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Bury What We Cannot Take

by Kirstin Chen
Bury What We Cannot Take
Bury What We Cannot Take

Family's painful choice amidst Maoist China's fervor.

"Bury What We Cannot Take" compellingly depicts the struggle between personal survival and political ideology. If you're drawn to human dramas played out under repressive regimes, where choices carry profound consequences, this narrative will resonate deeply. Kirstin Chen has woven familial loyalty, historical undercurrents, and the emotional turmoil of sacrifice into a story that's both heartbreaking and thought-provoking. It's an intimate plunge into the complexities of loyalty, offering a window into a tumultuous period of history.

  • Singapore Literature Prize Nominee for English Fiction (2020)
Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.

Bury What We Cannot Take

by Kirstin Chen
Condition guide

Book Condition Guide

Books in Like New Condition

This book may contain very minor cosmetic defects, but it is in pristine condition. There should be no yellowing, no foxing, no water damage, and no annotations of any kind on the cover and the pages. For paperbacks, there should not be any crease marks on the spine. This book is good as new — lucky you!

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Very Good Condition

This book has been used, but it is still in a clean condition. There should be no foxing or annotations of any kind on the inner pages, but a sparse amount may be present on the cover, title pages, or outside edges of the book. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be light crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Good Condition

We do our best to ensure the quality of our books, but there is no escaping the wear and tear that comes with time. Slight foxing and some annotations may be present on the pages and the cover. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be several crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Well Read Condition

This is a well-read book, which means that the previous owner probably really enjoyed it! The cover and pages may include moderate foxing and annotations, but the text is not obscured and still readable. Moderate cosmetic defects and minor water damage may be present on the edges of the book. For paperbacks, there may be multiple crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

 

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ISBN: 9781542049719
Authors: Kirstin Chen
Publisher: Little A
Date of Publication: 2018-03-20
Format: Paperback
Related Collections: Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction
Related Topics: Asian Literature
Goodreads rating: 3.82
(rated by 2209 readers)

Description

The day nine-year-old San San and her twelve-year-old brother, Ah Liam, discover their grandmother taking a hammer to a framed portrait of Chairman Mao is the day that forever changes their lives. To prove his loyalty to the Party, Ah Liam reports his grandmother to the authorities. But his belief in doing the right thing sets in motion a terrible chain of events. Now they must flee their home on Drum Wave Islet, which sits just a few hundred meters across the channel from mainland China. But when their mother goes to procure visas for safe passage to Hong Kong, the government will only issue them on the condition that she leave behind one of her children as proof of the family’s intention to return. Against the backdrop of early Maoist China, this captivating and emotional tale follows a brother, a sister, a father, and a mother as they grapple with their agonizing decision, its far-reaching consequences, and their hope for redemption.
 

Family's painful choice amidst Maoist China's fervor.

"Bury What We Cannot Take" compellingly depicts the struggle between personal survival and political ideology. If you're drawn to human dramas played out under repressive regimes, where choices carry profound consequences, this narrative will resonate deeply. Kirstin Chen has woven familial loyalty, historical undercurrents, and the emotional turmoil of sacrifice into a story that's both heartbreaking and thought-provoking. It's an intimate plunge into the complexities of loyalty, offering a window into a tumultuous period of history.

  • Singapore Literature Prize Nominee for English Fiction (2020)
Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.