Julie Ehlers's Reviews > Street of Eternal Happiness: Big City Dreams Along a Shanghai Road

When I saw a brand-new copy of Street of Eternal Happiness at my local library branch, I recalled my friend Sarah's enthusiastic review and couldn't resist checking it out. It was a risky move. My reading for the remaining weeks of 2018 was pretty much already planned out; was it wise to inject an unexpected book into the mix? Fortunately, in this case it really was! Rob Schmitz is an excellent, engaging writer, and he effectively explores China's past and present via portrayals of some fascinating residents of one Shanghai street. The results were moving and infuriating and inspiring and shocking and occasionally cringingly funny (how I wish I could erase those Heavenly Happiness pads from my memory!). There are a lot of books that seem like they're going to stick with you, but then they don't. I'm pretty sure Street of Eternal Happiness is one of those rare ones that actually will. Recommended!