Lisa’s Comments (group member since Nov 01, 2011)

Lisa’s comments from the Ask Lisa See! group.

I didn't even know I was going to write a book. But then Lily started speaking in my head so strongly that I pulled out my laptop and wrote the first chapter. (This was when I was on my way out of China.)

I don't know the answer to your lessons question. That's something I'll have to think about for a few days and will probably get the answer at two in the morning. Always wear comfortable shoes? I hated that as a kid, but I sure believe it now.

Well, look who's here!!! How fun!

I am working on a new novel. China Dolls will be published in the spring on 2013.

Sharon wrote: "That's too bad. I can picture Flower Net as a female version of Dan Brown's novels/movies Angels and Demons and The DaVinci Code. I think it would have been great in the theater! We could have used..."

If Peony in Love actually gets made -- and you never know until they turn on the cameras -- then it will have a much wider release than Snow Flower.

I had no say over casting or anything else. I think that Li Bing Bing is extraordinary. She's probably the most famous actress in China today. Gianna Jun is from Korea and very famous there. Both of them are very expressive, and I believed them as laotong in the part of the film that's based on the book.

Hello to you in Lithuania!!! How fun that you've joined all of us here today. I sure love GoodReads for that!

Yes, I hope that more of my books will be turned into films. A film is always different from a book, but a film can expose my books to new readers and create new conversations, as we're doing here.

Theresa wrote: "Did you agree to the addition of the characters Nina and Sophia to the movie? This was so different from the book."

This was the director and the producers' decision. They felt that they could bring the theme of friendship into modern times.

Kathy wrote: "Was there anything missing from the movie that you felt should have been included?"

Maybe only half of the film is based on the book, so there's lots of things I wish had been included. The film is a bit like a Cliff Notes version of the book.

Cyd wrote: "Lisa were you asked to write the screen play?"

they asked me several times, but I wasn't interested in writing the modern story.

Rebecca wrote: "What was your favorite part of seeing the book translated into the "big screen"?"

I'm cutting and pasting what I wrote for another question:

My favorite scene is based on the chapter called "The Letter of Vituperation." In the book, Lily totally takes down Snow Flower by reading this letter at a women's gathering. In the film, the director hired nu shu singers so you can hear what those songs sounded like, which is amazing and something I couldn't do in the book). Instead of Lily reading the letter, she sees Snow Flower, all these emotions play across her face, then she gets up and walks out without saying a word. the effect is the same: Snow Flower has been ostracized but it has been done in a purely visual and aural way.

Merlee wrote: "The other thing I liked about the movie was "Big Feet Production" and thinking about Wendi Murdock, one of the producers, when she defended her husband."

Wendi is an amazing woman. I consider it a great honor to have met her, espcially at this difficult time in her life.

Crystal wrote: "Lisa See

Just interested in hearing what scene was memorable or touched you the most. Anyone?

I am looking forward to watching it with my Laotong friends!"

My favorite scene is based on the chapter called "The Letter of Vituperation." In the book, Lily totally takes down Snow Flower by reading this letter at a women's gathering. In the film, the director hired nu shu singers so you can hear what those songs sounded like, which is amazing and something I couldn't do in the book). Instead of Lily reading the letter, she sees Snow Flower, all these emotions play across her face, then she gets up and walks out without saying a word. the effect is the same: Snow Flower has been ostracized but it has been done in a purely visual and aural way.

Elizabeth wrote: "I loved reading "Dreams of Joy"and would enjoy seeing it as a movie. When you write do you picture the scenes from an omniscient or do you experience the scenes as a character?"

It depends on the book, right? For Shanghai Girls, you hear the entire story from just Pearl's POV. In Dreams of Joy, you hear the story from Pearl and Joy's POV.

Merlee wrote: "I would love to see a movie that is faithful to any Lisa See's books (like The Secret Life of Bees). I would also love more Red Princess mysteries and, well, more Lisa See books!!!"

Being faithful to the story and the spirit of the book would be great.

About a million years ago, the Red Princess books were in developement to be made into a film, but Flower Net never got made.

Rebecca wrote: "Are there plans to convert other books, such as Shanghai Girls to film? The sisters' interaction with Hollywood would seem to invite that."

You're so right, but so far there hasn't been any interest in Shanghai Girls from Hollywood.

Peony in Love is in delevopment right now. In fact, I'm meeting the director tomorrow! I've seen the storyboards and it looks like it's going to be beautiful. I've heard that they're going to start filming next year, but I'll know more tomorrow.

Actually, I think this might be the most "common" part of the story. There are so many stories that play with the differences between rich and poor, the haves and the have nots. I like to think that I put my own special take on all that.

Very little of my own personal experience, in the sense that I haven't had my feet bound and I don't live in ancient China. However, the emotions are things that I've experienced. And I couldn't write about best friends, mothers and daughters, or sisters if I hadn't experienced those relationships myself.

Nope!

I've never had any trouble going places in China. For Snow Flower, I was traveling to a closed area of China. I needed permission, and I got it. I don't think you need permission to go there any longer though.

In the countryside, as elsewhere in the country, some people follow traditions and some don't. It's sort of like here. Some people trick or treat and some do nothing for Halloween.

Patti wrote: "I loved this book and it opened the world of Lisa See to me. I haven't had the chance to read any other books of hers...yet. I am hoping to win Snowflower and trying to save up for Snowflower. My d..."

I do a ton of research, and I do it in all kinds of ways.

I hope you do read the other books. What about a library?

Sharon wrote: "To Mia: my take on the foot-binding was not that her mother didn't love her, but instead loved her so much she wanted her to go through this in order to secure a good marriage. It's confusing to us..."

I'm with you 100% on both of your comments.