** spoiler alert ** I enjoyed this novel because of the subtle love story between Pearl and Sam, that showed how deep love can become even when there are no sparks to ignite it. I also enjoyed the mingled competition and comraderie between sisters, Pearl and May. They both love and hate eachother throughout the whole thing, but they stick together and look out for eachother's well being throughout the novel. They make sacrifises for eachother that are bold and lifethreatening. They experience loss in eachothers loss, but not necessarily triumph in eachothers triumphs. Also intriguing were the various explorations of a definition for motherhood. There is the relationship between both girls and their mother, whose sacrifises herself to save her girls. There is the relationship between Pearl and her adoptive daughter, her sisters child, Joy. Than there is the relationship between May and her biological daughter Joy. Then there's the relationship between Pearl and May and their mother-in-law Yen-Yen. And yen-yen's relationship with her adoptive son Sam, and her real son, Vern. THe book overall examines the relationships between parents and their children, between siblings, and between marraige partners all in the context of 1940-1960 LA China town. It also examines the relationship between immigrants and their motherland/ home country which in this case is a wartorn and eventually communist China. Another theme in the novel is the dissillusionment of aging; the difference between who you are in your youth and who you become. The difference between how remember something and the reality of it. The whole novel is intriquing, but at times slow to advance. Overall I enjoyed it and give it 8.5 stars out of 10