Book of The Month discussion

An epic and intimate tale of one couple across sixty years as world events pull them together and apart, illuminating the Chinese diaspora and exploring what it means to find home far from your homeland.

A single choice can define an entire life.

Haiwen is buying bananas at a 99 Ranch Market in Los Angeles when he looks up and sees Suchi, his Suchi, for the first time in sixty years. To recently widowed Haiwen it feels like a second chance, but Suchi has only survived by refusing to look back.

Suchi was seven when she first met Haiwen in their Shanghai neighborhood, drawn by the sound of his violin. Their childhood friendship blossomed into soul-deep love, but when Haiwen secretly enlisted in the Nationalist army in 1947 to save his brother from the draft, she was left with just his violin and a note: Forgive me.

Homeseeking follows the separated lovers through six decades of tumultuous Chinese history as war, famine, and opportunity take them separately to the song halls of Hong Kong, the military encampments of Taiwan, the bustling streets of New York, and sunny California, telling Haiwen’s story from the present to the past while tracing Suchi’s from her childhood to the present, meeting in the crucible of their lives. Throughout, Haiwen holds his memories close while Suchi forces herself to look only forward, neither losing sight of the home they hold in their hearts.

At once epic and intimate, Homeseeking is a story of family, sacrifice, and loyalty, and of the power of love to endure beyond distance, beyond time.

through January 2008 / 90 pages

it's good so far
(view spoiler)[ I like this slow build. I like seeing these 2 as kids and then as adults. its so sad how much they went their separate ways but I'm really glad that they talked in the car and he drove her home
it's like they are reminding each other who they were before they moved to America and things got so tough

I can't even imagine the strength and courage it takes to come to another country, to learn the language and try to fight for a life. (hide spoiler)]

Through January 2008 / 90 pages

I am enjoying it so far too. :)

(view spoiler)[ I agree with all that you said. I remember when I was teaching high school and I'd get a student from another country, they often would give me a name that was very "American" like John, for example, rather than give me the pronunciation for their name which was obviously usually more difficult for me. I think it was just easier for them to give a more common American name so that we English speakers would have an easier time. I was kind of sad when Haiwen started being called Howard because (just my opinion) it changes a little bit of who he is.

I love the scenes where they're sever year-old kids and all the talk about violins and music. Getting to see how far back Suchi and he go is endearing. I can't wait to see how these two end up in their golden years. Will they get together or just be friends? I love that they are 80-ish. (hide spoiler)]

Through February 2008 Los Angeles / 157 pages

(view spoiler)[I love how passionate they are over the music and the way Bach plays to their appreciation of his compositions. It’s like a new love. It's sad how badly Suchi wants to be a singer and how her father views it, like it's a sin.

I loved the scene with the fortune teller. They were only 14 years old and Suchi was shocked that Nyan was a woman. But maybe that would've been a surprise to everyone then and there. I thought it was cute how obstinate Suchi was to the woman. Stubborn! Nyan definitely told them how it was and was right on.

I also loved the New Year's scene when they exchange the red envelopes in celebration of their New Year. Plus all of the grandkids, etc. I am not sure why Suchi was so insistent they didn't talk about their childhood days. Was it because she knew it would bring up old feelings?

And the people dancing and singing in the streets when they heard the Japanese had surrendered. I remember my mother telling me about that and how we (Americans) did that too. In fact, they had a picture of my my oldest sister, Judy, holding up a newspaper with the date of the day of or after that happened. (hide spoiler)]

Through April 1993, Shanghai / 236 pages

(view spoiler)[I had to stop here. What a heartbreaking section. I still love the chapters so much when they were so young and in love, but the way they departed when he just left after she got so upset that he said he couldn't do blah blah "not right now" was devastating to Suchi, I'm sure.

When Howard returns to Shanghai it's so upsetting to see his family the way they are. Haiming has outcast Junjun and that division is awful! What happened to her Ba was so sad and awful too. I understand his being upset but after so many years he needs to forgive. I'm not sure how well Junjun and Howard will be able to move forward now either. Losing both of his parents while he was gone and returning to thing the way they are is just so sad. :) (hide spoiler)]

Through March 1966 Hong Kong / 374

(view spoiler)[I couldn't believe the cold shoulder Sulan gave him when she first realized who he was without even asking him what happened. Poor guy. And her illness...just so awful.

I was so sad to hear that Suchi was in such an awful marriage. She was always so hopeful in love with Haiwen. It broke my heart to see that. But I'm glad that they had their moment and had the chance to make love. That was so sweet.

My grandson's favorite thing he still sleeps with is one I got him before he was born and his name is Bunbun. :) (hide spoiler)]

Finally I can make my final comments on the ending:

(view spoiler)[I thought this book was so beautifully written. It highlighted the importance of family, love/forgiveness, loyalty, political divisions among family and country, and how beautiful love can be even through the years and across the miles.

I was so happy that they finally met and obviously both still loved the other. I was happy with the ending even though I still wanted more about Suchi and Haiwen at the very end, it didn't truly need it The last section CODA really hit me. Talk about beautiful writing and giving me all the feels. It made me think again how very glad I was that in my parents' last years of life we had them over EVERY SINGLE Sunday and Thursday for games and Monday nights for American Idol. There were times I was really a bit too tired after a long day at work with 150 freshmen, yearbook and grades due deadlines, etc. but I will never have to regret not seeing them every chance I got. Life IS too short, as cliche as that may be.

I Loved this one so much! (hide spoiler)]

through January - April 1947
Shanghai / 198 pages

(view spoiler)[
Awe, these 2 -
I'm so sad that he enlisted and went instead of his brother and gave up his dreams - but you could kind of see it coming. his brother had a wife and family. it would be hard to not martyr yourself up to take his place.

and I'm sad that she didn't get into the flight program and that her dad views it all so unfavorably but her dad had a good point. They own a store. Did she think they would just close it down when he was ready to retire? although he should have had both her and her sister helping him.

I think her dad is into some not good stuff against the government. I wonder if it's going to get them in trouble. (hide spoiler)]

through February-August 1965
Hong Kong / 300 pages

(view spoiler)[
wow, to see how they were young and had so many dreams

and that Howard had bumped into her sister and she had told him how much she suffered - but that HE had already married too! Even though his bumping into her sister seems a bit too "the world is so small", I'll just roll with it! lol

I'm sad, too, that this sister signed that letter and turned her father in. what a horrible legacy - and it's terrible, to face that kind of choice and decision. She'd just become a mom too! but to live with being the reason your dad was killed. I don't know, it's just awful all around but I don't blame either brother for being mad

and now we have the sisters. The older one isn't getting out of bed. I'm sad for her - that she isn't holding up and trying to keep them alive
but Suchi is - even though her waitressing job is probably what lead her to the horrible match. (hide spoiler)]

through October 1972
Hong Kong / pg 394

(view spoiler)[
This is the first 100 pages where I felt like it was all filler
it was nice they had that moment but, again, it makes it sound like Hong Kong is a really small, low populated area for them to see each other again! lol I'm glad they had that moment but it was unnecessary, I think, for the story

I'm glad we know what was going on with her sister. and so glad she got some help but yikes. at the cost of her having to marry that man. awful

I like the son but, again, I didn't need that moment with the elephant. We already knew her marriage to that guy was going to be terrible. (hide spoiler)]

Done

I agree (view spoiler)[ it definitely pointed out how short life is. I was shocked when they found her mom but so sad her sister wasn't alive to know!

And I agree, I really wish we'd gotten more of them getting to know each other as adults, getting to finally have some quiet time to remember their happy memories but also get to know who they were now.

I liked that we got a few moments with older Samson but I was sad he was so mad and disappointed with his mom and that she was so secretive with him
(hide spoiler)]