Excellent, and sobering

Probably the last book I'll read during the annual Christmas-Day-to-New-Years-Day trip to the Midwest. I liked this one - I think Ye Wenjie is a particularly interesting character - but I'm not sure that I'm invested enough in the story to want to dive into the second book just yet.

I read this in one sitting while watching blue jays fight with squirrels at the bird feeders. The chapter on bird songs and calls and the connections between them and human language was particularly fascinating.

Borrowed from a friend. Not a book I would've picked up on my own, but I loved it. Fantastic pacing, compelling protagonists and a satisfying ending.