China Dolls

A Novel

By: Lisa See

Narrated by: Jodi Long

Length: 15 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

“A fascinating portrait of life as a Chinese American woman in the 1930s and ’40s.”—The New York Times Book Review

“Superb . . . This emotional, informative and brilliant page-turner resonates with resilience and humanity.”—The Washington Post (One of the Best Books of the Year)

San Francisco, 1938: A world’s fair is preparing to open on Treasure Island, a war is brewing overseas, and the city is alive with possibilities. Talented Grace, traditional Helen, and defiant Ruby, three young women from very different backgrounds, meet by chance at the exclusive and glamorous Forbidden City nightclub.

The girls become fast friends, relying on one another through unexpected challenges and shifting fortunes. When their dark secrets are exposed and the invisible thread of fate binds them even tighter, they find the strength and resilience to reach for their dreams. But after the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor, paranoia and suspicion threaten to destroy their lives, and a shocking act of betrayal changes everything.

©2014 Lisa See (P)2014 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“This is one of those stories I’ve always wanted to tell, but Lisa See beat me to it, and she did it better than I ever could. Bravo! Here’s a roaring standing ovation for this heartwarming journey into the glittering golden age of Chinese nightclubs.”—Jamie Ford, author of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

“A sweeping, turbulent tale of passion, friendship, good fortune, bad fortune, perfidy and the hope of reconciliation.”—Los Angeles Times

“Lisa See masterfully creates unforgettable characters that linger in your memory long after you close the pages.”—Bookreporter

Good story but needs a new narrator

The story was good but the narrator detracted from the feel of the story. A better narrator would have justified a higher overall rating.

Touching Story

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Would recommend this book to any girl. This is a great story of lifelong friends

Who was your favorite character and why?

I can not say. Each of the girls has their own virtue. Perhaps Grace her pure heart and willingness to make her own choices right from the start a strong determined woman to the end.

Have you listened to any of Jodi Long’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This was my first.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Absolutely! I fell asleep listening to it several times and just about drove my girls crazy playing it in the car.

Any additional comments?

Fiction is not my normal choice but I enjoyed this so much that I have added several fiction titles to my list.

Did not like these women

I did not care for any of these women. In their own way, they were shallow and I kept hoping for more from just one of them. I thought the narrator was awful. When she was speaking as a man she was always screeching and sounded like a wretch. Since it was written in first person...and flipped from character to character (even though she identified the person) if you got distracted it was hard to tell who was speaking. Her other books are so much better. This one was a big disappointment for me.

New Narrator needed!

What did you like best about China Dolls? What did you like least?

I enjoyed the story, but felt the performance had more potential. The narrator's interpretation and tone were inconsistent with what I feel the author was trying to share. She often sounded annoyed and had sarcastic edge to her voice, which took away from attaching to the characters.

Needed a different reader

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

No. The reader read too slow, and I found my mind wandering at numerous places during the story. I've loved all the books by Lisa See, and I was so eager for this book to come out that I had it on my Outlook. But this story just seemed to lack something.

Would you be willing to try another book from Lisa See? Why or why not?

Maybe, but not from this reader.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Jodi Long?

janet Song did a great job on the previous books, but I really think the pace of the reading was the problem.

Was China Dolls worth the listening time?

Not really. I should have waited for some of the other reviews to post.

Any additional comments?

I truly believe that Lisa See was trying to portray an important time in our history, and I did find that interesting. I can't really comment on how I would have felt if I had actually READ the book instead of listening to this reader. I'll have to check Amazon for other's opinions on the book. For me, it was the reader that ruined this book.

A Different Offering for Lisa See

Is this Lisa See? At first I just read because so many audio reviews said the narrator was terrible. But that wasn't it, the slang voice- in order to show how American these ladies were, was just jarring. Also the friendship twists and turns were ultimately not believable and disappointing. Interesting subject and I was hooked enough to read (and ye, listen) to it all, but it was just not up to past offerings for me.

That's entertainment!!!

What did you love best about China Dolls?

I loved each of the characters. I loved the history from an angle I didn't know before. It taught so much in a fascinating way.

Have you listened to any of Jodi Long’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I was continually impressed by Jodi Long's performance. She has a gift I can't even comprehend. I'm very thankful I got to enjoy her talent.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

I don't know but I definitely want to see the film!

Good story glimpse into the past.

Lost me a few times in the silliness of the relationships, but the characters are colorful and interesting.

okay

I found the story interesting but not my favorite of Lisa See. its was all in all okay

China Dolls

I liked this book very much. Audio book done very well. This was a book club selection.