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Jun 30, 2018RogerDeBlanck rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Ha Jin’s novel A Map of Betrayal generates a degree of suspense and tension like a spy thriller. However, what is most impressive is his acute examination of the lonely and painful sacrifice required of his protagonist, Gary Shang, who is a Chinese spy divided in his loyalties between countries. Shang’s allegiance remains with his homeland of China, even though he develops a sincere attachment to his adopted country of the United States. This transformation continues in conjunction with his rise as one of the CIA’s top translators. In chronicling the lives of both Gary and his daughter Lilian, as she attempts to reconstruct her father’s secretive past, Ha Jin delivers an entrancing narrative comparable to his previous best work, such as Waiting and War Trash, respectively. Jin effortlessly weaves Shang’s life as a spy with the historical events that produced the contentious relations between China and the U.S. during the years of 1949 through the 1980s. Whether exploring the complexities of family dynamics, ancestral heritage, or personal identity, he illuminates the emotional toll inflicted on ordinary individuals trapped in extraordinary situations. Jin’s prose moves with elegance and ease, making the force of Shang’s story feel even more powerful and heartbreaking.