Lotus: A Novel

Lijia Zhang

Henry Holt and Company, Jan 10, 2017 - Fiction - 384 pages

Named one of the best books of 2017 by NPR's Book Concierge

Inspired by the secret life of the author’s grandmother, Lotus follows a young woman torn between past traditions and modern desires—as she carves out a life for herself in China’s “City of Sins”


“Standing outside the Moonflower Massage Parlor with three other girls, Lotus flashed her red smile at every passing man. She leaned against the glass front of the parlor, one leg bent like a crane's. Luring in the clients with sweet and oily words consumed a surprising amount of energy"


Reserved, at times defiant, Lotus is different from the other streetwalkers. Her striking eyes glow under Shenzhen’s neon lights, capturing the attention of Funny Eye, Family Treasure, and a slew of other demanding clients determined to make Lotus their property. Choosing between wealthy, powerful, and dangerous men is no easy feat, but it is a surprising offer from Binbing, a soft-spoken and humble photojournalist, that presents the biggest challenge. Is Lotus willing to fall in love? Is she capable of it?

Inspired by the deathbed revelation that the author’s grandmother had been sold to a brothel in her youth,Lotus offers compelling insight into China’s bustling underground world and reveals the surprising strength found in those confronted with impossible choices. Written with compassion and vivid prose, and packed with characters you won’t soon forget, Lijia Zhang's Lotus examines what it means to be an individual in a society that praises restraint in and obedience from its women.

About the author

Lijia Zhang, a former rocket factory worker, is a writer based in Beijing. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times and Newsweek, and she has been interviewed on CNN, NPR, and the BBC. Her book “Socialism Is Great!”: A Worker’s Memoir of the New China has been published in eight countries. She earned a master’s degree from Goldsmiths, University of London, and a fellowship in the International Writing Program at the University of Iowa. Lotus is her first novel.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Lotus: A Novel
• Author: Lijia Zhang
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Company, 2017
• ISBN: 1627795677, 9781627795678
• Length: 384 pages
• Subjects: Fiction / Literary; Fiction / World Literature / China / 21st Century