Dreams of Joy, Linda See (3.5)
After reading the non-fiction memoir, ‘Life and Death in
Shanghai’, I could appreciate the hardships and troubled times depicted in
‘Dreams of Joy’ as likely accurate. They both describe China during the times
of Mao Tse Tung, particularly during the Great Leap Forward. In this book, a
young girl (Joy) whose aunt and mother escaped to Los Angeles from China at the
beginning of the revolution returns to China with a misplaced romantic notion
of the times. She wants to contribute to her idyllic version of communism where
there are no haves and have not’s, and everyone has food and works equally.
Unfortunately her reasons for going and the reality of the revolution do not
match. The book varies between her voice and that of her mother, who chases her
to China, realizing that in trying to build a better life for Joy, she has
avoided describing China and the revolution properly. I liked the blend of
drama between family and history, particularly the complex mother-daughter
dynamic. I also believe the horrible behavior and times described were likely
accurate. My only complaint is that I think the main character was a written a
bit weakly. For the main voice of the book, her thoughts were quite simple and at
times vague. The main character can be weak of nature, but I like when the
voice adds depth to the story.
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