Crimson China
As seen:
By Betsy Tobin
avg rating
1 review
A novel that traps the reader at the outset, shining a light on a tragic, hidden world that runs in parallel to our own. It is a story of identity and culture, of the irrepressibility of the human spirit, and the powerful undertow of love.
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St Just Monday Morning Reading Group 24th June 2024.
Crimson China. Betsy Tobin.
The group generally enjoyed this book, saying that it had a good plot, credible and well-researched; and characters with whom they could identify. We also thought that it covered a lot of serious issues: the plight of immigrants in this country; suicide; alcoholism; and cultural differences. One reader commented that the first chapter acted as a good ‘hook’, providing a vivid, fast-moving description of the experience of Wen in the freezing waters of Morecambe Bay.
Some of the group thought that the book was ‘light’ on the surface, not dwelling overly on the horrific aspects of the story, thus making it accessible to the reader. The possibility that the story merited a more serious approach was also mentioned. The difference in cultures was handled very well, we thought, and these differences served as a means of moving the story on.
The ending of the book was considered to be slightly enigmatic or ambiguous.
One reader had reservations about the ‘snakeheads’, feeling that they were included in order to make a point about what the Chinese immigrants experienced, but their presence speeded up the pace of the book towards the end, leading to a rushed conclusion.
Another mentioned two points which seemed slightly less than convincing: Lili’s finding a house with the father of one of her pupils, which seemed rather remarkable; and Angie’s brother suddenly providing the money that was needed for Wen – this might have been better worked into the plot at an earlier stage.
We discussed the plight of these particular immigrants to England and how they are exploited by gangmasters so that they can never make any money, as well as being unable to access medical treatment, even in emergencies, for fear of the authorities, and so lead unhappy lives with no possibility of comfort, security or peace. This extended to a further discussion about immigration more generally, and the reasons behind it.
We were interested in the book’s title, and had not guessed that Crimson China refers to a rose.
