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89th out of 616 books
—
602 voters
The Concubine's Daughter
by
Pai Kit Fai
In the bestselling tradition of Memoirs of a Geisha, a riveting saga of early twentieth-century China, where a mother and a daugther fight to realize their destinies in a world where woman could still be bought and sold.
Lotus Feet. He would give his daughter the dainty feet of a courtesan. This would enhance her beauty and her price, making her future shine like a new coin...more
Lotus Feet. He would give his daughter the dainty feet of a courtesan. This would enhance her beauty and her price, making her future shine like a new coin...more
Paperback, 471 pages
Published
September 29th 2009
by St. Martin's Griffin
(first published 2009)
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I probably would have liked this book better if it had been better researched, but I kept tripping over factual errors. The author claims his background in martial arts and traditional Chinese medicine gave him enough information to write a book on Chinese history, but he should have done more formal research if he intended this to be historical fiction. In the novel, he states that Macao was ceded to Portugal because the Portuguese defeated the pirate Koxinga, but Koxinga died in 1662 and Macao...more
Fai’s novel presents us with three women: the concubine (who barely makes an appearance before dying giving birth), her daughter Li-Xia, and Li-Xia’s daughter Siu-Sing. Set in rural China from the early 20th century to 1940, these women lead the hard lives of the poor and powerless. Horrible people seek to control their lives; fortunately, good people shelter them, teach them, and give them hope. All three women are intent on becoming scholars, not the playthings of men. In this place and time,...more
I have to admit that I struggled to make it through 50 pages of this book before I put it aside.
I’ve read and loved books many historical fiction books about the East including The Joy Luck Club, Tai Pan, Shogun, Memoirs of a Geisha, The Bonesetter’s Daughter, etc. but this one failed to engage me from the start. The characters were flat caricatures. I never felt I was fully inside any one before we switched to a different person’s POV. The historical details seemed to be jammed into the story,...more
I’ve read and loved books many historical fiction books about the East including The Joy Luck Club, Tai Pan, Shogun, Memoirs of a Geisha, The Bonesetter’s Daughter, etc. but this one failed to engage me from the start. The characters were flat caricatures. I never felt I was fully inside any one before we switched to a different person’s POV. The historical details seemed to be jammed into the story,...more
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A debut novel by Pai Kit Fai that is reminescent of 'Memoirs of a Geisha' by Arthur Golden, or Lisa See's 'Snowflower and the Secret Fan.' THE CONCUBINE'S DAUGHTER is a mesmerizing epic of heart wrenching proportions and stunning passion and courage. I don't think I can even express just how highly I recommend this book.
From back cover:
"Lotus feet. He would give his daughter the dainty feet of a courtesan. This would enhance her beauty and her price, making her future shine. He smiled to himself...more
From back cover:
"Lotus feet. He would give his daughter the dainty feet of a courtesan. This would enhance her beauty and her price, making her future shine. He smiled to himself...more
I enjoyed reading this book because the subject of women/girls in China is really interesting to me. But I thought that, of all of the books I've read on this subject, this is the most poorly written. The characters are really one-dimensional, and there is a bunch of stuff that just doesn't make sense. The three generations of girls in this book speak/think in a manner totally inappropriate for their age. The author describes thoughts, conversations and actions of 7-10 year old girls that just w...more
The stories of three generations of women, each longing to become everything she's capable of being, are intertwined by culture, survival, and loss. Being a women in a culture where one's life is of no value, allows only the strongest to fulfill a dream of being of scholar. Grandmother (The Beautiful One) is sold at a young age to an old wealthy merchant and becomes his concubine. She gives birth to an unwanted daughter and kills herself when she believes her daughter has been disposed of. Littl...more
Wow - this was a book I couldn't put down - it was one of the most consuming stories I have read in a long time - highly recommended. (Altho, I am always highly amused to read the posted reviews - anywhere from 1 to 5 stars - it's true that we all have different tastes!!!) Anyway, the story is about three generations of Chinese women (Pai-Ling, Li-Xia, and Sui-Sing) who are all raised in the male dominated society of China during the early 1900s where women are treated as casually as unwanted ki...more
There was a lot about this book I enjoyed: it was well-written and fairly engaging, but ultimately I think it failed in a lot of ways. The author's distaste for ancient Chinese society is in some ways tangible: I thought it was pretty uncomfortable that almost every Chinese man is portrayed as in some way evil, but meanwhile the Western men are all kind, gentle and loving. Many of the twists of fortune both women experienced seemed implausible and unnecessary, their "strength" is always emphasiz...more
So many complaints about this book:
1. This book is supposedly historical fiction, but it doesn't have nearly enough history. This story could have taken place in almost any time during recent-ish Chinese history. I picked this up because I wanted to read about Hong Kong in the 1900s, but this story really didn't have much to do with that specific time period (WWII is only hinted at becoming a threat) -- or Hong Kong, for that matter. And the ending takes this book into fantasy territory, which i...more
1. This book is supposedly historical fiction, but it doesn't have nearly enough history. This story could have taken place in almost any time during recent-ish Chinese history. I picked this up because I wanted to read about Hong Kong in the 1900s, but this story really didn't have much to do with that specific time period (WWII is only hinted at becoming a threat) -- or Hong Kong, for that matter. And the ending takes this book into fantasy territory, which i...more
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An epic tale spanning three generations of headstrong women damned to suffer the worst and most bizarre of fates. An Orientalist novel through and through, with requisite themes of foot-binding, human trafficking, prostitution, female homoerotic encounters masquerading as intimate friendship, geishas, kungfu and silkworms. The author is British, despite his Chinese name. His research involves travelling extensively to the Far East in his youth, and possibly entering teahouses where girls played...more
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Reviewed At : Mama Kucing Meow : The Concubine's Daughter by Pai Kit Fai
Reviewed on : 13 February 2011
I love the first part of this book very much. Li-Xia's plight was very real and vivid. I was really depressed to read of the cruelty of the people against her.
But the same cannot applies to the part of her daughter, Siu Sing. It seems so far fetch and like a scene out of those Hong Kong TVB Kungfu Drama where one go to learn martial arts up the mountains. As suddenly as she was whisked up the mo...more
Reviewed on : 13 February 2011
I love the first part of this book very much. Li-Xia's plight was very real and vivid. I was really depressed to read of the cruelty of the people against her.
But the same cannot applies to the part of her daughter, Siu Sing. It seems so far fetch and like a scene out of those Hong Kong TVB Kungfu Drama where one go to learn martial arts up the mountains. As suddenly as she was whisked up the mo...more
This novel charts the tale of two women in early twentieth-century China. Li-Xia, the unwanted daughter of a concubine, and her daughter Siu-Sing, who possessed a mixed heritage of East and West. These two women faced similar struggles during their lives and both were challenged by the dominance of men in Chinese society.
I found this novel a little hard to get into and the dialog stilted and formal. Some of the characters, particularly the men, did not seem to be fully developed. I did enjoy th...more
I found this novel a little hard to get into and the dialog stilted and formal. Some of the characters, particularly the men, did not seem to be fully developed. I did enjoy th...more
I won an advanced copy in GiveAways, thank you GoodReads!
Poignant and memorable, The Concubine’s Daughter is an epic tale that follows a mother and daughter through the early 1900s in traditional China. Li and Su Sing are headstrong heroines tossed into traumatic and undesirable circumstances, including being treated like (or worse than) cattle. In a time when men had numerous wives and wanted only sons, how will these two survive much less attain the literacy and education they crave?
Li’s moth...more
Poignant and memorable, The Concubine’s Daughter is an epic tale that follows a mother and daughter through the early 1900s in traditional China. Li and Su Sing are headstrong heroines tossed into traumatic and undesirable circumstances, including being treated like (or worse than) cattle. In a time when men had numerous wives and wanted only sons, how will these two survive much less attain the literacy and education they crave?
Li’s moth...more
I have read several stories of concubines and their lives. Certainly, "A Concubine's Daughter" provided a lot more details regarding the life of women in China both concubine and bond servant.
Overall, I thought the story of Li-Xia (daughter of concubine Pai-Ling)and interesting one. At times, it seemed too long and tedious. Her life with the mung-cha-cha, her "assigned' family while working on the silk farm for Ming-Chou flowed. The story seemed to bog down once she arrived at Sky House. I found...more
Overall, I thought the story of Li-Xia (daughter of concubine Pai-Ling)and interesting one. At times, it seemed too long and tedious. Her life with the mung-cha-cha, her "assigned' family while working on the silk farm for Ming-Chou flowed. The story seemed to bog down once she arrived at Sky House. I found...more
I wish I could have had more of some parts of this book and less of others. The fact that this book is split up between two separate stories (that of the mother and that of the daughter) resulted in somewhat of a disjointed feeling. I think the author could have combined the two stories together into a more dynamic story line. I feel like she rushed through certain parts, leaving them with a half formulated feel, in an attempt to cram in a whole lot of unneeded “stuff”.
With that said, there are...more
With that said, there are...more
Oct 17, 2009
Sera
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Readers who enjoy reading about China and its treatment of women
Recommended to Sera by:
First Reads
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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This book spans the years from 1906 until the beginning of WWII in the 40's in China and Hong Kong. The story follows two women; a mother and her daughter. It is a history lesson regarding the treatment of girls and their worth in China; which was equivalent to nothing. Most girl infants were left outside to die. If by chance they were kept, at about the age of 6-8 they were sold as slaves or for their virginity to satisfy older men. Once satisfied and bored most of the young girls were put out...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I went into this book expecting a really good and captivating read. The story was a good tale, but it never grabbed me. It was a story of about two girls in early 20th century China. The first story was about Li-Xia who was the concubine's daughter and her story of struggle and rising above the expectations of everyone. The second story was of Siu-Sing who is the daughter of Li-Xia. We also learned about her struggles and how she overcame her obstacles and those left by her parents.
I liked the...more
I liked the...more
The Goodread’s book description pretty much sums up the extent of the story about The Concubine’s Daughter. I admit that the story blew me away. It is simply beautiful and tragic. Words don’t provide enough description for how intense the feeling is when you read it. A mother and daughter forever separated by a horrific event, each one with a story of her own. They are linked, yet separate from one another. Li X’ia broke my heart. I remember sobbing by the time I reached the end of her tale. I h...more
I've always been interested in Chinese history and the corrupt way females were treated. So when I glanced at this title I was expecting a novel that was as heart breaking as "Memoirs of a Geisha."
The book started off well, by how a baby daughter would be killed for not being a son. That part made obvious sense for that time and so did Pai-ling's death.
But the story started getting more and more unrealistic by how Li-Xia seemed to always get out of complicated situations. She did thrive to make...more
The book started off well, by how a baby daughter would be killed for not being a son. That part made obvious sense for that time and so did Pai-ling's death.
But the story started getting more and more unrealistic by how Li-Xia seemed to always get out of complicated situations. She did thrive to make...more
After a great recommendation from a friend I picked up a copy from Barnes&Nobel with high hopes but those were quickly killed. The main characters in this book, who were so boring that I've forgotten their names, were perfect examples of Mary-sues. They had all the best qualities that a person could imagine and no flaws to be found, except maybe that they trusted a little to easily. The situations they were put in could have been real, but the way they reacted to some of them made me roll m...more
This novel is my first goodreads giveaway win. I was very excited about this book arriving, however, I'm not sure it lived up to my expectations or the description provided.
The first part of the story, about Li Xia, the concubine's daughter, I very much enjoyed. I know that many of the characters lacked depth or were too black and white, but there were moments of nuance and insight that helped to progress the story and the development of the main character. I couldn't help cheering for her, feel...more
The first part of the story, about Li Xia, the concubine's daughter, I very much enjoyed. I know that many of the characters lacked depth or were too black and white, but there were moments of nuance and insight that helped to progress the story and the development of the main character. I couldn't help cheering for her, feel...more
For me, reading this book was about the same as a day spent playing video games. I enjoyed myself while reading it, but in the end, I don't really feel like I got much out it. The book started out strong and I was really enjoying the story, however, it quickly begins to feel like the author is trying to cram all of the experiences of women in early 20th century China into 3 generations of a single family. The end result is a story that becomes too over the top to be believable and it looses its...more
The characters of the daughter and granddaughter are beautifully developed. The denigrated role of women and descriptions of locations, occupations and attitudes give the western reader a window to Chinese culture between 1900 and 1942. The desire for education and scholarship give meaning to the lives of the mother and daughter, and to some extent the granddaughter. The transition from one generation to the next is filled with tragedy--almost gratuitous. There really is no need for both mothers...more
The Concubine's Daughter / 978-0-312-35521-0
I was excited about "The Concubine's Daughter" because the teaser write-up compared it to one of my favorite novels in recent memory, "Memoirs of a Geisha". Unfortunately, "The Concubine's Daughter" is not, in my opinion, anything like "Memoirs of a Geisha", and the best comparison I can offer is that it feels like a bare-bones, watered-down attempt at an Amy Tan novel.
"Memoirs of a Geisha", for all its faults, was populated by human beings, not carica...more
I was excited about "The Concubine's Daughter" because the teaser write-up compared it to one of my favorite novels in recent memory, "Memoirs of a Geisha". Unfortunately, "The Concubine's Daughter" is not, in my opinion, anything like "Memoirs of a Geisha", and the best comparison I can offer is that it feels like a bare-bones, watered-down attempt at an Amy Tan novel.
"Memoirs of a Geisha", for all its faults, was populated by human beings, not carica...more
I loved this book. I think it was well written and historically interesting.
The author is male, and yet does an incredible job of portraying female characters. I actually had to look at the dedication before I figured out that the author was male.
As many of the other reviews explain something about the characters, I will not. Generally though, I found the 20th Century Chinese culture fascinating, if sometimes upsetting.
I highly recommend this book. It would make a wonderful choice for book clu...more
The author is male, and yet does an incredible job of portraying female characters. I actually had to look at the dedication before I figured out that the author was male.
As many of the other reviews explain something about the characters, I will not. Generally though, I found the 20th Century Chinese culture fascinating, if sometimes upsetting.
I highly recommend this book. It would make a wonderful choice for book clu...more
This was one of the most consuming stories I've read in a while and in my opinion a must read. Truly like going back in time and seeing what life could have been like for a Chinese girl/woman born in such an unjust time for women. I love how Pai Kit Fai mixes old world spirituality, history, tragedy, triumph, hope, and a little magic and mysticism over the course of three generations of Mothers and Daughters. Such wonderful writing fills these pages that I cannot begin to convey in brevity how v...more
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Pai Kit Fai is a pseudonym for Geoff Pike.
Geoff Pike is a British-born, naturalized Australian writer.
Born in Tottenham Middlesex, he took an all-consuming interest in art and writing from the age of 3. His early years were spent in the German blitzkrieg of London and as an evacuee in the rural county of Essex. His letter to President Roosevelt thanking him for 'Bundles for Britain', was chosen f...more
More about Pai Kit Fai...
Geoff Pike is a British-born, naturalized Australian writer.
Born in Tottenham Middlesex, he took an all-consuming interest in art and writing from the age of 3. His early years were spent in the German blitzkrieg of London and as an evacuee in the rural county of Essex. His letter to President Roosevelt thanking him for 'Bundles for Britain', was chosen f...more
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