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A review by _sequel_
Peony in Love by Lisa See
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Initially, the most jarring scene could have been any one of the cultural differences with how women were treated in this era in Peony’s country relative to my own, but the brutal physical mutilation required for foot binding was really jarring. I totally understand the value and cultural significance, but I was woefully underprepared for the lack of anesthesia for these young girls, or the length of the healing process as their feet are wrapped increasingly tighter.
All that behind us, the book was compelling but I was very frustrated by the end of Book One. How could Peony not look at her husband-to-be when her father presents him to the audience? How could she refuse to eat so long when it seems so predictable to the reader who he actually is? I should stop making predictions, clearly.
That being said, Book Two was frustrating in a different way, in that in the midst of this very cool introduction to the rules of the spiritual afterlife, Peony acts hyper-controlling and awful to her fiancee’s new wife in ways that are just plain gross. Of course we want the fiancee to be happy once he moves on from his grief over Peony, but she took it too far. Thank god in Book 3 she acknowledges that.
I’m convinced I 100% need to read more historical context about this book because from start to finish, the love story was interesting but the war and opera and regime that it was placed in and around was just absolutely riveting. Definitely helped make this book worth the read!
All that behind us, the book was compelling but I was very frustrated by the end of Book One. How could Peony not look at her husband-to-be when her father presents him to the audience? How could she refuse to eat so long when it seems so predictable to the reader who he actually is? I should stop making predictions, clearly.
That being said, Book Two was frustrating in a different way, in that in the midst of this very cool introduction to the rules of the spiritual afterlife, Peony acts hyper-controlling and awful to her fiancee’s new wife in ways that are just plain gross. Of course we want the fiancee to be happy once he moves on from his grief over Peony, but she took it too far. Thank god in Book 3 she acknowledges that.
I’m convinced I 100% need to read more historical context about this book because from start to finish, the love story was interesting but the war and opera and regime that it was placed in and around was just absolutely riveting. Definitely helped make this book worth the read!