Amanda

Amanda asked Lisa See:

I'm reading Lady Tan, and I'd assumed the characters were using Mandarin. The main character indicates that she uses "he" to refer to a baby in the womb and this subtlety wasn't lost on her listner. However, in spoken Mandarin there is no difference in "he" and "she"; they are both "ta." The difference is only in the written character. I'm curious: is this is an oversight/mistake? And if not, how did she say "he"?

Lisa See Such as astute question, but I think you've answered it yourself. In conversation the word would be "ta," as you point out. That's what I was thinking when I wrote that scene. However, you're right in the sense that this distinction isn't conveyed in English in the text. While I didn't explain this in this book, I know that I have in a couple of my other novels. Sometimes I don't want to slow the reader down with too much detail. Interestingly, in the novel I'm writing now, just yesterday I had a scene in which I was comparing written characters about men and women. Wife -- woman with a broom, and so on.

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Charlotte

Charlotte asked Lisa See:

Thank you so much for this story, in my opinion, your masterpiece thus far. Your characters through their Chinese story told the mother-daughter story in a new, rich, multi-perspective way. I felt their joy, anger, fear and longing. I was forced to take moments to consider me through my daughters' eyes.?

A Goodreads user

A Goodreads user asked Lisa See:

Will you be doing a book signing event or any type of event where your fans get their favorite books signed by you anytime soon? (Hopefully in California haha) Thanks!

Linda

Linda asked Lisa See:

Hi, Lisa - Our book group is having a Pu'er tea tasting Mon., Nov. 5, for our discussion of "The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane," which is my personal favorite (with "Snow Flower" a very close second). What's your favorite kind of tea? I'd love to surprise our group with a tasting of what you yourself enjoy. Thank you for so many fascinating glimpses of a fascinating culture. Linda L.

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