DEAR CHRYSANTHEMUMS A Novel in Stories

Catherine Ho delivers a dynamic performance of this haunting collection of short stories that take place between 1946 and 2016 during the years that end in six, a sacred number in Chinese divination. Ho channels resilient women through tumultuous and traumatic times in Chinese history. Evoking a strong sense of place through rich details and lyrical writing, Ho brings well-developed characters to life. These include a former dancer during the Cultural Revolution, as well as three women who were exiled following the Tiananmen Square massacre. Spanning seven decades in Beijing, New York, Paris, Shanghai, and Singapore, Ho nimbly inhabits a diverse diaspora. While historical background details are spare, Ho's versatile performance elevates this luminous debut. V.T.M. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2023]