Do Not Say We Have Nothing

Beautifully written story about families....Stunning prose, heartfelt and lovely. The characters are well developed and real. Epic. Expanisve and deep without the characters getting lost in the story. I've not read another book by this author, but I will. This should win every award.

Madeleine Thien tells the saga of three generations of a continuous politically contrived cycle of strife, questioning, and finally acquiescence in this gracefully written historical novel. I read in horror of what I might read next, but was grimly compelled continue. This book will grab you in the way no other book will. Anyone who knows about the Tiananmen Square massacre of 1989, knows the story can’t go well. It is like reading a novel about the Titanic. You don’t want to continue because in your mind you know there is no way it can turn out good, it is just a question of how terrible it will be. This book ends as gentle as it begins.
Reading this novel and putting it in the context of the social justice struggles the “First World Counties” are currently battling brings the current issues into a very different perspective. Those who are privileged to enjoy even the basic political freedoms afford to them, should truly feel lucky for their fortunate circumstances. Do Not Say We Have Nothing is a humbling, powerful and brave piece of literature.