A novel that follows a cosmopolitan Shanghai household backward in time--beginning in 2040 and moving through our present and the recent past--exploring their secrets, their losses, and the ways a family makes and remakes itself across the years.
Remarkable ... Having knowledge of these characters’ futures before we know about their past makes stumbling on their bygone days all the more touching ... My answer to my original question of whether this unusual storytelling structure is worthwhile would be a resounding yes.
Several of these early chapters differ tonally from the rest of the novel, verging on a satire ... However, as the novel moves further back in time, the stories deepen ... Min is a talented writer whose debut shows much promise.
Min’s globe-skimming, time-spanning style—the novel begins in the year 2040 and toggles effortlessly between timelines—is delightful and technically impressive ... Effectively examines the sacrifice of that crisp, unfettered life.
