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Just finished this one. I found Peony rather insipid and didn't connect with her at all. The plot was rather predictable, and dare I say boring?? At the back of my book is a conversation with Lisa See, where she says that she wanted to explore different aspects of love: gratitude love, pity love, respectful love, romantic love, sexual love, sacrificing love, duty love, and mother love. I feel that she did accomplish that in this novel and those aspects got me thinking about my own definition of
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One of my favorite authors.
I love reading about the Chinese culture in the authors books. This one is about a well-to-do girl of 16 whose family has arranged her marriage; however she goes through a journey of love and destiny, desire and sorrow, the living world and the afterworld. She learns of the many secrets and tragedies that has haunted her family for generations.
I love reading about the Chinese culture in the authors books. This one is about a well-to-do girl of 16 whose family has arranged her marriage; however she goes through a journey of love and destiny, desire and sorrow, the living world and the afterworld. She learns of the many secrets and tragedies that has haunted her family for generations.
Like all of Lisa See's novels, it was well written. I enjoyed the prose and found the Chinese culture interesting. It was a fast read and I really liked the protagonist, Peony. However, having said that, I still came away from the novel with only a feeling that it was an okay read for me.
Some of it might have been my disappointment in all of the deaths among the girls. They were so pointless
and could have been happy if they had opened their eyes. They were so narrow focused that they were detr ...more
Some of it might have been my disappointment in all of the deaths among the girls. They were so pointless
and could have been happy if they had opened their eyes. They were so narrow focused that they were detr ...more
Set in 17th century China, this starts out as the story of, guess what: Peony. In Love. But once Peony dies of her love-sickness things start to get interesting. This was a quick, entertaining read, but what made this stand out to me was the depiction of the afterlife according to Chinese mythology. Love to learn something new wrapped up in a delicious fictional story.
I didn't really like the main character of this book and wasn't so sure about her transformation, but I loved reading about the beliefs and customs. That moved it from two to three stars.
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Not a typical point of view. Perhaps that is why I enjoyed the perspective once I adjusted to it. It was a lovely story some portions were a bit dry but worth pushing past. I loved the development of Peony's character. The way she unfolds and finally comes to find her place.
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May 02, 2010
Amy
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Jul 20, 2010
Jenny
marked it as to-read
Jul 30, 2010
Marly
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May 31, 2013
Polly Bullard
marked it as to-read
Mar 16, 2019
Suzy Davies
marked it as to-read
