Books

The Road Afar

Now available on Amazon Kindle and Aliexpress.

A saga spanning two centuries of unprecedented opportunities and upheaval, The Road Afar intertwines the destinies of Ah-Hee, a self-made visionary Chinese American entrepreneur, and Muk-fong, a Taoist master’s talented daughter defying traditional bounds, as they navigate love, cultural collisions, survival, and personal transformation amidst the turbulence of the Gold Rush and anti-Chinese sentiment in America.

Inspired by real-life Chinese American pioneer Chin Gee Hee (陳宜禧), instrumental in building Seattle’s and southern China’s first railways, this story interweaves personal longing, resilience, and aspiration with cultural heritage against the backdrop of pivotal, yet often overlooked, chapters in American and Chinese history.

The saga begins with Muk-fong, the childhood love of our protagonist, Ah-Hee, asking, "Can girls go to Gold Mountain?" This question launches a narrative that spans two continents and seven decades, from the pastoral tranquility of Sunning County in 1861 to the dynamic upheaval of Gold Rush America. Ah-Hee's transformation from an earnest laborer to a respected entrepreneur and community leader, amidst the fervor of anti-Chinese sentiment, embodies the quest for belonging and acceptance, mirroring the collective voyage of many who braved bigotry and cruelty in a land of great promises but uncertain guarantees.

Equally central to the narrative is Muk-fong's path of empowerment—from being a Taoist master's talented daughter, to breaking free from the confines of an arranged marriage in China, to her vow of independence as a “Self-comb Woman”, and ultimately her emergence as Seattle's first herbalist. Her story, alongside Ah-Hee's, offers a unique and nuanced exploration of the diaspora experience, echoing the untold tales of women who transcended the expectations of their era. Their struggle to reunite and build a life together, intertwined with loss, bears witness to the enduring search for home that resonates within every immigrant family.

The following is a visual introduction to the novel. 

Since its debut in China in 2021, this two-part novel has garnered numerous accolades, including a nomination for the prestigious Mao Dun Literature Prize. For those interested in the Chinese edition, 《远道苍苍》can be found on Amazon, Dangdang, Jingdong and other major online bookstores.

A collection of novellas and short stories that delves into the complexities of human emotion in global urban settings, the book has been praised for its relatable and thought-provoking themes, resonating especially with young professionals and women readers, and has garnered critical acclaim for its depth and emotional resonance.

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