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karingoodell's review against another edition
2.0
Although I appreciated the historical setting of the story, I found that I really did not care about the characters enough to finish the book. Loved Shanghai Girls. This one, not so much.
kbeeps's review against another edition
4.0
Not my favorite Lisa See historical novel, but a good read nonetheless.
kyliew52's review against another edition
2.0
Interesting insight into an era I knew little about, but it was overly long and the voices of the three women were identical. I kept having to look at the beginning of the chapter again to check who the narrator was this time!
melba210's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
lisanussd's review against another edition
4.0
I am a HUGE fan of historical fiction and this book fit the bill. The story revolves around three women who are Chinese performers near San Francisco after they meet by chance. They perform in a club called the "Forbidden City." What ties the book together is the three women who are friends and their experiences through their career and time together. They each have their own story and secrets but they bond together as performers and as women who are not accepted in the mainstream performer circle. A theme throughout the book is that Chinese performers did not have as many opportunities or as high pay as other performers. It was enlightening how disappointing this fact was to the women, yet they stayed in the profession because they found some fame. At one point the women were performing with the "Chop Suey Circuit" World War II was in the background of this book but not the focal point. It was enjoyable and easy to read. I admired the women in the book for their spunk and friendship.
courtraemck's review against another edition
2.0
Maybe unfair to judge Lisa See books against one another, but having read some really rich historical fiction from her, this one didn’t do it for me. Set in America in the late 1930s and early 1940s, the word “oriental” is all over the place. I didn’t love being thrown into that time period of racial views, especially if we weren’t going to unpack it. It was very plot-driven by a sprinkle of drama in each girl’s corner, and I’m disappointed there wasn’t much of any coverage of life in the Japanese internment camps. Maybe the story tried to cover too long of a time period for that.
misshclose's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
trees75's review against another edition
4.0
This was a fascinating read about a part of American history that I was unfamiliar with. The Asian women who entertained and danced in the US before and during WWII. Lisa See is a skillful story teller and builds unique characters who you will care about deeply. This was a great story to read on a beach vacation! Very entertaining
itsjustjane's review against another edition
2.0
Pretty disappointed with this book! I really liked Lisa See's other books, but it was as if this book was written by an amateur.