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Book Review of The Distant Land of My Father

The Distant Land of My Father
reviewed on + 531 more book reviews


Anna, the narrator, is living in exotic prewar Shanghai, with her young parents, wealth, and comfort. Her father is a secretive and charming man, whose joys are sharing his beloved city with his only daughter.

When Anna and her mother flee Japanese-occupied Shanghai to return to Los Angeles, he stays behind, thinking his connections and luck will keep him safe.

As Anna writes a most interesting story of her memories and her father's journals, we learn of his fall from a millionaire to the torture of being a prisoner. As the book unfolds it reveals an enduring family love through tragic circumstances.

The reading of this book is easy, a page-by-page turner from the beginning. The story is of betrayal and reconciliation spanning several years across two continents.