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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24472.Peony_in_Love?utm_medium=api&amp;utm_source=blog_review" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Peony in Love" border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51TLT2ZrqfL._SL160_.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24472.Peony_in_Love?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">Peony in Love</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/713.Lisa_See">Lisa See</a> 
 <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/12669045?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review"><h3>My review</h3></a>
 rating: 3 of 5 stars After reading the first section of this book, which led me to think that the story was just an update of the classic Peony Pavilion, I was surprised by the turn of events in the second section. However, despite See's impressive research into women's literary culture in 17th century China, I am still somewhat disappointed by the book. This primarily stems from the fact that the book is a bit too "metaphysical" for my taste. 
 
 This comes into play beginning in the second section of the story through to the end. The heroine of the story finds a whole world of women living outside the "inner chambers" (female quarters) of the home. See creates a seemingly free environment where women can gather together (with men!) to discuss literature. She creates an environment rich with female voices as women authors emerge. Yet for the title character this freedom is not a part of her life and it is only through manipulation (either friendly or malevolent) that her own voice is ultimately remembered and memorialized.
 
 See is obviously trying to "reclaim" (Is that the right term?) a literary voice for Chinese women that has historically been ignored. Her extensive research into women's daily life, poetry written by women, and the socio-political climate of the early Qing dynasty certainly makes one aware of her cause and creates support for uncovering these lost female voices. I think the story would have been much richer though if she had included more poems or verses of texts actually written by women. Instead she focuses on the Peony Pavilion, which is the male perspective on romantic love—it a not a story written by a woman. 
 
 I have to admit that I may be a bit hyper-critical of this book because of my background in Chinese studies, but if you're looking for a novel about Chinese women skip Peony and read See's Snowflower and the Secret Fan instead. 
 <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/791006?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">View all my reviews.</a>

Rachel's review
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bookshelves: asia

After reading the first section of this book, which led me to think that the story was just an update of the classic Peony Pavilion, I was surprised by the turn of events in the second section. However, despite See's impressive research into women's literary culture in 17th century China, I am still somewhat disappointed by the book. This primarily stems from the fact that the book is a bit too "metaphysical" for my taste.

This comes into play beginning in the second section of the story through to the end. The heroine of the story finds a whole world of women living outside the "inner chambers" (female quarters) of the home. See creates a seemingly free environment where women can gather together (with men!) to discuss literature. She creates an environment rich with female voices as women authors emerge. Yet for the title character this freedom is not a part of her life and it is only through manipulation (either friendly or malevolent) that her own voice is u...more

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message 1: by deleted member

01/23/2008 08:29PM

Actually, I think your background in Chinese Studies lends great insight to this book! I always wondered whether Lisa See's work was worth checking out, and now I know to read her earlier books instead. :)