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A Single Swallow
A Single Swallow | Zhang Ling
13 posts | 5 read | 11 to read
The eagerly awaited English translation of award-winning author Zhang Ling's epic and intimate novel about the devastation of war, forgiveness, redemption, and the enduring power of love. On the day of the historic 1945 Jewel Voice Broadcast--in which Emperor Hirohito announced Japan's surrender to the Allied forces, bringing an end to World War II--three men, flush with jubilation, made a pact. After their deaths, each year on the anniversary of the broadcast, their souls would return to the Chinese village of their younger days. It's where they had fought--and survived--a war that shook the world and changed their own lives in unimaginable ways. Now, seventy years later, the pledge is being fulfilled by American missionary Pastor Billy, brash gunner's mate Ian Ferguson, and local soldier Liu Zhaohu. All that's missing is Ah Yan--also known as Swallow--the girl each man loved, each in his own profound way. As they unravel their personal stories of the war, and of the woman who touched them so deeply during that unforgiving time, the story of Ah Yan's life begins to take shape, woven into view by their memories. A woman who had suffered unspeakable atrocities, and yet found the grace and dignity to survive, she'd been the one to bring them together. And it is her spark of humanity, still burning brightly, that gives these ghosts of the past the courage to look back on everything they endured and remember the woman they lost.
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Bookworm54
A Single Swallow | Zhang Ling
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This was my favourite for September.
It‘s a weird premise - 3 ghosts meet up and discuss the time they knew each other and their relationship with a particular woman - but so good!

#12BooksOf2023

37 likes3 stack adds
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Bookworm54
A Single Swallow | Zhang Ling
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Pickpick

So the ending bummed me out a little bit…
But overall I really enjoyed this book for #FoodAndLit #China

The story is mainly told by 3 ghosts, men who met during the war and made a pact to meet in the same place every year following their deaths. Now that they are all together again, they reflect on the time they knew each other, and the woman who tied them together.

JazzFeathers This sounds so strange. But in a good way. 7mo
Catsandbooks Interesting concept! 🇨🇳 7mo
40 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Texreader
A Single Swallow | Zhang Ling
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It‘s that time of year again. Free books for World Book Day!

Magpiegem It‘s come to my attention that we have WORLD book day on a different day to you... I think the world needs to get together and have a chat about this. It would be much better to all do it at the same time! 😁 3y
65 likes1 stack add1 comment
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youcanneverreadtomuch
A Single Swallow | Zhang Ling
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Pickpick

Beautiful sunny day in the middle of winter, great day to sit out and read.

Lovely read. While reading I kept wishing to see what was happening between the parallel stories. What happened when one was waiting and the other two got to continue living?

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nukie19
A Single Swallow | Zhang Ling
Mehso-so

There are some really beautiful descriptions and the writing is lovely, but I never felt invested in the story. Jumping from each character‘s POV and back and forth through time was discombobulating. I also struggled with the instances of abuse throughout. #litintranslation #ARC

Thanks to the publisher for providing an ARC through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

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nukie19
A Single Swallow | Zhang Ling

“Time is a miraculous thing. It can wear down the thorns of emotion, gradually eroding them to dust, and from this dust, a new sprout grows.”

Oh, the writing in this book has some great descriptions... #quotable

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nukie19
A Single Swallow | Zhang Ling
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Here we go... excitedly starting this #ARC ... I've been loving translated books lately - always brings a unique perspective. #litintranslation

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REPollock
A Single Swallow | Zhang Ling
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Pickpick

This novel has a great concept--3 WW2 comrades in China who heard the Japanese emperor's surrender on the radio meet back in their former village from beyond the grave after the final man dies. They tell life story of a young Chinese woman as they reminisce. TW for some seriously brutal sexual assault scenes and rampant misogyny even from her allies.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

22 likes2 comments
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REPollock
A Single Swallow | Zhang Ling
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I didn‘t get 24 hours but I did get 1/3 of the way there! Didn‘t finish a book tho.

#24b4monday #readathon

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REPollock
A Single Swallow | Zhang Ling
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Didn‘t get much reading in today because I helped a friend move but I did grab an hour or so before dinner! Definitely not going to make 24 hours but I like tracking my time for this #readathon!

#24b4monday

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REPollock
A Single Swallow | Zhang Ling
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Pretty good for the first day of #24b4monday readathon! Most of this is my commute audiobook but about an hour of it is the tagged book!

Andrew65 Good start. 4y
jb72 That‘s a great start! 4y
17 likes2 comments
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REPollock
A Single Swallow | Zhang Ling
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Next ebook!

AmyG Cats are so weird. 😳 4y
20 likes1 stack add1 comment