I was given a free copy of the book by the author in exchange for an honest review“Fated and Fateless” is a tale of love and hatred, of the desire to break the social rules of traditional China, of ambitions and moral strength.
The author tells us a story about two women, beginning from their childhood and moving further on with their lives. At first sight the plot may seem a bit banal, showing one upper-class girl, Diana, who always gets what she wants without the need to stir a finger for it, and the lower-class girl, Wendy, raised in a dysfunctional family, who’s never relied on anyone’s help. But if you set aside your cynicism and read on, you’ll find much more between the lines of this book. You’ll get to know the life of the Chinese and how it’s changed with time.
The strongest character of this book – Wendy - isn’t lucky enough to be born in a rich family, and that’s where her strength is. She is the one who has to take care of her family, as her father earns money only for gambling and booze. That’s why Wendy gets to know the real, hard working life very early and even can’t continue her education in spite of being one of the best students. However, she decides for herself that it’ll all change some day, there’s nothing she can’t overcome. The wild desire for a better life drives her all the way up the social stairs. You can’t stay indifferent following Wendy’s life, and you can’t feel anything but pride and joy that she made it, she managed to reach her goals.
It is an inspiring and heart-felt book, and I’d be interested in reading something more by Alice Poon.
