A Goodreads user
asked
Lisa See:
I just finished Dreams of Joy, and wow! I was shocked and awed with how much I did not know about communism in China. How much research goes into one of your books?
Lisa See
Hi, Julie,
Those were some pretty grim times in China. It's hard to imagine that it's even the same place today.
I do a tremendous amount of research. I also try to find people who lived through that time. And I go to the places that I write about. For Dreams of Joy, Amy Tan and I traveled to a small village in Anwei province. That village was the inspiration for the village where Joy goes and it was the inspiration for the village in Amy's book, the Valley of Amazement.) I'd say that over the two years it took me to write Dreams of Joy that probably half of the time was spent on research.
Lisa
Those were some pretty grim times in China. It's hard to imagine that it's even the same place today.
I do a tremendous amount of research. I also try to find people who lived through that time. And I go to the places that I write about. For Dreams of Joy, Amy Tan and I traveled to a small village in Anwei province. That village was the inspiration for the village where Joy goes and it was the inspiration for the village in Amy's book, the Valley of Amazement.) I'd say that over the two years it took me to write Dreams of Joy that probably half of the time was spent on research.
Lisa
More Answered Questions
Mariella
asked
Lisa See:
One of the many elements I enjoyed in China Dolls, an element that made this novel stand out from your previous works, was the great emotional depth of your male characters (particularly Eddie.) Why do you think this story lent to a deeper exploration of your heroines' male counterparts? Thanks for being a magnificent woman!
Carol Treiber
asked
Lisa See:
Dear Lisa See . . . I agree, "Why Not Write About China." I had the pleasure of teaching in China in 1988. I taught in Anhui Province, in the city of Hefei. I returned three times with my family to visit my ten students. I have just been introduced to you by a friend. I have read Iris Chang, and just bought the book written by her mother. Which one of your books would you suggest I read first?
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