Book review

The Northern Tomb

Isabelle Li

Published by Puncher and Wattman

RRP A$32.95

The Northern Tomb is a novel in four parts, set in the time of the Covid lockdown in Shenyang, China.

Sister Fu is considering retirement from her cleaning job to work as a carer for elderly Mr Zhao, whom she met at the hospital.

When she settles in her employer’s house, she revels in a life that is very different from her own, although she is still haunted by a traumatic childhood and worries about her son.

Part two alternates between Mr Zhao’s present day life as an 80-year-old and his past, grieving the recent loss of his wife, his reminiscences of his army career and his disappointment with his son.

In part three, Jr carries the major responsibility of supporting his father, as his two sisters are overseas. When Sister Fu starts looking after his father, Jr can take his family for a break, but Covid happens and he is stranded.

Fast forward to part four when the lockdown is lifted, but Mr Zhao is ill with Covid. He and Sister Fu have to fight hard together for his life, welfare and dignity, against a Kafkaesque medical system.

The Northern Tomb has a small cast of characters and each one has his or her own struggles to face, as well as happy memories to revel in.

It confronts the issues of ageing, portrays parental love, sibling dynamics and patterns of fate through the generations.

We also learn a lot about Chinese history in a gentle, lyrical way.

I found the novel very moving and thoroughly enjoyed it.