A review by snphansen
China Dolls by Lisa See

2.0

I really grappled with how to rate this book. On the one hand I was very caught up in the story and couldn't put it down, yet I was so disgusted and dismayed by the characters and their supposed "friendship" that I was anxious for this particular reading experience to end. I read and loved Snowflower and The Secret Fan, but looking back through the lens of having read a second See novel, I can't help but wonder if the author really sees and understands female friendship to always be underpinned by jealousy, cattiness, and underlying competition. The acts of betrayal each of these ladies bestows upon one another are so egregious that I have a hard time believing that they ever shared any real friendship or mutual affection. Even the formation of their friendship was unbelievable. I couldn't even feel any sympathy for any of the heroines, because despite their admittedly harrowing backgrounds, they are just the goddamn worst. The nicest thing I can say about any of them is that they're ambitious and can endure….. but no. Just no.

Still, I enjoyed reading about this time period, especially the parts set in San Francisco's Chinatown since I grew up in the Bay Area. As I mentioned, the story was also very interesting and I certainly read it very quickly. Still, I don't think I'll be reading this author ever again.