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Unbound: A Tale of Love and Betrayal in Shanghai
Amazon Best Seller in Asian American Literature & Fiction The sweeping, multigenerational story of two iron-willed women, a grandmother and granddaughter, Unbound is also a richly textured, turbulent portrait of the city of Shanghai in the twentieth century—a place where everyone must fight to carve out a place for themselves amid political upheaval and the turmoil of war. Mini Pao lives with her sister and parents in a pre-war Shanghai divided among foreign occupiers and Chinese citizens, a city known as the “Paris of the East” with its contrast of vibrant night life and repressive social mores. Already considered an old maid at twenty-three, Mini boldly rejects the path set out for her as she struggles to provide for her family and reckons with her desire for romance and autonomy. Mini’s story of love, betrayal, and determination unfolds in the Western-style cafes, open-air markets, and jazz-soaked nightclubs of Shanghai—the same city where, decades later, her granddaughter Ting embarks on her own journey toward independence. Ting Lee has grown up behind an iron curtain in a time of scarcity, humility, and forced-sameness in accordance with the strictures of Chairman Mao’s cultural revolution. As a result, Ting’s imagination burns with curiosity about fashion, America, and most of all, her long-lost grandmother Mini’s glamorous past and mysterious present. As her thirst for knowledge about the world beyond 1970s Shanghai grows, Ting is driven to uncover her family’s tragic past and face the difficult truth of what the future holds for her if she remains in China.
421 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 4, 2020
53 people are currently reading
2474 people want to read
About the author
Dina Gu Brumfield
1 book23 followersDina Brumfield was born and raised in Shanghai, China. She came to the United States to join her family as a young adult in late ‘80s. After earning her MBA, she worked as a consultant in New York and at various Silicon Valley companies, before quitting to act on her long-held aspiration to write, in English, her second language. It took her 10 years to write and polish Unbound, her debut novel.
Dina has strong ties in San Francisco Bay Area where she started her new life in this country, and where she calls home in her heart. She currently resides in Maryland with her husband.
Dina has strong ties in San Francisco Bay Area where she started her new life in this country, and where she calls home in her heart. She currently resides in Maryland with her husband.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
July 20, 2020
Shanghai, 1975. Ting’s grandma, Mini, comes from US to Shanghai on a visit. Curious Ting wants to know what events lead to her grandma’s leaving Shanghai.
1935, Mini’s father works as a clerk at the British consulate and he encourages his both daughter’s to study English as he’d say – you never know what skill you may find useful in the future. Mini reveals her story to Ting.
Mini’s story takes larger portion of the book. Not much is happening in Ting’s story. If the book concentrated on Mini’s story only with some conversations and events a bit condensed, I think it’d be a much stronger story. But on a personal note, I don’t like reading family sagas. So you may feel differently.
I got attracted to this story, because of the historical and cultural background of Shanghai, which comes through vividly. The writing is of a promising writer. However, at some points I found the pace a bit too slow.
3.5 stars
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
1935, Mini’s father works as a clerk at the British consulate and he encourages his both daughter’s to study English as he’d say – you never know what skill you may find useful in the future. Mini reveals her story to Ting.
Mini’s story takes larger portion of the book. Not much is happening in Ting’s story. If the book concentrated on Mini’s story only with some conversations and events a bit condensed, I think it’d be a much stronger story. But on a personal note, I don’t like reading family sagas. So you may feel differently.
I got attracted to this story, because of the historical and cultural background of Shanghai, which comes through vividly. The writing is of a promising writer. However, at some points I found the pace a bit too slow.
3.5 stars
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 27, 2020
Unbound is an interesting historical family saga covering a span of time from 1935 to 1980. The book is told through alternating narratives, following Ting, a young women growing up in communist Shanghai and her grandmother, Mimi growing up in pre-communist Shanghai. These women fight the accepted principles of their country/family which enables them to choose the life they want to live.
I don't know much about Chinese history and really enjoyed the author's vivid descriptions of everyday life in Sanghai.
I would recommend this book for anyone that wants to learn about Chinese history within a compelling story.
Thank you Netgalley and Greenleaf Book Group for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I don't know much about Chinese history and really enjoyed the author's vivid descriptions of everyday life in Sanghai.
I would recommend this book for anyone that wants to learn about Chinese history within a compelling story.
Thank you Netgalley and Greenleaf Book Group for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 29, 2020
Thank you Smith Publicity, Greenleaf
Book Group and Dina Gu Brumfield for a complimentary copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Unbound: A Tale Of Love And Betrayal
In Shanghai
By: Dina Gu Brumfield
REVIEW ☆☆☆☆
According to Urban Dictionary, unbound means to, "Make your own rules...Live life outside the lines." I think this definition suits Unbound by Dina Gu Brumfield.
Ask me about the history of Shanghai, and I will tell you...nothing. It's a disgrace really, my lack of knowledge. I'm so glad to pick up a book that not only entertains, but informs. Unbound is rich in history and enlightening. Shanghai has a turbulent revolutionary past, and we see this city, the "Paris of the East," pre-World War II and behind the iron curtain.
Essentially, two women tell the story, Mini Pao, and, decades later, her granddaughter, Ting. Although in very different eras, both women face challenges with a solid resolve. Mini wants her own life, not a life decided for her. During her time of the 1930s, women were repressed, diminished, bound and invisible. Mini chose to forge her own path, even if it brought consequences or trouble. Mini's future would be her own, for better or worse.
Years later, Mini's granddaughter, Ting, has the same independent spirit. Her situation is different living under 1980s Communist rule. Ting has no singular identity. By law, all are the same, all are humble and suffer in silence. Under Communist rule, Ting has no will or assertiveness of her own. But she dreams of a different reality where she can be anyone and do anything she wants. There is no freedom without costs, however, because her family will remain in Shanghai. Stay or go? What would you do?
Both Mini and Ting face heartbreak and tragedy while remaining stoic and steadfast in their decisions. They are survivors fighting to simply be free. To be true to their hearts' desire and dreams held deep in the soul. Unbound is a beautiful and tragic story that reminds us to never take individuality for granted. And, never give up your dreams.
Book Group and Dina Gu Brumfield for a complimentary copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Unbound: A Tale Of Love And Betrayal
In Shanghai
By: Dina Gu Brumfield
REVIEW ☆☆☆☆
According to Urban Dictionary, unbound means to, "Make your own rules...Live life outside the lines." I think this definition suits Unbound by Dina Gu Brumfield.
Ask me about the history of Shanghai, and I will tell you...nothing. It's a disgrace really, my lack of knowledge. I'm so glad to pick up a book that not only entertains, but informs. Unbound is rich in history and enlightening. Shanghai has a turbulent revolutionary past, and we see this city, the "Paris of the East," pre-World War II and behind the iron curtain.
Essentially, two women tell the story, Mini Pao, and, decades later, her granddaughter, Ting. Although in very different eras, both women face challenges with a solid resolve. Mini wants her own life, not a life decided for her. During her time of the 1930s, women were repressed, diminished, bound and invisible. Mini chose to forge her own path, even if it brought consequences or trouble. Mini's future would be her own, for better or worse.
Years later, Mini's granddaughter, Ting, has the same independent spirit. Her situation is different living under 1980s Communist rule. Ting has no singular identity. By law, all are the same, all are humble and suffer in silence. Under Communist rule, Ting has no will or assertiveness of her own. But she dreams of a different reality where she can be anyone and do anything she wants. There is no freedom without costs, however, because her family will remain in Shanghai. Stay or go? What would you do?
Both Mini and Ting face heartbreak and tragedy while remaining stoic and steadfast in their decisions. They are survivors fighting to simply be free. To be true to their hearts' desire and dreams held deep in the soul. Unbound is a beautiful and tragic story that reminds us to never take individuality for granted. And, never give up your dreams.
October 12, 2020
I was surprised by how much I ended up liking this book. The straightforward, clean writing style allowed me to focus on the story and almost immediately I was drawn to Ting and her family’s life in Shanghai, and how they were living during and after Mao’s Cultural Revolution, while Mini and her family on the other hand, were trying to survive the pre-war days of Shanghai in the 1930’s.
The characters were engaging and well developed, and their stories just kept me turning the pages.
Ting and her parents lived in a tiny apartment with no indoor heating, where everyone else shared the same kitchen and bathroom, and were surviving on ration tickets for food. But having ration tickets didn’t mean you’d actually get it, unless you knew exactly where and when the rations will be available as store supplies were scarce and choices were limited. The same revolutionary songs were broadcasted daily on their state-run radio, and students were taught Mao thoughts and curriculum based on, none other than, Mao’s Red Book; although they had no homework, school days were 6 days a week.
During Mao’s dictatorship, everyone was dressed the same as everyone else – plain – gray or blue woolen or cotton outfit modeled after Mao or known as the Mao suit. Anything Western was to be chastised. Ting witnessed an event where a woman dressed in Western clothing was brutally attacked. Ting was also bullied at school and called ‘American Spy’ after being visited by her grandmother, Mini, from America.
Back in the 1930’s, pre-war Shanghai, Mini was also faced with her own challenges. After marrying the man of her choice instead of one by an arranged marriage, her fate took a different turn. Her husband had to take a concubine because Mini wasn’t able to give him an heir to his family. Brokenhearted and unwilling to ‘share’ her husband, she divorced him. Being a divorcee brought more shame to her family.
She also had to fend for her entire family after her father lost his job when the Japanese took over Shanghai. Against her wishes, she had to work for a Japanese official as his maid, and soon, loneliness betrayed her and she became his kept woman. Already burdened by guilt and hopelessness, she gave birth to another daughter, one with six toes. She had to give her away for fear of shame of having a baby out of wedlock.
It was easy to fall in love with the characters, especially Mini and Ting, who, despite being separated by two generations, shared one thing in common – their determination. It forged them forward, and they survived against all odds. Ting, after making up her mind to further her studies in America, took up on her grandmother’s offer of sponsoring her, without even seeking her parents’ permission for fear they might oppose it.
Mini, on the other hand, unwilling to share her husband, divorced him even though it was against tradition, and determined to leave Shanghai, married a man she hardly knew and left all that were familiar behind her.
What surprised me was the supportive fathers Ting and Mini had, who loved and believed in them, even though daughters weren’t valued among the Chinese; some were killed upon birth. Ting’s father was always encouraging her to study.
I loved how excited he got when they arrived at Ting’s university. He was so enthusiastic that even Ting had to catch up with him as they walked towards the university; and how he handled Ting’s registration letter so delicately like it were a ‘fragile treasure’. And I cheered when Mini’s dad discouraged his wife from making Mini a second wife, or during the time when he opposed to her taking the virginity test which he thought was ‘vulgar‘.
This book was a great introduction to me to pre-war Shanghai and Shanghai during Mao’s Cultural Revolution. Times have changed for women then and now. Even so, daily, we still juggle our roles as filial daughters, mothers, wives, daughters-in-law, at the same time trying to chase our dreams and desires like everyone else.
It made me think, how different are our challenges then and now, especially our cultural and traditional beliefs? Are our challenges any different geographically? This novel made me ponder on the sacrifices my mother and grandmother had to make for me to live comfortably today. I wonder, what’s their story?
On a side note, I would’ve omitted the last sentence at the ending of the book, and left the reader to interpret Ting’s emotions.
Overall, a incredible debut! Kudos to the author!
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for making this available to read to all reviewers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine. And thank you Smith Publicity for sending me a copy of this book. Isn’t the cover gorgeous!
Please do head over to my blog, HookedOnBookz.com for more reviews!
The characters were engaging and well developed, and their stories just kept me turning the pages.
Ting and her parents lived in a tiny apartment with no indoor heating, where everyone else shared the same kitchen and bathroom, and were surviving on ration tickets for food. But having ration tickets didn’t mean you’d actually get it, unless you knew exactly where and when the rations will be available as store supplies were scarce and choices were limited. The same revolutionary songs were broadcasted daily on their state-run radio, and students were taught Mao thoughts and curriculum based on, none other than, Mao’s Red Book; although they had no homework, school days were 6 days a week.
During Mao’s dictatorship, everyone was dressed the same as everyone else – plain – gray or blue woolen or cotton outfit modeled after Mao or known as the Mao suit. Anything Western was to be chastised. Ting witnessed an event where a woman dressed in Western clothing was brutally attacked. Ting was also bullied at school and called ‘American Spy’ after being visited by her grandmother, Mini, from America.
Back in the 1930’s, pre-war Shanghai, Mini was also faced with her own challenges. After marrying the man of her choice instead of one by an arranged marriage, her fate took a different turn. Her husband had to take a concubine because Mini wasn’t able to give him an heir to his family. Brokenhearted and unwilling to ‘share’ her husband, she divorced him. Being a divorcee brought more shame to her family.
She also had to fend for her entire family after her father lost his job when the Japanese took over Shanghai. Against her wishes, she had to work for a Japanese official as his maid, and soon, loneliness betrayed her and she became his kept woman. Already burdened by guilt and hopelessness, she gave birth to another daughter, one with six toes. She had to give her away for fear of shame of having a baby out of wedlock.
It was easy to fall in love with the characters, especially Mini and Ting, who, despite being separated by two generations, shared one thing in common – their determination. It forged them forward, and they survived against all odds. Ting, after making up her mind to further her studies in America, took up on her grandmother’s offer of sponsoring her, without even seeking her parents’ permission for fear they might oppose it.
Mini, on the other hand, unwilling to share her husband, divorced him even though it was against tradition, and determined to leave Shanghai, married a man she hardly knew and left all that were familiar behind her.
What surprised me was the supportive fathers Ting and Mini had, who loved and believed in them, even though daughters weren’t valued among the Chinese; some were killed upon birth. Ting’s father was always encouraging her to study.
I loved how excited he got when they arrived at Ting’s university. He was so enthusiastic that even Ting had to catch up with him as they walked towards the university; and how he handled Ting’s registration letter so delicately like it were a ‘fragile treasure’. And I cheered when Mini’s dad discouraged his wife from making Mini a second wife, or during the time when he opposed to her taking the virginity test which he thought was ‘vulgar‘.
This book was a great introduction to me to pre-war Shanghai and Shanghai during Mao’s Cultural Revolution. Times have changed for women then and now. Even so, daily, we still juggle our roles as filial daughters, mothers, wives, daughters-in-law, at the same time trying to chase our dreams and desires like everyone else.
It made me think, how different are our challenges then and now, especially our cultural and traditional beliefs? Are our challenges any different geographically? This novel made me ponder on the sacrifices my mother and grandmother had to make for me to live comfortably today. I wonder, what’s their story?
On a side note, I would’ve omitted the last sentence at the ending of the book, and left the reader to interpret Ting’s emotions.
Overall, a incredible debut! Kudos to the author!
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for making this available to read to all reviewers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine. And thank you Smith Publicity for sending me a copy of this book. Isn’t the cover gorgeous!
Please do head over to my blog, HookedOnBookz.com for more reviews!
August 6, 2020
Do you ever read a book and realize how woefully uneducated you are in a particular subject? Dina Brumfield’s debut novel was that book for me and I fell right into the story and this very new world to me. I found myself asking a lot of questions and doing a lot of Googling to understand this fascinating point in history.
Set in Shanghai, China both before WW2 and after the Communist revolution, Unbound alternates in viewpoints between Mini Pao and her life in the glamorous city in the 1930s and Ting Lee, her granddaughter growing up 40 years later behind the iron curtain. Both women are strong-willed and yet at the same time, very much tied to and perhaps even held back by their families of origin and the constraints of their time periods and the culture. While Mini’s life and family falls apart in the face of the Japanese occupation and the effects of the war, she must decide whether to follow her heart and turn her back on her family in order to save herself. Forty years later, Ting Lee grows up in a communist compound with her parents, and marvels at her grandmother’s seemingly glamorous life in the United States, but she only knows half of the story.
Mini’s story unravels throughout the course of the novel and we as readers learn more as she tells her granddaughter, Ting, her family’s tragic story over several years and visits she makes to see her family in Shanghai. No family’s story is without some sort of heartbreak and Mini and Ting each face their own betrayals as they grow up in the ever-changing and evolving Shanghai. Both women struggle to set themselves apart from their family and make their own way, and ironically they both find that independence by leaving their families behind altogether and going to the United States.
I was riveted by the story that Brumfield weaves. It’s an epic, sweeping story and my heart broke for both women as they seemed to be thwarted again and again in their attempts to find independence in Shanghai. It was fascinating to see how much the city changes throughout the course of the novel and the many phases that Communist China went through just in the 70s and 80s. To be honest, I really had no idea what it was like behind the Iron Curtain in China at that time and found myself fascinated by the details included on how families lived and what the people were forced to wear. Brumfield paints an amazing portrait of a family at the top, their downfall, and how the next generation steps up to carry them forward into the future.
Set in Shanghai, China both before WW2 and after the Communist revolution, Unbound alternates in viewpoints between Mini Pao and her life in the glamorous city in the 1930s and Ting Lee, her granddaughter growing up 40 years later behind the iron curtain. Both women are strong-willed and yet at the same time, very much tied to and perhaps even held back by their families of origin and the constraints of their time periods and the culture. While Mini’s life and family falls apart in the face of the Japanese occupation and the effects of the war, she must decide whether to follow her heart and turn her back on her family in order to save herself. Forty years later, Ting Lee grows up in a communist compound with her parents, and marvels at her grandmother’s seemingly glamorous life in the United States, but she only knows half of the story.
Mini’s story unravels throughout the course of the novel and we as readers learn more as she tells her granddaughter, Ting, her family’s tragic story over several years and visits she makes to see her family in Shanghai. No family’s story is without some sort of heartbreak and Mini and Ting each face their own betrayals as they grow up in the ever-changing and evolving Shanghai. Both women struggle to set themselves apart from their family and make their own way, and ironically they both find that independence by leaving their families behind altogether and going to the United States.
I was riveted by the story that Brumfield weaves. It’s an epic, sweeping story and my heart broke for both women as they seemed to be thwarted again and again in their attempts to find independence in Shanghai. It was fascinating to see how much the city changes throughout the course of the novel and the many phases that Communist China went through just in the 70s and 80s. To be honest, I really had no idea what it was like behind the Iron Curtain in China at that time and found myself fascinated by the details included on how families lived and what the people were forced to wear. Brumfield paints an amazing portrait of a family at the top, their downfall, and how the next generation steps up to carry them forward into the future.
August 4, 2020
Read this if you like: (WWII-era) historical fiction, multigenerational plot, strong female characters and female-driven plot, getting out of your comfort zone.
Thank you to Greenleaf and NetGalley for the ARC!
This was such a pleasant surprise. I would highly recommend this for anyone who liked "Pachinko."
This story revolves around Ting and her grandmother, Mini. Ting's era is in the 70s/80s, and she lives in Shanghai while Mini lives in Hawaii. When Mini comes to visit Ting and her mother, she recalls the story of her early life in the 30s/40s.
Mini's life is the real highlight of the book. She's a woman who has been through hell and back, but there is so much heart and strength—not only in her, but in her sister, and parents as well. Her story is concentrated before and during the Second Sino-Japanese War. It's told over years of Ting's life, as Ting goes from elementary all the way through college and wonders about her future beyond college.
I really love how all of the details were weaved together. It was told in sort of a backwards fashion, especially when we jumped a few years between chapters. I think it was executed really well and made the plot more interesting than just being told linearly.
If you go in knowing Ting is more of a supporting character story, I think you'll have lower expectations for her character development and will enjoy her plot more. There are so many intense moments in Mini's life—love, marriage, death, war, poverty, familial piety—that I think making Ting's life as intense would overwhelm the plot.
Also: I would keep an open mind! This is obviously set in Shanghai, so it reflects a lot of communist values. If you're not willing to sit through that, I think it would sour your experience of the book, but this is someone's culture, so I would hope you wouldn't let that hinder you from reading this book.
Really honestly loved this book! Will recommend to all of my friends.
Thank you to Greenleaf and NetGalley for the ARC!
This was such a pleasant surprise. I would highly recommend this for anyone who liked "Pachinko."
This story revolves around Ting and her grandmother, Mini. Ting's era is in the 70s/80s, and she lives in Shanghai while Mini lives in Hawaii. When Mini comes to visit Ting and her mother, she recalls the story of her early life in the 30s/40s.
Mini's life is the real highlight of the book. She's a woman who has been through hell and back, but there is so much heart and strength—not only in her, but in her sister, and parents as well. Her story is concentrated before and during the Second Sino-Japanese War. It's told over years of Ting's life, as Ting goes from elementary all the way through college and wonders about her future beyond college.
I really love how all of the details were weaved together. It was told in sort of a backwards fashion, especially when we jumped a few years between chapters. I think it was executed really well and made the plot more interesting than just being told linearly.
If you go in knowing Ting is more of a supporting character story, I think you'll have lower expectations for her character development and will enjoy her plot more. There are so many intense moments in Mini's life—love, marriage, death, war, poverty, familial piety—that I think making Ting's life as intense would overwhelm the plot.
Also: I would keep an open mind! This is obviously set in Shanghai, so it reflects a lot of communist values. If you're not willing to sit through that, I think it would sour your experience of the book, but this is someone's culture, so I would hope you wouldn't let that hinder you from reading this book.
Really honestly loved this book! Will recommend to all of my friends.
July 4, 2020
Unbound is a generational story of growth and love through chinese culture and time jumps between grandmother and granddaughter. Also has pre Mao-zedong to afterwards also brings up how much he effected chinese culture Also how much World War two and japense almost fully taking over china effected life running in general.
Brings up western ideals versus Traditionalism and judgment of those ideas. Journey between Mother and daughter To grandmother and daughter goes on and belief in a strong will and life. Also the discrimination between peasants and rich class.
I highly recommend this book to read for generational bonding, historical reality and commonalties.
I was given this Arc by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Brings up western ideals versus Traditionalism and judgment of those ideas. Journey between Mother and daughter To grandmother and daughter goes on and belief in a strong will and life. Also the discrimination between peasants and rich class.
I highly recommend this book to read for generational bonding, historical reality and commonalties.
I was given this Arc by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 9, 2020
An engaging story about a Chinese multi-generational family. I typically do not read historical fiction, but enjoy reading about other cultures. This book centering around the hardships of the women and their individual stories, kept my interest to the very end.
The writing is historical, taking place during the Japanese invasion of China, and flows in a manner that takes readers into the lives of the strong women who are the main focus. I stayed up late many nights reading as I wanted to learn what happened next. Chapter titles are creative and give just a hint about what will come up in the chapter.
I highly recommend this book, especially if you enjoy reading about Chinese culture, past and present.
Thank you NetGalley, author and publisher.
The writing is historical, taking place during the Japanese invasion of China, and flows in a manner that takes readers into the lives of the strong women who are the main focus. I stayed up late many nights reading as I wanted to learn what happened next. Chapter titles are creative and give just a hint about what will come up in the chapter.
I highly recommend this book, especially if you enjoy reading about Chinese culture, past and present.
Thank you NetGalley, author and publisher.
July 13, 2020
*Honest review given for a free copy from Netgalley.*
★★★★★
“Unbound” by Dina Gu Brumfield.
Historical Fiction (Asia)
Publication date of August 4, 2020
When I saw this book on Netgalley, I needed to read it as soon as possible. This book ticked every item on my want list.
History? Check.
China? Check.
Granted, I’m pretty easy to please when those two boxes are checked. But add strong character voice and vivid descriptions that transport me to a foreign world?
I’m in heaven.
The story opens in Shanghai 1975. Grandma’s arrival is heralded by the parents being swept off and questioned. After they return home, preparations begin for Grandma’s visit. How a family prepared for their American family member is captured in clear, flowing prose that painted a vivid picture of what Shanghai was like for those who lived there. The simple struggle for new clothes, or food for their guest builds toward one thing.
The tension building toward the arrival of grandma is fantastic. I couldn’t stop reading because I wanted to see what the concern was about. I loved the details about Mao's Shanghai described in simple but vivid terms.
“The street was a sea of blue and gray Mao uniforms. Against the monochromatic backdrop the pink bows in my hair and the red jacket Mother wore seemed like unexpected flowers blooming in the late winter.” (Loc 196 4%)
Lines like these gave a fantastic visual of 1975 Shanghai and the life that was normal for TIng. This type of description is sprinkled throughout the novel and creates a solid grounding for the setting.
The story builds on the relationship and parallels between Ting’s world and Grandma’s (Mini) and spans generations from 1930’s Shanghai to the opening of China. I enjoyed how the two POV’s intertwined from the beginning. Even if it was more Ting trying to connect with her grandmother through similar sites Mini had told her about. Many books with multiple POV’s don’t always join up until the middle or the end, but this gave Ting a way to seek a connection with her grandmother.
Partway through I realized I was reading for the sheer enjoyment of the story and the desire to see what was next. Books like this are why I read. I highly recommend this book. I would eagerly pick up another novel by this author.
*see more of my reviews here and at my website cestokes.com*
★★★★★
“Unbound” by Dina Gu Brumfield.
Historical Fiction (Asia)
Publication date of August 4, 2020
When I saw this book on Netgalley, I needed to read it as soon as possible. This book ticked every item on my want list.
History? Check.
China? Check.
Granted, I’m pretty easy to please when those two boxes are checked. But add strong character voice and vivid descriptions that transport me to a foreign world?
I’m in heaven.
The story opens in Shanghai 1975. Grandma’s arrival is heralded by the parents being swept off and questioned. After they return home, preparations begin for Grandma’s visit. How a family prepared for their American family member is captured in clear, flowing prose that painted a vivid picture of what Shanghai was like for those who lived there. The simple struggle for new clothes, or food for their guest builds toward one thing.
The tension building toward the arrival of grandma is fantastic. I couldn’t stop reading because I wanted to see what the concern was about. I loved the details about Mao's Shanghai described in simple but vivid terms.
“The street was a sea of blue and gray Mao uniforms. Against the monochromatic backdrop the pink bows in my hair and the red jacket Mother wore seemed like unexpected flowers blooming in the late winter.” (Loc 196 4%)
Lines like these gave a fantastic visual of 1975 Shanghai and the life that was normal for TIng. This type of description is sprinkled throughout the novel and creates a solid grounding for the setting.
The story builds on the relationship and parallels between Ting’s world and Grandma’s (Mini) and spans generations from 1930’s Shanghai to the opening of China. I enjoyed how the two POV’s intertwined from the beginning. Even if it was more Ting trying to connect with her grandmother through similar sites Mini had told her about. Many books with multiple POV’s don’t always join up until the middle or the end, but this gave Ting a way to seek a connection with her grandmother.
Partway through I realized I was reading for the sheer enjoyment of the story and the desire to see what was next. Books like this are why I read. I highly recommend this book. I would eagerly pick up another novel by this author.
*see more of my reviews here and at my website cestokes.com*
August 18, 2020
This story are told from Ting and her grandmother, Mini point of view. Ting had no idea that she had a grandmother who lives in Hawai until they got a news that she going to come and visit them. I think Mini's era before and during the the war is more interesting than Ting's era. You can see what Mini and her family been through during those hard times. Mini told her life story whenever she return to China to visit Ting so I keep waiting for her to continue her story.
It was an interesting story and the characters were interesting too. But there are unfinished part and so it's kinda disappointing phewww
Thank you Netgalley, author and publisher for Unbound ARC!
It was an interesting story and the characters were interesting too. But there are unfinished part and so it's kinda disappointing phewww
Thank you Netgalley, author and publisher for Unbound ARC!
September 21, 2025
While I liked the premise of "Unbound", the novel didn't really work for me. The overall plot was interesting, but the writing wasn't anything special and the characters weren't all that well-developed.
July 26, 2020
Recommended: yes
For a generational story of understanding, for a look at recent historical Chinese eras, for a story that pierces your heart and makes you want only the best for the characters, for a blend of romance and survival and coming-of-age.
Thoughts:
This was an elaborate and impressive saga of romance, and survival, and coming-of-age. Ting ages from a child to an adult women in the course of the story, and we see Mini from late teens to her elder years. That span alone is a lot to cover, and so the story relfects that in how long it can take to read. While it was engaging the whole way through, the concepts and stories are complex enough that it simply takes some time.
The generational story-telling aspect was generally well handled, though there were times where I had forgotten where it left off with the other person (Mini versus Ting) and had to read a few pages before I remembered how old the person was, what they were dealing with at that time, and so on. The framing of it is quite smoothly integrated into the story itself though, not just as abstract flashbacks but as stories being shared with one another that are then later referenced, as well.
Mini's story is around the time of the war and Japanese occupation, whereas Ting's life is under the Cultural Revolution and Mao's leadership. The contrast in societal expectations and standards of living are fairly drastic here, and that's highlighted in the jumps from Mini to Ting. Ting's reflections on her grandmother's stories show how hard it is for her to understand her grandmother's life when compared to her own. While this is still fiction, I get the sense that details of their stories could easily be drawn from the lives of real people. Thinking about that hurts a bit, because there was so much pain at times that I found myself quite grateful that I could hide behind it's status as a novel, instead of a memoir. Realistically though, I'm sure it's not far off from being the latter.
I'm typically a quick reader, but this one forced me to take my time. So much happened that I just needed breaks. From the pain, and from the characters at times.
This is a winding, eventful picture of three generations of women living in China. They each face their own burdens and secrets. If you're looking for an emotional, enlightening story, this debut novel is perfect.
Thanks to NetGalley and The Greenleaf Book Group for a free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
For a generational story of understanding, for a look at recent historical Chinese eras, for a story that pierces your heart and makes you want only the best for the characters, for a blend of romance and survival and coming-of-age.
Thoughts:
This was an elaborate and impressive saga of romance, and survival, and coming-of-age. Ting ages from a child to an adult women in the course of the story, and we see Mini from late teens to her elder years. That span alone is a lot to cover, and so the story relfects that in how long it can take to read. While it was engaging the whole way through, the concepts and stories are complex enough that it simply takes some time.
The generational story-telling aspect was generally well handled, though there were times where I had forgotten where it left off with the other person (Mini versus Ting) and had to read a few pages before I remembered how old the person was, what they were dealing with at that time, and so on. The framing of it is quite smoothly integrated into the story itself though, not just as abstract flashbacks but as stories being shared with one another that are then later referenced, as well.
Mini's story is around the time of the war and Japanese occupation, whereas Ting's life is under the Cultural Revolution and Mao's leadership. The contrast in societal expectations and standards of living are fairly drastic here, and that's highlighted in the jumps from Mini to Ting. Ting's reflections on her grandmother's stories show how hard it is for her to understand her grandmother's life when compared to her own. While this is still fiction, I get the sense that details of their stories could easily be drawn from the lives of real people. Thinking about that hurts a bit, because there was so much pain at times that I found myself quite grateful that I could hide behind it's status as a novel, instead of a memoir. Realistically though, I'm sure it's not far off from being the latter.
I'm typically a quick reader, but this one forced me to take my time. So much happened that I just needed breaks. From the pain, and from the characters at times.
This is a winding, eventful picture of three generations of women living in China. They each face their own burdens and secrets. If you're looking for an emotional, enlightening story, this debut novel is perfect.
Thanks to NetGalley and The Greenleaf Book Group for a free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 1, 2021
UNBOUND is author Dina Gu Brumfield's riveting debut novel that transports readers to pre-war Shanghai and Mao Rule. This family saga concludes in 1989, as one woman's journey begins. It is a devastating glimpse into lives faced with the uncertainty of war and revolution. In a country that has little regard for the birth of a daughter, women are forced to make difficult sacrifices. Gu Brumfield creates a heartbreaking story of cultural tradition and family loyalty. The characters are stoic, real, and determined. I truly liked everything about the writing, the location, and the historical aspects. It's a convincing tale of conflict and resolve. Well done!
*Many thanks to Greenleaf Book Group Press and NetGalley for the e-galley. Opinions are mine.
*Many thanks to Greenleaf Book Group Press and NetGalley for the e-galley. Opinions are mine.
August 1, 2020
I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This book is released on the 4th August 2020.
Lately I have been reading a lot of Japanese and Korean fiction, but not a lot of Chinese fiction, or fiction set in China, and reading this novel highlighted how much of a mistake on my part that is!
Unbound: A Tale of Love and Betrayal in Shanghai tells two stories, one of Ting starting in 1970s Shanghai and the other of Mini, Ting’s grandmother, starting in 1930s Shanghai. Despite the difference in characters and time, both are trying to navigate China as women and learn what they really want in life.
Both Ting and Mini are great characters who complement each other very well when the novel bounces between the two perspectives. I found Ting’s childhood fascinating, especially how the other children would react to news of her grandmother. However, as the novel progressed I found that I was far more keen to go further back in time to see what Mini was doing. There’s so much mystery surrounding Mini that I, like Ting, just wanted her to come back so I could hear more of her story.
That was another detail that I liked with the novel: the structure of finding out more about Mini’s life when she returns to China on visits makes the reader feel as though they are Ting waiting for her to return and listen to her story. The gradual reveal keeps the novel well paced and keeps your attention throughout.
I feel that all of the characters embody a different aspect of China and its history, from the traditions of the Shi family to Ting’s college friends desperate to escape a life of no choices. They all very much feel like products of their time and you can see that Brumfield really understands all of these different types of people and the hardships they faced, as well as put others through in some cases. A character that surprised me was Mini’s father, Mr. Pao, he is just so different from the stereotypical Chinese father which was really refreshing; he really contrasted with all of the other men that we’re introduced to in that time.
Unfortunately, my knowledge of China and China’s history is somewhat lacking, however, Brumfield’s writing truly opened my eyes to the brutality China’s people have faced and the challenges that are still faced by Chinese women. It also illustrated what life was like just after Chairman Mao’s reign, as well as, in the height of its communism. The novel made me consider things that I hadn’t before and that’s just one of the reasons why I would recommend people to read this novel.
Whilst the characters face many heartbreaking events, the novel as a whole isn’t entirely doom and gloom. The strength both Ting and Mini have to stand up to others and make their own decisions is inspiring. The final scene, without going into any detail, is uplifting and filled with hope and will stay with me for a while.
Lately I have been reading a lot of Japanese and Korean fiction, but not a lot of Chinese fiction, or fiction set in China, and reading this novel highlighted how much of a mistake on my part that is!
Unbound: A Tale of Love and Betrayal in Shanghai tells two stories, one of Ting starting in 1970s Shanghai and the other of Mini, Ting’s grandmother, starting in 1930s Shanghai. Despite the difference in characters and time, both are trying to navigate China as women and learn what they really want in life.
Both Ting and Mini are great characters who complement each other very well when the novel bounces between the two perspectives. I found Ting’s childhood fascinating, especially how the other children would react to news of her grandmother. However, as the novel progressed I found that I was far more keen to go further back in time to see what Mini was doing. There’s so much mystery surrounding Mini that I, like Ting, just wanted her to come back so I could hear more of her story.
That was another detail that I liked with the novel: the structure of finding out more about Mini’s life when she returns to China on visits makes the reader feel as though they are Ting waiting for her to return and listen to her story. The gradual reveal keeps the novel well paced and keeps your attention throughout.
I feel that all of the characters embody a different aspect of China and its history, from the traditions of the Shi family to Ting’s college friends desperate to escape a life of no choices. They all very much feel like products of their time and you can see that Brumfield really understands all of these different types of people and the hardships they faced, as well as put others through in some cases. A character that surprised me was Mini’s father, Mr. Pao, he is just so different from the stereotypical Chinese father which was really refreshing; he really contrasted with all of the other men that we’re introduced to in that time.
Unfortunately, my knowledge of China and China’s history is somewhat lacking, however, Brumfield’s writing truly opened my eyes to the brutality China’s people have faced and the challenges that are still faced by Chinese women. It also illustrated what life was like just after Chairman Mao’s reign, as well as, in the height of its communism. The novel made me consider things that I hadn’t before and that’s just one of the reasons why I would recommend people to read this novel.
Whilst the characters face many heartbreaking events, the novel as a whole isn’t entirely doom and gloom. The strength both Ting and Mini have to stand up to others and make their own decisions is inspiring. The final scene, without going into any detail, is uplifting and filled with hope and will stay with me for a while.
September 26, 2020
Loved this story! Unbound is a dual time line, multi-generational story of three women caught up in the upheaval in China between the 1930’s-1980’s. The story is told by Ting, and her grandmother Mini.
Mini was raised in a middle-class family in Shanghai, China and came of age in the early 1930’s. Her father was very forward thinking for the time, worked for the British consulate, taught his daughters English, sent them to missionary schools and let them think and make decisions for themselves. A man ahead of his times perhaps, but decisions made throw Mini and her family into the turmoil of the Japanese occupation of Shanghai, the end of the war, and then the revolution.
Ting, the granddaughter, is born during the Cultural Revolution, a very dark period in China’s history. She doesn’t even know she has a grandmother who lives in America until her mother announces that she is coming to visit. Why does grandma live in America and why doesn’t mother speak about her? I’m not going to spoil the story for you, but just an amazingly told story, and the relationships that develop between the women after they’ve been torn apart by the tragic events of history are beautiful.
This was a beautifully told story. The author is from Shanghai and lives in the US, so she is writing what she knows. I enjoyed the people being the focus of the story and not the tragedy of history that can sometimes come across in historical fiction. I was an exchange student to Japan in college in the late 1980’s before Tian’amen Square, and there were quite a few students from mainland China. They would have been about the same age. I even had a friend at the time from Shanghai who lived in my dorm. Reading this story really helped me understand what these students had gone through growing up.
I’ve already recommended this book to so many people! If you are interested in China, historical fiction-especially 20th century, or a good mother-daughter story, this is it!
Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers, and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Mini was raised in a middle-class family in Shanghai, China and came of age in the early 1930’s. Her father was very forward thinking for the time, worked for the British consulate, taught his daughters English, sent them to missionary schools and let them think and make decisions for themselves. A man ahead of his times perhaps, but decisions made throw Mini and her family into the turmoil of the Japanese occupation of Shanghai, the end of the war, and then the revolution.
Ting, the granddaughter, is born during the Cultural Revolution, a very dark period in China’s history. She doesn’t even know she has a grandmother who lives in America until her mother announces that she is coming to visit. Why does grandma live in America and why doesn’t mother speak about her? I’m not going to spoil the story for you, but just an amazingly told story, and the relationships that develop between the women after they’ve been torn apart by the tragic events of history are beautiful.
This was a beautifully told story. The author is from Shanghai and lives in the US, so she is writing what she knows. I enjoyed the people being the focus of the story and not the tragedy of history that can sometimes come across in historical fiction. I was an exchange student to Japan in college in the late 1980’s before Tian’amen Square, and there were quite a few students from mainland China. They would have been about the same age. I even had a friend at the time from Shanghai who lived in my dorm. Reading this story really helped me understand what these students had gone through growing up.
I’ve already recommended this book to so many people! If you are interested in China, historical fiction-especially 20th century, or a good mother-daughter story, this is it!
Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers, and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 7, 2020
This historical fiction is set in Shanghai...a multigenerational story, one that starts in 1935 wherein we first come upon Mini Pao, the grandmother who grew up before the Communist revolution. In 1975 we find Ting, the granddaughter growing up in Communist Shanghai as well as Jing Ling, Ting's mother. Up until a visit from her grandmother, who now lives in Hawaii, Ting had no idea she had a grandmother... of course she wants to know everything about her. This story, while it is told through these women, (I feel) is actually more of Mini's story. Her background, with her father working for the British consulate, was a bit less traditional than most Chinese families Mini was an independent woman, living in a household where her father insisted she learn English, she was headstrong and insistent, she found love, she also found betrayal and had more than her fair share of struggles.
For Ting, living in Communist Shanghai she lives behind the wall of Communism, where the walls have eyes and ears, food is scarce, the living conditions poor. Ting's thirst for knowledge, the awe she has for her grandmother and the fact that she lives in Hawaii, and wanting to learn as much as she can about her grandmother's life is quite compelling. As Ting learns of her family's past, the hardships, the politics, she is filled with a growing sense of independence. The struggles both grandmother and granddaughter have, their independence and strong willed personalities, is woven into a book that cannot be put down.
As you read this book you see how China has changed from the 30's and into the 70's. How the country shook off its cocoon and emerged into the modern world. It is absolutely fascinating to learn the cultural differences between the East and West, how families relate to one another Highly recommended.
My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
https://bookworms43.blogspot.com/
For Ting, living in Communist Shanghai she lives behind the wall of Communism, where the walls have eyes and ears, food is scarce, the living conditions poor. Ting's thirst for knowledge, the awe she has for her grandmother and the fact that she lives in Hawaii, and wanting to learn as much as she can about her grandmother's life is quite compelling. As Ting learns of her family's past, the hardships, the politics, she is filled with a growing sense of independence. The struggles both grandmother and granddaughter have, their independence and strong willed personalities, is woven into a book that cannot be put down.
As you read this book you see how China has changed from the 30's and into the 70's. How the country shook off its cocoon and emerged into the modern world. It is absolutely fascinating to learn the cultural differences between the East and West, how families relate to one another Highly recommended.
My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
https://bookworms43.blogspot.com/
September 27, 2020
Unbound is a enchanting story of three generations of women in China , in and around the city of Shanghai . It follows two narrations, the story of Mini ( the grandmother) during the times of WWII and Ting ( the granddaughter) during the times of Various revolutions in China . The language is very simple , a little too simple for my taste so I was skeptical if I will enjoy it but as I progressed , I found myself completely invested in the storyline and the characters. There are various things which I loved about the book which kept me hooked throughout .
🐉 The story line of both the protagonists was intriguing , both of them very strong in their unique ways, their struggles ( both of heart and matter ) were very realistic.
🐉 The character building is very strong and I was completely invested. Although the society were shown to be patriarch ( true to its timeline) ; I loved the characters of the dads of both the protagonist. They wanted what’s best for their daughters and stood strongly against the society for their good.
🐉The book is a refresher of the political history of China as it spans from 1935 to 1985. It portrays how the lives of the protagonist were affected by the events like multiple wars, attacks by Japan , Mao’s revolutions and the modern communist governments. All events are vividly pictured in the novel . Some events were really sad and heartbreaking .
🐉This was my introductory book into Chinese culture through the description of food , clothing , traditions and their faith.
🐉 Some feelings like the anxiousness ling feels when she first goes into college or her first flight or her first time in America just stroke the right chord with me, very aptly portrayed.
Thanks to @netgalley for the review copy In exchange of an honest opinion. I really enjoyed it and highly recommend it. The review is up on my Instagram page and goodreads also.
🐉 The story line of both the protagonists was intriguing , both of them very strong in their unique ways, their struggles ( both of heart and matter ) were very realistic.
🐉 The character building is very strong and I was completely invested. Although the society were shown to be patriarch ( true to its timeline) ; I loved the characters of the dads of both the protagonist. They wanted what’s best for their daughters and stood strongly against the society for their good.
🐉The book is a refresher of the political history of China as it spans from 1935 to 1985. It portrays how the lives of the protagonist were affected by the events like multiple wars, attacks by Japan , Mao’s revolutions and the modern communist governments. All events are vividly pictured in the novel . Some events were really sad and heartbreaking .
🐉This was my introductory book into Chinese culture through the description of food , clothing , traditions and their faith.
🐉 Some feelings like the anxiousness ling feels when she first goes into college or her first flight or her first time in America just stroke the right chord with me, very aptly portrayed.
Thanks to @netgalley for the review copy In exchange of an honest opinion. I really enjoyed it and highly recommend it. The review is up on my Instagram page and goodreads also.
August 4, 2020
This is an amazing, wonderful and illuminating book, set mostly in Shanghai between the 1930’s and late 1980’s. It tells the alternating stories of young daughter Ting, her mother Jing Ling, and stalwart, brave grandmother Mini, as well as other characters. The book narrative moved well and the story well-written but not floridly so, the first-time author Dina Gu Brumfield having been raised in Shanghai and not a native English speaker. The story is so compelling, though, that this doesn’t count in my opinion.
Having traveled to Shanghai including the Bund, environs and Suzhou, I was enchanted by the descriptions of these locales decades before I went and could easily envision them. They differed significantly from what I experienced. Most striking and important though, were the events in history such as the Japanese destruction and cruelty to Shanghai. This book perhaps is most significant in illuminating the struggles of the Chinese people under Mao and earlier, the Japanese, especially in Shanghai, even as the latter wielded destruction differently to the foreign concessions In Shanghai.
This was an amazing book and an important one, Chinese history being unfamiliar in most pre-college educational curricula. That is a shame, for there are significant lessons and effects to be learned. The effects of class warfare and totalitarianism portrayed here, set in an entertaining though sometimes sad novel, make it a compelling read.
Many thanks to #netgalley for an advance copy of this fine book. It is my hope that this author continues to write books set in China. #Unbound
September 8, 2020
Unbound is an multigenerational story of two women growing up amidst political disharmony in Shanghai. This story is about Ting Lee and her grandmother Mini.
In the 1970s, Ting Lee is a young child, and she does not know that she has a grandmother. When one day, she discovers that her grandmother is alive and coming from America to meet her, she becomes the talk of the town. An ever eager child Ting, sees and hears her mother and grandmother fight over betrayal. On approaching the topic to her grandmother, she narrates her story of her time, why she had to leave her homeland, and her family.
Mini grew up in the 1930s, where political unrest was the norm, and after being married to an affluent family, she was forced to give birth to a boy. Unable to do so she was shunned away by her in-laws, had her daughter taken away from her, and had to reform her life amidst this patriarch and politics to stand on her feet and live her life.
As the story goes back and forth in narrating the story of these two women, we get to see how they grow and conquer their struggles and live beyond the their own expectations at life. Mini's failed marriage and a nerve-wracking journey from Shanghai to Hawaii is an inspiration to the readers. And this very inspiration enforced Ting Lee to embrace her family's tragic past and live her life as an independent woman.
Detailed review at https://www.diaryofabookgirl.in/2020/...
In the 1970s, Ting Lee is a young child, and she does not know that she has a grandmother. When one day, she discovers that her grandmother is alive and coming from America to meet her, she becomes the talk of the town. An ever eager child Ting, sees and hears her mother and grandmother fight over betrayal. On approaching the topic to her grandmother, she narrates her story of her time, why she had to leave her homeland, and her family.
Mini grew up in the 1930s, where political unrest was the norm, and after being married to an affluent family, she was forced to give birth to a boy. Unable to do so she was shunned away by her in-laws, had her daughter taken away from her, and had to reform her life amidst this patriarch and politics to stand on her feet and live her life.
As the story goes back and forth in narrating the story of these two women, we get to see how they grow and conquer their struggles and live beyond the their own expectations at life. Mini's failed marriage and a nerve-wracking journey from Shanghai to Hawaii is an inspiration to the readers. And this very inspiration enforced Ting Lee to embrace her family's tragic past and live her life as an independent woman.
Detailed review at https://www.diaryofabookgirl.in/2020/...
March 17, 2022
Unbound, Dina Gu Brumfield’s debut novel, features a narrative thread propelling readers through the lives of granddaughter and grandmother spanning three generations shuttling throughout China’s turbulent history beginning in 1935, the rise of Mao through WWII, the Cultural Revolution and to cusp of the 1990’s.
Poet Billy Collins observes that novelists, “look into the windows of the house.” Ms. Brumfield succeeds admirably and weaves the fabric of grandmother, daughter, and granddaughter into a tapestry illuminating personal stories in the foreground of China’s history.
Their interwoven stories reveal personal struggles marked and marred by a constricting national history. Despite cultural constraints the brave and broken aspire toward an open world and a life unbound.
The story is embedded with key touchstones indicating China’s history and reveals Mini’s and Ting’s world with lively prose revealing much by saying just enough for us to feel history’s impact upon these characters. Mini and Ting live, come of age, love and endure betrayals and reversals, but ultimately endure. Coming to the end, one has the satisfaction of witnessing the velocity of their family journey intertwined with China’s difficult history. In conclusion, there is hope as our main character embarks on an unknown future bright in its expanse.
Poet Billy Collins observes that novelists, “look into the windows of the house.” Ms. Brumfield succeeds admirably and weaves the fabric of grandmother, daughter, and granddaughter into a tapestry illuminating personal stories in the foreground of China’s history.
Their interwoven stories reveal personal struggles marked and marred by a constricting national history. Despite cultural constraints the brave and broken aspire toward an open world and a life unbound.
The story is embedded with key touchstones indicating China’s history and reveals Mini’s and Ting’s world with lively prose revealing much by saying just enough for us to feel history’s impact upon these characters. Mini and Ting live, come of age, love and endure betrayals and reversals, but ultimately endure. Coming to the end, one has the satisfaction of witnessing the velocity of their family journey intertwined with China’s difficult history. In conclusion, there is hope as our main character embarks on an unknown future bright in its expanse.
August 4, 2020
This book was received as an ARC from Greenleaf Book Group Press in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.
At first, I did not know what to expect about this book and thought it would be a boring anthology about a grandma and granddaughter surviving Shanghai in the 20th Century all with the war up ahead. This book was actually filled with a lot of drama and conflict that I was able to glue my eyes to the pages and keep reading. Rejecting the path that was pre-set of Mini, she decides to break free and go for Romance all struggling to provide for her family being a struggling singer in the clubs of Shanghai. Now we have Ting, who inherits Mini’s curiosity of cultural revolution and lands a job in the fashion industry and the American Dream and the trends her grandmother has set in the cultural phenomenon that her head can’t help but be filled with knowledge. All of the information provided in the book was very informative and the story was very compelling.
We will consider adding this title to our Fiction collection at our library. That is why we gave this book 5 stars.
At first, I did not know what to expect about this book and thought it would be a boring anthology about a grandma and granddaughter surviving Shanghai in the 20th Century all with the war up ahead. This book was actually filled with a lot of drama and conflict that I was able to glue my eyes to the pages and keep reading. Rejecting the path that was pre-set of Mini, she decides to break free and go for Romance all struggling to provide for her family being a struggling singer in the clubs of Shanghai. Now we have Ting, who inherits Mini’s curiosity of cultural revolution and lands a job in the fashion industry and the American Dream and the trends her grandmother has set in the cultural phenomenon that her head can’t help but be filled with knowledge. All of the information provided in the book was very informative and the story was very compelling.
We will consider adding this title to our Fiction collection at our library. That is why we gave this book 5 stars.
August 10, 2020
Unbound by Dina Gu Brumfield is a heartfelt women's fiction story. The story holds three women at the center. The grandmother, the mother, and the daughter are all key. Each one had to learn how to be strong and to survive. The grandmother struggled but didn't give up. The mother did better but her daughter survived the best. The granddaughter is stronger of the three women because she learned from the other two. She is independent and smart.
I loved how family was the central theme in this novel. Love and loss are the other two themes and it was heartbreaking following the story. Each woman's life story unwinds into the other. However, the grandmother and her granddaughter take up most of the book. The writing was easy to get lost within and the characters were interesting. I wanted to know as much as possible about Mini and Ting. The culture of the Chinese people and their government could be felt on every page. It was scary. The future was unknown due to the Chinese communist government. Yet the characters still took as much control of their lives as possible. Overall, it was a great story!
I received this copy from the publisher. This is my voluntary review.
I loved how family was the central theme in this novel. Love and loss are the other two themes and it was heartbreaking following the story. Each woman's life story unwinds into the other. However, the grandmother and her granddaughter take up most of the book. The writing was easy to get lost within and the characters were interesting. I wanted to know as much as possible about Mini and Ting. The culture of the Chinese people and their government could be felt on every page. It was scary. The future was unknown due to the Chinese communist government. Yet the characters still took as much control of their lives as possible. Overall, it was a great story!
I received this copy from the publisher. This is my voluntary review.
April 15, 2021
Unbound is the story of two women in two very different times, both in Shanghai. One is the story of Ting and the story of how she came of age in the 1970s and beyond. At the tail end of the Communist Revolution, her family has to acclimate to a new government in China and a new way of life. When her grandmother, Mini, comes back from America to visit, Ting learns the story of when Mini was a young woman beginning in the 1920s. The multigenerational nature of this story is reminiscent of Pachinko and the characters are just as resilient.
The timelines in which the book is set provides the perfect platform for learning about the tumultuous events that China has endured in the past century. We can see how the various classes were affected and how China has not been the same since. The story chronicles the arrival of Japanese soldiers as well as the Americans, after WWII. At the core, this book is about strong, competent women forging their own paths even in the midst of war and political upheaval.
The timelines in which the book is set provides the perfect platform for learning about the tumultuous events that China has endured in the past century. We can see how the various classes were affected and how China has not been the same since. The story chronicles the arrival of Japanese soldiers as well as the Americans, after WWII. At the core, this book is about strong, competent women forging their own paths even in the midst of war and political upheaval.
March 22, 2021
This family saga is set against the backdrop of Shanghai from before WWII, through the Communist takeover up through the mid 1980s. At the start Shanghai was a cosmopolitan city full of foreigners, However for the majority of the Chinese population it was a traditional Chinese city. Mini Pao, whose father was an employee in the British Consulate, was a new woman of sorts because her father did not subscribe to the old ways pertaining to women. However Mrs. Pao, her mother, had bound feet so we can see the clash between the old ways and the new. What this novel deftly shows us is that the social and political environment matter as much if not more than parentage in terms of how our lives unfold. There are many plot twists and turns and the work more than held my interest. I did not know until I read a bit about the author that this is her first novel which makes it quite an achievement. I enjoyed this work very much and hope to see more of Ms. Gu Brumfeld's writing.
July 15, 2020
Thank you to Greenleaf Book Press and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader's Copy!
Available August 4th 2020
Set between the Cultural Revolution and the Shanghai War, Dina Gu Brumfield's "Unbound" is a breathtaking work spanning three generations of Chinese women's lives. From strong willed Mini to her daughter, duty bound Mei to her daughter, skeptical Ting, Brumfield explores what it means to survive as a woman in China. "Unbound" is unflinching and unbiased examination of sex and relationships, how one doesn't dictate the other and how both can be used to leverage freedom and privilege, as though the woman themselves have shaken loose from history's shackles. As time moves forward, I hope we see more and more of these narratives, of the comfort women, of the many underhanded interactions that happen in the shadows to keep empires afloat.
Available August 4th 2020
Set between the Cultural Revolution and the Shanghai War, Dina Gu Brumfield's "Unbound" is a breathtaking work spanning three generations of Chinese women's lives. From strong willed Mini to her daughter, duty bound Mei to her daughter, skeptical Ting, Brumfield explores what it means to survive as a woman in China. "Unbound" is unflinching and unbiased examination of sex and relationships, how one doesn't dictate the other and how both can be used to leverage freedom and privilege, as though the woman themselves have shaken loose from history's shackles. As time moves forward, I hope we see more and more of these narratives, of the comfort women, of the many underhanded interactions that happen in the shadows to keep empires afloat.
September 4, 2021
Goodness. That ending got me. I don't know how to review this--it is so emotional.
I love historical novels set in China. This really makes you realize how different things can be for every single person. How much some people are going through or have been through and you never know it. It makes you realize how people are so much a product of their past, and even their country's past. How history shapes you and your family and your culture.
I feel so heartbroken for Mini and her family and what they went through, knowing that those kinds of things really did happen to people. I am so glad for authors who are allowing readers a glimpse into what lives would have been like in the past and how that shapes the present and the future.
A huge thank-you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for a copy of the ARC.
I love historical novels set in China. This really makes you realize how different things can be for every single person. How much some people are going through or have been through and you never know it. It makes you realize how people are so much a product of their past, and even their country's past. How history shapes you and your family and your culture.
I feel so heartbroken for Mini and her family and what they went through, knowing that those kinds of things really did happen to people. I am so glad for authors who are allowing readers a glimpse into what lives would have been like in the past and how that shapes the present and the future.
A huge thank-you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for a copy of the ARC.
August 17, 2020
This multi generational story of a family of women in China goes through the British, Japanese occupations, WW2, communism and up to almost the present day and the historical detail is impressive. I saw it took the author ten years to write and I can see why.
At times this was unbearably sad and the challenges that women have faced throughout time (different, but still in many ways the same) was something to reflect on.
Minor improvements for me would be that there were some bits that were slower and some of the minor characters could've been explored more such as Ting's dad - he seemed quite progressive compared to other men of the time, Mini's husbands and Ting's dorm mates.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy in exchange for an honest review
At times this was unbearably sad and the challenges that women have faced throughout time (different, but still in many ways the same) was something to reflect on.
Minor improvements for me would be that there were some bits that were slower and some of the minor characters could've been explored more such as Ting's dad - he seemed quite progressive compared to other men of the time, Mini's husbands and Ting's dorm mates.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy in exchange for an honest review
July 7, 2020
Unbound is a lengthy story, but I relished every word. The author packs a lot of history into the narrative. Starting in the 1930s, through WWII, and China's reopening to the west in the late 20th century. The author weaves two separate stories: Mina and granddaughter Ting. There is much sorrow and hardship. The author provides such rich detail about the food, clothing, and culture of Shanghai. There is one part of the story that was left unfinished and I was disappointed it wasn't resolved. I don't know if a sequel is planned. Thanks to NetGalley and Greenleaf Book Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
August 29, 2020
*ARC
An intense look at Chinese life in the 1930s - 1980s. It is a reminder to look at historical context before making character judgement based on 2020 ideals. It was a bit hard to get through, and I often wanted to stop and take a break when I could tell that a decision a character made was going to have terrible repercussion. It was kinda like reading the Titanic. You know it is going to sink but you keep hoping it will make it anyway. Worth reading, but not a lighthearted book to take to the beach. It is a fresh look at gender/socioeconomic/race relations from a non-western perspective.
An intense look at Chinese life in the 1930s - 1980s. It is a reminder to look at historical context before making character judgement based on 2020 ideals. It was a bit hard to get through, and I often wanted to stop and take a break when I could tell that a decision a character made was going to have terrible repercussion. It was kinda like reading the Titanic. You know it is going to sink but you keep hoping it will make it anyway. Worth reading, but not a lighthearted book to take to the beach. It is a fresh look at gender/socioeconomic/race relations from a non-western perspective.
July 25, 2020
I LOVED this book. I was in a bit of a reading slump where I felt like I had to read but THIS book made me WANT to read. I am fascinated by Chinese history and I enjoyed learning about life in communist China and post Mao era with Ting's story and reading about Ming's pre-communist Japanese invasion story. I loved the characters I was especially fond of Mr. Pao, Ming's father. I went to the author's website and read that it took the author 10 years to write this and English is her second language. I would strongly encourage her to keep writing she is a gifted and talented author. Fans of Lisa See and Amy Tan will LOVE Dina Gu Brumfield. I highly recommend this book and I hope the next book is out sooner than 10 years! Many thanks to Greenleaf Book Group Press and NetGally for the ARC. I'll be adding this one to my collection.
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