The Third Son

I spent many hours this weekend on my couch reading this beautiful novel, this heart wrenching story that I loved so much. And it made me cry. How it touched so many truths for me. Most vital is how this story takes on the travails of a young man and his struggle to free himself from his family and......more

The Third Son is a beautifully written debut novel. This book reads more like a memoir. Julie Wu takes the reader back to 1943 to Japanese occupied Taiwan, continues through the struggle with Chinese Nationalism and Communism, and ends in late 50's to early 60's in America. What made this story extr......more

Despite the rich settings, the historical backdrop, the beautiful writing, this is a compelling story about an unforgettable character. Saburo, the third son of a Taiwanese politician, suffers abuse, neglect, and disdain from his family, but he is never bitter. He is gentle, resilient, determined, a......more

I knew when I picked this book up that it wasn't for me--not a topic I'm particularly interested in--and I was only reading it because a friend of mine insisted. Holy cow, how many other fabulous books am I missing out on because they're "not for me"? I could not put this book down, and when I quick......more

3.5 Stars "Family. A wound that never healed. A promise never to be fulfilled. That was family." This is what the least favored son, the third son, of well off politically connected parents think until he meets a young girl in the peach woods of Taoyuan. At 8 years old, Saburo is in no hurry to get ho......more