Peony in Love

A Novel

By: Lisa See

Narrated by: Janet Song

Length: 13 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's summary

"I finally understand what the poets have written. In spring, moved to passion; in autumn only regret."

For young Peony, betrothed to a suitor she has never met, these lyrics from The Peony Pavilion mirror her own longings. In the garden of the Chen Family Villa, amid the scent of ginger, green tea, and jasmine, a small theatrical troupe is performing scenes from this epic opera, a live spectacle few females have ever seen. Like the heroine in the drama, Peony is the cloistered daughter of a wealthy family, trapped like a good-luck cricket in a bamboo-and-lacquer cage. Though raised to be obedient, Peony has dreams of her own.

Peony's mother is against her daughter's attending the production: "Unmarried girls should not be seen in public". But Peony's father assures his wife that proprieties will be maintained, and that the women will watch the opera from behind a screen. Yet through its cracks, Peony catches sight of an elegant, handsome man with hair as black as a cave and is immediately overcome with emotion.

So begins Peony's unforgettable journey of love and destiny, desire and sorrow as Lisa See's haunting novel, based on actual historical events, takes readers back to 17th-century China, after the Manchus seize power and the Ming dynasty is crushed.

Steeped in traditions and ritual, this story brings to life another time and place, and even the intricate realm of the afterworld, with its protocols, pathways, and stages of existence, a vividly imagined place where one's soul is divided into three, ancestors offer guidance, misdeeds are punished, and hungry ghosts wander the earth.

Immersed in the richness and magic of the Chinese vision of the afterlife, transcending even death, Peony in Love explores, beautifully, the many manifestations of love. Ultimately, Lisa See's new novel addresses universal themes: the bonds of friendship, the power of words, and the age-old desire of women to be heard.

©2007 Lisa See (P)2007 Random House, Inc. Random House Audio, a division of Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

“A complex period tapestry inscribed with the age-old tragedy of love and death.” (The New York Times Book Review)

“Electrifying... a fascinating and often surprising story of women helping women, women hurting women and women misunderstanding each other.” (The Miami Herald)

“See mines an intriguing vein of Chinese history... weaving fact and fiction into a dense romantic tapestry of time and place as she meditates on the meaning of love, the necessity of self-expression and the influence of art.” (Los Angeles Times)

love this wonderful tale!

it waa buried in my audible library for a few years and resurrected it last week. oh my! I forgot how beautiful this story is!! It's a must listen!

Another amazing story!

Another perfectly amazing story that sucks you in and keeps you riveted to the last word.

Struggled to finish

Love Janet Song as a narrator. If I was reading this on my own I'm not sure I would've finished it but her voice is lovely and although, it took a while to finish, I'm glad I did.

Pretty Good!

Like Lisa See’s other works, this story is rich in historical detail and paints a vivid picture of life in China. This story takes a fantastical turn about halfway through, however, and is difficult to predict the outcome. I enjoyed most of the story despite the seemingly meandering plot.

Moving

Narration was great.
& the story was incredibly moving.
It's most definitely worth the credit.

Unusual and excellent book

It actually began a little slowly with a focus on a love story which I typically find boring but then about an hour into the book it got very very interesting. I was spellbound and disappointed when it ended. It was a wonderful foray into the customs and spiritual world of early china.

~courage to love and be heard~

I am writing my thoughts about the book that left a great impression on me and I know my words will be read by others. I owe the freedom to do so to my sisters from the 17th Century China, and especially to the three wives of a poet, to the three courageous souls who wrote and published the first ever book by women.

“Peony in Love” is a story of WOMEN as they were before feminism stepped in. They were wives and mothers and lovers and poets; devoted to their husbands and called to serve them above all; educated for the sake of holding an intelligent conversation and being “mates” to their men and mothers in law. It is a story of a young girl’s quest for love and freedom of sharing her word with others. Young Peony dies when waiting for an arranged marriage, writing down the commentary of her beloved book, “The Peony Pavilion”. Upon death, she becomes a “hungry ghost” tortured with love, unable to proceed to the after-world due to the un-dotted tablet, eager to make her poet Wu Ren happy and fulfilled with the best wife that she tries and succeeds, after all, to “create” and guide for him. And Peony is also so eager to finish her work, her commentary, in hopes that Wu Ren hears her through the words, written by her at the age of 16, and later finished by his two other wives.

To not retell the story, masterfully woven by Lisa See in delicate word-brushes of pink and purple and yellow words, just like the most delicate Chinese silk and other books by this outstanding writer, I say that this book is much more than a tale of love. It is a story of growing as a woman and growing as a generation of women; a story of devotion to your man and a story about the importance of all types of love: romantic, sexual, soul to soul connection, mother love, daughter love; the story of strong women who seem to be so fragile and peony-like, swaying on their lily-feet. The story that one does need all bravery to do what her heart tells her do, and the story of a brave and pure heart.

Love Lisa See

I cannot say enough good things about Lisa See--I love her writing. Although I didn't really enjoy her detective series, I loved this book. This is a beautiful, culturally rich narrative.

Beautiful Work. 🌸

This narrator, Janet Song, is perfect. Her delicate and soft voice is beautiful for this dream of a story. I love how everything is described. Wonderful book if you enjoy ancient Chinese culture. 🌸

Peony, A Shrinking Violet

Peony's themes are more important than the story, and better too. Once again, Lisa See opens up another well-kept Chinese secret; 17th century Chinese women used a small opening in the curtain that kept women bound to their men to write, form writing clubs, and be acknowledged as capable as men to produce serious literary criticism.
Most of the story is told through the eyes of a ghostwriter (pardon the pun) who assists her husband's next two wives to finish her commentaries on an opera called The Peony Pavillion. See's portrayal of ancient Chinese customs opens a new world to western readers, however, the constant repetition of Chinese maidens dying of lovesickness leaves one wondering if he picked up a book from the Young Adult section.