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Review
'Part love story, part family saga, part historical fiction, this vividly descriptive book is above all an exploration of the trials and triumphs, the rivalries and delights of sisterhood' Daily Mail 'A triumph on every level, a beautiful heartbreaking story' Washington Post 'In this moving historical novel, Lisa See explores her Chinese-American roots and those of the Chinese who headed to California in the early 20th century in hopes of a better life ... See is a gifted writer' USA Today 'An engrossing tale of two sisters' Time
Review
PRAISE FOR SNOWFLOWER AND THE SECRET FAN 'Lisa See has written her best book yet Achingly beautiful' Amy Tan, author of The Joy Luck Club 'Only the best novelists can do what Lisa See has done, to bring to life not only a character but an entire culture' Arthur Golden, author of Memoir of a Geisha PRAISE FOR PEONY IN LOVE 'See's writing beguiled me A brave, brilliant book' Guardian 'A hauntingly beautiful novel of unrequited love' She
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
At first glancing at the book I was wondering if the book reflected only modern china , but the story was enthralling. (albeit it took me 2/3 chapters to start) There are some very powerful moments in the book that provoke strong emotion and again give you the real sense of china and how it has developed. the story is about young girls in Shanghai who live a lavish lifestyle only then to be ruined by their father and have to take a very long journey for their survival. I love the author Lisa See and recommend all her books for lovers for Asian fiction.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I read 'Peony in Love' and really liked the story and storytelling.
When 'Shanghai Girls' came out, I bought it too, in the hope that this story would be just as fascinating.
But what a disappointment. It was OK in some parts but got worse the further the story got. Lisa See is just droning on and on about things that could have been told in a couple of pages, like the Angel Island part, which went on for too long.
After suffering through more pages about Pearl and May settling down in their husbands' apartment, I just couldn't bear to continue reading the story and threw the book out.
When 'Shanghai Girls' came out, I bought it too, in the hope that this story would be just as fascinating.
But what a disappointment. It was OK in some parts but got worse the further the story got. Lisa See is just droning on and on about things that could have been told in a couple of pages, like the Angel Island part, which went on for too long.
After suffering through more pages about Pearl and May settling down in their husbands' apartment, I just couldn't bear to continue reading the story and threw the book out.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This story is about two sisters, Pearl and May, who expect to have a life as "beautiful girls" in Shanghai -- their "Paris of Asia." They are shocked to find out that their father has arranged marriages for them, to make good on a tremendous debt. They were led to believe that they would be able to make decisions for themselves, and not live in the past as their mother has done, so -- naturally -- they fight the arrangements.
They do get married, but they do not leave China with their new husbands as planned, which is very near the time when the Japanese invade. As a result of this decision to stay behind, they are put through a series of traumatic events. Eventually, they decide the best thing would be to go to their husbands in America, but this does not end their suffering.
After they leave Angel Island, they are tested even further. Once they stop fighting their fates, their lives finally find some happiness. This happiness is marred by the treatment of Chinese in America because of being mistaken for Japanese, and then being accused of spying for Communist China.
Pearl and May have been keeping a lot of secrets between themselves during their lives, and eventually, Pearl's daughter finds out the truth about her family. She is furious with her mother and Aunt May, and makes a drastic decision that tears apart what is left of the only family they have.
The story is told by Pearl, as if she is speaking directly to the reader face-to-face, and I enjoyed the POV immensely. I was very interested in the characters, and often felt like I was there with them. However, the ending was extremely disappointing, compared with the rest of the book.
First of all, Pearl has a sudden revelation that everything she believed may have been a lie, or a false perspective. I find it hard to believe that her character, a strong woman who is very sure of herself, would suddenly agree that she was mistaken about everything. Also, the end of the story was so abrupt, I thought I had an incomplete copy, but I found out (after inquiring) that was the actual ending. We are left to wonder what became of four main characters -- FOUR!, right after the remaining family members are faced with yet another crisis.
I might have given this book five stars, but that ending absolutely ruined everything good about the story. I would have sung praises about the author, but there is a big difference between leaving an ending "open," and just stopping the story.
Another work of fiction that shows how cultural differences affect characters is The Pearl Diver, which has a proper ending.
They do get married, but they do not leave China with their new husbands as planned, which is very near the time when the Japanese invade. As a result of this decision to stay behind, they are put through a series of traumatic events. Eventually, they decide the best thing would be to go to their husbands in America, but this does not end their suffering.
After they leave Angel Island, they are tested even further. Once they stop fighting their fates, their lives finally find some happiness. This happiness is marred by the treatment of Chinese in America because of being mistaken for Japanese, and then being accused of spying for Communist China.
Pearl and May have been keeping a lot of secrets between themselves during their lives, and eventually, Pearl's daughter finds out the truth about her family. She is furious with her mother and Aunt May, and makes a drastic decision that tears apart what is left of the only family they have.
The story is told by Pearl, as if she is speaking directly to the reader face-to-face, and I enjoyed the POV immensely. I was very interested in the characters, and often felt like I was there with them. However, the ending was extremely disappointing, compared with the rest of the book.
First of all, Pearl has a sudden revelation that everything she believed may have been a lie, or a false perspective. I find it hard to believe that her character, a strong woman who is very sure of herself, would suddenly agree that she was mistaken about everything. Also, the end of the story was so abrupt, I thought I had an incomplete copy, but I found out (after inquiring) that was the actual ending. We are left to wonder what became of four main characters -- FOUR!, right after the remaining family members are faced with yet another crisis.
I might have given this book five stars, but that ending absolutely ruined everything good about the story. I would have sung praises about the author, but there is a big difference between leaving an ending "open," and just stopping the story.
Another work of fiction that shows how cultural differences affect characters is The Pearl Diver, which has a proper ending.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Fantastic
I loved this book, i have read both this and the sequel 'dreams of joy' and i was absolutely enthralled by them. Read more
Published 22 days ago by Anonymous
Cheap trick! Incomplete!!!
as Ursula's review points out, there is "no ending" to this book, it just drops off. others have mentioned boredom & shallowness starting around when the sisters settle down with... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Zangiku
A Treasure
An Affinity for Shadows
This was the first novel I read by Lisa See, and she weaves a story so interesting, so compelling that one can only look forward to the next... Read more
This was the first novel I read by Lisa See, and she weaves a story so interesting, so compelling that one can only look forward to the next... Read more
Published 5 months ago by E. Newman
Great book
I really enjoyed this book, took me back to Shanghai, I heard the noise of it's streets, smelt it, and then I found myself in Chinatown in America, in his streets. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Giovanna Maria Saba
Riches to rags Chinese historical fiction and sibling rivalry
I must admit, it was the cover of the "beautiful girls" and being from a Chinese author that intrigued me enough to make me pick up this book. Read more
Published 15 months ago by O Durham
Spoilt Shanghai girls are sold off...
Preferred Lisa See's other books. Two girls who in 1937 have it all in Shanghai, freedom, money, beauty... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Ally Bally G
Great historical fiction
having read Asian literature before it was a change to read about two sisters who left China during the war (WWII) to arrive in the USA and the problems, sibling rivalry and the... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Mr. Colin A. Jacobs
4.5 - wonderful writing but slightly disappointing ending
Pearl and May are sisters - Pearl is the older sister and looks out for May, the more beautiful sister, who she feels is the more loved by their parents. Read more
Published 21 months ago by SusieH
Fab book
I loved this book. Very different to other books by Lisa See, but still a fantastic story. Yet again the story is not quite what you expect which is what I like about it. Read more
Published on 8 Mar 2010 by Mantena
Shanghai Girls
The first three quater of the book was quite gripping. Unfortunately, it got very boring towards the end and I hated the "open" ending. I felt I wasted my time reading the book. Read more
Published on 10 Aug 2009 by Zu Clubb
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