Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie

This story follows two boys that are sent to the country during Mao’s Cultural Revolution. The adventures, loves, and hardships are told from one of the boy’s perspectives, but the emotions of all the characters can be appreciated. The book is short and an easy read. I was surprised by how much of a page turner it was for me. What adds to the emotion of the book is the relocation that the boys go through. During Mao’s Cultural Revolution, a “re-education” took place where kids living in the city had to live in the country for at least two years. Children of enemies of the state were lucky to see their families again. Having never known about the “re-education” process, it was interesting and saddening to read about this fictionalized account. The love the two main characters have for each other and that they develop for others in the community is moving to read. The little adventures they go on and their “job” to retell stories to the community kept me on edge for any troubles they might encounter.

It is a light hearted book that can be sad and depressing at times, but all in all keeps you wanting more. Thank you Mary for gifting this book to me, I thoroughly enjoyed it.