After a prologue taking place in Beijing, China during events connected to the Tiananmen Square protests, the narrative starts about 10 years back with Grace, an American, telling her story from a viewpoint that matures gradually over the years as she matures, including flashbacks back into her childhood which increasingly gaining in insight for Grace and for us, the readers. This is a very rich character study: As the novel progresses, you slowly learn more and more about Grace, the person she evolves into during her first decade or so of adulthood. The steady, slow build-up caused me to become more and more invested in Grace's life to the point I could not put down the book during the last 1/4 of it. Barrett's writing is a perfect balance between rich, descriptive language, and events and scenes that move along at a pace that holds your interest. The flashbacks are woven smoothly and seamlessly into the present events, revealing more and more bits about who Grace is and where she is in life.I love novels that further my understanding of history. Though this book centers on Grace's personal journey, the historical content was a bonus. It also included vivid impressions of sights, smells sounds and the feel of what it would be like to be in China both as a tourist and if you were to stay with a family in the general population; what kind of struggles you would have if you tried to learn some of the language; and the lifestyles and living conditions of the people in that country through the various regime changes.Much of the novel takes place during Grace's time working for and then married to a scientist. The topic of science is woven throughout in detail, so it practically becomes a character itself.Many important details about various characters are revealed in pieces, leaving a number of surprises in each chapter. I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because: 1) Personally, I dislike a lot of mystical stuff -- she keeps hearing the voice of a dead childhood playmate. 2) Barratt fluffed over Grace's brief and successful career as a home rehabber. Grace, her family and friends, had 0 previous background in this or any business or investment venture and a result there should have been a huge learning curve on this for her, fraught with stress and struggle that should have significantly impacted her character development. The surge in popularity of home renovation (evidenced by publications, TV shows, new Home Depot stores, etc.) that came about around the time of the publication date of this book, 1991, indicates a strong readership interest in this topic. In this novel her venture was treated as if it were a mere phase engaging in a small scale hobby. In any case, anyone with a contractor in the family, or who purchased an investment home, or rehabbed and tried to sell their own home would know differently.3) (Listed as spoiler at the end below.)This is the 2nd book by this author I have read. I chose it, because the first book of hers which I read years ago, The Voyage of the Narwhal, is among my favorite fiction reads of all time. (view spoiler)[A serious incident of female sexual harrassment ala Potiphar's Wife, was not treated with the impact on Grace's story as I would expect it would.(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)]
