This book by Madeleine Thien won the Giller prize this year, so I was anxious to read it. I watched Madeleine Thien receive the award, when the Giller prize was announced, and she impressed me as a speaker. Reading her book later impressed me by her writing and her wisdom. She tells the story of an extended family in China during years that I knew about slightly through Canadian media. However, this book shows the rich humanity and passion of the individuals, over years and generations. Sad. Sobering. I cried, and I learned. I wanted these people to live, and live well, and reconnect. I wished I played piano and had experienced Goldberg and Brahms and Glenn Gould. I have only a smattering of knowledge to bring to these pages, so I received much more in return.
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