Play Book Tag discussion

Green Island by Shawna Yang Ryan - 4* - My Review

Green Island is a book of historical fiction set mostly in Taiwan in which an unnamed narrator recounts her family’s tumultuous history. It begins in 1947 during the violent repression of Taiwanese civilians by Chiang Kai-shek’s Chinese Nationalist government, the Kuomintang (KMT), which had come over from mainland China after losing the Chinese Civil War to the Communist forces. The narrator is born during the (real) February 28th incident in Taipei, when her father is arrested by the KMT for his alleged involvement in “pro-Communist” activities. The storyline spans decades, chronicling the narrator's eventual immigration to the United States, where her professor-husband is taking part remotely in the Taiwanese independence movement. The story weaves together memories of her family in Taiwan and experiences in America, which prove not to be beyond the reach of the KMT.

Ryan employs a fragmented, non-linear narrative structure that moves between the narrator's present-day reflections and vivid flashbacks. The novel explores themes of political oppression, betrayal, and how individuals respond to threats to the security of their families. It portrays how fear and silence become survival mechanisms. I appreciated reading about a less-covered historical period and location. I think it could have ended a bit sooner, as the final few chapters put this family through even more turmoil and trauma. Still, it is well worth reading. It points out the dangers of extremist governments, and the impact on individual freedoms, which of course, remains relevant in today’s world.

PBT Content Warnings: (view spoiler)[torture, murder by gun violence, loss of a pregnancy at 26 weeks (hide spoiler)]