Cloud Mountain

by Aimee E. Liu, Aimee Liu, B.D. Wong (Reading)

A Literary Guild Super Release !
"Majestic, compelling... a sweeping saga in the truest sense." - Lisa See, author of On Gold Mountain and Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

Northern California, 1906.  Hope Newfield was young and headstrong, teaching English to foreign students. Liang Po-yu was an idealistic Chinese scholar-revolutionary, intent on bringing modern democracy to his imperial homeland. When the Great Earthquake came, they rescued each other...and fell desperately in love. And at a time when it was illegal to shoot livestock in California but not Chinese, Hope and Paul dared to defy blatant bigotry, marry, and start a family. But in the coming years, as they move from San Francisco to China and start to raise a family, their love is tested by prejudice, by revolution, by conflicting loyalties, and their own drastically different traditions.

Spanning decades and cultures, this is the epic story of forbidden passion between an American woman and a Chinese man and the tremendous obstacles they must overcome.

Genres: China, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Asian Literature, Book Club, Asia, Romance

672 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

For all of those who love Amy Tan and Lisa See and are looking for another Chinese-American reading experience, here’s Aimee E. Liu. She’s a journalist whose earlier books dealt with eating disorders, including her own battle with anorexia, and this book also is from the personal because it’s based on how her grandparents met and their experience with prejudice against Chinese in the earliest part of the 20th century, resentment of Europeans in China and societal scorn of mixed-race marriages and children. All this is set against the turmoil of China’s revolution 1900-1942 as the Manchu dynasty was overthrown, only to be replaced by chaos as warring factions sought control.

Hope Newfield is a tutor of English to Asian students attending Berkeley in 1906. Her mother is dead and her father is continually (and unsuccessfully) seeking his fortune in mining ventures. The head of the department is a “good catch” who’s already counting on Hope as his future wife, but Hope doesn’t see it that way. One day, she receives a Chinese student who’s unlike the other Chinese she’s had; for one thing, he’s cut off his queue (braid), something punishable by death under Manchurian rule – but he cut it off as a symbol that he is already committed to the fight to overthrow the Manchus. Early on, he asks Hope to give him an anglicized name and she renames him Paul. It’s obvious where all this is headed as there’s an immediate attraction between the two which society won’t let them acknowledge and in the wake of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, all the pieces fall into place and the relationship makes them outcasts to almost everyone. “Miscegenation” is illegal in California so they go to Wyoming to tie the knot, along with two other couples. They soon have a daughter but Paul is drawn back to China in order to take up the fight for the China of his dreams, under Sun Yat-sen, and Hope follows.

If all of this seems rather predictable, it is, but what follows is less so. Despite adapting Western dress and adapting some Western customs, in China Paul is stoically Chinese. There are a lot of secrets and Paul’s answer to Hope on most occasions when she questions him is either “You don’t understand” or “There’s nothing to be done.” It also becomes increasingly clear that Paul’s passion is the revolution, not the family, and Hope’s role is to be a good wife and mother; Paul loves her but neither the family nor her can stand in the way of his work. He spends almost all of his time negotiating between rival factions while Sun is out fundraising and compromising on key points. We, the readers, aren’t any clearer than Hope about WHERE all this is going but we can see HOW it’s going and that’s not well at all. Historical figures enter into this maelstrom at various points, such as Borodin and Chiang Kai-shek, while Hope and the family are tossed like ping-pong balls from place to place as Paul relocates them, either to be close to him or to be safe from danger.

I began to be bored by all this incessant disorder but I began to realize that it’s Hope’s story as she faces one calamity after another, trying to keep her family and marriage together, resisting temptations to abandon Paul and escape with her children, as most of the other Americans do. Really, it’s the story of her resilience as she slowly comes to realize that it will never be all right; Paul’s first love is the fight and no matter how long they stay in China, even if her children are born there, they will never be accepted as anything but “mongrels.” (The scorn heaped on the children reminded me of the children left behind by American soldiers in Vietnam; they are eternally “other” with most having little or no hope of finding their fathers.) In the end, Hope won me over and earned this book its stars.

[Marcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read by Aimee E. Liu. It was hard to put down. An American woman falls in love with a Chinese scholar studying in America. They marry in the only place in America that allows interracial marriage. After a short time living in America, trying to overcome Chinese racial hatred and failing, the family moves to China, facing this time, American hatred. Hope moved to China for the love of her husband, who is dedicated to the Chinese revolutions throughout the years, working for the many rebellions against Manchu rule, Mikhail Borodin and Chiang Kai-shek. Paul is torn between the love and traditional culture of his country, (in addition to freeing China from autocratic rule), and his American wife and children. This is a fascinating, historical novel. I am looking forward to reading more by Aimee E. Liu.

[Isla McKetta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I resisted reading this book for a long time - the hardcover too large to comfortably read in bed, I was out of my China phase, etc. - and I am so glad I finally picked it up off the to-read shelf. I worked with Aimee in grad school and I can see in this book some of the things she was trying to teach me about how to convey unspoken expectations and mores to the reader. The story is compelling, the writing is so clean, and I found myself in love with and rooting for the characters.

[Venita · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book written in 1997 describing in a gentle (and perhaps unrealistic fashion) the turn of the century marriage of a young woman seeking emancipation an a Chinese student struggling to be a part of the push for change in China - away from Warlords and Manchu control toward the American style democracy he so admires. The earthquake of San Francisco creates the impetus to ignore social mores of the time and run a back to China as an interracial couple. Not very plausible but once they are in China its and interesting history of political and social upheaval of the time. Also reinforcing some of the negative long term implications of European colonization - history lessons we still ignore and should acknowledge. I enjoyed the book despite the need to suspend belief at times.

[Pamela Pickering]

What to say? Well, I'm bored with this one, it's as simple as that (and I really dislike when people use the phrase, "I'm bored"). I'm 170+ pages in and I have no burning desire to sit down with it and for those who know me, I always have a burning desire to get back to a book. I'm not quite sure why I've lost interest but to be fair to the book, it might not be the right time to read this book. Sorry this review isn't more constructive.

[Barbara Glass · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was a terrific book about an interesting time in our countries history. When a white woman was forbidden to marry a Chinese man....this follows their life and travels back to China, based on a true story. It is truly captivating, following culture, love and family.
Full diclosure, Aimee is a childhood friend of mine, and a great writer. Even if I did not know her, this book would rise to the top of my list.

[Tina Kinstler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Story of a Caucasian American woman in San Francisco in the early 1900s...falls in love with her student, a Chinese man. Explores racism and bigotry, war and revolution, and enduring love.

[Jody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good book. Read this several years ago. Love story, action, adventure, laughing, crying, it has it all!

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

What to give this book for a rating? The writing is very good, drawing me in to an extremely epic family saga. It kept me coming back to read it over and over again. But, the thing is, the end WASN'T AN ENDING. Ugh. I know I've mentioned in other reviews, but I HATE THAT! The author's job is to write the story THE WHOLE STORY. My job is to read it...not write my own ending. What even happens at the end of this book? It starts off hopeful with the idealism of youth. I love how the main characters' struggles with racism as a Chinese man married to a "white" woman (who is partially native american, but not many people know that about her.) I enjoyed reading about their unorthodox wedding, their family, their travels and move to China. I found myself rooting for different scenarios for Hope throughout the book. And beyond Paul and Hope...Paul Mann, Sarah Chou, Yen, Pearl and Morris, Jasmine and Teddy...I loved how Liu developed these characters. I liked how the author educated the reader on Chinese modern history...but what the heck happens to the characters in the end? Do they stay in China together? Move to America together? Meet briefly and then continue with their separate lives? I'd give the epic tale 4.5 stars, but I HAVE to deduct 1 star for the AGGRAVATING NON-ENDING. So 3.5 stars, rounded to 3 stars since that's the only choice here in goodreads.


The story goes from hopeful and happy to sad and depressing, and I still liked it. That's a win for the writing, for sure. I wish Liu had addressed Paul's coming home smelling of opium more, because I have trouble picturing opium use without addiction, loss of control and untimely death as a result.

I liked how Po-Yu has an American name (Paul) and Hope has a Chinese name (Hsin Hsin)

Books mentioned in this book:
Ivanhoe
Bleak House
Sister Carrie
Paradise Lost
Howard's End
Sherlock Holmes
nickel romances

[Jeffrey L · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book at a library sale in Chelan, WA. It was free--if you bought a book bag. Any book you put in the bag was free. I'm a sucker for Asian American stories--especially ones that deal with San Francisco in the early 1900s, so this book went in the bag. The novel begins in 1906, before moving across the Pacific (1911) where most of the action takes place. The further I got in the book, the more dissatisfied I became. I couldn't put my finger on the problem--until I read a Publisher's Weekly review, which was spot on. "The novel's colorful historical context often prompts Liu into purple prose, and the drama sometimes runs dangerously close to movie-of-the-week sensationalism, . . . quick to stereotype [secondary] characters. . . ." Likewise, I felt the main characters (Hope and Paul) seemed to disappear behind the political crises of China 1912-1939. The novel would be strengthened by greater attention to complexity of character. Like so many other writers of Chinese American history, Liu finds ways to highlight Donaldina Cameron's work with "slave girls" the custom of footbinding, and the illegality of interracial marriage.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! I like historical fiction anyway, but the glimpse into this time period was amazing! The details were over the top and the characters extremely well developed. I felt as if the book’s events such as the Great San Francisco earthquake were happening now and that I had gone to China and was seeing these things for myself. I was traveling through time with this family. The research that must have been done to get to this level of writing must’ve been enormous. Anyone interested in how we got to where we are and likes historical fiction I highly recommend this book!

[Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I read a book, I’m usually longing to pick it up and read further. This was not one of those. There was just too much detail of Chinese politics which was not of interest to me. However, I learnt a lot about the America and China of this era. I must admit that the last third of the book gripped me a whole lot more, but I am pleased to have finished reading this book. It’s a real saga, but just a bit too much politics for me.

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mixed race marriage before it was acceptable almost anywhere, the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906, and the struggle for Chinese independence despite frequent regime change. Interesting, personal account of a white woman and her love and support for her idealistic Chinese husband, but hard to keep track of the political changes and to me, went on too long.

[Marguerite · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was promising in the beginning. The storyline was interesting and the characters believable. But alas, as it went on, it became convoluted and tedious. It seemed to me to go from a novel to
a history book and there were too many details with little novelistic context. I found myself skimming the book
I had been immersed in and ultimately lost interest.

[Savel Sabol · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the whole book, but was often wishing I was done. Lots of interesting history woven in, but I found the characters a bit flat and the only one I had much emotional response to was anger and frustration towards the husband. It was well written but I don’t recommend. If it was 200 pages shorter maybe.

[Nickie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but a bit long. I didn't enjoy much the parts about the history and politics of China but other readers might like it. I preferred the psychological approach of the main female character, Pearl, who tries to understand her Chinese husband and the world that surrounds them.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

[Marjorie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed learning more about China during the early 20 th century through this book and its main character, an American who married a Chinese man in San Francisco and returned to China with him.

[Sarita Alarotu · Rating 1 out of 5]

Jäi jälleen kesken

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Long family saga with lots of interesting history intermingled. Some very likable characters and many to hate. Amazing what people do to others

[Ole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written, cool story, in parts a bit long.
I like the setting of the book, emphasizing Chinese history.

[Nancy]

This wasn't badly written, but for some reason it just didn't hold my attention and seemed rather slow. I read 100 pages and gave up.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful story, great Character development. There wasn’t one point in all of the 600+ pages that I thought the author was dragging things on or where I got bored !

[Marianne Fanning]

Interesting read

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I had put off reading this lengthy fictional book covering the political history of China, I am glad that I did. I learned a lot in the process. However, this book felt extremely heavy on the history side and the story moving things forward was not gripping. The style of writing was difficult to read and included broken English, Chinese that was not translated for the reader, and many letters exchanged between characters. I think that this book could have been heavily edited down to improve it. I also think that one of the major story telling problems came from telling the story from the wife's perspective. She wasn't directly involved in the political intrigue which made it difficult to work the political history into the storyline except as she heard about it secondhand from her husband. Although I had deep admiration for the wife working as a journalist/photographer to keep the family going, at times I just could not believe that an American woman would have put up with so much.

[Kathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lengthy historical romantic tale of a white woman and chinese man who marry, spanning 1906 to 1941 and primarily set in China. The years our heroine spent with her politically inclined husband in China were tumultuous. She raises their children practically without presence of her husband and in an exceedingly unstable environment.

For lack of more appropriate literary terminology, I'll just say that the overall tone of the novel was, for me, dry. The story is primarily of the relationship between husband and wife, despite the fact that they are so little in one another's presence, and secondarily a history of the political climate of China in those years.

I wasn't tremendously impressed, but managed, somehow, to make it through the 500+ pages. It's not that it was bad. Just not exceptional.

[Sarah W. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel recounts the harrowing tale of an American woman and her Chinese husband in the early 20th Century. Hope Newfield meets her future husband Liang Po-yu while he is a student at Berkeley and she was engaged in tutoring students. They journeyed to Wyoming to marry (avoiding laws in other states forbidding marriage between those of different races) and after living several years in California, the couple moved to China, where both Hope and Po-yu were caught up in the political upheaval which characterized early 20th century China. While the history is fascinating, the novel can be slow-paced at times. Furthermore, much is told from Hope's point of view, and Hope makes a point not to become involved, or even very knowledgeable, about Chinese politics, a frustrating attitude for the reader who does want to know more about China during this period.

[Rjchaussee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the story of Hope, an American woman living in California and Paul, a Chinese man also living in California.
Hope is teaching English to Paul and they fall in love. Since most states forbid interracial marriage (the time is 1906), they marry in Wyoming and eventually move to China so that Paul can work in the Chinese revolution led by Sun Yat-sen.
Paul becomes obsessed with his revolutionary activities and Hope is often left with the children for months at a time.
Although Hope suffers disappointment in her marriage and struggles with the cultural differences, she emerges as a very strong woman and surprises even herself with what she is able to endure.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me much longer to finish this book than it should have! I started out very interested in the story of the American school teacher and her Chinese student. I was fascinated with their life in China and then somewhere around 500 pages in I simply wasn't anymore. The foreshadowing in the beginning of
the book was partially responsible but more than that long before Hope came to the realization she needed to return to America with her children I had reached the conclusion she was not meant to stay. I was angry at her for refusing to see the obvious. She chose to go on. I had to fight with myself to find the end of the book.

[Melissa Vickers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting... I learned a lot about Chinese culture and history in the late 1800s and first half of the 1900s... and also what life was like for Chinese people in the US during that time. It has some slow parts (700 pages!) and I sometimes got lost in the political details, but for the most part I really enjoyed this book!

I recommend it to anyone who likes to learn about a different culture and some history through a fictional story.