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olevin84's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
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
5.0
This is one of those books that I should’ve read when it came out. When you want to completely hate the main characters for what they do to each other, you can’t help but to feel sorry for them after you see the reasons why they did what they did. This is a story that deserves to have a movie adaptation!
emilyinprint's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
slow-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
3.0
carolpk's review against another edition
3.0
The Hook - I'm a fan of Lisa See. After reading many high fives for China Dolls I decided I was in. When I needed a new audiobook China Dolls won the toss.
The Line – ”The fear of death is a powerful aphrodisiac.”
The Sinker – I've waited a few days to comment onChina Dolls. I wanted to give myself time to think what went wrong for me in this book. I expected to be wowed but came away feeling conflicted. There were many things I liked, each woman's story and their struggle and determination to be reach the top, the pre-World War II setting in San Francisco's China Town, the examination of race and culture as it pertains to the Chinese and Japanese in a world on the brink of war, and its nod to real life events of that period, including the real Forbidden City and Charlie Low. I liked the descriptions of their clothing, hairstyles, dance routines, and mores of the day. So why conflicted? Something was just off. Like others who gave this less than good marks, the characters and dialog seemed stilted to me. Perhaps some of my disconnect came from the listen rather than the printed page. I had trouble with the narrator, Jodi Long. When she kept to her own voice, all was fine, but her change in vocalization for each of the characters, Grace, Helen and Ruby, just didn't work for me. Interestingly, Jodi Long narration of China Dolls is an Audiofile Magazine Earphones Award Winner, an award given for "Earphones to truly exceptional presentations that excel in all the following criteria:
Narrative voice and style
Vocal characterizations
Appropriateness for the audio format
Enhancement of the text
I enjoyed the historical aspects enough to want to read Forbidden City, USA: Chinese American Nightclubs, 1936-1970. I have already watched Arthur Dong presents "Forbidden City, U.S.A." at the San Francisco Public Library
. I also plan to listen to this These Nightclub Entertainers Paved The Way For Asian-Americans In Showbiz
my link text from NPR.
The Line – ”The fear of death is a powerful aphrodisiac.”
The Sinker – I've waited a few days to comment onChina Dolls. I wanted to give myself time to think what went wrong for me in this book. I expected to be wowed but came away feeling conflicted. There were many things I liked, each woman's story and their struggle and determination to be reach the top, the pre-World War II setting in San Francisco's China Town, the examination of race and culture as it pertains to the Chinese and Japanese in a world on the brink of war, and its nod to real life events of that period, including the real Forbidden City and Charlie Low. I liked the descriptions of their clothing, hairstyles, dance routines, and mores of the day. So why conflicted? Something was just off. Like others who gave this less than good marks, the characters and dialog seemed stilted to me. Perhaps some of my disconnect came from the listen rather than the printed page. I had trouble with the narrator, Jodi Long. When she kept to her own voice, all was fine, but her change in vocalization for each of the characters, Grace, Helen and Ruby, just didn't work for me. Interestingly, Jodi Long narration of China Dolls is an Audiofile Magazine Earphones Award Winner, an award given for "Earphones to truly exceptional presentations that excel in all the following criteria:
Narrative voice and style
Vocal characterizations
Appropriateness for the audio format
Enhancement of the text
I enjoyed the historical aspects enough to want to read Forbidden City, USA: Chinese American Nightclubs, 1936-1970. I have already watched Arthur Dong presents "Forbidden City, U.S.A." at the San Francisco Public Library
. I also plan to listen to this These Nightclub Entertainers Paved The Way For Asian-Americans In Showbiz
my link text from NPR.
miss617's review against another edition
2.0
I liked it at first, but by the end, all three of the main characters had become very annoying and very unlikeable. Their "friendship" didn't make much sense to me, as they all seemed to be backstabbing each other every chance they got. And while I was initially rooting for Grace and Joe, I eventually wanted to shake her and ask her what was so special about him that she let him break her heart so many times. There were some redeeming moments, but they were few and far between.
cahistorygeek's review against another edition
3.0
Very reminiscent of her earlier works and somewhat predictable. It was an entertaining read though not life altering.
lfinkenkeller's review against another edition
3.0
I have always wanted to read a book written by Lisa See. I chose this book because Anne Bogel said it incorporates real historical events and careful research, but the focus is on the story. The novel zeroes in on the 1930’s night club scene in San Francisco. It goes through WWII and a little beyond. I have to say I knew nothing about Chinese nightclubs. It was interesting to learn about this little known part of history.
The story centers on three showgirls who become friends. To see how these girls handled the prejudices of the time and still survived is absolutely amazing! However, I really didn’t like any of the three girls. They were selfish and often purposely hurt each other. This quote sums up the girls pretty well. “A woman isn't just one thing. The past is in us, constantly changing us. Heartache and failure shift our perspectives as do joy and triumphs. At any moment, on any given day, we can be friends, competitors, or enemies. We can be generous or stingy, loving or petty, helpful or untrustworthy.”
The story centers on three showgirls who become friends. To see how these girls handled the prejudices of the time and still survived is absolutely amazing! However, I really didn’t like any of the three girls. They were selfish and often purposely hurt each other. This quote sums up the girls pretty well. “A woman isn't just one thing. The past is in us, constantly changing us. Heartache and failure shift our perspectives as do joy and triumphs. At any moment, on any given day, we can be friends, competitors, or enemies. We can be generous or stingy, loving or petty, helpful or untrustworthy.”
ewg109's review against another edition
2.0
I had to struggle to get through this one, nothing about it grabbed me.
blathering's review against another edition
4.0
Wonderful historically based novel of Chinese American women pre WWII and beyond
simkern's review against another edition
4.0
I love everything by Lisa See, and I love this book. China Dolls is set in 1940's San Francisco, yet feels very contemporary in its exploration of that history through the lenses of third-wave feminism and intersectionality. I always learn so much from her novels, and this one was no different!
niharikaaaaaa9's review against another edition
3.0
The writing was really good -- I think Lisa See did a great job describing Ruby, Grace, and Helen's lives, and what it meant to be Asian American around the time of World War II. Ruby's spunk, Grace's ambition, and Helen's traditionalism all came through in See's evocative storytelling; their adventures, both as a group and individually, kept me entertained. That being said, the plot itself was contrived, and I found myself correctly guessing all the "twists".
I would read this book to learn more about what it was like during this time for three Asian American women living in San Francisco trying to make their livings as dancers, less so for the actual plot.
I would read this book to learn more about what it was like during this time for three Asian American women living in San Francisco trying to make their livings as dancers, less so for the actual plot.