Such a compelling read. A mix of historical fiction and magical realism filled with sorrow and loss. Writing about Chinese immigrants and those of Chinese descent during the gold rush and development of the railroad is an unusual subject, telling the story through the eyes of two young orphaned sisters escaping their surroundings, even more unusual. Lucy and Sam are so full of sorrow, their poverty and hardship so overwhelming, it is hard to imagine they survive. But, through all that, there story races forward, making for a novel that is hard to put down and hard to come to grips with. A formidable debut.
From the NY Times review: the novel is about loss, grief and the importance of ritual.
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