Peach Blossom Spring

After a slow start, this majestic saga (Fu’s debut) follows one family through 70 turbulent years (1938–2005) of Chinese history. In 1938, as the Japanese army closes in on China, meek widow Meilin becomes a formidable force when she must scrabble to simply feed her four-year-old son, Renshu. Soon the invasion forces them to flee their home, but Meilin’s engaging personality, talent as a raconteur, and practical skills (sewing, cooking) sustain her during a perilous journey to Taiwan. Later, with his mother’s blessing, Renshu goes to study in the States, eventually settling in Los Alamos, NM, with his devoted wife Rachel and daughter Lily. Despite Renshu’s reluctance to recall his early life, Lily revels in all things Chinese. A lovely interlude brings Meilin to visit the U.S.; 20 years later, Renshu and Lily travel to Taiwan. Fu’s novel is rich with fables, and narrator Eugenia Low’s storytelling style is an ideal match. Low makes the characters and their accents beguiling and believable, particularly when voicing Rachel and Lily.