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40th out of 200 books
—
534 voters
Peach Blossom Pavillion
by
Mingmei Yip
From a prodigiously talented new Chinese author comes a marvelous debut novel about a woman who becomes China's most successful courtesan. Yip's work echoes "Memoirs of a Geisha," but with a sharper, more suspenseful pace.
Paperback, 352 pages
Published
June 1st 2008
by Kensington
(first published January 1st 2008)
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This is a book I probably wouldn't have read on my own had my mom not given it to me as a birthday gift. After reading the inside flap, I thought it sounded interesting and I really did enjoy this book, not in the sense that it is a "feel good" book, rather in the way it dealt with sensitive issues and evoked a lot of sympathy and compassion on my part. Overall, the book has a depressing tone with a silver lining. Without the silver lining I don't think I would have enjoyed this book.
The story i...more
The story i...more
this book had me entertained from the prologue! I was initially caught off guard by the language, it was racier than I had anicipated, but realized soon that it fit well into the blatant story telling of an old woman unashamed of her past life as a prostitute.
I originally expected something along the lines of Memoirs of a Geisha, but soon found that the two books could not really be compared. I enjoyed the look inside of old China and I really enjoyed the story. I didn't feel the "can't put it d...more
I originally expected something along the lines of Memoirs of a Geisha, but soon found that the two books could not really be compared. I enjoyed the look inside of old China and I really enjoyed the story. I didn't feel the "can't put it d...more
I had a very difficult time rating this book. The fictional story of a young chinese girl placed into her aunt's prestigious prostitution house was very interesting and fast moving. I liked that it gave me more insight into yet another facet of China's historical culture. I would give the plot 4 stars. However, the writing used a lot of repetetive words and phrases that became very irritating and took away from the mood of the book. I would give the writing style 2 stars. I would recommend this...more
I picked this book up because I was looking for a decent, not to deep paperback that I could bring with me on a vacation. I wound up reading it before I leave, but it would have been a perfect vacation book.
The story is of Xiang Xiang, who do to some unfortunate family circumstances is given to the Chinese version of a Geisha house. Through the story you learn about the decadence, arts, and world that the elite "ming ji" (prostitutes) live in. There were the typical characters - the vulgar Mama,...more
The story is of Xiang Xiang, who do to some unfortunate family circumstances is given to the Chinese version of a Geisha house. Through the story you learn about the decadence, arts, and world that the elite "ming ji" (prostitutes) live in. There were the typical characters - the vulgar Mama,...more
As I'm writing this review, I'm thinking about how I have to go back and re-read this novel. Mingmei Yip is one of my all time favorite Chinese authors. Although, she does not have many works published, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and its insight into an ancient Chinese culture. I really like books like this--that give insight into a small facet of a larger culture, especially one as interesting as China. The author's writing evoked sympathy, and the highly descriptive style brought the worl...more
Compared many times to "Memoirs of a Geisha" this book is centred around the Pavilion of the title, a high-class house of prostitutes in China well before the time of Mao.More than that, the book spans the life of Precious Orchid, who is telling her life story to her great-grand-daughter. From the moment when she found herself torn from her family her goal was to avenge her father's death and to find her mother again, but along the way she becomes accustomed to the high life and at times does so...more
After reading the reviews for this book I thought I would not like it and it would be a waste of time. I'm glad I decided to read it. I really like it and found it really interesting to see how prostitution changed. The main character was educated in arts, literature, and could hold a conversation, please the mind and the body. It wasn't just sex in the case of a Ming ji. It was also interesting to see that men could be so taken with these women who were still prostitutes. The really enjoyed fa...more
I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would after reading other reviews. I did see the similarities between Pavilion and Memoirs of Geisha...there were some similar themes. The writing style reminded me of Lisa See (Peony in Love, Snowflower and the Secret Fan) but I think See's writing is a little more refined. I think Yip is repetitive at times and it got distracting...at one point I was going to scream if I read the words ""jade stalk"" or ""golden gate"" one more time.
I loved the relati...more
I loved the relati...more
I purchased this novel because a review stated it was similar to Memoirs of a Geisha, which I loved. Peach Blossom Pavilion is written in much more aggressive language with much use of the f*** word in all its variations of noun, adjective, verb and adverb.
It's true both books tell the tale of a young girl forced into prostitution, although, if I understand correctly, the highest level of accomplished geisha didn't usually have to sleep with men. I don't think it was as well-written as Memoirs o...more
It's true both books tell the tale of a young girl forced into prostitution, although, if I understand correctly, the highest level of accomplished geisha didn't usually have to sleep with men. I don't think it was as well-written as Memoirs o...more
This is a great read for somebody looking for a saucy read that moves at a brisk clip, yet it has some thoughtfulness to it as well. I agree with Mirah W that the construct of having the lead character telling her story to her great grand-daughter was not needed. There's no need for a reason to recall it, when she's ostensibly lived such an amazing life! Unlike other readers, the repetitious sexual euphemisms didn't tire me. (I guess I'm pretty depraved as well. Haha.) The quotes from literature...more
I have to admit that it started out as a three or four star book, but by the end I had to give it one star. It is basically a Chinese Harlequin Romance. Dumb and boring. Why did I even read it? It seemed promising in the beginning. Set in 1918, a 13 year old is sent to live with an aunt after her father is murdered and her mother has to go into hiding in a nunnery. The aunt is actually a "mama" (or madam) running a brothel. Beautiful Xiang Xiang is trained in the arts--music, poetry, singing, pa...more
Jul 27, 2011
Jen
added it
This is some weird combination of Amy Tan and a more explicit Chinese version of Golden's Memoirs of a Geisha. While this was good, both Tan and Golden are better, more accomplished writers, and I found myself often wishing this book would be over sooner rather than later. It would eventually draw me back in, but there were a lot of contrived sequences that I had honestly read before in other books. It wasn't an altogether terrible book; I just don't see myself really recommending the book to an...more
It isn't very often that I find myself so wrapped up in a book that I can't put it down. Mingmei Yip's "Peach Blossom Pavilion" was one of those rare gems that sucked me in and wouldn't let me go till I finished it. In any spare time I had while trying to conquer this read, I was sitting down soaking up the story. Yip has a wonderful voice for storytelling and her passion for her work shines through in this book. As a fan of all things Asian and a fan of books such as "Memoirs of a Geisha", it c...more
This was a book that... I believe can only truly be appreciated by Chinese people. I'm not being racist but the author used almost too many Chinese saying and proverbs that sounds extremely awkward in English but once translated back to Chinese... makes perfect sense. Another complaint is the the author used the word "fuck" too much. It's to the point where I'm thinking "ok. I get it. they FUCKED" BUT... BUT... the plot was still great and as a Chinese cultural enthusiast, I devoured the book in...more
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I can immediately see why people think of this as a faster-paced version of Memoirs of a Geisha. It's also on the crude side, as some other reviewers have mentioned: words like "fuck" and "slut" take prominence. But I don't think that's a bad thing - it makes it feel less sanitized and more true-to-life, because I damn well know people talk that way in real fucking life.
Hurrr.
In all seriousness, this is kind of an awesome book, albeit sad if you're anti-sex work. It doesn't pain prostitution as...more
Hurrr.
In all seriousness, this is kind of an awesome book, albeit sad if you're anti-sex work. It doesn't pain prostitution as...more
When I bought this book and added it to my currently reading list I happened to read a few of its other readers comments. One struck me, it mentioned the beauty of the cover, and stated that the story itself didnt deserve it.
After reading the first chapter, I began to feel like I understood where that particular commentator was coming from.
There was a vulgarity to the language that I just did not expect, I was a little dissapointed by it.
I kept reading well, because it was Saturday afternoon and...more
After reading the first chapter, I began to feel like I understood where that particular commentator was coming from.
There was a vulgarity to the language that I just did not expect, I was a little dissapointed by it.
I kept reading well, because it was Saturday afternoon and...more
Препоръчвам я. Историята е динамична, поднесена е леко, макар на моменти истински да горчи, авторката успява да разсее тягостните усещания бързо и да не натоварва прекомерно читателя. Персонажите са интересни и реалистични, макар да ми се искаше да се обърне повече внимание на образите им, може би това е нещото, което ми липсваше- по-разширен и подробен поглед на характерите, емоциите и преживяванията, поне на главните герои. Но дори с това лично мое усещане книгата ми хареса много.
An entertaining novel set in early twentieth-century China. After a series of family misfortunes, the young Xiang Xiang finds herself in a brothel called Peach Blossom Pavilion, where she is trained to be a ming ji, a prestigious prostitute. Xiang Xiang's path is fraught with tragedy and betrayal, but she nevertheless manages to escape Peach Blossom Pavilion, only to discover that her life in the brothel continues to haunt her. A good read, definitely for those who enjoy historical fiction set i...more
Like a Coach bag and matching shoes bought for $10 at a stall in China, you think you are getting a good deal, whether it is real or not, until upon closer inspection you realize the C's are really O's and the rubber is pealing off the outsole, this story was only a half-assed attempt to make the Chinese version of a famous and popular Japanese book and movie. Really really disappointing.
Interesting premise, but cheezy in execution. I can appreciate the image that Yip was trying to portray, but it just seemed to fanciful at times, especially for the content. Precious Orchid was a good person deep down, but came across as a total flake more often than not. She tried to make herself seem so self-righteous and pure in many situations in which she instigated the negative outcomes. All the people who loved her came to a bad end, and she never owned up to her part. I would have been a...more
This book won't let you put it down. A look into the pleasure houses of China, much like Memoirs of a Geisha was for Japan.
However this one is alot more adult in nature I suppose, these women were very much whores, sofisticated whores, but whores non the less.
Well written and with a main character you can't help but love. Even if you do get exasperated with her from time to time.
However this one is alot more adult in nature I suppose, these women were very much whores, sofisticated whores, but whores non the less.
Well written and with a main character you can't help but love. Even if you do get exasperated with her from time to time.
...Meh. Similar to her Silk Road book, I found this book to be slightly on the vulgar side; I think Yip could've communicated the ideas in a more elegant way. Maybe it's because of the nature of the language that when directly translated comes out to be less tasteful in English, but I found it a huge turn off and actually prevented me from enjoying the book as much as I could have. The plot was okay, but predictable (especially after having read Memoirs of a Geisha).
I bought my copy of this book at the Asia Society (check out the museum). Being a historical fiction fan, I thought this would be the Chinese version of Memoirs of a Geisha (which I loved). I wasn't. One dimensional, poorly written characters only highlight the lack of plot. I gave it until page 250 and then had to completely abandon it. A total waste of time.
Ok so clearly I should have read the inside flaps a little more closely. This book was just shy of porn. The chapter titles didn't help hide what I was reading either. I just didn't like the story that much it lacked substance. The author used too many euphemisms for everyday things and it made it a little hard to get sometimes. It's just a very strange story. I really would not recommend this book to anyone.
this book had me entertained from the prologue! I was initially caught off guard by the language, it was racier than I had anicipated, but realized soon that it fit well into the blatant story telling of an old woman unashamed of her past life as a prostitute.
I originally expected something along the lines of Memoirs of a Geisha, but soon found that the two books could not really be compared. I enjoyed the look inside of old China and I really enjoyed the story. I didn't feel the "can't put it d...more
I originally expected something along the lines of Memoirs of a Geisha, but soon found that the two books could not really be compared. I enjoyed the look inside of old China and I really enjoyed the story. I didn't feel the "can't put it d...more
This was a glimpse in to the creul world of the pavillion house Chinese society in the early 1900s. The plot was riveting, yet could have used some editing at places where it dragged and repeated. Also be prepared to learn (too) many Chinese synonyms for sex!
Too graphic and vulgar for me. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, it is, after all, a book about a prostitutes. But I thought it would be more along the lines of "Memoirs of a Geisha". Too bad. I didn't even read past the 5th chapter, but I gave it one star based on what I did read.
I could not put this book down. It's the story of a young Chinese girl forced into prostitution in the early 1900s and her fight to find her mother and avenge her father's death. Really well done. And the book itself is pretty too. The pages look like torn paper, like an old forgotten diary.
I don't know why I just couldn't get into this one. It was a bit too whimsical to me and almost poetic, which is fine, but not my style. I don't mind a bit of that but it just went too much into fantasy for my taste.
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Mingmei Yip was born in China, received her Ph.D. from the University of Paris, Sorbonne, and held faculty appointments at the Chinese University and Baptist University in Hong Kong. She's published five books in Chinese, written several columns for seven major Hong Kong newspapers, and has appeared on over forty TV and radio programs in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Mainland China, and the U.S. She immigrat...more
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Jul 23, 2008 08:10am
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