River East, River West

“Alva is one of the protagonists. She’s a moody, rebellious teenager who is starting to pull away from her mother, a white American woman. Alva has a dual identity—she has a Chinese father who she doesn’t know, and an American mother. Through Lu Fang, the Chinese businessman who Alva’s mother marries, we get a sweep of Chinese history, from the Cultural Revolution onwards. So it’s a book that tackles big themes and a lot of history, but always through a propulsive narrative that keeps you turning the pages.” Read more...

Recent Fiction Highlights: The 2024 Women’s Prize Shortlist

Monica Ali, Novelist