Under Fishbone Clouds A Novel

“An unlikely love story set against the events of the last half-century in China . . . a poetic evocation of the country and its people.” —The New York Times

When the Kitchen God is challenged by the Jade Emperor to fathom the workings of the human heart, he chooses to trace the lives of Jinyi and his wife, Yuying, from their blossoming love until their old age, in hope of finding an answer. The Kitchen God watches as government strictures split their family in two, living inside their hearts as they endure the losses of two children, homesickness, and isolation—all while keeping alive a love that survives famine, forced labor, and even death.

Under Fishbone Clouds is a universal romance, a family saga, and a journey through Chinese history, myth, and culture. Following a young couple as their love grows and is tested during Mao’s Cultural Revolution, this elegant debut novel provides a rare and personal glimpse into the birth of modern China.

“A powerful and mesmerizing novel, both mythic and intimate. . . . a masterful accomplishment of imagination, insight, and lyricism.” —Amy Tan, New York Times–bestselling author of The Joy Luck Club

Sam Meekings is a British novelist, poet, and academic. His fiction has been acclaimed by the New York Times, and his other works have been published in Best American Essays, the Journal of Creative Writing Studies, and Life Writing. Meekings earned a PhD from Lancaster University, and he has edited and authored several pedagogical publications, particularly focusing on the intersection of trauma and creative writing. He currently works as Associate Professor of Creative Writing at Northwestern University in Qatar.