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“Homeseeking,” by Karissa Chen, is a historical fiction novel rich in Chinese history and culture. It’s the story of Suchi Zhang and Haiwen Wang who meet in 1938 in a Shanghai longtang (community/neighborhood ). While exploring, Suchi is drawn to a house where she hears beautiful violin music. Haiwen is a musical prodigy and all he wants to do is perfect his playing. They meet as kindergarteners and become best friends. They fall in love as teenagers and then are torn apart by war.
This story is told along two timelines that span 60 years of 20th Century Chinese history. It begins in 1945 with “end-of-WWII” Shanghai, then moves to the Communist takeover, the second Sino-Japanese War and the resurgence of the Chinese Civil War.
Suchi’s story is told from her childhood to adulthood. She is always looking to the future because the past is too painful. Haiwen’s story is told from her adulthood to childhood as he hopes to reclaim what he has lost, to get a second chance.
Haiwen and Suchi are planning a life together when Haiwen secretly enlists in the Nationalist Army in 1947. He enlists so that his older married brother, who will soon become a father, won’t be drafted. Meanwhile Suchi and her older sister are sent to Hong Kong to escape the turmoil and danger in Shanghai.
Suchi finds works at a nightclub, earning enough to survive. A wealthy patron falls in love with her, but Suchi doesn’t love Lam Saikeung. After they marry, he soon becomes abusive. In 1985 they fly to LA to move their son, Samson, to college. When her husband flies to Singapore the next day for a business meeting Suchi decides to leave him. She joins her sister in New York and remains in the United States.
Haiwen was stationed in Taiwan when the war ended. He found a job there and stayed. After 10 years in Taiwan he meets and marries Linyee. After their two daughters are born, the couple immigrates to Los Angeles.
In 2008, with Haiwen’s wife deceased, Suchi moves to Los Angeles to help with the grandchildren. While at the grocery store Haiwen and Suchi meet again. Will Suchi be able to look back and find the love they shared? Will Haiwen get the second chance he is hoping for?
“Homeseeking” is a story full of love, hope, loss and pain. It will keep readers engaged and rooting for the characters to have the second chances they desire. This story full of love, hope, loss and pain will keep readers engaged rooting for second chances.
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