God of Luck

Ah Lung and his beloved wife, Bo See, are separated by a cruel fate when, like thousands of other Chinese men in the nineteenth century, he is kidnapped, enslaved, and sent to the deadly guano mines off the shore of Peru. Praying to the God of Luck and using their own ingenuity, the couple never loses hope of some day being reunited. 'Based on historical events, this novel brings to life a little-known aspect of Chinese history; between 1840 and 1875, close to one million men were stolen from southern China to labor in Latin America. The author does a clever job of interweaving the novel's two perspectives, and her clear voice and simple yet elegant style easily turns this work into a real page-turner. 'Highly recommended for general readers as well as those studying Chinese history.' --Library Journal. 'God of Luck is an emotionally engaging, suspenseful novel... McCunn's range in capturing diverse emotions is impressive, from the limitless cruelty of the guano industry to the deeply touching bond of love between Ah Lung and Bo See... The author's technique of alternating chapters between the perspectives of the separated spouses heightens the suspense and...there is a theme of hope and redemption amidst the tragedy... Most highly recommended.' --Multicultural Review, Summer 2008. 'Told from both the husband and the wife's points of view, God of Luck is a story of ordinary people discovering extraordinary inner resources of mind and heart in the face of savage adversity. It's impossible not to empathize with these characters and hope for their reunion, as they keep faith with each other though circumstances conspire to part them, perhaps forever.... 'McCunn's vision of 19th-century China is original and based on her own wide-ranging research. The familiar landscape has a way of suddenly turning surprising, for example, when the author delves into the traditional role of independent spinsters in Chinese society.... 'In God of Luck, McCunn creates a world, distant from us in both space and time, which seems absolutely authentic, and characters who are heartbreakingly real in their universal humanity.' --Historical Novels Review. 'McCunn's captivating historical novel is, at least to a degree, an adventure tale, as Ah Lung pits his wits against those of his captors in an effort to escape and return home. But McCunn, an excellent writer, offers readers other deeper pleasures as well. Among these is the wide palette of sensory experience.... '[A] remarkably layered portrait of a fascinating but little-known era in Chinese history.' --WaterBridge Review. '[A]n absorbing blend of history and realism...and the power of faith and the triumph of love over adversity....' --Curled Up with a Good Book