These Days

Days, set in 2020 Shanghai, follows photographer Lulu Chen as she documents her city amid pandemic lockdowns. Alongside the increasingly intense restrictions, she navigates a complex relationship with her mother and memories of her late father. Her days become intertwined with those of her estranged childhood friend Leo, who has returned to Shanghai after years abroad. Their reconnection coincides with professional challenges in Lulu's career, and both characters face decisions about art, family, and identity. The story moves between urban isolation and digital connection, as characters reach for one another across physical and emotional distances. Through daily rituals and artistic practice, they find ways to maintain hope and purpose during this period of uncertainty. These Days examines the intersection of personal and collective crisis, exploring how art and human bonds persist through periods of constraint. The novel reflects on questions of documentation, memory, and what it means to witness history as it occurs.

There are not enough internet reviews to create a summary of this book. Instead, here is a summary of reviews of Jack Cheng's overall work: Readers connect strongly with Cheng's authentic portrayal of young characters and their relationships. Across platforms, "See You in the Cosmos" receives particular attention for its unique narrative voice. What readers liked: - Natural, convincing child protagonist voice - Balance of humor and emotional depth - Fresh take on road trip and coming-of-age stories - Science themes that engage young readers - Cross-generational appeal One parent reviewer noted: "My 11-year-old devoured it, then I read it and cried." What readers disliked: - Some found the pacing slow in middle sections - A few readers wanted more resolution with secondary characters - Format (audio recordings) took adjustment for some Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (11,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (300+ ratings) Common Sense Media: 4/5 (parent reviews) Top feedback themes across platforms emphasize the book's ability to handle complex topics through an optimistic lens. Teachers frequently mention using it for class discussions about family dynamics and scientific curiosity.

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🔹 Author Jack Cheng wrote his debut novel during a crowdfunding campaign where supporters received draft chapters as he completed them. 🔹 The book explores how modern technology affects human relationships and memory, drawing parallels to how photography changed society's relationship with remembering in the 19th century. 🔹 The protagonist's struggle with digital versus analog photography reflects real debates in the photography community about authenticity and artistic value. 🔹 Much of the novel takes place in New York's Lower East Side, an area historically known for its immigrant communities and artistic movements. 🔹 The original drafts of the novel included significantly more technical details about photography, which were later streamlined to make the story more accessible to general readers.