num_pages: 416
description: Under Fishbone Clouds is a universal love story a family saga and a journey through Chinese history myth and culture. Following a young Chinese couple as their love grows and is tested during Mao's Cultural Revolution this elegant debut novel provides a rare and personal glimpse into the birth modern China.When the Kitchen God is challenged by the Jade Emperor to fathom the workings of the human heart he chooses to follow the life of Jinyi and his wife Yuying from their blossoming love until their old age in hope of finding an answer. The Kitchen God watches as the new government strictures split their family in two living inside their hearts as they they endure the loss of two children homesickness and isolation all while keeping alive a love that survives famine forced labor and even death. Weaving together the story of their life with Chinas recent political history as well as traditional folktales and myths the Kitchen God illuminates the most impenetrable aspects the human condition.
language: English
title: Under Fishbone Clouds
publisher: Polygon an imprint of Birlinn Limited