In the Lap of the Gods by Li Miao Lovett is a book set in the Yangtze River Valley in China, as an old way of life for villagers there ends, and modernization takes over. Many poor peasants loose their homes as a dam rises on the Yangtze and the river floods their villages. They are promised money from the government to move to higher ground, but this never comes, and their farming way of life is lost.

The central charcater in this novel is Lui, a widower who finds a baby girl, who has been abandoned by the side of the river, and adopts her as his own. His life is not without struggles and this is often a very sad story. However, there is a strong bond between father and daughter and he perseveres through hard times to make a life for the two of them.

I found Miao Lovett’s writing lovely and lyrical. The novel gave me insight into a subject I know very little about. A truly enjoyable and enlightening read.