A man is found dead in a bathtub by his wife. He leaves a mystic drawing that send her on an adventure, full of myth and modern fable. A debut story that leaves the imagination open to the maybe and ultimately the why we are here. It’s a great start to a promising career. Set in China it reveals a class structure that prevails and hold its people in place.

Magic realism has my heart. I loved the way the author explored the characters. Braised Pork is a kind of book that either works for you or doesn't. As much as I liked reading it, somehow it left me a bit wanting. But all in all, a great debut.

I started this book and found that it was not for me. I didn't want to rate a book that I wasn't able to finish.

Jia Jia is living a relatively normal life In Beijing until she comes home one day to her husband in the bathtub, dead. He leaves her with a drawing of a strange figure dubbed the fish-man, because the figure has a fish's body and a man's head. Jia Jia, an artist, wants to recreate the drawing but is unable to. She decides to embark on a journey to Tibet, where her husband went alone prior to his death, to find out more about his death and about the drawing.

The book was well-written, I think the imagery was great and overall I really appreciated the writing-style. But, truthfully, I just couldn't get into the book for about two thirds of the way through, and even once it did get more interesting I found myself just trying to push through to the end. The book felt mundane, and the portrayal of Tibet was lackluster.

I think it would do well for people who likes books that are more about ideas then about any coherent (or interesting) narrative. It's short, though, so it could be worthwhile for someone who might want to dip their toe into books like that without reading something that's a 600 page tome.

Okay, let’s break this down into 3 parts!

1) What I thought I was getting:
So I famously like to know next to nothing about a book before going in when at all possible, and this is another instance where expectation had no basis in reality. From the cover, title, and first chapter, I was expecting some kind of horror/thriller story with maybe some element of the supernatural. (Think CJ Tudor)
This is actually an exploration of grief and depression with a mythology/magical realism element.

2) So the positive thoughts on what I got:
Once I shifted my lens on the story, this was actually a fairly powerful look at breaking shackles of expectation to find your own emotional catharsis and freedom.

3) What I wanted more of:
I wanted this to go more full tilt Piranesi and delve deep into the mythology of it all. Give me more weird and more metaphor and less of the Exciting Times societal exploration.

It's hard to really put my finger on how I felt about this book. It's a very interesting story about a woman who goes on a journey to find her place in the world after her husband dies. It's spiritual, very interesting

I really wanted to like this book but struggled to. Part of this could be that I don’t have an intimate knowledge of Chinese culture so while the choices for the dead end storylines and metaphors may make sense to someone else, it left me wanting more. It started out with feelings we can all empathize with. Jia Jia was reeling after the death of her husband, unsure of what do next after putting her passions on the back burner for years. Some of the dead end turns made sense as a whole because just like in life, no all roads lead to successful paths but I was hoping this would turn out differently.

I admit to being a straightforward reader. There’s a good guy, a bad guy, an incident, a coverup, blood, guns……..all those things I can identify as a reader. This book had none of that, it was too ethereal for me. The cultural history of the characters defined their relationships with each other and was paramount to the storyline.  I really tried to understand it, following the thread as best I could to the end, but I never felt any relationship with any of the characters. Readers who love stories with mystical veins raved about it on line and maybe if I had read some reviews prior to my reading it, I would have had more insight and would have appreciated it more.

I thought this was a beautiful lyrical novel on grief and getting to better no one self. I would definitely like to read more by this author in the future.

I really liked this book but still can't figure out why exactly, except that the writing was very good and I enjoyed the evolution of the main character.

This story is magical realism so it does go in a kind of a weird place but I did enjoy that aspect of the story as well.

Moreover, I liked learning a bit more about Chinese culture and the place of women in it, as it isn't something I read a lot. Jia Jia learns how to live without her husband after his death and finds herself little by little.

Overall a very solid book!

Thanlk you to NetGalley and Grove Press for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

An Yu's debut novel Braised Pork is a complex and deep, though easy to read, piece of magical realism that deals with pressing for contemporary Chinese society topics such the gap in social class, the ways this clashes with the traditional concept of saving face. Together with them, Yu examines universal themes such as family, loneliness, womanhood, being independent, and others. What glues all of them together is a drawing of a fish-man left to the main character by her suicide husband, that sparks a very beautiful and touching quest for self-discovery and self-worth. Very highly recommended!

Braised Pork is perfect for anyone who likes fiction with magical realism themes that was the perfect length. Jia Jia is a widow in Beijing that is determined to find the "fish-man" that her husband sketched before mysteriously dying while in the bathtub. Braised Pork follows Jia Jia as she follows her husband's itinerary for a recent trip to Tibet to see if there is any connection to his death and the "fish-man".

Braised Pork fit many themes within a book that was well under 300 pages, which many books can't say in 2020. Themes included magical realism, dealing with becoming a widow and family reconnection. Magical realism took the forefront as Jia Jia experiences dream like states in which she follows the 'fish-man' into a dark water where she cannot see anything, but is unable to remember what his face looks like when she goes to paint/sketch it once she's awake.

Jia Jia reconnected with her father, whom she hasn't been close with since he left she and her mom when she was young, thanks to her step-mother. The conversation between Jia Jia and her father after she returns from Tibet really brought the plot together and connected the title and familial connection to the 'fish-man'.

I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to read a short, magical realism novel as An Yu raised the bar with her debut, Braised Pork.

Braised Pork is An Vu’s debut book, a bizarre and hunting novel of feelings that reveals the social paradoxes of contemporary China. But it is also a personal quest to shelf-discovery. A psychological journey of a young woman in Beijing to discover who she really is and get clear about what she truly wants for her life.

But there is nothing complex in An Vu’s novel. The language is simple and clear, like water running in a river. It is this simplicity perhaps that makes this book so compelling.

Braised Pork is a moving debut from Beijing native, An Yu. She manages to capture the suffering of isolation that exists both in, and out of relationships. The connections we have as humans is also under observation here, with characters seemingly drifting through their lives, crossing paths along the way.

Jia Jia suffers a profound loss when her husband is found to have drowned in a few inches of bathwater. Although the marriage was born out of convenience, Jia Jia relied heavily on her husband for guidance. It’s now that she must now find her own way in life and deal with these new challenges, as well as the consequences they bring.

"As the tears gushed out of her, she felt herself shrinking down like a bar of soap, losing her original form. She had become a shapeless and authentic version of herself. This change, she knew, was going to be irrevocable." -An Yu, Braised Pork

It’s worth noting that while An Yu is a Chinese native, she received her degree in M.F.A at New York University. This has given her the confidence to write the book in English, instead of relying on a translator.

Braised Pork or Fish?
The title comes from the connecting meal that Jia Jia has with her father, who she’s been in little contact with over the last few years. He cooks braised pork and reminds Jia Jia that it was her favourite meal as a young girl.

Otherwise, it isn’t much mentioned.

Although setting up as a mystery, the book quickly navigates more towards Jia Jia’s life as a widow, rather than finding out exactly why her husband died.

I say exactly because it’s alluded to but never clearly defined. This could potentially frustrate readers.

A Bold Journey
I found the style of writing to be incredibly unique. It blends the reality of everyday life into the dark, surrealist nature of an alternate world; one that’s accessible only in certain states.

This serves to boost the writing above that of an average family drama and give it new life, similar to Murata’s Earthlings.

There are times when the writing fails to add any special wow-factor, becoming muddied in the midway point. It’s only upon approaching the Tibetan village that the plot begins to compensate for this.

Jia Jia shows several moments of vulnerability and weakness, which gives her a supportive motivation. As time passes, it’s clear that she is responsible for her actions, regardless of what her family think is best.

Despite clunky changes in environments, the difference between industrialised Beijing and mountainous Tibet is stark.

The hazy polluted fog and a struggling property market are traded for clear water ponds and fresh flowers. Tibetan myths take hold, and Jia Jia is drawn deeper into a fantasy world which can never be defined as real or imaginary.

The theme of loneliness, especially in womanhood, is loud and clear throughout.

Jia Jia’s family push her towards finding somebody safe to settle down with. However, Jia Jia would rather begin a relationship with Leo, a local bar owner.

It’s in these heart-warming moments of chatting at the bar that Yu’s writing shines. Bar lights flicker, couples begin to chatter, and a bond begins to form.

"Sometimes, the easiest way to lose somebody for ever is to keep them around." -An Yu, Braised Pork

The character of Jia Jia transforms as the novel continues on. She goes from submissive wife to troubled unconfident artist, all the way to having the confidence to love again. This journey of development is the underlining factor in this extraordinary adventure; One that includes fish-man sketches and esoteric wood carvings centred on a possible alternative world.

Having lived in Beijing, it always adds to the experience. Recognising train stations and shopping malls grounds the book in a real-world reality.

Closing Thoughts
Braised Pork is definitely a book you should pick up if you want a unique experience of Chinese mythical fantasy and reality-based drama.

Although the writing is a little bland at times, the overall plot serves to keep your attention until the closing pages. Not startling, but also not bad for a debut author writing in a second language.

This was an intriguing book that I found hard to put down. A strange and fascinating story of a young woman finding her place in the world after a traumatic event, Braised Pork tells the story of a human growth through the fantastical

Reads like a dream. An uncomfortable dream, that you are glad to be out of but also don't want to forget. I really enjoyed this one and will read it again because I've heard multiple book vloggers mention mentions mythology and literary references I didn't catch on my first go.

One morning in autumn, Jia Jia walks into the bathroom of her Beijing apartment to find her husband - with whom she had been breakfasting barely an hour before - dead in the bathtub. Next to him a piece of paper unfolds like the wings of a butterfly, and on it is an image that Jia Jia can't forget.

Profoundly troubled by what she has seen, even while she is abruptly released from a marriage that had constrained her, Jia Jia embarks on a journey to discover the truth of the sketch. Starting at her neighbourhood bar, with its brandy and vinyl, and fuelled by anger, bewilderment, curiosity and love, Jia Jia travels deep into her past in order to arrive at her future.- Goodreads

I was expecting something different with this read. When I think of dead husband, mystery image and journey, I am thinking of something intense, moving and passion driven. This book was passion driven in a way but it did not have the other aspects I was looking for.

This is not to say that this is a bad read. It is beautifully written, detailed and full of imagery. You get to know Jia Jia in all aspects.I was able to relate to her which made this book enjoyable for me because at time it did feel long winded.

I can't get over the imagery in this novel. It is written like a long poem. Each work feels delicate like Jia Jia.

If you are looking for a quick read this one isn't it. Although it is 240 pages, the pace of the novel is slow and it is meant to take your time to read.

Overall, I like the writing style of this author and would read something else by her.

2.5 Pickles

I honestly loved this strange tale. Rooted in reality with folklore and magical realism this novel really spoke to me. I found the premise intriguing, however it didn't do it justice. The main character is trying to find out who she is and where she belongs in the world now the social constructs she clinged too have disappeared with the death of her husband, how she manages to carve herself a life of her own after belonging to someone else. There is a strong element of the importance of art and stories and how we live if our passions are taken away from us. I loved this book and encourage others to pick it up!

I received an advanced digital copy of this book from the author, publisher and Netgalley.com. Thanks to all for the opportunity to read and review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Braised Pork is a story of self discovery and dealing with grief. Nothing is rushed, details are discovered as the main character realizes them. The story's pace is not fast, but not so sedate as to lose interest.

4 out of 5 stars. Recommended reading.

Jia Jia lives with her very busy businessman husband in Beijing. Life is the perfect picture of a normal, if somewhat distant marriage. Until, one morning, Jia Jia finds her husband dead in the bathtub. Next to him lies the sketch of a strange fish-man figure. And that's how Jia Jia's journey begins.

With the figure of the strange fish-man always at the back of her mind, the young woman will embark on a journey of self-discovery. She will picture her marriage with objectivity, she'll remember her true passions, she'll observe her family with no lenses. She'll meet people she could have loved and spent her life with under different circumstances, and she'll become an independent woman again. Jia Jia will embark on a journey to find the fish-man and why her husband died. But she will find herself instead.

At first glance, Braised Pork looks like a slow and difficult book to read. But as you move on, you get to reach the same realizations the heroine does. You move along with Jia Jia, and although you don't always agree with her actions or decisions, you get to understand and discover her - the same way she discovers herself.

Braised Pork is a recommended read for people who love allegories, deeper meanings, and journeys of self-discovery.