Guo, Xiaolu

This beautifully told and gently introspective story of a young couple touches upon a host of relatable topics, from cultural and generational differences to socioeconomical perceptions and relationship issues between genders. Readers will have much to ponder, and book groups especially will appreciate.

This compelling story set against the incredible growth and cultural changes of one of the world's most powerful countries will engage those fascinated by the resolve of the human spirit to succeed.

Guo's latest suffers from uneven narrative sprawl, a cornucopia of too many Very Important Topics (political, cultural, gendered, personal disconnect), predictable plotting (especially regarding bedmates), and unnecessary implausible details (the queen's reply). Readers searching for more effective alternatives should consider Nina Schuyler's The Translator for the mysteries of translation, Xinran's China Witness for personal testimonies of elder Chinese generations, or even Guo's own A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers for adventures of peripatetic 21st-century Chinese youth.