Shanghai Girls (Shanghai Girls, #1) in Ask Lisa See!

Nov 14, 2010 Shomeret rated it liked it

Shelves: my-reviews, historical-fiction

The character I liked best was Sam who really did the best he could given his background. I wanted to like Pearl, but I think her sister was right when she accused Pearl of being too passive. Yes, she had horrifying experiences, but since it was emphasized from the beginning that Pearl was a Dragon, according to Chinese astrology, I expected more from her. I liked the Chinese folklore content. It's strange that there are no Chinese characters in this novel that are shown to be Buddhists. The rel ...more

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Jun 23, 2011 Bobby rated it it was amazing

It is evident that all of Lisa See's writings are well researched, but as an author, she goes beyond. One gets a feel and a sense of time and place beyond mere events to trigger a story line. Reading a novel by Lisa See means a gained understanding, both with the joy of appreciation and the heart ache in pure existence. Shanghai girls is utterly amazing in it's use of first Shanghai at the time of the Japanese invasion, and then the United States during the build of World War II, and the existen It is evident that all of Lisa See's writings are well researched, but as an author, she goes beyond. One gets a feel and a sense of time and place beyond mere events to trigger a story line. Reading a novel by Lisa See means a gained understanding, both with the joy of appreciation and the heart ache in pure existence. Shanghai girls is utterly amazing in it's use of first Shanghai at the time of the Japanese invasion, and then the United States during the build of World War II, and the existence of China City in Los Angeles, as more than setting, but essential "character" in her story. I absolutely love the way she handles descriptions naturally as part of the storyline rather than as separate narrative used by most authors. More than a story of time and place, this is a story of family, and in particular, one woman experiencing family. I became immediately tangled with Pearl Chin, the protagonist, in Shanghai Girls. My heart ached for her so much that I couldn't see beyond her feelings when reading the novel, and couldn't understand when she calmed herself and could rationally evaluate situations, because I was still reeling in strong emotion. My reaction is pure evidence of a wonderfully written novel.

In yet another amazing novel by author, Lisa See, I find character to be honest and true to human experience. While Pearl's experience are unique, and definitely novel worthy, she also experiences the day to day existence so common to all of us. I find her story is particularly true to the life cycle of women at the time of the story, and in many ways, a woman of the next generation, as well. She lives through a horrific crisis and then, more importantly, survives the day to day struggle of being a wife and mother striving to meet the basic necessities of daily life for herself and her family. Like many of us, she must stop to notice all that is good in her life and her blessings, because her burdens often seem insurmountable. She is a strong woman, with integrity to her own personal ethics and beliefs, which ultimately makes her a true success in all that truly matters. Nonetheless, this success does not make life easy, and she remains surrounded by others without the same integrity or with varied values, and must also deal with the result. The relationships are so real, and the development of her daughter and her behaviors at various stages are also real. Indeed, although an immigrant who does not officially gain US citizenship due to her fears, Pearl utterly defines the American experience of a woman of her time, working to keep food on the table, to please those around her and meet their needs, to be a good wife, and to raise her child well and responsibly, and then ultimately to own a home and make it a comforting place to live.

I loved reading this novel. I was so engaged and involved, then it took time to unravel, to put aside the emotion and experience the novel from my own eyes rather than those of the protagonist. I found so much in this novel to make me rich.

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Sep 22, 2011 Janet rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction

I absolutely fell in love with this book and its sequel "Dreams of Joy"! The two novels must be read consecutively because they're really one continuous story of women of two generations spanning across two vastly different eras and geographies. I actually gave Dreams of Joy an extra star because Shanghai Girls was incomplete without it. My review focuses more on the socio-political backdrop of the novel since most reviewers discussed the author’s ability to evoke powerful emotions through chara I absolutely fell in love with this book and its sequel "Dreams of Joy"! The two novels must be read consecutively because they're really one continuous story of women of two generations spanning across two vastly different eras and geographies. I actually gave Dreams of Joy an extra star because Shanghai Girls was incomplete without it. My review focuses more on the socio-political backdrop of the novel since most reviewers discussed the author’s ability to evoke powerful emotions through characters’ lifelong relationships, and as not to give away too much plot.

Having been born and raised in Communist Shanghai in the 80's, I am a huge fan of Shanghai in the 1930's, the era famously known as the "Paris of the Orient" prior to the Japanese invasion. Everything about the old Shanghai glamour, i.e. French Concession, Cathay Hotel, Jockey Club Race Course (right next to our old house), theaters and night clubs filled with artists and writers and foreigners dressed in tuxedos and Qi Paos, make me romanticize the era in a way one would 1920's Paris. Lisa See’s vivid descriptions of the privileged lifestyles during this time, including bound feet (ironically), further enhanced my imagination. Things were far from perfect with all the opium, prostitution and triads but every Chinese person attributes the fall of Shanghai's decadence to the Japanese invasion with both nostalgia and resentment.

Lisa See articulates this specific emotion fantastically by following the main character Pearl Chin and her sister May's own transformation from Beautiful Girls during Shanghai's glory days to victims of atrocities inflicted by the Japanese army. The despicable crimes against humanity carried out by the Japanese militia are something you never get used to no matter how many times you’ve read the Rape of Nanking, just as you couldn’t’ get use to the Holocaust. Sadly, Japanese war crimes are not nearly as discussed in the western world although 23 million Chinese were killed by Imperialist Japan. (versus six million Jews killed by Nazi Germany)

Pearl and May somehow make it out alive and end up in Chinatown of Los Angeles where they start a new life. This is where it became very interesting for me as I never had any knowledge of how Chinese immigrants were treated by US authorities during earlier generations, especially illegal ones. The problem of illegal immigration is one we still face today, let alone 70 years ago when racism was rampant. I learned a lot through this book about having to fight the stigma of being the same color as Japanese immigrants who were treated as terrorists during WWII, or 10 years later trying to differentiate yourself from a so-called "Communist sympathizer". Again, even in 2001, immigrants of Middle Eastern backgrounds dealt with heightened scrutiny after 9/11, but you can't exactly blame people for being paranoid.

Throughout their trials and tribulations in the 20 years of Pearl and May's lives in the U.S., everything from family value, loyalty, perseverance, and motherhood were tested between the two sisters. This book will leave you screaming for more – so it’s a good thing you can move onto reading Dreams of Joy, which takes you back to China again. I applaud Lisa See for the meticulous research she's done on 1930's Shanghai, 1940/50s Chinatown in LA, and bringing to light so many thought-provoking issues that many of us still struggle with today.
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Oct 31, 2011 Patricia rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

So readable I couldn't put it down, this is a truly entertaining novel. Two girls bound by sisterhood and friendship, journey to the USA to meet husbands they married in China. Shanghai Girls explores the hardships these immigrants suffered. I highly recommend this book. ...more

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Sep 24, 2011 Helen Thompson rated it really liked it

Our book club us currently reading the sequel to Shanghai Girls, so i thought it would be a good idea to read this one first. The book opens just before World War Two begins. Pearl and Mae are sisters living privileged lives in Shanghai. The story sees them through great loss in Shanghai to new beginnings in the United States. This one leaves you wanting more from the sisters.

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Sep 21, 2011 Efe rated it liked it

It was going so well...but then I was hugely disappointed by the end. It just didn't seem remotely plausible to me. I may be compelled to up my rating after I get round to reading Dreams of Joy. ...more

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