Listened to on Hoopla.
This is the first book I've read by this author and I look forward to reading another.
This is also the first book I've read about racism during the time of the Chinese Exclusion Act, how racism rose it's ugly head in the Pacific NW.
The story follows american born Mei Lien in the 1880s . The story begins where Mei Lien's father subjects her to what appears to be an unconscionable act of cruelty. This grabbed my attention immediately and made me want to know more.
The story is told in alternating pov. Mei Lien in the past and Inara Erickson, who is exploring the history of her family's property on Orca Island in the present day.
Highly recommend!!
(following borrowed from Amazon review---
Reminder that in 2023, there are (still) people in America who fear anyone who is different. The difference could be in the color of skin, or language or almond shaped eyes. Some choose to live in fear with all its negative manifestations like bigotry, anger, hatred. But not everyone. Some choose to live free, in truth.)
This is exactly why books should not be banned... the more you read and learn about history the more empathetic you become!!!
This is the first book I've read by this author and I look forward to reading another.
This is also the first book I've read about racism during the time of the Chinese Exclusion Act, how racism rose it's ugly head in the Pacific NW.
The story follows american born Mei Lien in the 1880s . The story begins where Mei Lien's father subjects her to what appears to be an unconscionable act of cruelty. This grabbed my attention immediately and made me want to know more.
The story is told in alternating pov. Mei Lien in the past and Inara Erickson, who is exploring the history of her family's property on Orca Island in the present day.
Highly recommend!!
(following borrowed from Amazon review---
Reminder that in 2023, there are (still) people in America who fear anyone who is different. The difference could be in the color of skin, or language or almond shaped eyes. Some choose to live in fear with all its negative manifestations like bigotry, anger, hatred. But not everyone. Some choose to live free, in truth.)
This is exactly why books should not be banned... the more you read and learn about history the more empathetic you become!!!
After reading Kelli Estes' book Today We Go Home, I checked to find any others she'd written. The Girl Who Wrote in Silk is a story of fear, hatred, secrets and love. Written in two time periods - present day and late 1800's - Washington State. During the time of the Chinese Exclusion Act - which I had never heard of. Mei Lin and her family, along with all the Chinese living in the Seattle region, and forced from their homes and loaded onto a steamer heading back to China. Or so they were told. What they encounter is unspeakable - forever changing lives. But a family's secret links the former to the present and past enemies into new loves. Great historical fiction!
We read so many books in my book club about the Civil War and slavery and this is the first one to deal with the subject of racism in the Pacific NW and the Chinese immigrants. It is a beautiful love story about a young Chinese girl who is saved by her father by being thrown overboard. She ends up being saved by the man who will be not only her savior but love of her life. Although her life is not easy it is her life and she makes the best of it. How do we know about her life? She left a gift to be found later. The gift is not found by her intended recipient but decades later. This is the second story, how the finder of this clue into Mae's life unravels the clues to discover what life was really like for the Chinese. I must admit, I enjoyed the parts about Mae's life more so than the parts in modern time. I would have been happy had the entire book been about Mae but then there would not have been the drama of discovery.
