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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
It's been a few years since I read Shanghai Girls, but this story did a good job of reminding about details from the past and I remembered a lot once I dived in. This is another great historical fiction read by See. I couldn't put it down last night and finally finished at 2:30am. I definitely have more of a handle on that era in history and the complicated messages and lies that were being sent out - and which Joy fell for. Per usual See doesn't shy away from the gruesome and I will never get some of the uglier aspects of the human toll, mental and physical that the great famine had on people and their decisions born of desperation.
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
It took me about 18 months before I could pick up this sequel to Shanghai Girls. I do not recommend reading this book without reading that one first.
While Shanghai Girls had one narrator, Dreams of Joy alternates between the points of view of Joy and Pearl. This took some getting used to.
I've read about Communist China, but primarily about the Cultural Revolution. I would like to learn more about Chairman Mao, because his entire regime was awful.
I'm glad I read this, because Shanghai Girls felt incomplete. I liked where Dreams of Joy wrapped up, with its happy ending, but in many ways it felt a bit too neat. Even so, I liked it and appreciated the closure.
While Shanghai Girls had one narrator, Dreams of Joy alternates between the points of view of Joy and Pearl. This took some getting used to.
I've read about Communist China, but primarily about the Cultural Revolution. I would like to learn more about Chairman Mao, because his entire regime was awful.
I'm glad I read this, because Shanghai Girls felt incomplete. I liked where Dreams of Joy wrapped up, with its happy ending, but in many ways it felt a bit too neat. Even so, I liked it and appreciated the closure.
I was very into this book. I had a hard time putting it down and spent time wondering what was happening to the characters when I didn't have the book in hand. The book is a strong reminder of the dangers of Socialism and Communism... the only down-side was the uncharacteristic happy ending!
I really loved this book! It's been a while since I read Shanghai Girls, but a lot of it came back to me as I read this one. I just love books set in old China! Found it really interesting and I recommend this and the previous book to anyone! I hope she write's another continuation!
I just read shanghi girls but found this story more enjoyable. It really described life in China especially in the country for the peasants. I have not read much about this particular time when China and felt Lisa See did a good job describing the conditions.
This story continues where Shanghi Girls left off and is primarily about Joy and her mother after she runs away and returns to China in order to find her biological father.
This story continues where Shanghi Girls left off and is primarily about Joy and her mother after she runs away and returns to China in order to find her biological father.
Sequel to Shanghai Girls has Pearl and Joy caught up and in the aftermath of the Chinese Revolution, and all of the havoc that it wreaked on the Chinese people. See does a good job laying out the effects of the combination of famine and post-revolution bureaucracy and hypocrisy. She continues the inner struggles of Pearl and May with their past and their relationship with Joy's birth father. And then she adds Joy's internal struggles which are clearly fueled by the deception she lived with and her youth.
Of course in the end, hope and happiness appear, and the reader is glad for it. I especially liked all of the details surrounding the "Red" prevailing philosophies, and her exposure of the care people had to take with their words, along with the compromises they had to make between principles and practicality, all in the name of survival. I don't know that I would have been that successful. Probably would have been executed early on.
Of course in the end, hope and happiness appear, and the reader is glad for it. I especially liked all of the details surrounding the "Red" prevailing philosophies, and her exposure of the care people had to take with their words, along with the compromises they had to make between principles and practicality, all in the name of survival. I don't know that I would have been that successful. Probably would have been executed early on.
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Love Lisa See's writing, but this felt a bit too preposterous.
This is the sequel to the book Shanghai Girls. I liked this book even more than Shanghai girls but you would need to read Shanghai girls before reading this one. I love the story in this book. The daughter gives up everything she has in L.A. to run away to China and find her real father and follow a dream she has for China and the Great Movement. Great history in this book even though it's written fiction.
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is a really good book. It was also a hard read. I spent almost the first half wanting to throttle a particular character. This was also informative as I am not educated on this particular time and culture.