Till Morning Comes by Han Suyin

My husband once saw the author of this book in the elevator in the Beijing Hotel, and remarked, "Han Suyin, you're the author of 'Love is a Many Splendid Thing'" Her reply: "I've written many other things." Drawn from her own life experience, this love story between a Chinese girl and an American doctor occurs in Sichuan Province during World War II. The Nationalist forces have grudgingly and temporarily shifted their energy from their campaign against the Communists, so both Chinese factions can save their nation from the Japanese. There are many fascinating real-life stories told about these few years in a divided country, torn by war and conflicting idealogies. Unfortunately few have been written in English. Han Suyin has told her tale very well.

The story is set in China during the turbulent era between the end of WWII and the height of the Vietnam war. I found it fascinating and moving. As a third generation American communist, who has watched with horror how progressive ideology can be twisted into backwardness, I was impressed with her ability to show the good and the bad in a realistic, evenhanded way. I learned a lot that I hadn't known about the recent history of China. And of course the love story was beautiful and wrenching.

Wonderful story about the Chinese - American liaisons during and after the WWII. What makes it even more realistic is the fact that the author is of Chinese origin.
My mother read this book 2 years ago and she suggested that I read it since I had been traveling to China frequently in the past 10 years, but somehow I was posponing it until now. Definitely a book not to be missed if you are interested in romance, history, family betrayal and so on. As you come towards the end please prepare your tissues, its quite moving.

I just read it again after more than 20 years, and enjoyed it even more. An absolutly amazing and fairly balanced overview of China's development from the beginning of the communist revolution under Mao up to the 70s, America's foreign policy, McCarthyism, Vietnam...all wrapped up in a heart-wrenching lovestory and family-saga. Exquisitely detailed and well told, you're there from the first page to the last.

COULD NOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN. IT KEPT ME WONDERING WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT. BASED ON ACCOUNTS OF A FEMALE AMERICAN JOURNALISTS EXPERIENCE, DURING THE VIETNAM WAR. THIS BOOK HAS A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING IN IT. - ADVENTURE,POLITICS,ROMANCE,BUSINESS,GEOGRAPHY, WAR, RACISM AND STATISTICS. WOULD LIKE TO FIND A COPY OF THIS BOOK !