A very good read, with tension, several different cultures, sex and mystery. I know more about Sikh's now, and what's under their turbans, and why. I also understand more about Pakistan and India and their towering mountains and all that snow and conflict. I had always visualized, mistakenly, sweltering heat..

The structure of short passages, fully and continuously portraying each character gave a broad view of the of the change in a professor's family's life under Mao TseTung and communism. I considered this a kaleidoscopic view of an educated Chinese family, the changes in their large home and life with the kapoc tree in their courtyard. I loved this book and want to read more by Gail Tsukiyama.