Lake Union Publishing, October 27, 2015.
Three Stars
The Palest Ink is the prequel to Bratt’s previously published series, Tales of the Scavenger’s Daughters.
While I thought it made sense to read the prequel first (I also have the first
in the series, The Scavenger’s Daughters,
on my shelf), I do feel like I missed out on the emotional connection that
others had with this book. Instead of learning the backstory of already-beloved
characters, I am only entering into these character’s lives, and so it took me
longer to feel anything for the characters.
The novel is set in Shanghai in the 1960s, as the
Cultural Revolution invaded China, and Mao’s Red Guard staged an attack on
their own citizens, especially the upperclass intellectuals. Benfu is from one
of these wealthy families, while his best friend, Pony Boy, is not. As these
two come of age during the course of the revolution, their different
backgrounds are used to contrast two very different socioeconomic situations
taking place in the same city.
Benfu is raised in a very traditional family, with an
arranged marriage on the horizon. He is taught never to question his parents or
his country, although he continues to do so secretly. Benfu is young and his
world view is naïve, perhaps too much so for an adult novel. I think this book
would be successful with a younger audience, as it is missing some important
depth of feeling, as well as more sophisticated character development. The
characters are multi-dimensional, and they certainly do more than just further
the plot, but I still think they could have been developed much further.
Perhaps the rest of the series focuses more on character and growth, as the protagonist
ages and begins a family of his own.
The title of the novel comes from a Chinese proverb,
“the palest ink is better than the best memory.” (Loc. 97) While Mao and his
army attempted to discourage intellectual discourse and literature, Benfu and Pony
Boy start a newsletter to record the atrocities going on around them. Much of
the younger generation was brainwashed into believing that Mao was doing what
was best for the people, but Benfu and Pony Boy chose to fight this belief
through their writing. They called their newsletter “a tiny drop of truth in an
enormous barrel of unjustness.” (Loc. 3986) Memories change over time, but a
written account will be accurately remembered for the future.
The boys’ plan to expose Mao and his Guard was an
ambitious one, and although the novel was working towards a climax, it didn’t
really follow through. It was not as compelling as I originally thought it
would be, and I started to lose interest about halfway through. The details of
setting and environment were a redeeming quality for the book, although the
story got a bit lost in the reliance on rich historical details. For the most
part, I enjoyed Benfu’s story, and I am still deciding whether I will carry on
with the rest of the series.
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