Silk Road: A Novel of Eighth-Century China

I read this book for the first time when it came out in hardcover in 1990, and have enjoyed every time I've re-read it since. Larsen's knitting together of multiple religious and mythical traditions (and not to mention textbook histories) is artful and seemingly effortless.

I read this years ago, when it first came out. I was a working in a bookstore. It came in and had a blurb on it from Annie Dillard. So, I decided to try it. I was entranced.

I first read this book in 1993. I had borrowed it and sadly, had to return it to my friend. I then looked for it for almost ten years until I found it in a local thrift shop in 2001. I've read it twice since. I loved this book. I love how it is written. It is poetic and beautiful. It does take a bit of adjusting, as it isn't like every other novel on the shelf, and I feel that quality makes it even more appealing. It has fed and nurtured the fascination that I've always had with Asia, China and the mysterious and magical silk road. I highly recommend this book.