The Journey From Shanghai to Gold Mountain Paperback – June 3, 2020

A remarkable first novel, with clear, direct, detailed, and engaging prose. This first-time author utilizes a circular structure to begin where she ends, taking the reader back from a contemporary, fully American moment and voice to the process of history or memory as linked stories. The novel is organized into sections, each spoken by a woman of subsequent generations, beginning with the novel's titular character, "The One Hundred Men's Wife," the Chinese-born matriarch Zhang Ling, who was born in Shanghai in 1905, raised in a traditional, working-class family and brought to the U.S. ("this glorious place called Gold Mountain") after losing her first husband, who had previously emigrated. Married a second time to a man who purports to love her but is really trafficking her into prostitution in San Francisco, the novel follows her process of escape from that terrible fate and eventual third marriage to a man she met through the Presbyterian Mission Home that assisted women like herself, the novel then follows the gradual assimilation and intermarriages of Zhang Ling's progeny. The device that links these generations, and makes a coherent tale of the twists and turns of immigrant and American-born Chinese through the middle to end of the 20th century, is the matriarch's journal, passed from mother to daughter of each generation when the latter turns 16. A family narrative is also framed as a popular history of the culture encountered by and reflected in each generation, as Gottleib provides brief synopses of significant aspects of that culture as it impacts the family. I found the early chapters, the story of Zhang Ling herself, to be the most compelling sections of this book, and was impressed by the research that the author conducted in order to recreate early 20th-century Shanghai, a multicultural, global city experiencing the passing on of traditional Chinese culture into the upheavals of the mid-century. These passages are the most vividly imagined, revealing a history with which I had little familiarity, but that is told compellingly through the lens of family experience and the trauma of women forced to make impossible choices as their traditional roles are transformed by modernity and forced immigration. "Gold Mountain" proves, for Zhang Ling as for so many Chinese immigrants, to be a mirage, initiating a transformation from China's strongly Confucian and Buddhist culture (already transformed by the modernity that descended on that country, leading to the civil war and Communist victory from the 30s to 1948) through Christianity to the ultimate, and surprising, conversion of Zhang Ling's great-granddaughter to Judaism. The metafictional aspects of this novel's structure are perfectly captured by the response of the great-granddaughter, the fully assimilated Susan Harvey, to her mother after being given the journal: "'I was truly overwhelmed by the horrible things she lived through. It seemed like I was reading a novel, not someone's real life story. It was fascinating to learn about my culture, too. We're so American.'" Truly an American story, "The One Hundred Men's Wife" is also a global story of struggle and acceptance, and a vivid panorama of American history over the last century. One might have wished the fast-paced narrative had slowed at points, especially in its early chapters, to provide more of the rich cultural and historical material that Gottleib brings so vividly to life, but that is testimony to the power of this narrative. This is an author to watch, in my opinion, whose excellent grasp of stories--not only how they work but what they signify in terms of experience and perspective--will carry her far. This accomplished novel is truly a rich experience for anyone interested in storytelling as well as the cultural or historical contexts in which stories have the particular power to reveal the lived, varied, and intensely human experience from which culture and history come.

I loved this story. From generation to generation, it told of strong courageous women in their struggle, pain, and joy throughout their lives. I would, however, encourage the author to review the text, and make some corrections with the chronology of events, i.e. the death of one mother was how long after she. was diagnosed with heart disease?

While the story line itself was interesting I never felt engaged in the life of the characters. It felt like they were cardboard cutouts and the author just moved them around and told me what they were doing and feeling. ‘She is sad’ or ‘The food was delicious’ doesn’t make me feel the pain or the joy the characters are experiencing and it ended up boring me. I made it through to the end but it was a relief when I finished reading it.

This story was SO good. It was so interesting learning about different periods in time, in both China and the U.S. It was wonderful getting to see how culture changed over the years. I found the descriptions of the Chinese and American customs celebrated throughout the generations, and how they evolved over time, very familiar, even though the 2 cultures I grew up knowing were German and American. I could relate to much of this story, even though the details were different. I, too, had a very strong maternal grandmother that I greatly admired, love and miss.I highly recommend this book, especially for people who grew up straddling 2 different cultures.

If I had wanted an historical novel I would have bought one. After the beginning it went downhill. I was bored to death hearing about their clothes and how they ran their business. I did learn about some of their customs which I liked and some of the problems facing the Chinese back then. I would have thought that what had happened to her in the beginning would have had more affect on her in the future. Sorry, I couldn't finish it.

I liked the book Very much. And it was so good I thought it was true but, I was disappointed it was fiction. There wasn't even a explanation of what was true and what wasn't true. She wrote about pictures, but didn't include them, because there was none to include. I felt tricked that I invested so much time to a book that wasn't based on any truth. To be fair she never claimed it's truth. It is a good read so that's why I gave it four stars.

I did not care for the style this book was written. I felt like I was reading someone's boring diary. I kept anticipating some excitement but it never came. Story was just o.k.

It says the writer of this book is a first-time author. I find that hard to believe.The “journal” concept and the generational passing of it are engaging, as are the storylines of each character, each with their own unique joys and challenges, some truly life-shattering.The people and characters are profiled very well, giving me, the reader, a real understanding of why they act and react they ways they do. The environments are described with artful language, again giving real “pictures” of where the characters are living and working.The historical detail is remarkable, reminding us of what society was like during each character’s life. Brought back many forgotten memories for me too!The smooth flow of the narration is remarkable. The feelings of the characters come through with high impact, but realistically, especially important given the drama of their situations and life events. Could have been overdone so easily, but weren’t.Some may see this book as for women only, but I, as a man, found it intriguing, interesting and enjoyable on all levels.Again, I’m amazed that the writer is a first-time author. I highly recommend this and I’m looking forward to her next effort!