If you are in the Northern Hemisphere, you are probably feeling the changes in the weather already. It is that time of year when we start spending more time indoors and getting cosy in the evenings. For me, it translates to me spending even more time reading. (Any excuse, please and thank you!) I have read some fantastic books in the last few months that are perfect for a weekend in. This week’s Book Bite is all about The Library of Legends by Janie Chang and why it should be your next book!
The Library of Legends, Janie Chang
China, 1937. When Japanese bombs begin falling on the city of Nanking, nineteen-year-old Hu Lian and her classmates at Minghua University are ordered to flee. Lian and a convoy of students, faculty and staff must walk 1,000 miles to the safety of China’s western provinces, a journey marred by the constant threat of aerial attack. And it is not just the refugees who are at risk; Lian and her classmates have been entrusted with a priceless treasure: a 500-year-old collection of myths and folklore known as the Library of Legends.
The students’ common duty to safeguard the Library of Legends creates unexpected bonds. Lian becomes friends and forms a cautious romance with the handsome and wealthy Liu Shaoming. But after one classmate is arrested and another one is murdered, Lian realizes she must escape before a family secret puts her in danger too. Accompanied by Shao and his enigmatic maidservant, Sparrow, Lian makes her way to Shanghai in the hopes of reuniting with her mother.
During the journey, Lian learns of the connection between her two companions and a tale from the Library of Legends, The Willow Star and the Prince. This revelation comes with profound consequences, for as the ancient books travel across China, they awaken immortals and guardian spirits who embark on an exodus of their own, one that will change the country’s fate forever.
Why You Should Read This…
Technically I should say, “Why You Should Listen To This…”- this was a spur-of-the-moment purchase on Kobo, and I am glad that I picked it up! (Emily Woo Zeller is a fantastic narrator- her warmth and tone brought this story to life.)
I do not tend to read a lot of World War II fiction, but I was intrigued by the scholastic setting in this book, and it did not disappoint. As an historian, I have to say that during a war, I probably would be thinking about what will happen to our archives and libraries, and what will be lost. The idea that students themselves could be the transporters of our knowledge seems incredibly fitting, and their dangerous and difficult journey made for an incredible story. Chang also wove mythology into this story seamlessly, no easy feat.
I must also say, I appreciate that this World War II fiction is not set in the West. Historical fiction can often give the impression that all of World War II happened in Berlin, Paris, and London, but the conflict spanned the globe. Reading this spurred me to do more research, and I’ve learned a lot since!
Is The Library of Legends by Janie Chang on your to-read list?
Cheers,
The Historian
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