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?
Lisa See
I'm so, so, so sorry that it's taken me such a long time to write back. But here I am at last!
1988 was still pretty early to be in China. Have you been back? It's changed so much.
I don't feel like I'm the best person to recommend what you should read. You should ask the Goodreads readers! If you like non-fiction, then I would suggest On Gold Mountain, which was my first book. It's about my Chinese American family. If you like mysteries, then start with Flower Net. The book that has sold the most copies around the world is Snow Flower and the Secret Fan. (I bet most people would suggest that you start with that one.) Of course, I'm very excited about The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane, which is my most recent book. I hope you let me know which one you choose.
1988 was still pretty early to be in China. Have you been back? It's changed so much.
I don't feel like I'm the best person to recommend what you should read. You should ask the Goodreads readers! If you like non-fiction, then I would suggest On Gold Mountain, which was my first book. It's about my Chinese American family. If you like mysteries, then start with Flower Net. The book that has sold the most copies around the world is Snow Flower and the Secret Fan. (I bet most people would suggest that you start with that one.) Of course, I'm very excited about The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane, which is my most recent book. I hope you let me know which one you choose.
More Answered Questions
Eric
asked
Lisa See:
In your Author's Note for The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane, you say, "When the novel starts, in 1988, tea leaves picked in the mountains of Yunnan sold for 4 yuan a kilo (approx. 50 cents US in today's money). The yearly income for tea farmers averaged 200 yuan (around $25 US) a month." When converting yuan to USD, did you use currency exchange rates or purchasing power parity?
Aurora Shele
asked
Lisa See:
Hello, I just finished reading Dreams of Joy and I loved it. Thank you for wiriting it. Is there going to be another book after this one and Shanghai girls? I am especially curious about the photographs that her father gave to Pearl and his history that was never developped and of course May's and ZG's story. Maybe a book on May's perspective? Cheers, Aurora
Carol Strange
asked
Lisa See:
I saw an interview with you on YouTube a few months ago. The interview was during the pandemic, maybe 2020-2022. You had mentioned that you were researching an ancestor of yours who were in the American west. Their story seemed interesting. I think it was a prospective book. Is this possible? If you ever write a book about them, I would love to read it. I have enjoyed reading every book of yours so far.
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