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)

Loved this book

This is my 1st Lisa See book and will not be my last. I got to know all the characters so well...it was a book that I was disappointed when it ended. i learned so much about the history of China and its people. The voice of Janet Song, the narrator, was so engaging. I loved this book!

This almost got four stars!

You can tell what this book is about from the synopsis and the other reviews, so I'll just tell you what I think that others may have not already said. The character development appears meticulous, until afterward when you think back on the individual characters and the completed story and realize you don't know them as well as you may have thought. This may be intentional on the part of the author - considering the abrupt end, it probably is. For those of us who grew up on Pearl Buck's view of the orient, this is an interesting viewpoint, and the voices of the girls-who-become-women ring true. I feel like I'd have been more nourished by this colorful feast if I knew why certain plot turns were made - for instance during the flight from Shanghai - but this book is the stuff book club discussions are made for. Look at the other books I've reviewed and if you like any of the ones I rated highly, you will probably like this selection, too. I'm glad I read it. So close to four stars. . .

I Loved it

The characters are so well developed. Even though they came from a completely different culture I felt I knew each of them. It is an interesting story of the Chinese in America in the mid 20th century.

Depressing

I think I may be done reading Lisa See books. I love the historical fiction and how interesting her characters are, but like The Island of Sea Women there are few moments in these stories that bring the reader joy. Very depressing stories and little discretion in describing the very violent pages which both the books had.

History

I enjoyed the history that was intertwined into the plot, to help the story be more meaningful. Interesting story, with a lot of twists and turns. Great narrator!

Chinese historical novel

So good, interesting point of view considering the present times and all. The Chinese sure are interesting.

Beautiful Story of sisterhood

This was a well written story of the true bond between sisters. The sisters faced a lot of struggles together and both dealt with them in different ways, but they supported each other. I also really like the fact that the story gives a sense of what life was like in China during the war and what life was like for Chinese immigrants. It is interesting how you start off thinking that only one of the characters is the strong sister, and then in the end you realize that they were both strong in very different ways. The narrator did a wonderful job. She really did a great job portraying each character. I am looking forward to listening to "Dreams of Joy".

Dont hestitate to read this

Would you listen to Shanghai Girls again? Why?

Yes, if like me you don't know that much went on during my lifetime (born 1943) you will be shocked.

What did you like best about this story?

Love of family

What about Janet Song’s performance did you like?

Perfect

If you could rename Shanghai Girls, what would you call it?

Love of family

enjoyed every minute

Loved it, do wish the ending could have been happier & brought more closure. It is, however, how things were at the time.

worth the read

I'm not sure I liked the ending but it was a very good book.