National and Personal History

Through the use of multiple perspectives and timelines, Thien links collective national histories with personal family histories. This link is first introduced as Marie reflects on the political climate in China which coincides with her father's death. Here, her father's suicide in Hong Kong is linked through juxtaposition to the Tiananmen Square demonstrations and massacre. This link continues as Ai-ming arrives in Marie's home as a political refugee, thus highlighting the intensely personal and emotional impacts of the Chinese political situation in Marie's life.

Ai-ming's family history is introduced through the Book of Records, linking the collectively created Book of Records to the personal story of Ai-ming. Ai-ming's story begins like a folk tale, covering vast swaths of time in few pages and opening with a familiar and oral tone: "In those days, your village might change hand every few weeks" (28). Here, the...