Pat D. (pat0814) reviewed on 9/20/2015 + 379 more book reviews

In this debut novel, Ruiyan Xu writes deftly about the frustrations that develop when communication is not possible. Li Jing becomes aphasic when he suffers a traumatic brain injury, rendering him no longer able to speak or understand Chinese. His relationship with his wife and son suffers, and his business begins to fail until his wife learns to run the firm in his absence. His reversion to the English he learned as a child is facilitated by Dr. Rosalyn Neal, a neurologist from Oklahoma, who is hired by Li Jing's family. Her personal life becomes incorporated into the story line, and she and Li Jing eventually develop an inappropriate relationship.

I found Meiling, Li Jing's wife, to be the only likeable character in this book. She alone maintained dignity and integrity while the world as she had known it crumbled around her; however, I had to suspend disbelief when she rather seamlessly took over as acting president of her husband's investment firm. Rosalyn deteriorated from her initial professional persona into someone with few inhibitions and a desperate need for attention. For me, the story line took on a "soap opera" quality as it progressed, and the promise of its early premise was never fulfilled.

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