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daumari's review against another edition
4.0
whoops, accidentally read through this in a day... definitely a perspective you don't see as often in fiction (Chinese nightclubs in the 40s). I called the betrayal fairly early, though things like that and some parts of the girls' backstories keep this from being purely chick lit.
3kidsrnumber1's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
samraetom's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
jcaballero0725's review against another edition
4.0
I am a fan of Lisa See and really enjoy her style of writing. She really knows how to steer your emotions in whichever direction she wants to take you. I love reading about this time in history and would recommend it to others who do as well.
redvelveting's review against another edition
3.75
This book was a wonderful glimpse into Chinese American life during World War II and even more interestingly, the history of Asian American performers and clubs. Such a fascinating part of American history that I would never have known about. It’s clear that a lot of research went into creating this book and capturing the Chinese American experience at the time.
The book is told from three different perspectives and the author did a fantastic job of distinguishing them. I think the climax was dissatisfying (resolved quite quickly), but overall, I enjoyed the book.
The book is told from three different perspectives and the author did a fantastic job of distinguishing them. I think the climax was dissatisfying (resolved quite quickly), but overall, I enjoyed the book.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Violence, Xenophobia, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and War
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Confinement, Slavery, Terminal illness, and Abortion
darr76's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
chrissypink80's review against another edition
3.0
I’d give this book 3 1/2 stars. The relationships between the main characters were interesting but the plot and scenes within the book were quite repetitive. I would have liked to have read more about what was going on with the war and the men characters’ experience and perspective on it.
book_concierge's review against another edition
4.0
Digital audiobook narrated by Jodi Long
This work of historical fiction begins in 1938. Three young women – Helen Fong, Grace Lee and Ruby Tom – meet just as the World’s Fair is set to begin on Treasure Island. They’re from different backgrounds but all are drawn to the glamorous Forbidden City nightclub by their dreams of success. World War II will soon interrupt their career paths, and their friendship will suffer, but they will endure. See follows the young women through the war years and includes an epilogue set in 1988.
I really enjoyed this book. I was in vested in these young women and their aspirations. While my background is different from theirs, we share the push/pull of traditional culture (and the expectations that result) vs the desire to see our dreams fulfilled. I loved, also, the detail See included from costumes to scenery to social issues – these elements really took me back to this era and culture.
See invented her heroines and the majority of characters, but includes a number of actual performers / entertainers of the time period. She did extensive research, including many in-person interviews with now elderly past performers on the “Chop Suey Circuit.”
Jodi Long does a marvelous job of narrating the audiobook. I admit, however, that I sometimes didn’t pay close enough attention to which character was narrating which chapter. (See does state the character at the beginning of each chapter.) Until I got used to the constant changing of point of view, I found myself occasionally confused. That was my fault, not Long’s narration.
This work of historical fiction begins in 1938. Three young women – Helen Fong, Grace Lee and Ruby Tom – meet just as the World’s Fair is set to begin on Treasure Island. They’re from different backgrounds but all are drawn to the glamorous Forbidden City nightclub by their dreams of success. World War II will soon interrupt their career paths, and their friendship will suffer, but they will endure. See follows the young women through the war years and includes an epilogue set in 1988.
I really enjoyed this book. I was in vested in these young women and their aspirations. While my background is different from theirs, we share the push/pull of traditional culture (and the expectations that result) vs the desire to see our dreams fulfilled. I loved, also, the detail See included from costumes to scenery to social issues – these elements really took me back to this era and culture.
See invented her heroines and the majority of characters, but includes a number of actual performers / entertainers of the time period. She did extensive research, including many in-person interviews with now elderly past performers on the “Chop Suey Circuit.”
Jodi Long does a marvelous job of narrating the audiobook. I admit, however, that I sometimes didn’t pay close enough attention to which character was narrating which chapter. (See does state the character at the beginning of each chapter.) Until I got used to the constant changing of point of view, I found myself occasionally confused. That was my fault, not Long’s narration.