Review: Peach Blossom Spring by Melissa Fu

Peach Blossom Spring by Melissa Fu

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I recently spent six weeks in China visiting my boyfriend in Beijing, and decided it would be the perfect time to get around to reading Peach Blossom Spring. Fu’s wonderful novel spans three generations to tell the story of a Chinese family searching for home. Peach Blossom Spring begins in 1938 with Meilin and her young son Renshu in war torn China, and takes us from there through immense periods of change and uncertainty, irrevocable loss, the forming of deep family bonds and a journey of over seven thousand miles to New Mexico in 2005. I am so glad that I read this while in China as Fu’s already rich imagery alive with the sights, smells, tastes and sounds of China became even more tangible and sensory. Especially when describing Meilin’s life in Taiwan; the markets and winding streets, and Renshu’s memories of Chinese New Year, the imagery takes on an almost hedonistic tone and is utterly immersive. The quality of the imagery and prose style was definitely a highlight for me. I thoroughly enjoyed the focus on complex family relationships but particularly the way Meilin and Renshu’s bond was explored throughout. I also loved the emphasis on Meilin’s friendships with other women as a support network. I mostly found the text to be well paced and engaging throughout although there was a section about three quarters of the way in where I thought the pacing started to get a wee bit slow before it picked up towards the end again.

The ongoing motif of the silk scroll was so interesting, and I loved learning more about Chinese folk tales and traditional stories as they were woven through the wider tale. Much of this novel is concerned with the power of stories. Those we tell to each other, and those we tell to ourselves and about ourselves. Fu gives the stories within her stories a quasi-sentient quality where they live and evolve with Meilin and Renshu reflecting what they need from the stories. Meilin in particular, uses the stories as a tool to teach Renshu important lessons and uplift and comfort him during the war. I actually asked my boyfriend if he recognised any and he said he remembered being taught some of them in school! I found it touching and evocative of Peach Blossom Spring’s message about the enduring power and relevance of stories. I went to visit the National Museum of China and the National Art Museum of China to see (among many other incredible things) some of the traditional art and in particular embroidered silk scrolls like the one Fu describes in such precisely beautiful detail. I’m so glad I had read Peach Blossom Spring first as it made me appreciate their complexity and meaning even more. They are every bit as intricate, fascinating, and beautiful as you think they will be. I think that is also a summation of Peach Blossom Spring; intricate, fascinating, and beautiful. I would wholeheartedly recommend this stunning debut novel.

Love, Grace xx