The Palest Ink Audiobook By Kay Bratt cover art

The Palest Ink

Tales of the Scavenger's Daughters

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The Palest Ink

By: Kay Bratt
Narrated by: Will Damron
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A sheltered son from an intellectual family in Shanghai, Benfu spends 1966 anticipating a promising violinist career and an arranged marriage. On the other side of town lives Pony Boy, a member of a lower-class family - but Benfu's best friend all the same. Their futures look different but guaranteed...until they're faced with a perilous opportunity to leave a mark on history.

At the announcement of China's Cultural Revolution, Chairman Mao's Red Guard members begin their assault, leaving innocent victims in their wake as they surge across the country. With political turmoil at their door, both Benfu and Pony Boy must face heart-wrenching decisions regarding family, friendship, courage, and loyalty to their country during one of the most chaotic periods in history.

The prequel to the beloved Tales of the Scavenger's Daughters series, The Palest Ink depicts Benfu's coming-of-age during the tumultuous years of the Cultural Revolution.

©2015 Kay Bratt (P)2015 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved. Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Sagas Women's Fiction Emotionally Gripping Heartfelt
Beautiful Story • Rich Characters • Unbreakable Friendship • Historical Insight • Emotional Depth • Intriguing Storyline
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I read this book completely out of order — as the last book in the “Scavenger’s Daughters,” instead of as the first. After thinking about it, I realize I am HAPPY I read the book out of order.

This book gave such insight into what formed Benfu’s character and how his relationship with CallaLily developed into one so deep. Now I understand better what allowed Benfu to be such a strong, loving father to the many unwanted girls that he and Callie took in over the years, raised as their own and so dearly loved.

Throughout the next four books, Benfu and Callie are a strong, united team in all they did. Callie was the calmness when Benfu let his feelings sometimes get in the way of his rational thinking, and Benfu was Callie’s strength when she needed it… They were Ying and Yang the best sense of the definition.

This booked also provided an eye-opening look at the events during Mao Zedong’s grip over China. I have often wondered how a whole country of people could be brainwashed into following his beliefs and rules (just as I have always wondered about Hitler and the mentality of so many in Germany).

I also wondered how many TRULY believed in Zedong’s rulings and just outwardly went along for their own survival (the “go along to get along” mentality).

Surely there were MANY in China who were of the same opinion as Benfu, Pony Boy and Ren; but against a red tide, they knew it safest to keep their mouth’s shut and hope to survive long enough to see better times.

I was heart-sickened reading about the bird lady and her beloved birds. My heart just ached for this woman and I cried for her (yes, I know she was a fictional character in a book, but her position moved me deeply, especially as she was elderly) — no one was spared or shown any compassion.

As an avid animal lover, and the pet mom to six cats and two dogs, I cannot imagine a life without my fur children. I cannot begin to imagine what it must have been like during Zedong’s time to be told that not only could you not have pets, but you were somehow dispose of the animals you already had or pay the consequences if caught; nor can I imagine what the paranoia was truly like, never knowing if your neighbors, trusted friends or even your own family would turn you in for “breaking the rules.” Rules such as no gardens or flowers, making everything as bleak as possible make no sense.

At age 63, I have of course read and heard of the famine that China’s people endured under Zedong’s rule. This book however, painted a very clear picture of what it was like for so many. As Americans, we take for granted our ability to walk to a faucet and get a clean, cool drink of water any time, or to buy a fresh bottle of water in any store.

We complain loudly about the high cost of groceries, but never have we had to endure the starvation that so many still endure in other countries. Because we are not affected by it, we do not think about the people who live in countries for whom access to plenty of fresh food and clean drinking water is something they can only pray for and dream.

Poor Pony Boy… He had such a joyful, loving and giving heart. I had SO hoped that somehow there would be a last minute miracle for him. I am glad that his character was at least rich in love and that in Benfu, he had a friend forever.

Whether you read this prequel before the Scavenger’s Daughters, somewhere in the middle of the series, or at the end like I did, I highly recommend this book. It was much better than I anticipated (I should not have been surprised — it was written by the AMAZING Kay Bratt). The characters are rich in personality and emotion, and the book gives insight during the other SD books as to what made Benfu who he was — someone who lived his convictions, was a loyal friend, and a man who loved his family deeply.

The narrator for this book was absolutely perfect — he brought Benfu to life.💕

Audible:

I had a great bit of difficulty purchasing this book. I found it was not available thru the regular catalog. I was only able to purchase it thru the Member’s Plus catalog. STATING THIS CLEARLY in the listing would save members a lot of time and frustration.

A BEAUTIFUL STORY OF LOVE & FRIENDSHIP…

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The history was sad and amazing. The reader was very good. I really enjoyed it.

loved it!!

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I learned so much about the history of this era through this book. There is so much I never knew. The combination of the history and the fictional story kept me so intrigued I didn't want to put it down. I read the rest of the stories in the series and loved them all. Highly recommended.

very intriguing historical fiction

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It isn't necessary to read Palest Ink before SD but it gives a good background of Benfu. It reviews his teen years, how he got to the farm collective and details of his relationship with his best friend, Pony Boy. All these experiences mold him into the man he became, to have compassion and the big heart that allowed him to welcome abandoned girls. He meets Callie but because she is not welcomed by his parents he decides to become his own man, which in China, denying family is a very hard thing. Enjoyed the book very much, again it has some hard parts to read regarding the cruelty of Mao on his own people, but at the same time how thru fear, these same people are totally devoted to him even coming to turn in their own family. Don't think its quite as good as SD but nice to have Benfu's background.

Prequel to The Scavengers Daughter

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Would you listen to The Palest Ink again? Why?

The story, and subject is interesting, which makes the book worth reading.

But the writing itself is rather juvenile.

Historically interesting, but juvenile writing

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It’s a truly sad story but told(written) in a beautiful way. The reader can feel the characters intense emotions.

Fascinating

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I enjoyed this book a great deal. The historical aspect was very well done and setting a coming of age story in it was lovely. Of course given the setting, it was sad as the history itself was, but it was a beautiful story that also included hope and love, not just tragedy.

A beautiful piece of historical fiction

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Benfu and Ponyboy demonstrated an unbreakable friendship through treacherous times when Chairman Mao reigned terror over all of his subjects. The friends bravely tried to expose the truth. This story "could" repeat itself in America.

An Unforgettable Story

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The plot revolves around 2 young men - one born into a privileged academic family and the other working class - who self-publish an anti-Mao newsletter. The book is narrated with grace and heart as it builds to an unimaginable conclusion. A wonderful story that will have you in tears.

Heartbreaking tale set during the Mao Tse Tung era

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A beautiful depressing, heartwarming and educational story. Already read two of the Scavengers Daughters series so this was a bonus of the beginning of Benfu's life. highly recommend this book and the series ;

Absolute;y a must read

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