I thoroughly enjoyed this tale of LuLing Young's life, from girlhood to old age, and how her daughter's Ruth's understanding of her mother is greatly enriched as Ruth discovers her mother's sad, difficult, and yet beautiful history. (now there's a doozy of a sentence). LuLing's story is probably representative of many of the older Chinese immigrants in North America. This book opened a window in my thinking. I've grown up immersed in the European immigrant experience, but this book gave me a means to consider a broader view of what it is like to give up your life and move across the world to begin anew. Another wonderful novel that leaves a vivid painting of 20th century, rural China.