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on August 18, 2015
In China where couples were allowed only 1 child and the preference is a boy, the female babies are often left in the trash or abandoned on the street. Benfu and Calli Lilly take in babies that he finds at the dump or on his travels to and from his scavenger sites. They had their own birth daughter taken from them by his mother-in-law and the daughters he acquires are his prize possessions. He takes them with all their problems and disabilities and loves them unconditionally. They find better times when his daughter, Linnea, opens her own T-shirt shop. She is determined to find out what happened to the biological daughter that was taken from her parents. It's a well written story that shows unselfish love for the innocent is the best reward for yourself. I have read the second book in this series, Tangles Vines, and it is just as good. There are two more books in the series that I am excited to get started reading.
on September 9, 2016
.I loved the concept of the story and the plot itself which examines the life of an extraordinarily ordinary man and his family. The novel explores the notion of love and family, what it is and what it encompasses, and what people do in the name of love. Having been in today's "new" China many times; I can see this family and how and where they live very easily in my mind. The setting and the characters (their distrust of others not directly connected to them) seem very real to me and I enjoyed getting to "know" and "understand" them.
What I didn't like was the ending which lacked depth and focus. It just seemed the author ran out of steam.
I would give this a 3.5 stars
What I didn't like was the ending which lacked depth and focus. It just seemed the author ran out of steam.
I would give this a 3.5 stars
on March 2, 2015
This story takes place in China, starting with Mao's Cultural Revolution. There are always abuses when a totalitarian government tries to force the people of a land to do things in a totally new way. Even though the story starts this way, it quickly jumps to present day China and the results of those childhood experiences on one particular family. The protagonist is a man who would not give up his intellectual parents to the proletariat 'remodeling' of society, and his parents pay him back by crushing him and his wife in a cruel and totally brutal manner that does not get revealed until most of the story is over.
Benfu could have had a life of ease but he chose independence instead. As a result of what happened to him and his wife, he becomes the savior of abandoned children; specifically girls, who are not valued in China at all, even by other women. Over the years he and his wife bring up these girls as if they were their own, and they have a life filled with love, if nothing else.
The story is sweet, but quite predictable; especially the ending. Still, you get a glimpse of the real China, and that is interesting in and of itself.
Benfu could have had a life of ease but he chose independence instead. As a result of what happened to him and his wife, he becomes the savior of abandoned children; specifically girls, who are not valued in China at all, even by other women. Over the years he and his wife bring up these girls as if they were their own, and they have a life filled with love, if nothing else.
The story is sweet, but quite predictable; especially the ending. Still, you get a glimpse of the real China, and that is interesting in and of itself.
on May 12, 2017
I appreciate living through a book a new experience I would not otherwise know. This book is beautifully written by a talented author. It made me smile, worry, and rejoice with the characters. I was moved to tears, sometimes with joy and sometimes with sorrow. I prefer good literature, and it is a pet peeve of mine to be distracted from content by poor writing. I became completely immersed in this book with none of those distractions and did not want to come up for air until the last page! I will definitely be reading more of this author and am glad to see she has written more set in this Chinese culture!
on January 10, 2017
A warm and richly woven tale. I loved it and even shed a few tears at the end. I was totally absorbed in the book and could not put it down.
on September 14, 2014
This is an inspiring story of a Chinese man who turns an event in his life that would destroy most into a lifetime of devotion to saving others. Benfu is being held captive by the Red Guard during Mao Zedong's reign of terror in China. A young commune member, a boy really, takes a chance on his own life becoming a living nightmare by sneaking out and setting Benfu free.
Benfu runs for his life and ends up in Wuxi, where he is protected by a young woman. He marries Calla Lily and they live a life hand-to-mouth. He scavenges through garbage to find items like paper or string, anything he can sell. But, that's not the only thing Benfu scavenges for. He and Calli dedicate themselves to raising daughters who have been abandoned by their mothers, some as babies and some as children (the oldest being 5 years when found). All the daughters - more than a dozen thus far - are named after flowers, like their mother.
As Benfu ages, life becomes more and more difficult. He develops a life-threatening illness and it looks to him as though all is lost. But, he arrives home from a lengthy stay in the hospital to find the town has rallied and his once barren courtyard is a beautiful garden. The Wuxi Town Government has sent an official to honor him for all he has done for those lost little girls. All his children, including the adults who are married with children of their own, are gathered around to welcome him.
While others around Benfu saw his life and taking in those abandoned girls as a hardship, he and Calli never did. The love in this household was tangible throughout the book. One child is mute and one child is paralyzed. All of them know their stories of how they were found, with as much as Benfu and Calli are able to tell them about their past (which isn't much under the circumstances). But, all are joyful and happy because they know they are loved "to the moon and back".
This story is masterfully told and I look forward to reading the rest of the books in this series.
Benfu runs for his life and ends up in Wuxi, where he is protected by a young woman. He marries Calla Lily and they live a life hand-to-mouth. He scavenges through garbage to find items like paper or string, anything he can sell. But, that's not the only thing Benfu scavenges for. He and Calli dedicate themselves to raising daughters who have been abandoned by their mothers, some as babies and some as children (the oldest being 5 years when found). All the daughters - more than a dozen thus far - are named after flowers, like their mother.
As Benfu ages, life becomes more and more difficult. He develops a life-threatening illness and it looks to him as though all is lost. But, he arrives home from a lengthy stay in the hospital to find the town has rallied and his once barren courtyard is a beautiful garden. The Wuxi Town Government has sent an official to honor him for all he has done for those lost little girls. All his children, including the adults who are married with children of their own, are gathered around to welcome him.
While others around Benfu saw his life and taking in those abandoned girls as a hardship, he and Calli never did. The love in this household was tangible throughout the book. One child is mute and one child is paralyzed. All of them know their stories of how they were found, with as much as Benfu and Calli are able to tell them about their past (which isn't much under the circumstances). But, all are joyful and happy because they know they are loved "to the moon and back".
This story is masterfully told and I look forward to reading the rest of the books in this series.
on May 3, 2014
I wish there were more stars too say what I think this book deserves ten that's what this book deserves. I was born in 1937 and Pearl Buck's book was the first book I remember taking out of the library and she's still my favorite author, sorry Kay you' 're just second. I will read any book China. That said, I truly fell in with Bundy and his beloved wife and I love love loved each of their special daughters. I feel as though I know them personally like I'm one of their neighbors or extended family I know what one room house looks like its as though I was transported to China. I really appreciate that because I always wanted to go to China and at this time of my life it's not going to happen. Thanks Kay. Can't wait for the next one.
on October 31, 2013
I follow Kay Bratt's work and have seen her writing style mature and grow with each new book. This novel follows a man who lived through China's cultural revolution as he and his wife raise daughters that were abandoned on the streets. Each child in the novel is a uniquely developed character who grabs a piece of your heart. The family's struggles with a backdrop of deep love even through their poverty leads the reader to pull for them every step of the way. I can't wait for the next book in this series!!
on April 11, 2017
This was an amazing, beautiful story intertwined with the horrible inhumane treatment that Benfu received during his time in the commune. I was happy that he finally allowed Linnea and Jet have their relationship. I can't wait to read the next book. Maybe little Jasmine will speak and Peony will meet her mother.
