"Incredibly powerful and moving, this novel is based on the life of the author as she traverses her childhood and teenage years in Beijing during the 70’s and 80’s."
Incredibly powerful and moving, this novel is based on the life of the author as she traverses her childhood and teenage years in Beijing during the 70’s and 80’s. This is a novel, so there are undoubtedly aspects that have been imagined, but oh my, it feels so authentic. There is a quiet gentleness that leads most of this tale which ensures the moments of violence strike with even more precision. Lai’s voice, so openly sincere, welcomes you into her life and yet also remains at a slight distance. Feelings bubble beneath the surface, social and political notes weave their way through the pages, and Tiananmen Square looms in the background, biding its time. Although set within a pivotal moment in history, this is an incredibly intimate story and so allows you to see, to feel, to experience thoughts and feelings in a profound way. Small things matter, and help to paint the most vividly colourful picture. Friends and family sit centre stage, the importance of relationships with others and yourself is clearly drawn. Particular favourites of mine included older characters, and both her grandmother, and the bookseller, entered my mind and existed just as they were written. This feels like a love letter to innocence, to hope, to freedom, and has been chosen as a LoveReading Star Book as well as Liz Pick of the Month. Highly recommended, Tiananmen Square is an eloquent and penetrating coming-of-age novel.
