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A Map of Betrayal
A Map of Betrayal: A Novel | Ha Jin
6 posts | 8 read | 10 to read
A Christian Science Monitor Best Book of the YearFrom the award-winning author of Waiting and War Trash: a riveting tale of espionage and conflicted loyalties that spans half a century in the entwined histories of two countriesChina and the United Statesand two families. When Lilian Shang, born and raised in America, discovers her fathers diary after the death of her parents, she is shocked by the secrets it contains. She knew that her father, Gary, convicted decades ago of being a mole in the CIA, was the most important Chinese spy ever caught. But his diary, an astonishing chronicle of his journey as a Communist intelligence agent, reveals the pain and longing that his double life entailedand point to a hidden second family that hed left behind in China. As Lilian follows her fathers trail back into the Chinese provinces, she begins to grasp the extent of his dilemma: he is a man torn between loyalty to his motherland and the love he came to feel for his adopted country. She sees how his sense of duty distorted his life, and as she starts to understand that Gary too had been betrayed, Lilian finds that it is up to her to prevent his tragedy from endangering yet another generation of Shangs. A stunning portrait of a multinational family and an unflinching inquiry into the meaning of citizenship, patriotism, and home, A Map of Betrayal is a spy novel that only Ha Jin could write.From the Hardcover edition.
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review
JoyBlue
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Mehso-so

I made a late decision to join a book discussion at the library, put the rest of my books in progress on hold and whipped through this. I wasn‘t wowed with the book; but I‘m sure I‘ll enjoy the group. Now, back to our regularly scheduled program....

review
Suet624
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Pickpick

My last post for today. When I was done with the book I tried to remember why I originally picked it up. It must be because it was a Christian Science Monitor Best Book of the Year, which kind of intrigued me. I barreled through it. China's history has always fascinated me, and the life of a spy who cares for both countries is quite plausible. The book was good, but unfortunately as passionless as the two main characters. A lot to ponder in it.

Eliza-beta Have you read his other books? I loved 8y
Suet624 @Eliza-beta, No I haven't. I should have started with Waiting. I enjoyed his writing a lot. Just was a bit flummoxed by the neutrality and passionless presentation by the characters. 8y
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Suet624

"George Bernard Shaw once said: 'The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself; therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.' I hope that when you're young, you cherish your unreasonableness, which, like the fire of life, might dwindle as you grow older."

JoyBlue Haha—this is one of the very few clips I bookmarked. 7y
Suet624 Well then we must be compadres! 7y
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Suet624
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I believe that a country is not a temple but a mansion built by the citizens so they can have shelter and protection in it. ... History has proved that a country can get crazier and more vicious than an average person.

CocoReads Much truth there. 8y
Laura317 It sounds heartbreaking and hopeful at the same time. 8y
cathysaid ❤️ Ha Jin 8y
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MelindaOtt
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I thought I was going to have to miss my book club for this month, but it turns out I can go after all. So.....it's time to start the book!

Imlostinbooks I really liked this story! 9y
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