Shanghai Girls

A Novel

By: Lisa See

Narrated by: Janet Song

Length: 13 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

Number-one New York Times best-seller.

“A gifted writer...explores the bonds of sisterhood while powerfully evoking the often nightmarish American immigrant experience.” (USA Today)

In 1937, Shanghai is the Paris of Asia, a city of great wealth and glamour, the home of millionaires and beggars, gangsters and gamblers, patriots and revolutionaries, artists and warlords. Thanks to the financial security and material comforts provided by their father’s prosperous rickshaw business, 21-year-old Pearl Chin and her younger sister, May, are having the time of their lives. Though both sisters wave off authority and tradition, they couldn’t be more different: Pearl is a dragon sign, strong and stubborn, while May is a true sheep, adorable and placid. Both are beautiful, modern, and carefree...until the day their father tells them he has gambled away their wealth and that in order to repay his debts, he must sell the girls as wives to suitors who have traveled from California to find Chinese brides.

As Japanese bombs fall on their beloved city, Pearl and May set out on the journey of a lifetime, one that will take them through the Chinese countryside, in and out of the clutch of brutal soldiers, and across the Pacific to the shores of America.

In Los Angeles, they begin a fresh chapter, trying to find love with the strangers they have married, brushing against the seduction of Hollywood, and striving to embrace American life even as they fight against discrimination, brave communist witch hunts, and find themselves hemmed in by Chinatown’s old ways and rules.

At its heart, Shanghai Girls is a story of sisters: Pearl and May are inseparable best friends who share hopes, dreams, and a deep connection, but like sisters everywhere, they also harbor petty jealousies and rivalries. They love each other, but each knows exactly where to drive the knife to hurt the other the most.

Along the way, they face terrible sacrifices, make impossible choices, and confront a devastating, life-changing secret, but through it all the two heroines of this astounding new novel hold fast to who they are: Shanghai girls.

Praise for Shanghai Girls:

“A buoyant and lustrous paean to the bonds of sisterhood.” (Booklist)

“A rich work...as compulsively readable as it is an enlightening journey.” (Denver Post)

©2009 Random House (P)2009 Random House

Critic reviews

"A buoyant and lustrous paean to the bonds of sisterhood." (Booklist)

“See is a gifted writer, and in Shanghai Girls she again explores the bonds of sisterhood while powerfully evoking the often nightmarish American immigrant experience.” (USA Today)

“A rich work... as compulsively readable as it is an enlightening journey.” (Denver Post)

Just wonderful

First and foremost...what a wonderful reader. If you closed your eyes you were in China and visualizing the cast of characters completely.
Everything about this novel was stunning except the last 35-45 minutes.
I have no idea why the author wrapped the storyline up with such a poor ending because, yes..it made it feel there's a sequel in the works, even tho I'll bet there isn't one.
The ending seemed contrived and kind of weird....like she just had to finally end the story and she picked this worthless ending.
It would have had 5 stars had it not been for that.

needs multi cast

this would have been oerfect with multi-cast. otherwise story was great. Lisa See is a remarkable writer

Beautiful

Clear, realist narrative that is easy to listen to. Detailed but not slow, the characters beautifully rounded, and the events intense. I could not stop listening, & when I couldn’t listen, I found myself thinking about the characters & what would happen next. Worth a listen!

shanghai girls

terrific book and great narrator; can not wait to do another by this author; good information about china also

Wow....on to the next...Joy's Dreams

This book gave me so much perspective as a 1st generation American from immigrant parents from Colombia. Love it. Thank goodness our families were not persecuted. I laughed because I hated speaking in Spanish as we were required to do. I cried listening to how cruel daughters can be as a daughter and now as a mother of adult children. Narrator was so spot on.

Wow

Another incredible and moving stories. Every book I listen to is better than the last how is this possible

Beautiful story

This is a beautiful and touching story about two sisters and their experience as Chinese immigrants to the United States. I particularly liked the narrator for this audible.

Family saga

Loving epic of two sisters and their lives. Through their adventures amidst war and prejudice against the Chinese in America, the novel tells the reader about sisterly love and the problems that can ensue in that relationship. Lovely book!

Another Beautiful Title

Amazing Story! I loved this one of Lisa See’s books. Looking forward to her releasing more stories on friendship and family!

This is a heart wrenching story

Just when you thought that things couldn’t get worse they do. Over and over again. This is a terribly sad tale. The only redeeming value is the bond between the sisters. I would not recommend this book unless you like being depressed.