I was expecting a novel about the harsh conditions faced by migrant workers in contemporary China to be hard going, but instead, I felt like Xinran was taking me by the hand. The story of three country sisters, 'Chopsticks', and their life in the big city is told in a clear and humorous style with some real moments of wry amusement. As each sister's individual search for work unfolds, so does the character of each girl.
