60 pages • 2 hours read
Yu HuaTo Live
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1992A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
To Live by Yu Hua follows the struggles of Fugui and his family through four decades of modern Chinese history. Told through an unnamed narrator, who meets Fugui while collecting folk songs, the story reveals Fugui's fall from wealth due to gambling, his conscription into the National Army, and the subsequent hardships he and his family face. Despite enduring severe losses and hardships, Fugui's resilience reflects China's perseverance through societal upheavals. The story includes sensitive topics such as illness, death, and poverty.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Yu Hua's To Live is widely praised for its compelling portrayal of resilience amid hardship, capturing the raw essence of human suffering and perseverance. Critics commend its vivid character development and gripping narrative. However, some argue that the relentless bleakness can be overwhelming. Overall, it is lauded for its emotional depth and historical insight.
Who Should Read To Live?
A reader who would enjoy To Live by Yu Hua appreciates profound, emotive stories of human resilience amid socio-political upheavals. Fans of Wild Swans by Jung Chang or The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck would find similar themes of personal endurance and historical transformation. This audience values historical fiction interwoven with deep emotional and cultural insights.