Waiting is a novel written by Ha Jin (0)

Waiting is a novel written by Ha Jin, who is a Chinese author. The book is based on a true story that author had heard from his wife while visiting her family in China . This novel won the 1999 National Book Award for Fiction .
It’s a story about an army doctor Lin Kong , who is married to Shuyu and it is embarrasing for Ling Kong because of Shuyu’s wizened face and bound feet. Lin falls in love with Manna , who’s a nurse at Lin’s hospital . By regulations is Lin forbid to divorce his wife until 18 years have passed . Every year Lin goes to her wife and asks for divorce, so he could marry Manna, but her wife Shuyu won’t give him a divorce. Lin goes back to his hospital and disappoints Manna every year. Because of Lin’s marriage they’re not even allowed to walk together in public.
At last Lin managed to get a divorce from her wife Shuyu. He married to Manna Wu and they had expected it to be happy marriage, but it wasn’t. They didn’t enjoy their life together as they thought they would enjoy. Manna got older every day and seemed more and more tired after getting married.
Manna Wu surprised Lin Kong with pregnancy and he got worried because of Manna’s weak heart and high age. Manna really wanted Lin’s child , but pregnancy didn’t do any good to her. She got grumpier and was jealous of everything. She delivered two babies instead of one and both were boys . They were named River and lake. After giving birth to these boys, Manna’s health was delicate. Lin thought that Manna’s going to die.
Lin had a really big mess in his head and he didn’t know what to want. He missed her ex-wife and daughter Hua and he knew, that Manna’s going to die in one day and he would have to take care of twins. He gave hope to Shuyu, that he’s going back to her, but he know, that it’s not going to happen. Hua promised to take care of her old mother until the end of her life.
This novel describes daily life in a place where people can’t decide what to do with their life. It’s a little bit political , but mostly describes human relationships and how one or another thing affects their thoughts and decisions .
Main Characters :
Lin Kong is an army doctor, who graduated from the military medical school in 1963. He works in Muji as a doctor.Has a daughter Hua with Shuyu and twins River and Lake with Manna. He is good-hearted, kind, hesitant, encouraging, but disappointing because he hardly ever makes his promises come true.
Manna Wu is a nurse in Muji and she was a student of Lin in anatomy course. She is gentle and very passionate lover . She never loses her temper , but gets really jealous when Lin talks to younger women .
Hua is a daughter of Shuyu and Lin Kong. She’s affectionate and forgiving.
Shuyu is Lin Kong’s first wife and a mother of their daughter. She’s diffident and illiterate, but hardworking and caring. She’s a good mother to her daughter Hua.