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dark
emotional
informative
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Once again, Lisa See drew me into her world, and I was completely hooked. I listened to the book on disc on my way to and from work. I laughed, cried, and wanted to tear my hair out at different points along the way (because of the choices made by the characters, not because it was a bad story). I was so invested in these characters.
I have no idea if the author's portrayal of Communist China is accurate, but her storytelling was riveting.
I have no idea if the author's portrayal of Communist China is accurate, but her storytelling was riveting.
Loved snow flower and then I read the other Lisa See books and liked them a lot less. This one was amazing. I loved it just as much as Snow Flower if not more.
This sequel to Shanghai girls rates 5 stars as well. It's historical fiction set in China during Mao's cultural revolution. The author clearly does not care for communism, but the story is told (mostly) through the eyes of the at first idealistic and later disillusioned daughter of the immigrants we met in the first book. The book works on many levels, historical, political, mother/daughter, and the dreams and aspirations of us all.
My only quibble is the relentlessly depressing, menacing, and frightening tone of the book.
How true to reality is this book? The author has a clear agenda, so I don't know. I've got Kissinger's "On China" on my list to answer that question.
My only quibble is the relentlessly depressing, menacing, and frightening tone of the book.
How true to reality is this book? The author has a clear agenda, so I don't know. I've got Kissinger's "On China" on my list to answer that question.
I liked this one better than the first Shanghai Girls book. Lisa See is a great historian and does her research, but I felt like this book developed the characters better so that I was attached to their stories and wanted them to succeed.
A good sequel to Shanghai Girls and the author does a great job painting the imagery with word, depicting struggle and emotions, and the cultural differences and societal changes that were occurring in China during this time. The only thing that I didn't care for was that the story was slow for the first 3/4 of the book and then picks up at the end.
I read this back to back with Shanghai Girls. SG was better. The problem is Joy, she's bratty and annoying and I did not enjoy her chapters at all. I fact, I usually would break for reading once the book moved to her perspective. I found the 4th part of this book to be the best. This family has really been through a lot, by the end it was like the True Lies of books. If it wasn't one thing it was another. I disliked that Shanghai Girls ends leaving you wanting more but I'm not sure the beginning of this book is the more I wanted.
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Truly felt for these characters. See paints a vivid picture of an impossible time. Never knew this much about Red China and communism.
I always enjoy Lisa See's books and this was an excellent sequel to Shanghai Girls. Though "excellent" probably not the right word to describe the unbelievably tragic time in China's history that she writes about.