Debbie Harpham
by Dorothy Minor aka The Book Whisperer
Since Janie Chang grew up hearing old stories her family told of life in a Chinese village, she pulls those stories from the past to write mesmerizing fiction today. The stories she learned as child are complete with encounters with dragons, ghosts, and immortals. Change weaves the legends into her modern story seamlessly.
The Library of Legends opens in 1937 with a group of university students fleeing from Minghua University in Nanking as Japanese planes bomb the city. We focus on Hu Lian, the narrator, and her companions Liu Shaoming, called Shao, and his maidservant Sparrow. They are helping the university professors save the Library of Legends, books about the ancient myths of China, by smuggling the books out of harm in the students’ backpacks.
The students and professors hope to go to Shanghai and safety. Lian’s mother is also supposed to be in Shanghai, so Lian desperately wants to find her. The constant threat of bombs by the Japanese and fear of encountering Japanese soldiers on the roads creates a great deal of tension.
Chang keeps the story moving with intrigue within the group and by inserting stories about the immortals. Lian learns she cannot trust everyone in the group, but knowing whom to trust is also difficult. Lian’s family secret including the fact that she and her mother have changed their names following Lian’s father’s untimely death haunts her too. She fears what will happen to her if anyone learns her secret.
Along the way, one classmate, a Communist advocate, is murdered. Later, another Communist sympathizer is arrested. Lian, Shao, and Sparrow decide they must part from the group and make their way alone to Shanghai.
Chang includes enough mystery to keep readers turning pages to see what happens next. Readers will have many questions which will all be answered satisfactorily by the end of the book.
Author Kate Quinn describes Janie Chang’s writing “as pure enchantment!” I would agree. I found myself immersed in the story including the parts about the immortals.
Part of that enchantment centers on a story from the Library of Legends, “The Willow Star and the Prince.” Moving the Library of Legends creates another story as the immortals and guardian spirits awaken. Chang weaves in the historical truth with the ancient Chinese legends to fashion a complete story. The Library of Legends is truly a story that will mesmerize readers.
Chang’s first novel, Three Souls, became a finalist for the 2014 BC Book Prizes. Her second book, Dragon Springs Road, became a best seller. Chang has lived in the Philippines, Iran, Thailand, and New Zealand. Currently, she and her husband live in Vancouver, Canada. Learn more from Chang’s Web site: https://janiechang.com/.
Visit Dorothy Minor’s website at Parkdalear’s Blog, and watch for her reviews of our NovelNetwork authors to be featured there, and shared right here at staging.novelsandbox.com/our-authors/.