Homeseeking by Karissa Chen Summary, Characters and Themes
Homeseeking by Karissa Chen is a deeply moving intergenerational novel that explores memory, migration, and the emotional residue of love and war.
Spanning continents and decades—from 1930s wartime Shanghai to modern-day Los Angeles and New York—the story follows two lovers, Suchi and Haiwen, whose bond is severed by political upheaval and displacement. Through alternating timelines and perspectives, the novel examines how personal histories echo through generations, especially in the diaspora. Chen’s lyrical prose captures the fragility of relationships strained by time, duty, and silence, ultimately offering a quietly powerful meditation on longing, regret, and the possibility of reconciliation.
Summary
Told in twenty narrative sections, with an overture and a coda, the novel reconstructs their emotional journey—starting in 1940s Shanghai and ending in early 21st-century Los Angeles—interweaving personal loss with political upheaval and the dislocation of diaspora.
The story begins in a vibrant, communal alleyway of Shanghai in April 1947.
The Zhang and Wang families live as neighbors in a tightly knit longtang. Suchi, sixteen, grapples with heartbreak and daily scarcity, while Haiwen, across the alley, is on the cusp of leaving to join the military.
Their paths cross in moments heavy with unspoken emotion. The overture ends with Haiwen leaving behind his violin for Suchi, a symbolic act of both departure and remembrance.
Flashing forward to 2008 in Los Angeles, Haiwen—now going by Howard—runs into Suchi in a grocery store.
They are old now, decades removed from their Shanghai days, and their conversation is tender but tentative. Both have endured loss: Howard mourns his late wife Linyee, while Suchi lives with her son, holding onto pieces of her past.
The sudden reunion stirs memories long buried under years of assimilation and silence.
The novel then shifts between time periods. In 1938, a young Suji (Suchi’s childhood nickname) hears a boy playing the violin—a sound that captivates her.
This boy is Haiwen. Their connection begins here, during a fragile lull between bombings. As they grow older, their relationship deepens. By 1945, Haiwen secretly teaches Suchi violin, their lessons charged with quiet intimacy.
The looming threat of war and social conservatism shadow their closeness. When Haiwen’s enlistment becomes inevitable, their relationship, though never officially named, is painfully torn apart.
In Taiwan and the U.S., Haiwen begins to rebuild. He marries Linyee out of practicality more than love, and they raise daughters in America.
Their marriage is strained by unspoken grief—Linyee senses his emotional absence, especially as her health declines. Meanwhile, Suchi marries, emigrates to New York, and raises a son in relative solitude.
Her marriage lacks passion, and Haiwen remains a constant presence in her memory, a what-if that never fully leaves her.
The novel explores the costs of immigration—cultural loss, generational rifts, emotional miscommunication. Both protagonists navigate parenthood, loneliness, and a quiet kind of longing.
Through flashbacks, we see pivotal moments: a letter never sent, a chance meeting with Sulan, Suchi’s sister, and the realization that the past can’t be rewritten, only understood.
By 2008, their reconnection gains momentum. They begin spending time together—at concerts, in parks, over phone calls.
There is no grand romantic rekindling but rather a gentle, mutual recognition of shared history. Howard admits he never forgot her. Suchi responds not with regret, but with a kind of grace: acknowledging that though life diverged, what they had was real, and perhaps never truly lost.
The final section, the Coda, returns to 1982. Suchi visits her sister Sulan’s grave in Taiwan, years before the events of the main timeline conclude. It’s a quiet meditation on loss, on the weight of memory, and on what it means to survive the people and places we’ve loved.
With this final gesture, Chen frames Homeseeking not just as a story about two lovers, but as an elegy for a generation caught between homes—between what was and what could never be again.
Characters
Suchi
Suchi is a central character in Homeseeking, whose life is shaped by loss, cultural displacement, and the search for personal meaning. Her story spans several decades, from her youthful years in Shanghai to her life as an immigrant in the United States.
In her youth, Suchi is a curious, emotional, and determined individual, particularly in her relationship with Haiwen, which forms a pivotal part of her narrative. However, her adult life is marked by the complexities of being an immigrant, a widow, and a mother, constantly navigating the challenges of maintaining cultural heritage while adapting to her new life.
Suchi’s internal world is rich with reflection, and despite her longing for Haiwen, she demonstrates resilience in moving forward. Her character is defined by a quiet strength, as she contemplates the past and its emotional weight while trying to build a future for herself and her family.
Haiwen
Haiwen’s character arc is one of emotional restraint and internal conflict. Initially introduced as a passionate and talented violinist in Shanghai, his emotional journey is deeply intertwined with his relationship with Suchi.
However, his path diverges as he faces family expectations and political turbulence, which leads him to Taiwan and eventually the United States. In Taiwan, he marries Linyee, not out of passion but practicality, as he attempts to reconcile his past with his present.
His connection to Suchi, though never fully severed, is one marked by regret and lost opportunities. As Howard in the U.S., Haiwen is a man caught between his emotional past and his desire for a stable life.
His character embodies the complexities of immigration and the tension between cultural identities, as well as the emotional sacrifices made in the face of displacement.
Sulan
Sulan, Suchi’s sister, plays a crucial role in the development of Suchi’s emotional landscape. She is portrayed as more pragmatic and perhaps more adaptable than Suchi, particularly in how she deals with family and societal expectations.
While Suchi is deeply affected by her connection with Haiwen, Sulan’s trajectory is more focused on survival and escape. She marries, not for love but as a way to secure a future amid the uncertainty of post-war Shanghai.
Sulan’s death, which marks a significant turning point for Suchi, is a reminder of the transient nature of life and relationships in times of upheaval. Sulan’s character, though less emotionally explored than Suchi or Haiwen, provides a contrast to Suchi’s idealistic notions, representing the more pragmatic response to a world that offers few guarantees.
Li’oe (Suchi’s Father)
Li’oe is a figure marked by his intellectual engagement and political activism, reflecting the tensions in pre-revolutionary China. He is a man burdened by financial stress and the weight of his political beliefs.
As a father, he represents both a source of wisdom and frustration for his children. His relationship with Suchi and Sulan reflects the generational divide between tradition and modernity, as well as the challenges of surviving in a world marked by conflict and change.
His character offers insight into the socio-political environment of China during a time of political turmoil and war.
Sieu’in (Suchi’s Mother)
Sieu’in is the practical, resourceful, and nurturing mother figure in the novel. While her husband, Li’oe, engages with intellectual and political concerns, Sieu’in’s focus is more domestic, dealing with the ever-present struggles of food scarcity and family survival.
She embodies the strength of women who adapt to the realities of war and occupation, and her relationship with her daughters is shaped by her protective instincts and her desire to preserve family cohesion in uncertain times.
Though she is not as emotionally expressive as her children, Sieu’in’s presence in the story is crucial in grounding the family in the everyday challenges of survival.
Linyee
Linyee, Haiwen’s wife, represents the complexities of marriage and identity in the immigrant experience. Her relationship with Howard is marked by a quiet distance, as she senses his emotional attachment to Suchi, which casts a shadow over their life together.
Linyee’s character reveals the internal struggles of living in a foreign land, facing isolation and the pressures of assimilating while dealing with personal loss, particularly through her Parkinson’s disease. Her story is a reflection of the emotional costs of displacement and the challenges of navigating the intricacies of marriage when one partner’s heart still belongs to someone else.
Winston
Winston is a minor yet significant character, representing the link between Suchi’s past and her present. As an old friend of Howard’s, Winston’s character offers a glimpse into the changing dynamics of relationships in the diaspora.
His flirtations with Suchi during their reunion dinner highlight the unresolved emotional tension between her and Howard, providing a moment of contrast to Howard’s more reserved emotions. Winston’s presence in the narrative serves to illuminate the ways in which relationships evolve and how the passage of time alters the nature of connection.
Themes
The Conflict Between Tradition and Modernity in a Changing World
In Homeseeking, the theme of tradition versus modernity runs deep through the lives of the characters, especially in the context of family, love, and cultural identity. The characters are constantly navigating between their ancestral heritage and the forces of Westernization.
Suchi’s family, for example, represents the clash between her progressive father and traditional mother. This is evident in the heated debates they have at dinner about Chinese versus Western influences.
The tension reaches its apex when Suchi, young and curious, is drawn to Western ideas and desires to learn the violin, an instrument tied to a Western aesthetic. This tension between the old and new not only shapes their individual lives but also informs the broader historical narrative of China, particularly in the aftermath of Japanese occupation and the early days of the Chinese civil war.
As Suchi and her family grapple with political instability and social change, their lives are colored by the slow erosion of traditional values in the face of modernization. This is symbolized by Suchi’s desire for autonomy and agency in an ever-changing world.
In the context of the diaspora, this theme of tradition vs. modernity plays out as Suchi and Howard attempt to reconcile their cultural identities in their immigrant lives in the U.S. The longing for the past persists, yet their new surroundings demand adaptation, reflecting the broader immigrant experience of balancing loyalty to one’s heritage with the pressure to assimilate.
The Struggles of Displacement and Identity in a Globalized World
The theme of displacement and the search for a stable identity is ever-present in Homeseeking, particularly as the characters move between different countries and continents, adjusting to new environments while dealing with memories of the past.
Suchi, who has lived in several countries, represents the archetype of the displaced individual trying to find belonging. This is not just a physical relocation but also an emotional and psychological one.
From Shanghai to Los Angeles, New York, and Taiwan, Suchi’s journey exemplifies the immigrant experience, where the clash between past and present constantly redefines personal identity. Howard’s own journey as Haiwen, from Shanghai to Taiwan and then to the United States, mirrors Suchi’s experience but also touches on the complexities of assimilation and cultural erasure.
His attempt to rebuild his life in a new land is fraught with a sense of loss—not only of his homeland but also of the person he once was. The novel captures the essence of how immigrant identities are continuously shaped by their experiences of dislocation, belonging, and the inevitable tension between their native culture and the demands of their new surroundings.
This theme is particularly poignant in the way Suchi tries to pass on her cultural heritage to her grandchildren, who seem distant from it. The novel underscores the difficulty of preserving one’s cultural identity while simultaneously trying to integrate into a society that does not always welcome or understand it.
The Trauma of Loss and the Burden of Unspoken Regret
In Homeseeking, the emotional weight of loss and the haunting presence of unspoken regret are central themes that permeate the lives of the characters. This is especially evident in the relationship between Suchi and Howard (Haiwen).
Throughout the novel, loss is not just the absence of loved ones, but also the loss of opportunities, dreams, and moments that can never be reclaimed. The narrative explores the profound impact of unaddressed emotions and missed connections, particularly the unresolved tension between Suchi and Howard.
Their eventual reunion in Los Angeles comes too late, a bittersweet closure for a relationship that had once held so much promise. Suchi’s unresolved feelings for Howard, compounded by the passage of time and her own life choices, illustrate how regret can shape one’s entire emotional existence.
The deaths of Sulan and Linyee only add to the backdrop of mourning, reflecting how loss is an ongoing process, not a single event. The characters are burdened by the inability to articulate their grief in real-time, which causes the trauma to linger, deeply affecting their personal lives and relationships.
The novel’s exploration of this theme suggests that healing comes not from resolution but from acceptance of what cannot be changed, and in the case of Howard and Suchi, it is the ability to make peace with their past before it is entirely too late.
The Intergenerational Dynamics of Memory and Legacy
Another complex theme in Homeseeking is the intergenerational transmission of memory, cultural identity, and familial legacies. Suchi’s relationship with her children and grandchildren reflects the generational divides often experienced by immigrants.
The novel delves into how the older generation attempts to pass on their stories, traditions, and values to their descendants, who may not fully understand or appreciate the weight of these legacies. Suchi’s experience as a mother and grandmother highlights the challenge of maintaining a cultural connection in a world that is progressively detaching from its roots.
Her interactions with her grandchildren are marked by a sense of sadness as they struggle to understand the depth of their heritage. This theme is echoed in Howard’s relationship with his own daughters, as he navigates the complexities of raising children in a foreign land while trying to preserve his cultural identity.
The impact of the past on the present generation is central to the novel, especially when Suchi reflects on her own relationship with her parents and how their lives have shaped her emotional landscape. The legacy of memory, particularly the memories of lost love, loss of homeland, and family fragmentation, looms large in the lives of the protagonists, influencing their decisions and relationships.
The novel suggests that while the past cannot be entirely reclaimed, it lives on in the memories and choices of those who come after.
The Emotional and Psychological Toll of Political and Social Upheaval
The characters in Homeseeking are heavily shaped by the political and social upheaval that defines much of 20th-century Chinese history, from the Japanese invasion to the Chinese Civil War and the eventual emigration of the family members.
Suchi and her family experience firsthand the effects of war, political unrest, and societal changes that disrupt their daily lives. The novel subtly yet powerfully conveys the emotional toll of these historical events on individual lives, as the characters are caught in the tide of forces much larger than themselves.
The Zhang family’s struggles with survival during the war, as well as the personal consequences of political and social changes, echo the experiences of many who lived through tumultuous periods of history. For Suchi, the breakdown of her family and the loss of her sister Sulan serve as microcosms of the larger fractures in society.
These personal losses are amplified by the political instability that surrounds them, creating a sense of disillusionment and despair. The theme of political and social upheaval in Homeseeking explores how historical events not only shape the external lives of individuals but also leave deep psychological scars that can affect personal relationships and individual identities for generations.
This theme is intricately present throughout the novel, providing a backdrop of emotional intensity that amplifies the personal and familial dramas at its core.