Click on a thumbnail to go to Google Books.
|
Loading... The Library of Legends: A Novel (original 2020; edition 2020)by Janie Chang (Author)
Work InformationThe Library of Legends by Janie Chang (2020)
   No current Talk conversations about this book.   BurlingtonComLibrary | Apr 20, 2024 |  Overall, it was a bit tedious to read. I liked the idea, but it seemed like a lot of telling and not a lot of showing and it was sometimes hard to figure out what the actual plot was. Some of the stories were quite poignant from the friends/classmates/acquaintances who disappear as a consequence of war, the little girl who marches off to war with her father (this is unfortunately based on a true story according to the author), etc. However, most of this is not enough to really carry the tale. Like others, I really wished there had been more mythology and folklore, although the this book can probably more in line with magical realism rather than "hard" fantasy. It is a pity, because overall there was a good story here, but this one did not work for me. This ended up as a disappointment for me, especially as I had really enjoyed 'Dragon' by the author. It was interesting to read about something I know very little about, though, and this might work better for other readers. I bought this at full price and while that was best for me (it's been years between my purchase and actually reading it, haha), I would have probably preferred this as a bargain buy or library borrow. Might be a good read for a vacation and/or long plane ride, etc. And as mentioned, this book does deal with some harrowing topics that come with war, but the characters tend to be away from the action/more gruesome aspects of it. (  ) HoldMyBook | Dec 28, 2022 |  ) Anniik | Nov 26, 2022 | Never having any formal education studies about any aspect of the history of China and particularly only hearing the negativity of all things China in the last several years I was mesmerized by the story. Historical fiction well-researched is always fascinating to read but to know that the author has a deep and meaningful personal connection to the legacy of this intellectual and cultural achievement by university professors, staff, and students was powerful, riveting, and evoked many emotions. I rarely think of possibly reading any novel again as there are simply so many books that I'd like to read but I would like to read this book again. There is so much information to absorb of the history shared and the storytelling endears the characters who are representing the courage, the stamina, and the strength of each person who helped to protect a vital part of China's heritage for the generations to come following a time of war. This book was gifted to me by a reader friend and I am deeply grateful for the gift of this reading experience. I recognized the cover from a night of browsing several months earlier but as I added the novel to GoodReads realized I had never added it to my tbr list. Without the gift I might never have read this book and I can't imagine missing it. (  ) FerneMysteryReader | Dec 21, 2021 | ) mathgirl40 | Nov 10, 2021 | no reviews | add a review
From the author of Three Souls and Dragon Springs Road comes a captivating historical novel - the third in a loosely connected trilogy - in which a young woman travels across China with a convoy of student refugees, fleeing the hostilities of a brutal war with Japan. "Myths are the darkest and brightest incarnations of who we are...." China, 1937: When Japanese bombs begin falling on the city of Nanking, 19-year-old Hu Lian and her classmates at Minghua University are ordered to flee. Lian and a convoy of more than 100 students, faculty, and staff must walk 1,000 miles to the safety of China's western provinces, a journey marred by hunger, cold, and the constant threat of aerial attack. And it is not just the student refugees who are at risk: Lian and her classmates have been entrusted with a priceless treasure, a 500-year-old collection of myths and folklore known as the Library of Legends. Her family's past has made Lian wary of forming attachments, but the students' common duty to safeguard the Library of Legends forms unexpected bonds. Lian finds friendship and a cautious romance with the handsome and wealthy Liu Shaoming. But after one classmate is murdered and another arrested, Lian realizes she must escape from the convoy before a family secret puts her in danger. Accompanied by Shao and the enigmatic maidservant Sparrow, Lian makes her way to Shanghai, hoping to reunite with her mother. On the journey, Lian learns of the connection between her two companions and a tale from the Library of Legends, "The Willow Star and the Prince". Learning Shao and Sparrow's true identities compels Lian to confront her feelings for Shao. But there are broader consequences, too, for as the ancient books travel across China, they awaken immortals and guardian spirits to embark on an exodus of their own, one that changes the country's fate forever. Based on true events, rich in Chinese history and lore, The Library of Legends is both an illuminating exploration of China's recent past and an evocative tale of love, sacrifice, and the extraordinary power of storytelling. No library descriptions found. 
|
LibraryThing Early Reviewers AlumJanie Chang's book Library of Legends, The was available from LibraryThing Early Reviewers.  Current DiscussionsNonePopular covers
 Google Books — Loading...GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)813.6Literature English (North America) American fiction 21st CenturyLC ClassificationRatingAverage: (3.63)
Is this you?Become a LibraryThing Author. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wikipedia in English
1