the internal debate. Do you flee from a nation of strife, or do you stick to the culture you know and love? Seeing China through America’s eyes is a challenge. Seeing the political drama that faces mixed-race people is tough since we sometimes assume that only America has that problem. You will learn and understand so much more about Chinese life.

Melissa Fu presents a beautiful story of family, love, resilience, and determination through the eyes of a young mother and her son. This historical fiction takes us across China, Taiwan, and the United States over the course of 50 years. The book offers an insightful look at the struggle to survive while escaping political upheaval and to begin a new life in another country.

Ms Fu has written a wonderful and moving story. I was drawn in immediately and did not want to put the book down. Through her words, I could see each family member and the landscape that they traveled. I highly recommend Peach Blossom Spring, especially for a book club discussion.

An outstanding historical debut spanning three generations in modern China. At times heartbreaking, at times uplifting. You are confronted with war, misfortune and issues of immigration. We are always a product of our history and the choices we make. A MUST READ!

This was an incredible book. From the very beginning it held me in. The story is divided into sections by years, starting in 1938 and ending in 2005. Each section could have been its own novel. I was left wanting to know more about each time frame! The story revolves around a multi generational family starting in China in 1938. The central characters are forced to flee their home for a new life. This happens several times, always leaving them vulnerable. The novel deals with love , loss, inner strength, and the ability to move forward no matter what the challenge. The story at times is heartbreaking, but hopeful, indicative of the stark reality of refugees and migration. Given the events of the word today makes this story very relevant. Along with all the historical background it would be a great book for book clubs or an individual reader.

From 1938 to the present day, this is the story of a mother Mailin and her son Renshu as they struggle to stay ahead of the Japanese army as they move through China, cross to Taipei and eventually to America. The events of history guide the characters on their journey and strengthen them. Mailin and Renshu are very likable for their courage. Woven throughout the story are folktales that enhance the novel.

As a Pearl Buck fan, I enjoyed the book immensely.

This debut novel took about 75 pages to draw me in, but after that, I couldn't put it down. This debut was an excellent historical fiction/multigenerational family story. I enjoyed learning about the effects of the Japanese invasion and subsequent Chinese Civil War, along with the Asian migration experience in the United States during the last half of the 20th century. Meillin, her son Renshu/Henry and his daughter Lily were all very well written and complex characters. The power of storytelling and finding "Home" are strong themes throughout the novel. The main criticism I have is that the ending felt a little rushed. I would have liked to see more about Henry and Rachel's relationship as well Overall, this was a solid 4.25 stars for me.

There is so much I learned from this multi-generational story but mostly it portrays resilience during periods of war, poverty, betrayal and loss for the Dao family as they are forced to start over numerous times. Meilin is the main character and mother to Renshu (Henry, his American name). It is a story of immigrants and the enormous loyalties to family and history. I learned so much about the displacement of Chinese to Taiwan and other places and the struggles of these immigrants to adjust and belong in a new culture. This would make a great book club discussion and help us all understand what it means to be an immigrant and suffer the loss of one's cultural identity.

The Introduction to Peach Blossom Spring speaks to us about the origin of storytelling in a culture which places great value on the telling of stories. Melissa Fu has, in very beautiful prose, reminded her readers about how stories spring to life and how they then take on a life of their own.
This book follows a single Chinese family through decades, beginning with the occupation of China by the Japanese in 1938 and ending with the blossoming of a small peach orchard in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 2005.The underpinning of Peach Blossom Spring is a series of stories told by a Chinese mother to her young son—stories that are meant to instill values which will help him throughout his life no matter the difficulties confronting him.
In this her debut novel Melissa Wu proves herself to be a gifted storyteller in her own right. This is a beautiful book, well worth reading. A great book for book clubs—lots of discussion material and lots of material for personal reflection.