Dreams of Joy

A Novel

By: Lisa See

Narrated by: Janet Song

Length: 15 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

In her beloved New York Times bestsellers Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, Peony in Love, and, most recently, Shanghai Girls, Lisa See has brilliantly illuminated the potent bonds of mother love, romantic love, and love of country. Now, in her most powerful novel yet, she returns to these timeless themes, continuing the story of sisters Pearl and May from Shanghai Girls, and Pearl’s strong-willed nineteen-year-old daughter, Joy.

Reeling from newly uncovered family secrets, and anger at her mother and aunt for keeping them from her, Joy runs away to Shanghai in early 1957 to find her birth father—the artist Z.G. Li, with whom both May and Pearl were once in love. Dazzled by him, and blinded by idealism and defiance, Joy throws herself into the New Society of Red China, heedless of the dangers in the communist regime. Devastated by Joy’s flight and terrified for her safety, Pearl is determined to save her daughter, no matter the personal cost. From the crowded city to remote villages, Pearl confronts old demons and almost insurmountable challenges as she follows Joy, hoping for reconciliation. Yet even as Joy’s and Pearl’s separate journeys converge, one of the most tragic episodes in China’s history threatens their very lives.

Acclaimed for her richly drawn characters and vivid storytelling, Lisa See once again renders a family challenged by tragedy and time, yet ultimately united by the resilience of love.

©2011 Lisa See (P)2011 Random House

Critic reviews

“See’s emotional themes are powerful... the bonds of sisterhood [and] the psychological journey of becoming an American.” (The Washington Post)

“A broadly sweeping tale.... The detail is thoughtful and intricate.” (The New York Times)

“[See evokes] a time and place with tantalizing detail.” (San Francisco Chronicle)

loved this book

loved this story and how it ended The narrator did an excellent job. The full circle ending was exactly what I wanted.

Awesome!

I could not leave this wonderful story, and together with Shanghai Girls, feel as though the listener is a participant in the lives of the characters. It also is a very realistic depiction of the Mao era & yet more deception & destruction for the beautiful Chinese people. It is a very moving & powerful testimony to the strength and determination of love and committment......

deems of joy

this book was sad but amazing , i couldn't stop listening! Lisa see is one of the best authors I have heard in a very long time.

I love Lisa See!

This is a wonderful novel about a strong young women enduring the hard life of Chinese famine. Joy is a wonderful character, but you will enjoy the book more if you read Shanghai Girls first.

Joy made me so mad…

I stopped listening half way thru so annoyed with this hard headed girl & her stubborn ways. I decided to finish it & I am glad I did! 5 star

Part two to Shanghai Girls

I think this is a book that should be read in order, following Shanghai Girls. If these books were written by Michener or Follett, they would have been one longer book from the beginning. To me it feels like one story, perhaps they could be published together as part 1 and part 2.

I probably liked "Dreams of Joy" even more, but that is probably because if felt like the end a longer good book that developed as it went. I cared about the characters.

Since they are separate books, I wouldn't mind a part 3, just keep the story going with the same family.

A quality book, well written and well narrated.

Sad for it to end

I read Shanghai Girls first and then Dreams of Joy. I just finished the 2nd book and I'm heartbroken that I'm done.

I don't have the best attention span while listening, but at no point during these two books did I find myself bored or having to go back to see what I missed.

EnJOYed it very much!

Perhaps not as gripping and enthralling as the first two books, but wonderful all the same!

I couldn't wait to continue the journey, but...

I couldn't wait to continue the journey of Pearl and May, now thru the daughter Joy. However, Joy didn't get a chance to enter my heart like Pearl and May. Maybe that is what kept me from thinking this book was as intense and as wonderful as Lisa's other books. Her writing was as eloquent and filled with everything I needed, and yet, I never got "involved". The ending was quite predictable, just felt the characters were nothing to grab hold of.

Dreams...

I'm only on part 1, chapter 9. I am enjoying the plot and can't wait to hear what happens throughout the book. However I'm a bit distracted by the performance...every word and sentence seems to be spoken in a rising pitch. There is virtually no variance. I don't know if this is done for the accent or to identify the thoughts of a young college woman. I want to know what happens so I'm going to listen to it because I believe it is a good literary read.