The Immortal Woman

Summary

By turns wry and lyrical, The Immortal Woman reveals an insider's view of the fractured lives of new Chinese immigrants and those they leave behind.

A Chinese mother and daughter wrestle with the demons of their past. Lemei, once a student Red Guard leader in 1960s Shanghai and a journalist at a state newspaper, was involved in a brutal act of violence during the Tiananmen Square protests and lost all hope for her country. Her daughter, Lin, is a student at an American university, executing her mother's grand plan for her to become a true Westerner.

Following China's meteoric rise, Lemei is slowly dragged into a nationalistic perspective that stuns Lin, leading to grave conflicts. Their final confrontation results in tragic consequences, exposing the constant tension Chinese immigrants face—the push and pull between the pressure of assimilation and the allure of Chinese nationalism. How does unresolved political trauma lead to internalized racism and eroded identities? And how do immigrants find true belonging in a world that feels increasingly divided?

The Immortal Woman is a sweeping generational story of heartbreak, resilience, yearning, and ultimately, hope for a better future.