This is a beautiful book written by Ha Jin. It takes place in China. Lin Kong is a doctor who spends his years working in a military compound, away from his wife who is caring for his parents and raising their daughter in his village. Lin Kong had married in an arranged marriage as a young man and had been at least content with his situation for a time. He then went away for work and met and fell in love with a woman named Manna Wu.
Lin Kong does not ever consummate his love for Manna while still married, even though they spend their time together and grow emotionally intimate with each other. There is a law stating that a man cannot divorce his wife without her consent until eighteen years has passed. Year after year Lin Kong returns home to his wife to beg for a divorce. And year after year she does not give it to him. During this time the forbidden love only grows stronger as Lin and Manna wait until they can be together.
After eighteen years Lin divorces his wife and marries Manna only to find that what he has been pining for is not quite is wonderful in reality as it had seemed during the years of waiting. Is this not a lesson we have all learned at one time or another? This is a beautiful book that tells a lot about China during this time as well as showing the conflicting emotions that Lin Kong has as he waits to realize his dream or marrying the woman that he chooses.
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