A Single Swallow by Zhang Ling

This literary fiction brings in fragments of the life in China, during the second world war until Emperor Hirohito surrenders,  through the eyes of three men. An American medical doctor who goes by the name Pastor Billy; American soldier gunner's mate Ian Ferguson; and Liu Zhaohu, Chinese trainee soldier. The fourth main character is a woman Ah-Yan. She is portrayed as an intelligent girl, who has a yearn to learn. Her peaceful life in village is turned upside down when the Japanese invade China. The horror and violence of the invasion, the devastation of the village, and more specifically how Ah-Yan is robbed of her childhood, her innocence, and all the humiliation she had to face for the atrocities of somebody else. When the author says that a child has to wake up as an adult all of a sudden, and children has no time to grow up in periods of war, it makes a gash in your heart! The wars around the world spread over the time of whole human existence impinges on the childhoods of many.

I bought this book in Amazon Kindle when it was suggested as First Reads to me. There was only one review, but the story line got me hooked.

The book talks about life in China during the period, before 1945, the Chinese culture and the differences between Western and Chinese world,  impact of the war in America and China, how the Americans joined hands with the Chinese in fighting the Japanese, the training, how the soldiers kept themselves sane during the tough times, the ego clashes, marriage, health, the weight the society puts on women in the name of honor, gossips and more. There are two dogs, Ghost and Millie, the love in their lives and their loyalty.

The three men's lives converge together and eventually they become friends. Ah-Yan comes into their lives at different times, and makes an impact in all three of them in a different way. Each of them look at her in a their own unique way. For Pastor Billy, she is like a star leading others by showing the way. She plays a significant role in moulding her into a woman of will. For Ian, she is strong like the wind. For Liu, she was a girl who was going to get married to him, while war parts them not only physically but also mentally. Though Liu eventually had to come back to her later in life, she is not his Ah-Yan. He had lost her by  allowing the society feed his male brain. Anyways, Liu develops a deep affection towards Ah-May, daughter of Ah-Yan. Ah-Yan is a single mother to Ah-May, and the story reveals later who Ah-May's father was.

The author brings to us the character, strength and mind of Ah-Yan, through the eyes of these three men. How they all fell in love with her in their own way, how their lives were impacted by hers, more importantly how Ah-Yan handles them all, everything life throws at her unfolds beautifully, heart wrenchingly at times, in the novel. 

To me Ah-Yan is a cheery girl, who became strong over time by all the wounds and injuries cast on her by the war. Especially I loved it when she stands up and yells about her 'so called secret', and asks the soldiers to act against the enemies but not the victims. Yes, face the fear in the eyes and it would run head over heels. Ah-Yan, to me is epitome of a woman, who understands, acknowledges what happened to her and doesn't let that rule over her. It takes time for her to reach to that point, but after that there is no turning back. It's her life, it's her courage!

The three men all admired her, loved her, looked at her in awe, but also did not do complete justice to her. They all talk about it and regret it, later when they come for their ghost reunion. Yes, after the war was over, when the Emperor announced his surrender,  they had made a pact to come together on the Anniversary of that announcement, every year after they die. Though Pastor Billy is the first to come and Liu joins him sooner, they had to wait seventy years for Ian to join them. The three ghosts go to the village to see Ah-Yan while reminiscing their lives during their time in China and after. Their voices bring out the story and all about Ah-Yan.

Ah-Yan learns practical medicine, both English and natural Chinese, from Pastor Billy to meet the needs of the people during war, and eventually sets up a clinic in her village and her grandson becomes a doctor, a neuro surgeon. Though her life was shattered, in an unimaginable way she manages to pull it all together, thanks to Pastor Billy's efforts. Overall, a good book about war, forgiveness, courage, friendship and love.

There were indeed a few places I felt the story was dragged a bit longer, especially towards the end, . Nevertheless I would recommend reading it once.  The story is based upon a letter which was discovered by a Shanghai homeowner, after having been hidden for more than seventy years. The letter was apparently written by Ian Ferguson, an American soldier to a Chinese woman named Winde, postmarked to the year 1946, asking her to meet him at a specific location.  Supposedly the letter was never mailed and lay buried in that building which served as a post office then. The novel was originally written by Zhang Ling in Chinese and then translated by Shelly Bryant. Zhang was born in China and had moved to Canada before starting her writing career. Shelly travels between Singapore and Shangai, as a writer, poet and translator. The book is available in book stores and in Kindle.