Miami - February 03, 2009

Caught Red-Handed

“The Vagrants,” by Yiyun Lu

Team of Rivals? Bipartisanship?

Sure, they’re buzzy words now. But in 1979 China, not so much.

Which explains the tragic fate of Gu Shan, an opinionated young woman sentenced to death in Yiyun Li’s debut novel, The Vagrants. Her crime: speaking out against Communism.

The story opens on the day of her execution and, needless to say, her parents are heartbroken. But by following the lives of several other characters, the Beijing-born author demonstrates how the political turmoil touches everyone in the small town of Muddy River — from a deformed little girl to a married radio announcer to an elderly beggar couple.

Fair warning: The subject matter can be bleaker than the current economic forecast. But would we trade this poignant tale for some less spectacular fluff?

Not for all the tea in China.

Available online at booksandbooks.com.