Forbidden City

CW: rape, teenage girl's relationship with an old man, suicide, miscarriage, torture

I read historical fiction so rarely, that I usually don't know what are the new releases in the genre or what's popular. But I recently saw a couple of tweets praising this one and I was immediately intrigued. I have so many fantasy arcs but when mood reading strikes, I can't help it. So here I am after finishing this very uncomfortable and unflinching book set during 1965-66 China.

I have to warn you first about a couple of things. Within the first couple of chapters, you'll encounter a rape scene of a 15 year old girl, our protagonist and who then continues to become a paramour/lover of her rapist, Mao Zedong. Their “relationship” is the central part of this story, and while it did creep me out to read about a 70+ man having taking advantage of a teenage girl and continuing to have sex with her, the story and the protagonist Mei kept me going. But if you are very uncomfortable with these dynamics, it's better you avoid this book.

Coming to the writing, I have to say it was very gorgeous without being lyrical, capturing each character's feelings very deeply and making us feel the emotions. But I think the writing itself had to be beautiful because the story is really an ugly one. The pacing can be a bit slow too, especially in the middle portions because it mostly feels like a slice of story, but I was engrossed enough that I didn't notice these issues. The author's meticulous research shows in the way she perfectly captures the ethos of China before the Cultural Revolution and once it begins, the lives of the peasants in remote villages and how removed they are from the kind of lives the elite live in the capital, the veneration of Chairman Mao like a god and how it fuels the survival of the people - it all felt very real and palpable but it was also told in a way that I was able to read it, unlike Yang Jisheng's nonfiction book about the time period which I couldn't really handle. The reason is that the brewing Cultural Revolution is mostly towards the last quarter of the book and we as a reader are mostly at a remove from the reality of what is happening - there are only few scenes which capture in detail the fervor and cruelty of the Red Guard during those times - this makes it more palatable to read but if you are looking specifically to read about the Revolution in detail, then you will be disappointed.

I think what the author manages to do successfully is show us the ways in which power and manipulation works; how lies and half truths and insinuations are the weapon of the powerful to quash any rebellion against them; and how easy it is to get seduced by proximity to power, expecting that one will get a share in it too. It's a searing look at how meaningful words like “revolution” and “power of the people” are misused to rile up the ignorant masses - especially young students who are eager to be a part of the fight against the capitalists just like their parents and grandparents were - and become clarion calls for resolving grudges and revenge and power struggles instead. And finally it's about the effect a cult/god like figure can have on people who just want to better their lives and get out of abject poverty, how easy it is to make such people feel like they belong to something greater and their contributions matter. The motivation of the people in those times might be different than the qanon and right wing supporters of today, but the utter devotion they feel for their leader is eerily similar.

Our protagonist and the only POV we get is a 15 year old peasant girl who is handpicked to become part of a dance troupe in Beijing, whose job it is to entertain the elite and occasionally sleep with the Chairman. She idolizes him like a god (actually all the girls of the troupe do) and they all fight with each other to get the opportunity to service him. But Mei has ambitions too - she totally believes in his words, and dreams of becoming a model revolutionary, who can tour the whole country spreading his message to the people. It's hard to like her when we see her manipulate her way into being in his good graces and being so anxious to do anything to please him, but then we realize she is just a 15-16 year old girl who has been taught since she was born that the Chairman was their savior, and what can be more rewarding for her than being his companion as well as close confidant/protégé. But we also slowly realize that she is smart and observant, can see the flaws in what's happening, maybe does realize that he isn't as infallible a leader as she thought he was, but is not in a position to question authority or give up the little power that she thinks she has gained. It's heartbreaking to see her be manipulated, gaslighted, and cajoled into being just a tool in a powerful man's hands - easily disposable and replaceable; but equally hopeful when she manages to see through the illusion and finally makes decisions for herself.

I mean what can I say about Mao Zedong's character. I probably can't separate my feelings about the character in the book from the real life person, so bear with me a bit. It was fascinating to see him from the POV of a young girl who worships him and how larger than life, all powerful, and all capable he feels like when seen through her eyes. But as she slowly starts living with him, we see him for what he is (even if she doesn't) - someone who likes his dancing and company of young girls, indulging in his riches when most of the country is starving; a leader who is scared of losing his authority and will do anything to regain it all even if it leads to death and destruction, but strategic enough to ensure nothings harms him or his image; who is mercurial in his moods, occasionally depressed, and has a progressing illness which he has to hide from everyone; and ultimately be in control of everything and everyone. It's hard to feel anything else for him except loathing. There are also side characters like Teacher Fan and Secretary Sun, who can also be called Mei's mentors, who show some kindness to her but not always in a way that she can feel it. We also have members of her dance group like Busy Shan and Midnight Chang who are all mirrors of each other, each finding the possibility of what they could be in the other, leading to some very antagonistic dynamics.

The way the story starts in the book, we know Mei has escaped and lives in the US and this book is her narrating her story and relationship with the Chairman to someone - and it's a very unsettling and sad revelation when we realize to whom she is her story. And ultimately that is what Forbidden City is - a young woman's coming of age story, her grappling with agency and proximity to power and the desire to be a part of something, until till she realizes the reality of her choices. This may not be for everyone but I found myself deeply engrossed in the book and thought it was a great historical fiction book, bringing those less talked about times to life. I'm now definitely interested to checkout the author's previous works.