Green Island

 This historical fiction novel  looks at a Taiwanese family from 1947 to 2003. The book tells the story of a father imprisoned for speaking out against the Nationalist Chinese government that is in exile in Taiwan while the Communist government under Mao is taking control of Mainland China immediately after WW2. We watch the family spanning decades, forced to choose between family and what is morally right. Later, the daughter faces the same difficult choices in America with her father’s dark past following her.

The book was slow at first and I had a difficult time getting into it. I set it aside for a couple of weeks to read other books before giving it another try. At times the descriptions were a little over done and at times felt unnecessary. I enjoyed learning about the history of the relationship between Taiwan and China (also Taiwan and Japan) post WW2. It's a part of history that I don’t know anything about. 

More character driven than plot driven so I think that also made it harder to get into the story in the beginning. Learned about Taiwanese history and culture, as well as America’s involvement in the Taiwan/China relations. It made me research and want to learn more about the KMT, Taiwan, March Massacre and so many historical events involving Taiwan’s difficult past. Very moving story about complicated people and decisions between doing what you think is right, protecting your family, and survival