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samihami's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
spacestationtrustfund's review against another edition
4.0
《桑青与桃红》(桑 mulberry + 青 blue or green + 与 and + 桃 peach + 红 red)/"Mulberry and Peach" by Nie Hualing (聶華苓). Translation by Sau-Ling Cynthia Wong and Jane P. Young.
clarereadstheworld's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
3.75
In her afterword to this book, Sau-ling Cynthia Wong writes "Mulberry and Peach is so textually and thematically rich that any synopsis would fail to do it justice." I'm rather inclined to agree, but I will try my best.
The novel is split into four parts, each one starts with a letter to the immigration officer, and is followed by an extract from Mulberry's dairy. Each diary extract is is taken from a different time in her life, from when she ran away from home in her teens, to her life in hiding in Taiwan, up to the present day as she continues hiding, this time from the US immigration services. Unsurprisingly, the force of all the trauma she has endured takes it's toll, and in part 4 Mulberry cracks, splitting into two personalities; Mulberry and Peach.
However, the text is so much more than just the story of one woman. The narrative is also an allegory for Chinese and Taiwanese history, Mulberry is symbolic of so many modern Chinese immigrants living in the US, as the author herself was at the time of writing. The author draws on many of the personal experiences as she weaves the narrative, searching through the threads of history, building her story, and through it trying to understand the past, present and future of her people.
We also cannot ignore the fact that Nieh chose to have place a female character at the centre of her narrative. This also makes the novel a feminist text. Through Mulberry, and the women she encounters we also explore the position of women in China. As modernism and progress arrive, they can not go backwards, but what does going forwards hold?
I loved this text, and heart felt thanks go to the very thought provoking afterword by Sau-ling Cynthia Wong. Not only did the afterword help me to better understand the historical and cultural context of the novel, so much symbolism went over my head as a European reader, Wong is mindful of her own cultural background, and how this influences her reading of the text. This is a story that will mean something different to every reader, and that's the beauty of it.
The novel is split into four parts, each one starts with a letter to the immigration officer, and is followed by an extract from Mulberry's dairy. Each diary extract is is taken from a different time in her life, from when she ran away from home in her teens, to her life in hiding in Taiwan, up to the present day as she continues hiding, this time from the US immigration services. Unsurprisingly, the force of all the trauma she has endured takes it's toll, and in part 4 Mulberry cracks, splitting into two personalities; Mulberry and Peach.
However, the text is so much more than just the story of one woman. The narrative is also an allegory for Chinese and Taiwanese history, Mulberry is symbolic of so many modern Chinese immigrants living in the US, as the author herself was at the time of writing. The author draws on many of the personal experiences as she weaves the narrative, searching through the threads of history, building her story, and through it trying to understand the past, present and future of her people.
We also cannot ignore the fact that Nieh chose to have place a female character at the centre of her narrative. This also makes the novel a feminist text. Through Mulberry, and the women she encounters we also explore the position of women in China. As modernism and progress arrive, they can not go backwards, but what does going forwards hold?
I loved this text, and heart felt thanks go to the very thought provoking afterword by Sau-ling Cynthia Wong. Not only did the afterword help me to better understand the historical and cultural context of the novel, so much symbolism went over my head as a European reader, Wong is mindful of her own cultural background, and how this influences her reading of the text. This is a story that will mean something different to every reader, and that's the beauty of it.
lamontslament's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
14 years ago I was assigned this book to read in my high school English class. How this book was deemed appropriate to assign to high schoolers given the violence, sex, sexual violence, and other dark unflinching images and themes, will forever remain a mystery to me but I am so incredibly grateful. When I read it at the age of 17, it deeply informed my thoughts on gender, mental health, and the use of symbolism in my art. I liked it. Reading it again now in my 30s I better appreciate the historical context, the politics, and the themes of exile, confinement, and diaspora. This book is a masterpiece. It’s a shining example of many modernist concerns: fragmented and stream of conscious writing, the interplay between the personal and political, and the attention to the psyche of the characters. I wish Nieh had more works translated in English because she is clearly an extraordinary talent.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Violence, War, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Sexual violence
Moderate: Abortion, Suicide, Animal cruelty, and Animal death
Minor: Confinement
yenna's review
this has taken me forever to finish but i am glad i have because my GOD is nieh hualing a talented writer… the depths to this, the parallels, the structure, the style.. and the interweaving of so much history and politics and culture and doing it all so WELL in a 200ish page novel is simply wild!! this has been a delight for the mind truly and tiring as it is, i do hope to read more works like this in the future!
have more things to say about this book but i wont write a lit essay on story graph unprompted . that’s embarrassing
have more things to say about this book but i wont write a lit essay on story graph unprompted . that’s embarrassing
yjpenny's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
yilda's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars, An Enlightening Read
Mulberry and Peach was certainly an enlightening book. It's extremely far from all other books I read (and I really wouldn't have read it if it hadn't been assigned) but I did read it and I ended up liking it.
Nieh's writing style is one of the most unique I have ever encountered. The patchwork-style writing, the different mediums (diary, letter, notes, newspaper clippings) were refreshing. In many other books, I wouldn't have liked this, and I tend not to. But for Mulberry and Peach, the style simply worked. Even through the English translation, many themes shone through (though unfortunately there was unavoidably some lost as well).
I learned so, so much about the historical context of Asia, a region I do not usually read a lot about. The afterword was also very interesting, and helped me realize how many of the symbols and themes carried over to Chinese history.
The best part about this novel is that it was so raw. There were no unnecessary embellishments, fancy turns of phrase. It rang with a clarity and simplicity, yet also had very potent messages.
(This feels like a school write-up. But I'd encourage you to read it, if you have time to spare. It isn't long, and truly a very interesting read that will stay with you for very long.)
Mulberry and Peach was certainly an enlightening book. It's extremely far from all other books I read (and I really wouldn't have read it if it hadn't been assigned) but I did read it and I ended up liking it.
Nieh's writing style is one of the most unique I have ever encountered. The patchwork-style writing, the different mediums (diary, letter, notes, newspaper clippings) were refreshing. In many other books, I wouldn't have liked this, and I tend not to. But for Mulberry and Peach, the style simply worked. Even through the English translation, many themes shone through (though unfortunately there was unavoidably some lost as well).
I learned so, so much about the historical context of Asia, a region I do not usually read a lot about. The afterword was also very interesting, and helped me realize how many of the symbols and themes carried over to Chinese history.
The best part about this novel is that it was so raw. There were no unnecessary embellishments, fancy turns of phrase. It rang with a clarity and simplicity, yet also had very potent messages.
(This feels like a school write-up. But I'd encourage you to read it, if you have time to spare. It isn't long, and truly a very interesting read that will stay with you for very long.)
mrsdalloway's review
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
imaginaryempire's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
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