Across a Green Ocean

by Wendy Lee

Michael Tang and his sister, Emily, have both struggled to forge a sense of identity in their parents' adopted homeland. Emily, an immigration lawyer in New York City, baffles their mother, Ling, by refusing to have children. At twenty-six, Michael is unable to commit to a relationship or a career--or come out to his family. And now their father, after a lifetime of sacrifice, has passed away.When Michael finds a letter to his father from a long-ago friend, he impulsively travels to China in the hopes of learning more about a man he never really knew. In this rapidly modernizing country he begins to understand his father's decisions, including one that reverberates into the present day. Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, Ling and Emily question their own choices, trying to forge a path that bends toward new loves and fresh beginnings.

Wendy Lee's powerfully honest novel captures the complexity of the immigrant experience, exploring one family's hidden history, unspoken hurts, and search for a place to call home.

Along the whitewashed mud walls are large Chinese characters written in red, sometimes ending with an exclamation point. They look as if they are out of another time period, probably some kind of propaganda. Go back! Michael imagines them saying, in a private message just for him. This is a mistake! You won't find what you're looking for!

What, or rather who, Michael is hoping to find at the end of his trip is a man named Liao Weishu. This is the name that is signed at the end of a letter that Michael discovered among his father's things after the funeral. Then his mother had come into the room, and he had put the letter in his pants pocket, where it stayed unopened for another nine months. Sometimes he would think about it, and be satisfied enough to simply know it was there.

The postmark indicated it had been sent about a month before his father's death, from someplace in China that he had never heard of and didn't think he knew how to pronounce. Unfortunately, it was written in Chinese, except for one sentence toward the end of the letter--Everything has been forgiven.

Genres: Fiction, China, Book Club, Family

288 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 27, 2015

About the author

Wendy Lee is the author of the novels The Art of Confidence (Kensington), Across a Green Ocean (Kensington), and Happy Family (Black Cat/Grove Atlantic). Happy Family was named one of the top ten debut novels of 2008 by Booklist and awarded an honorable mention from the Association of Asian American Studies.

A graduate of Stanford University and New York University’s Creative Writing Program, Lee has received fellowships from the MacDowell Colony and the Corporation of Yaddo. She spent more than ten years in the publishing industry as an editor at HarperCollins Publishers and Lantern Books in Brooklyn, where she co-edited the anthology Defiant Daughters: 21 Women on Art, Activism, Animals, and the Sexual Politics of Meat. She has also worked as an English teacher in China, taught writing at the Asian American Writers Workshop, and served as a mentor with Girls Write Now.

Lee is the second-generation daughter of immigrants from China. She lives with her husband in the Astoria neighborhood of Queens, New York City.

Reviews

[Carmen Blankenship · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm sorry to say I just did not connect to the writing in this book. I found that it did not give the subject matter the depth that it deserved. It took me a very long timoe to get through.

I don't like to post negative reviews other than to say I didn't connect because reading preferences vary so much.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is told from the alternating perspectives of an immigrant Chinese mother, her workaholic/ perfectionist daughter, and her "somewhat dissatisfied with life" son. The transitions between these characters works very well and never feels jarring or confusing.

For me, the best way to describe this book is Amy Tan light. It has all of those things that I've come to expect from novels based on Chinese Americans/ China/ Chinese characters: mother- daughter tension, travel to China, and a need for first generation Chinese Americans to figure out exactly where they fit in culturally. While this doesn't have quite the literary heft as Tan, Lee writes in a style that feels much more current and therefore I think it would be much more digestible for those new to Chinese themed novels. She adds details such as what it's like to travel today on a train across China, how Chinese view ethnic minorities, as well as the trouble with pick pockets and those offering to "help" you. I've read many books based in China and for the most part they seem to focus on the past and give little thought to China in the here and now.

I hope more authors chose to write more contemporary Chinese stories. As one of my Japanese friends told me, "Why do Americans only think of ninja and samurai when they think about Japan? Do they think we are still stuck in the Edo period? We are so much more than that." I think the same about China. It's so rare to read anything about typical Chinese people outside of the huge cities unless the story is set in the past. I hope the author will continue writing about contemporary Chinese issues because to a westerner it's all extremely fascinating and I would love to read more.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compelling book that recounts a few days in the lives of a Chinese/American family -- a mother, daughter and son -- the year after the father in the family has died. It accurately depicts a lot of the unspoken emotion and awkwardness that exists in immigrants families, where the parents are of one culture, and the children, another. As the child of immigrants myself, I related to it a lot on that level, particularly scenes where few words are spoken but so much is said. The book also skillfully weaves in descriptions of China during the cultural revolution and now, in this period of rapid development. I found the descriptions of contemporary China and the reactions of the Chinese to Americans, even Chinese-Americans, in the book, totally relatable and often hilarious. (I'm Asian-American and have had similar experiences while traveling in Asia.) Overall, an enjoyable read that will take you to foreign lands, back in history, and across the very contemporary American landscape of the immigrant family.

[DeeDee Rice · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very enjoyable story about an immigrant couple whose children were born in America. Due to the father's rigidity and secrets that he kept, when he passed away the family was left floundering. This is a beautifully written and moving story about how they found themselves and discovered the secrets of the father

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a solid book. I'm having trouble rating it, though, because I have a feeling it may have been better if the summary I read beforehand didn't give so much away. The book may have had more impact on me if I'd learned these plot points the natural way -- by reading the book

[Andria Potter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave it my best shot and dnf'd at 100 pages. Despite the good writing, I was thoroughly bored. It was slow moving and while I was intrigued at the missing brother that turned out gay element, it was just draggingggg on and on. I'm sorry to the author but this just wasn't for me. 3 ⭐.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actually a 4.5 rating. I really don't know why this novel has so many negative reviews. It's a powerful story, beautifully written in a reserved, quiet voice.

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up at a store where it was back with the bargain/clearance books. It sounded interesting, and when flipped through a few pages, read well.
I have to say, and possibly because I had SUCH low expectations going into it, it really knocked my socks off.
It definitely wasn't a quick read, but I found it very enjoyable, and really, really interesting to see each character with their separate struggles. Death is difficult by itself, but you get to watch not only how they deal with that death but all of their other things as well, at the same time. It's very combustible. This is definitely a book that I'd want to re-read in the near future to let it soak in a little more and see if there were things I missed the first go-round.
I will say that the ending did leave me very unsatisfied. I like neatly tied and tucked endings, this just kind of let you see the very beginning of the end. I felt like it could have maybe explored things a little further.

[Briana Applin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. It was hard to put down for me. At first I was a little worried I would get confused with 3 perspectives instead of 1 or 2 that I was used to in a book. But I feel like that made the book better. To me the flashbacks were needed because it gave more depth and personalities to the characters. They all thought and viewed those flashbacks differently. To me that made you have an emotion towards the characters. The story was great as well as the character development. The reason I gave 4 stars instead of 5 was because I felt like there should have been more. For example, what happened when Michael came home? Did Emily and Julian work things out? How is Ling and Pastor Liu's relationship going to affect the church? Idk hopefully she makes another book about it to tie up the loose ends, but overall great book

[Cheryl Dietr · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful book about omissions and lies but more importantly it is a book that describes the devastating effects that harsh and misunderstood words can have on a person as well as a family. With vivid imagery the author tells a story which captures the spirit of today's China in transition as well as the spirit of her past while showcasing China's immigrants families who strived to create an "Americanized" life for their children.I really enjoyed this well written book.

*** I received this book through the Goodreads Giveaways program. Thanks Goodreads and Kensington Books!

[Elizabeth Hudacko · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I started to read the book I seriously considered just putting the book aside. The beginning was very slow and the characters weren't very endearing. I decided to stick it out and finish the book. I loved where the book led to. Families are messy, life is messy. Sometimes we assume intention but we never really know what's going on inside of others and that holds true even with, maybe especially with, those we think we know best. I still don't think I'll read the author again but I am glad I stuck it out with this one.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got those book at the Big Y (supermarket) because I had to wait a bit for Triple A (don't ask) and somehow there was nothing to read in the car. Got into it right away. This book hit everything for me: characters, settings and plot. It probed the immigration experience through both the first and second generation. Decided that, for me, it was a family love story. There can't be enough of those, ever!

[Annette Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book about a chinese family with immigrant parents and children who were born and raised in the USA. The death of the father eventually leads his gay son to travel back to China to seek answers not only about his family past but also about himself and his current relationship. Meanwhile the daughter is struggling with her own family issues and the possible breakdown of her marriage.
Well written and with really flawed and human characters this was an enjoyable read,

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a wholehearted story. I connected with all the characters and enjoyed seeing the same scenes played out from multiple perspectives. Flashback as a literary technique really did well to advance the plot. The interweaving plot lines were airtight, which is really hard to do. The book is well-paced, a good length, and brings resolution to all the main conflicts. I'd likely go back to this one again!

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was thoughtfully and seemlessly narrated across multiple generations, time periods and locations. I appreciated the author's portrayal of the difficult interplay between the struggling immigrant parents and their American-born children who blindly suffer from the consequences of their parents' decisions and mistakes. I felt the novel unraveled beautifully at the end.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really a nice story. The flashbacks weren't confusing to me. Reading about modern China is interesting to me especially remote places far away from Beijing or Shanghai. Learning Chinese words is interesting. In this book we learn hai which is ocean or sea. In another book I read, I learned that harmonicas originated in China.

[Cassandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won this book in a giveaway on Goodreads. While it was interesting it was also lacking. The characters weren't flat by any means but were lacking in depth. Some parts of the book felt forced and things were left open ended. It did lag a little in some places. Overall it left me wanting more.

[Nada Loughead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book - the characters gripped me from the first page. Members of an Asian-American family trying to find their identities and place in the world. A glimpse into the history of the Red Guard in Qinghai Province of China. http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/1...

[Polly Krize · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book.

Thought-provoking story about families and the secrets they keep. Decisions made years ago can effect everything, and Ms. Lee is adept at weaving together all these loose ends. Recommended reading.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ling's husband has passed away. She's feeling a bit lost and overwhelmed. Emily and Michael do not come home as much as she'd like. She's not sure what to do with her life now that Han is gone. She's much to learn about her children, husband, and who they all are.

[Victoria Namkung · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful and heartbreaking portrait of a Chinese American family.

[etherealfire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Library Kindle e-book

[Charlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting story on the family dynamics. Parents who immigrated to America, two adult children learning to make their way in the world after their father unexpectedly dies.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a story that are captures the immigrant experience.

[Tania · Rating 4 out of 5]

A family adrift after the loss of their father, Emily, Michael, and their mother Ling struggle to connect with each other while also trying to keep their individual lives on track. Ling mourns her husband, but also longs to start fresh. She is lonely, trying to hang onto children who seem to have outgrown her love. She worries about her children, she worries about what will become of herself, and she worries about what came before - before the death of her husband, so unexpected. Emily is her oldest child, and her strongest. But Emily and her husband Julian have their own set of problems, potentially insurmountable issues in their marriages and in their careers. They don't see the loneliness Ling faces because they are fighting so hard not to face it themselves. Finally, Michael, the baby of the family, knows that no one sees him for who he is. He has a very independent life in the city, but he's no happier than the rest of his clan. He latches on to an idea, that he will pursue his father's past in search of a future for himself.

Emily, once the model big sister, has lost that connection with her younger brother Michael. But when her mother calls, worried about him, she takes the trip into the city to check in. What she learns about Michael is shocking - he has an entire life built for himself, and she had no idea what it entailed. Now Emily is worried - for her brother has left his life, and his family, and no one is quite sure why. As Emily and her mother piece together the clues, they find themselves finally facing their own fears and making life decisions that can alter the course of their futures. But all of this may be the only way for this fractured family to come back together.

Lee's story alternates between the three points of view: Ling, Emily, and Michael. We're able to experience first hand each of their struggles, and their journeys back towards family. It's a touching story that slowly reveals the complicated relationships that exist between parents and children, siblings, and spouses/SOs. As the past is revealed through flashbacks and secondary character storytelling, the Chinese culture and the Chinese-American immigration experience is also woven into the story. Ultimately, it's a beautiful tale of love and loss, survival and growth, and the importance of family. The ending is left open, though, and I really wanted to keep reading and see a true conclusion to the story.

[Clare · Rating 3 out of 5]

Emily and Michael are children of Chinese immigrants. Their parents met and married after each had already been in America for awhile. Their father never mentioned anything about his past life and when he dies Michael finds a note addressed to his father from someone in China which contained the words "all is forgiven". Michael is currently drifting through life after losing his job and is also conflicted about how he feels about his boyfriend and sometimes roommate David. He decides to embark on a journey to the town in China where the letter came from to tell Mr. Liao in person that his father had passed away and also to try to find out to what the forgiveness in the letter is referring.
Meanwhile Emily is having her own personal ups and downs as she does not know how she feels about being married and if she is happy in her current job position. Add to this a mother who has always been a bit reserved and distant.
This is a tale of one family's dynamics, how the personal experiences of the parents shaped those dynamics and how a strip to a foreign country helps to understand why.

[Paula L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can’t imagine a more perfect book choice than this at this time. The protagonist is a gay young man, not yet out to his family other than a disastrous discovery by his Chinese father ten years prior. The father dies unexpectedly and the son begins a quest to understand his father who immigrated to this country when he was a young man. The China he left behind was revolutionary and dangerous and somehow he found a path to this country in order to establish a new life.
After his father’s passing, he, along with his sister and his mother search for a meaningful way forward. The son, in an extreme action, visits China to discover his father’s roots.
The complications of divergent cultures within an immigrant’s experience in coming to a new country are fascinating and heartrending and illuminating in current times.

[Emily Kuper · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book sucked me in immediately. Lee’s writing is incredibly descriptive and full of life. I felt like each perspective that was shown was vivid and distinct. I felt very connected to the characters by the end of it.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting cultural exploration.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story about the challenges of Chinese-American identity and the search for family.