AFTERSHOCK

Narrator Angela Lin's restrained pace and understated delivery channel the heartrending emotion of this literary family saga. In the devastating Tangshan earthquake of 1976, a seven-year-old girl, Xiaodeng, becomes separated from her twin brother, Xiaoda, and their mother, Li Yuanni. Xiaodeng, who grows up to become a successful writer in Canada thirty years later, continues to be haunted by these painful memories. The story moves between the past and present through different perspectives as Xioadeng journeys back to Tangshan in search of her mother and closure. Lin creates a quietly moving performance and adds authenticity through her seamless pronunciation of Chinese names and places. This reflective and thought-provoking listening experience explores themes of guilt, trauma, and resilience. V.T.M. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2024]