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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
I just finished this book. I must say I enjoyed it more than Shanghai Girls. This is in sharp contrast to the other members of our book club, who all enjoyed Shanghai Girls more. Tomorrow night's discussion, over take out Chinese food, should be a great discussion. My husband and I visited China in 2012 in part for a business trip, and we spent just a little time in the countryside visiting the Great Wall outside of Beijing. This book came alive for me; I could barely put it down. I would highly recommend this book to readers of Shanghai Girls, and also to anyone who is interested in Chinese history, in particular the time of the Great Leap Forward. Not necessarily an easy read, as the author clearly describes what it was like to live (and die) during this time in Chinese history, but unforgettable. I believe it's the kind of story that will stay with the reader for a long time.
So intensely moving with characters ripped out of history for us to listen to, to journey with, and to learn from.
I only gave 3 stars because I found the first half of the book to be very slow. Around the midpoint of the book, the story really pulled me in and I flew through the second half and loved it.
This book started off wonderfully, got extremely slow in the middle, and then ended wonderfully. I enjoy Lisa see's books but some of the detail she writes about tends to draw out scenes for a lot lover than needed... Then the scenes you want dragged out end up feeling rushed. The ending was nice, but I wish there was an epilogue so we know how things ended for everyone. It felt like it ended just before the ending. Also, this book makes shanghai girls better and makes me appreciate may more.
I also enjoyed that pearl reunites with another unsuspecting family member, albeit for a short while. It was also interesting to see how I sympathized with Joy and her love for Tao and then wished she would have listened to her parents as Tao truly turned into something rotten. Maybe it's because I'm around joy's age? I wonder how my mom felt about this particular part of the story...
Lastly, the book was also a bit horrifying, onthe topic of Tao it is crazy how anyone would participate in giving up their child for food, but it really happened!
Really beautiful sequel to Shanghai Girls. I loved reading the story and how it came full circle.
This is the follow up to Shanghai Girls. Through impetuous decisions, the story returns the main characters to China. The author then tells the story of how the new China failed. Lisa See is a good story teller and this one has a little of everything in it. Read this and you will learn a little, laugh a little and cry a little.
Four stars for this lovely novel. Lisa See brings other cultures to life, and takes you into the minds of others. I read this before Shanghai Girls, but that’s not a huge problem. Joy is a delightful character, and if her reasons for running away to China are a little strained, I can get on board. The depiction of the awful famine associated with the Great Leap Forward are hugely affecting, without gratuitous horror see hits just the right notes.
I’ve loved everything I have read by Lisa See and this is no exception. I’m glad to have the opportunity to walk for a while in the shoes of people who are different from me, and no different at all.
I’ve loved everything I have read by Lisa See and this is no exception. I’m glad to have the opportunity to walk for a while in the shoes of people who are different from me, and no different at all.
Pearl and her family really have been through it. Never ending bad, I’m glad so e good finally came their way. Hard but beautiful story.