To Live was an interesting historical fiction novel that takes place before, during and after the Cultural Revolution in China. The book was once banned in China, where it is now widely read.
I enjoy this genre because it adds colour to a political situation that is otherwise hard to understand through facts and figures. Mao's reign resulted in enormous death and suffering, and in this book we see it happen through the eyes of the protagonist.
For me, however, the focus was a little bit too much on the protagonist's story. I would have liked the book to delve deeper into the government's actions.
Nevertheless, the book offers an interesting glimpse into the lives of regular, rural people as their political landscape changed over the decades. Enjoy!
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