Author: Grace Lin
Publisher: Listening Library
Rating: WORTHY!
Beautifully read by Kim Mai Guest.
This is the companion novel to Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, and was published first. If you've read one, you'll recognize some of the references in the other. I really liked this one, perhaps better than the first volume, which I read first because well, that's just me! It doesn't really matter in which order they're read. This audio book was beautifully read by Kim Mai Guest
I typically pay no attention to a book's cover because it rarely has anything to do with the author, and my blog is about writing - which is what the authors do. In this case however, I could not help but note that this marks the third book I've read (or in this case listened to) recently which are tied to the Chinese zodiac, or the "Shēngxiào" (which means "birth likeness"). The zodiac runs in this order, the first two animals of which (you will note) are on the book cover: Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig, Rat, Ox, Tiger.
The story here centers on Rendi, who ran away from home because the Moon is missing, and the sky is crying, and no one but he seems to notice. He wants to find out what's going on, so hiding amongst the large jars or "gangs" of wine in a merchant's cart he leaves home and ends-up working as hired help at a roadside inn in a tiny and isolated village aptly named 'Clear Sky'.
As he works his day away, increasingly dreaming of moving on and getting away from the dead village, Rendi becomes intrigued by the people, events, and stories which haunt this inn. He only got the job because the innkeeper's son disappeared, so what happened there? What's the deal with the innkeeper's daughter Pei-yi? What's at the bottom of the well? Why is there an absolutely massive stone pancake near to the inn? Why do Master Chao and Widow Yan detest each other so vehemently? How is it that Mr Shan, who seems as wise as he appears crazy, not be able to tell if his loyal pet is a rabbit or a toad?
The story becomes even more interesting when a woman, Madame Chang, appears at the inn apparently having walked there alone, and who knows a whole host of stories, because, well, half a host of stories just doesn't cut it in China...! The story titles in some cases struck me hilarious, such as "The story of the dancing fish" and "The story of the three questions" which reminded me of Monty Python and the Holy Grail! In other cases they're simply intriguing, such as "The story of the man who moved a mountain" and "The story of the jade bracelet".
The stories together, plus Rendi's own story and quest, combine to make a charming and engrossing tale which is rich in Chinese folklore. I highly recommend this volume.
