Endorsements & Reviews
“…a sweeping story, rich with detail” and “a wide-ranging story that keeps the reader engaged throughout.”
— Kirkus Reviews
“…reads like a novel, poetic and descriptive.”
— Asian Review of Books
“A well-written, beautifully immersive book that while non-fiction reads even better than fiction. Very highly recommended.”
— Reader’s Favorite review
“Engaging, endearing, heartbreaking and hopeful."
(A top pick for June 2023)
— Ms. Magazine
“For some stunning non-fiction . . . this one is perfect for all fans of the multi-generational family saga.”
— Glamour Magazine UK
(which named it a
“Best New Book” for June 2023)
“A moving account of family lore and life, Once Our Lives is paradoxically both heartrending and heartening – heartrending in its depiction of this family's suffering and heartening in its depiction of the love that survives it all. I was riveted and moved.
— Gish Jen, award-winning author of “Thank you, Mr. Nixon,” featured in The New Yorker’s Best Books of 2022, NPR’s Books We Love, Oprah’s Favorite Books of 2022, and “The Best American Short Stories of the Century.”
“This gripping memoir illuminates the full humanity of real people across four generations. A truly haunting tale of resilience, endurance and hope.”
— Helen Zia, acclaimed author of “Last Boat out of Shanghai: The Epic Story of the Chinese who Fled Mao’s Revolution”
“Qin Stubis combines oral traditions of mythologized family lore with the creative non-fiction writing of memoir. The reader experiences firsthand the vacillations of recent Chinese history.”
— Dr. Jennifer Rudolph, Professor, Asian History, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and co-author of “The China Questions” (Harvard University Press)
"A wonderful writer whose extraordinary ability and beautifully descriptive writing allow her to share her unusual experiences with readers in a uniquely powerful way."
— The Santa Monica Star
“Qin Sun Stubis is notable for the warmth of her writing and her ability to touch the hearts and minds of a wide variety of readers – a rare talent.“
— GRAND Magazine