bookshelves: to-read
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bookshelves: to-read
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bookshelves: to-read
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This book was hard for me to read. It's no secret the main character dies very early on. I made a note in the margin of my book that says "Nooo... you've GOT to be kidding me!" but I read on. I really wished I had read the afterward first. When I got to it, I was very frustrated and wanted to re-read the book, now knowing the opera it is based on is historical, that young girls did bring themselves an early exit thru starvation all over Chinese history and that the Women poets really existed!
And then I found my book club. They had just read the book and so I joined the meeting, which included an hour long conference call with Lisa See. I found her inspiring! Inspiring as a woman, as a mother, as a writer... and her knowledge of Chinese history! I took pages and pages of notes in the back of my book. The front of the book has the names of the women I met at my first Book Club, women who have become friends.
The book has become a prized possession, the book club a necessity of life... and after our discussion, I like the book much more. In fact, I will raise it to 4 stars. :-) ]]>
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bookshelves: currently-reading
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bookshelves: currently-reading
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by Lisa See
Ooh! Keep on reading ;-) ]]>
I love this book. I'm a big fan of Nicole Mones, period. When I consider the ramifications of communism; I think of the loss of the freedom to express oneself & freedom of religion, for example. The culinary arts did not come to mind! I did not realize the Imperial Chefs expressed poetry thru their food or that patrons wrote poetry while enjoying such delicacies.
And then communism... Food for the masses- ak! They slowly removed all freedoms & modes of expression. All areas of enjoyment slowly died away.
What I remember most about this book is that it makes you hungry! ;-) I enjoyed the characters (I picture the chef as a cross between Iron Chef Morimoto and a certain actor / I can't think of his name). ]]>
"DONE!"
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