Diamond Head: A Novel by Cecily Wong

 

Kindle Edition

I learned of this book in Real Simple magazine and voila! was able to get it without a wait on my kindle from my local library. I started this book on April 17 and finished it on April 21. A quick read.

I really enjoyed the time-skipping aspect of this book and the storytelling. It follows members of several families and tells their stories and how they became intertwined. This is NOT a time-travel book. It looks at each person and shares their story going back in their personal history.

This book is about relationships, choices, family. It spans 1800s China to 1960s Hawaii. There's so much about the book that I enjoyed. However, the ending; I didn't love the ending. It was too abrupt. Maybe I was too invested in the characters, too invested on learning what else would happen. The ending left me wanting more. Maybe that's good? Maybe that was the author's intent? But it was disappointing. 

A short synopsis: Rich man (Frank) "saves" poor girl (Lin); marries her and eventually takes her to Hawaii. They live a lavish life. Before Lin is able to get pregnant, a concubine gives them their first child, a son, Bohai. When in Hawaii, Lin gets pregnant and has a 2nd son. We learn about Frank's and Lin's histories and come to know their two sons as well. Bohai, their first, is a-typical. He comes to marry Amy and they have a daughter, Theresa. The author weaves this concept of how soulmates are linked together by an invisible red string tied to them both. Some people are able to find their soulmate/intended easily, not making any knots (complications) in their string along the way. When a person does make mistakes, make wrong turns with relationships, etc., their strings get knots. With too many knots, it becomes harder and harder to untangle them.

The characters in this book have many knots, many twists, and many turns. The author provides a lot of context about each character and gives detailed insights into their knots, twists, and turns. Maybe too much? For me, no. It is a meandering book that paints a very detailed and personal picture of each of the characters. It definitely pulled me in. As I mentioned before, the ending was disappointing. I wanted more.

Bottom line, I really liked the book and the depth of each of the characters, the vivid pictures, the complicated relationships. I just wanted a better ending (a more satisfying ending).

Post written on April 28. Publication date reflects date I finished the book.