Book summary

Pearl gradually comes to understand her mother Jiang Weili (Winnie) as a heroic survivor, not a troublesome anachronism, as they begin to reveal secrets about themselves to one another. Winnie tells the story of how she escaped a horrible marriage to a cowardly fighter pilot in the Sino-Japanese war and how he may or may not be Pearl's father. Meanwhile Pearl gathers the strength confide her great secret, that she has multiple sclerosis, to her mother.

Media reviews

"A fine novel.... exuberant storytelling and rich drama."

  "it's beautiful, you won't regret spending your money in buying this book. you will learn many things about chinese culture."

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