You Say You Want A Revolution?
By Amy C. Murphy
IN LORRAINE LACHS first novel,
Flowers for Mei-Ling,
she takes the words of the Beatles song Revolution
to heart. The questioning impulse behind the lyrics parallels
the purpose Lachs defines and develops through her novel: to consider
not only the efficacy of revolutionary endeavors, but also the
cost, often a personal one, of maintaining civilizations and the
status quo they represent. By developing the history of her character, Mei-Ling Wang, Lachs
manifests a subtle critique of both revolutionary aims and the
preservation of socioeconomic systems. Through the experiences
of Mei-Ling and the other characters in her novel, Lachs shows