DO NOT SAY WE HAVE NOTHING
by Madeline Thien
Right off the bat I want to say that this Giller Prize winner is deserving of the honor, and well worth the lengthy commitment. Thien’s prose is gorgeous and evocative and the story subject was one completely foreign to me.
The book begins with the story of a 10-year-old girl living with her mother in Canada. Her parents had previously emigrated from China, but her father dissapears and is later found dead in Hong Kong. But from there the story expands and unfolds in a seemingly effortless and infinite way.
Thien introduces us to a fictional story about a couple, who battle an unjust government to be together. That in turn leads us to the story of Wen the Dreamer and the woman he loves, who also end up separated by changes in the Chinese government. Their daughter has her own story about music and communism, which eventually connects us back to the little Canadian girl.
It may sound confusing, and condensing it here is impossible, but on top of the incredible story she has woven, Thien manages to educate me about some of the most turbulent times in China’s recent history—something I knew almost nothing about. If you are looking for a book you can immerse yourself in this winter, I highly recommend this one! (Lily)
