Scan barcode
lorbach's review against another edition
5.0
This was a beautifully crafted and delightful read. I was intrigued and had no idea where it was going or what would happen next. Lisa See has an amazing talent as a writer. I highly recommend this book.
katko123's review against another edition
4.0
I read this for the first time about 15 years ago and I loved it. Now I just like it. But definitely, I understood more now than these years ago. Most people see this book as a sort of exotic love story about a young and naive girl who fell in love and then died. Thats it. But this is not the story that the author tells. It´s about women and their role in controlling patriarchic society. For centuries women all over the world had been restricted in their rights, in China they were also almost worthless. Why education had been denied to women? Because education opens minds and it´s dangerous. What was the main duty of a woman? To spread her legs and pop out a boy. Sounds only too familiar....
Religion, traditional beliefs, and rituals are a big part of this book and it explains how this can be such a strong and important support for those who suffer.
Religion, traditional beliefs, and rituals are a big part of this book and it explains how this can be such a strong and important support for those who suffer.
_sequel_'s review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Initially, the most jarring scene could have been any one of the cultural differences with how women were treated in this era in Peony’s country relative to my own, but the brutal physical mutilation required for foot binding was really jarring. I totally understand the value and cultural significance, but I was woefully underprepared for the lack of anesthesia for these young girls, or the length of the healing process as their feet are wrapped increasingly tighter.
All that behind us, the book was compelling but I was very frustrated by the end of Book One. How could Peony not look at her husband-to-be when her father presents him to the audience? How could she refuse to eat so long when it seems so predictable to the reader who he actually is? I should stop making predictions, clearly.
That being said, Book Two was frustrating in a different way, in that in the midst of this very cool introduction to the rules of the spiritual afterlife, Peony acts hyper-controlling and awful to her fiancee’s new wife in ways that are just plain gross. Of course we want the fiancee to be happy once he moves on from his grief over Peony, but she took it too far. Thank god in Book 3 she acknowledges that.
I’m convinced I 100% need to read more historical context about this book because from start to finish, the love story was interesting but the war and opera and regime that it was placed in and around was just absolutely riveting. Definitely helped make this book worth the read!
All that behind us, the book was compelling but I was very frustrated by the end of Book One. How could Peony not look at her husband-to-be when her father presents him to the audience? How could she refuse to eat so long when it seems so predictable to the reader who he actually is? I should stop making predictions, clearly.
That being said, Book Two was frustrating in a different way, in that in the midst of this very cool introduction to the rules of the spiritual afterlife, Peony acts hyper-controlling and awful to her fiancee’s new wife in ways that are just plain gross. Of course we want the fiancee to be happy once he moves on from his grief over Peony, but she took it too far. Thank god in Book 3 she acknowledges that.
I’m convinced I 100% need to read more historical context about this book because from start to finish, the love story was interesting but the war and opera and regime that it was placed in and around was just absolutely riveting. Definitely helped make this book worth the read!
samraetom's review against another edition
challenging
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
stephaniesteen73's review against another edition
3.0
I found this book extremely difficult to get into, and actually considered abandoning it near the end of Book One. This is definitely not my usual genre - magical realism? lovesick spirits? - but it sucked me in and I did enjoy the ending. Interesting historical details too - 1500s(?)era China, complete with Manchus, footbinding, ancestor worship, etc.
anjalisudarsan's review against another edition
4.0
Loved learning about Chinese customs and their afterlife, it was very new to me! The whole lovesickness theme was depressing, especially women starving to death while in love, but the pacing worked so well (Lisa see is a brilliant author). Had me engaged right up till the end.
daumari's review against another edition
3.0
Quick read. Wondering if some of the alluded-to verses are in my premodern Chinese lit books (though maybe not- is 1600s considered premodern?)A bit of a love story, a bit of a ghost story, with a root in historical fact.
egalindo's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
yellowhouselady's review against another edition
The writing was not great. I have enjoyed a couple other of Lisa See’s books. Maybe this was an early one?
jbridges99's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed the 2nd half of the book better than the first half - no spoiler but the "after" part was better than the "before".