The Touch

by Liu Hong

A Chinese doctor in a southern English town, Ju Lin's solitary life is transformed when Lucy walks into her acupuncture clinic, and opens her heart. Ju Lin is in England to escape a failed marriage and the memory of her unwitting betrayal, as a child, of her beloved grandfather during the cultural revolution. She is also haunted by thoughts of her daughter, Tiantian, who has returned to China with her estranged husband. Lucy is a woman who has everything Ju Lin could wish for: a loving husband, a beautiful child, and a supportive extended family. Their friendship becomes a lifeline, but it also unlocks in Ju Lin the memories of the past she has strived so hard to bury.

Genres: China, Fiction

About the author

Liu Hong was born in 1965 and grew up in Liaoning, near the Chinese-North Korean border. She studied English, before going to Beijing, to work as a teacher and translator. She came to Britain in 1989, and took an MA in social anthropology at London. Since then she has worked as a Chinese teacher, and as a translator.
Liu Hong now lives in Wiltshire with her husband and their young daughter.

Reviews

[Alan Pottinger · Rating 3 out of 5]

A gentle little book, pleasant read and the plot line weaves nicely - the reveal when it comes is not a surprise, as you'll have worked it out already. Sometimes her descriptors are clumsy and it's certainly not the work of a great story teller but it's enjoyable and a wonderful insight into another culture.

[Genna · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an easy read and enjoyable in parts - mainly the reflections on her upbringing by the main character, Juju. The downfall, I felt, came from the current experiences of Juju (Dr. Lin). I didn't find her character at all appealing in the present day and I really couldn't believe that she could (or indeed, had) formed a friendship with her client Lucy - this "friendship" never seemed to progress beyond a stilted acquaintanceship and I couldn't buy into any deeper feelings between the two (nor the interest Lucy's husband Mark begins to show in Juju). The whole story really revolves around the "secret" that Juju carries with her and the "betrayal" of her beloved grandfather. You don't find out until the end how she actually betrayed him and, when it gets to the point, it is something of an anti-climax. The build-up throughout Juju's reminiscences was nicely done and it seemed increasingly certain that the grandfather was in danger in his position as a traditional, well-respected herbal doctor, from the increasing presence and power of the red guards. Juju's naivety and growing respect for the Red Guard leader (Steel) was convincing and increasingly frustrating and the potential for her to inadvertently endanger her grandfather became worryingly clear. Unfortunately, when the threads of the story come together and the "betrayal" of her grandfather is revealed it becomes far less believable and also less dramatic than it had seemed. In fact, when I found out what had actually happened, I just wondered why she hadn't managed to resolve the situation and repair the relationship with him straight away . . . there's no mention of what came after for her in-between betraying him and ending up in England.
Then there's the information about her past that her employer, Mr. Ching, threatens to use against her - what exactly it is that would cause her reputation any damage was beyond me!
Overall, some nice writing, I enjoyed the elements of her childhood in China and the sense of threat that continued to build but felt the story was let down by an unconvincing character in the present day and an underwhelming ending.

[Gill Schell · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.8* : Underwhelming. A Chinese acupuncturist has run away from China to live a lonely existence in England as a result of a betrayal during the Cultural Revolution. The most interesting part of this novel was the account of the years spent growing up in China learning about Chinese medicine. Very little depth to there life and relationships in England.

[Jeanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A surprise. A jewel. Read upon returning from Brazil. Acupuncture, reflection, China, the Cultural Revolution, moving on.

[Carole Germishuys · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quite interesting story of a Chinese acupuncturist who lived through the cultural revolution in China and settled in England

[Jaymee Pilarta · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Real strength is in your mind, your head. It's how much you learn, and... how quickly."