"Elegant and sharp. . . . By turns inventive and playful and dark and disturbing, with much to say about modern China." –NPR
"Surreal. . . . Yu's most devastating critique of the new Chinese reality." –
The New York Times Book Review "Entertaining. . . . Intriguing. . . . In narrowing his lens, his work carries new urgency." –
The Wall Street Journal "A political allegory for life–and death–experienced in the chaos of a rapidly changing modern China." –
Minneapolis Star Tribune "Plaintive. . . . Moving." –
Grantland
"A ghostly walk through contemporary China evokes the human cost of some of the big issues that nation is facing." –
The Toronto Star
"Mesmerizing. . . . Internationally award-winning novelist Hua crafts a discerning critique of contemporary Chinese culture through an evocative allegory revealing fates much worse than death." –
Booklist
"[A] poignant fable about family bonds made not of blood ties but unbreakable heartstrings. It will assuredly reward Yu's readers, familiar and new." –
Library Journal (starred review)