Today's book is a historical fiction novel that takes place mostly in China, but also partly in the U.S, as a young man returns home to find his missing father. A Map for the Missing by Belinda Huijuan Tang follows Yitian as he returns home, unsure of what he will find or the reception he will receive.
The Situation: It is 1993 and Tang Yitian is living in America when he receives a frantic call from his mother back in China, telling him that his father has gone missing. It has been nearly a decade since Yitian left, and when he did, he was not on the best of terms with the man he is now looking for. In fact, his father would barely acknowledge his presence, refusing to even speak to him before he left for college in Beijing. Upon returning, things are both as Yitian remembered them and completely different. Using what little information he receives from his mother, Yitian sets out on a quest to find his father, but the search forces him to confront events that took place nearly two decades ago.
The Problem: Yitian's search for his father will not be the quick and simple task he was hoping it would be. But his trip home offers him another opportunity, and it is the chance to reunite with a childhood friend. When he first moved to America, Yitian did attempt to keep in touch with Hanwen. As kids, the two of them dreamt of attending college, both studying rigorously for the gaokao, the standardized college entrance exam held annually in China. Only Yitian would receive the opportunity to attend college, and later leave for America, while Hanwen stayed in China, eventually becoming a bureaucrat's housewife. Their reunion means an examination of the past, as well as where everything stands now that they are adults. Questions of what might have them become nearly impossible avoid, as Yitian looks for a father he is not sure will be happy to see him.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a historical fiction novel set mostly in China, but also briefly in the U.S. where Yitian is a professor. There are two stories being told at once, that of Yitian, the second son of a small farming family living in a small village in China, and also Hanwen, who was one of the "sent down" youth from Shanghai who was to help in the fields. The narrative moves around throughout the 1970s, 80s, and early 90s, explaining the relationship between Yitian and Hanwen, as well as how they relate to their family members, and the people they ended up marrying as adults. There is also plenty of historical information offered up about China during a time when the gaokao has just been reinstated, causing China's youth to become excited once again about the prospect of attending college.
My Verdict: At the beginning of the book, I was intrigued. I wanted to fully dive into Yitian's history and the dynamics of his family. I was eager to learn more about China in the 1970s and the intense political climate the people were living under. But something happened while reading the first chapter that focused on Hanwen's side of the story. For whatever reason (I cannot quite figure it out), I was much less interested in her experience than I was with Yitian's. I do not think it was the character, but maybe her story arc as a whole. And neither storyline felt fully complete to me by the end of the book, though it left like more attention was paid to Yitian over all. There are parts of the book that were still engaging and interesting, but other parts felt like something was left out.
Favorite Moment: There is a part where Yitian attempts the impossible while attending university. Everyone at the school told him it was impossible, but he tries anyway, a few times. As someone who works at a university, I could appreciate both sides of the interactions: The university officials are frustrated that a student would try such a thing after having the rules clearly laid out for them. And I also recognize the desperation Yitian displayed as the student, despite knowing the futility of his request.
Favorite Character: Yitian's wife Mali does not have much of a presence on the page, but her place in Yitian's life is apparent and clear, even as he is often unsure if the life they have together is what he wants.
Recommended Reading: I recommend Beasts of a Little Land by Juhea Kim.
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