THE YELLOW STORM

 The Little Sheep Fold was a street in modern-day Peiping. It was a street where seven family compounds gave the impression that village life was safe in the city. But the Japanese conquest and its aftermath tore that illusion apart. This is the story of the people who lived on that street, from old man Chi, whose compound contained four generations representing various aspects of Chinese response to the "yellow storm" -- to Kuan, who chose the path of collaboration with the enemy with his second wife and even betrayed his neighbor Chien, the poet whose ignoring him had hurt his ego. Some of the young people decided to flee and join the Chinese army; others favored the red pennant; others cringed in moderately harmless and safe positions. Despite threats of death, betrayal, black markets, and austerity programs, there is a sense that life is a little off course but still going on. The average Western reader will find that the narrative moves at a snail's pace and lacks a climax. However, Lau Shaw's reputation—it was chosen by a book club—will get it past the obstacles because some people enjoy reading novels that reflect the mood and tempo of contemporary authors in their own region.