"Green Island" by Shawna Yang Ryan

Another book choice inspired by my time in Asia, I wanted to explore more stories of Taiwan having read a book on its history. However I did not find that many books which I think is owing to the censure which is still applied to the history as different parties want to tell their own story or simply hope that others forget about the crimes commited. I have noticed that many authors who have left Asia and now reside in countries such as the US seem to feel more able to write about the recent history. I guess there may be something in distance. "Green Island" reflects this in its own story although within it there is a chilling tale of the influence that foreign states can have in another country. I would not have believed that this was possible until incidents such as the assassination of a number of Russians living abroad and other examples were reported in the Western news. This sinister side of globalisation always felt like a plot from a James Bond novel to me before these incidents. "Green Island" is an intense, brutal and fascinating read. It tells the story of a family in Taiwan post Japanese withdrawal, the establishment of martial law under the KMT and the eventual path to a more liberal state. The story is set in Taiwan and the US and exposes the real threat and influence that states can have in other countries not their own. Throughout the book, there is a feeling of tension, terror at times and real honesty about what love and marriage is. The story draws upon real life events and helped me develop my understanding of the complexitity of Taiwan and its position in the global machinations of politics. It made me think about the macro and micro level and feel a bit more aware of the complexities of international relations. This is a book which I will keep on my bookshelf for future reading. 4 stars out of 5.