Book Review: Shanghai Girls
I'm proud to report I've stayed true to my goal of not purchasing any books for pleasure during 2012. This was inspired during a dusting session in which I realized the amount of books on our shelves I have yet to read. Therefore, staying away from purchasing new will force me to read the books I currently have, right? So far so good.
I decided to start with Shanghai Girls because I had already read about 80 pages (I tossed it aside to read a book for Book Club).
This is the second book I have completed by Lisa See (I read Snow Flower and the Secret Fan a few years ago).
This book follows the lives of two Chinese woman, Pearl and Joy. They are sisters and in the beginning we learn they come from a well to do family in China. The girls enjoy luxuries in life, though nothing extravagant, causing them to have a somewhat "stuck-up" view of the world. In one evening however, their lives take a drastic turn. Their fathers informs them he has gambled away every last bit of their family's money. To pay off his large debt, marriages are arranged for both Pearl and Joy and the girls learn will become property of Old Man Louie (whom their father is indebted). The girls learn they will marry in a matter of days and travel to the United States to live indefinitely.To make matters worse, at the same time, China is invaded by the Japanese and the girls learn, not only will they be sold as wives, they must flee their country to save their lives. The journey to escape their home to make it safely to the coast is horrific; I had the book only inches away from my face and couldn't read fast enough. Gripping, to say the least. When they make it to the coast, they travel to Angel Island. Here, the girls wait in holding and must learn all there is to know about their future husbands and new families. This is the only way to gain access into the US and consists of a lengthy interview process. Any glimpse of hesitation or wrong answer results in denying access or even returning to war stricken China. Pearl and Joy are eventually granted access and the remainder of the story follows their lives in Los Angeles in the mid-1900's.
Lisa See's novels are incredibly rich and this book is no different. Considering the last books I read were the Hunger Games novels, this was a welcome change for me. I truly enjoyed this book and have a deep appreciation for the historical accuracy in See's work. This book takes place in the mid-1900's and to read about the extreme hardships Chinese immigrants faced during this time was eye opening and thought provoking. See offers real accounts through the thoughts, feelings, and actions of fictitious characters allowing the reader to feel completely immersed in their world. I'd certainly recommend this book to others however, if you've read Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, I will say I enjoyed that book more than I did this one (however that comparison is to compare superb with great).
Next Up: Memoirs of a Geisha
How about you? Read any great books lately? Tell me all about it!
I decided to start with Shanghai Girls because I had already read about 80 pages (I tossed it aside to read a book for Book Club).
This is the second book I have completed by Lisa See (I read Snow Flower and the Secret Fan a few years ago).
This book follows the lives of two Chinese woman, Pearl and Joy. They are sisters and in the beginning we learn they come from a well to do family in China. The girls enjoy luxuries in life, though nothing extravagant, causing them to have a somewhat "stuck-up" view of the world. In one evening however, their lives take a drastic turn. Their fathers informs them he has gambled away every last bit of their family's money. To pay off his large debt, marriages are arranged for both Pearl and Joy and the girls learn will become property of Old Man Louie (whom their father is indebted). The girls learn they will marry in a matter of days and travel to the United States to live indefinitely.To make matters worse, at the same time, China is invaded by the Japanese and the girls learn, not only will they be sold as wives, they must flee their country to save their lives. The journey to escape their home to make it safely to the coast is horrific; I had the book only inches away from my face and couldn't read fast enough. Gripping, to say the least. When they make it to the coast, they travel to Angel Island. Here, the girls wait in holding and must learn all there is to know about their future husbands and new families. This is the only way to gain access into the US and consists of a lengthy interview process. Any glimpse of hesitation or wrong answer results in denying access or even returning to war stricken China. Pearl and Joy are eventually granted access and the remainder of the story follows their lives in Los Angeles in the mid-1900's.
Lisa See's novels are incredibly rich and this book is no different. Considering the last books I read were the Hunger Games novels, this was a welcome change for me. I truly enjoyed this book and have a deep appreciation for the historical accuracy in See's work. This book takes place in the mid-1900's and to read about the extreme hardships Chinese immigrants faced during this time was eye opening and thought provoking. See offers real accounts through the thoughts, feelings, and actions of fictitious characters allowing the reader to feel completely immersed in their world. I'd certainly recommend this book to others however, if you've read Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, I will say I enjoyed that book more than I did this one (however that comparison is to compare superb with great).
Next Up: Memoirs of a Geisha
How about you? Read any great books lately? Tell me all about it!
Hey Lady! I love these posts about what you are reading. I should accept your challenge of finishing what books I've purchased! :) I'm reading Running Away to Home by Jennifer wilson right now. She's from DSM, and packed up her family to research her ancestry in Croatia. I love her writing voice, and maybe the fact that she is so brave to do that with her family. You can borrow mine when I'm done. ;) Hope to see you soon!
ReplyDeleteWhat a pleasant surprise!! That sounds very interesting and how cool that you're supporting local authors. I'd love to borrow it, we'll be in touch soon. Have a wonderful spring break!
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