This was a book with a very strong start, but I found lost some momentum toward the latter half.

Some of the things I liked included the childhood section, I think the writing really suited the childhood point of view, and to see such a scary and serious time in China through a child's eyes was an interesting exploration of the Post-WWII time period. The writing was pretty conversational and straightforward, and the book read like a memoir. I really enjoyed the use of the butterfly motif as well and was rooting for Ying-Ying on her journey. I also liked what this book had to say about therapy and mental health.

The issue was mostly around the characters and the circumstances of the novel. A lot of the characters were very one-dimensional, many barely fleshed out characters. Every event was extremely summary-based as well. Any tragedy one can think of is utilized in this book, and I am not sure how fictional some of these accounts were but I didn't find then particularly fleshed out or explored. Some of them were very sudden due to the summary-nature of the writing as well. I also wish a few character arcs and relationship were tied up a bit more.

Overall, the book was fine, it did keep my interest to see where everything went but I wasn't particularly amazed with much of it.

Wings of Silk is an ok read. I think the author was a little light on the devastating Cultural Revolution. The main character Ying Ying spends most of the book being miserable. I felt the characters were one dimensional, just going through the emotions.

I read this book in 2 or 3 sittings, finding it really hard to put down. It reads like an autobiography and seems to have been based on the life of the author. I couldn't help but root for Ying-Ying in all her hardships and relationships and was very very glad (and actually very surprised) that she eventually found joy, peace and forgiveness through a means I will not reveal here.