Shanghai – The Bell Bookshop https://www.bellbookshop.co.uk Henley-on-Thames Fri, 09 Aug 2024 16:44:24 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9 https://www.bellbookshop.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/cropped-Bell-Background-Blue-32x32.png Shanghai – The Bell Bookshop https://www.bellbookshop.co.uk 32 32 River east, river west https://www.bellbookshop.co.uk/product/river-east-river-west/ Thu, 25 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.bellbookshop.co.uk/product/river-east-river-west/ A darkly glittering literary debut that traces a mixed family's troubled trajectory through developing China.

]]> A mesmerising reversal of the east-west immigrant narrative set against China’s economic boom,  River East, River West  is a deeply  moving exploration of race, identity and family, of capitalism’s false promise and private dreams.  

Shanghai, 2007: feeling betrayed by her American mother’s engagement to their rich landlord Lu Fang, fourteen-year-old Alva begins plotting her escape. But the exclusive American School – a potential ticket out – is not what she imagined.

Qingdao, 1985: newlywed Lu Fang works as a lowly shipping clerk. Though he aspires to a bright future, he is one of many casualties of harsh political reforms. Then China opens up to foreigners and capital, and Lu Fang meets a  woman who makes him question what he should settle for…

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