Shanghai Girls: A Novel

This is my first Lisa See book. Now normally I tend to stay away from sad books about the trials and tribulations of life, but this one was so rich in detail that I was wrapped up in the story before I realized it was sad -- by then it was too late to put the book down.
I loved her characters who grow as the story progresses. The story is beautiful, touching, and a complex portrait of different kinds of love -- between sisters, between parents and their children, between husband and wives, and the complex feelings they have of their native and adopted countries.
The prominent figures are two girls who grew up in Shanghai just before World War II, and how they came to be in America after their world fell apart. It is a story of how they suffered many hardships, as told from the viewpoint of the elder sister. As the story progresses, the contrast between the sisters grow. They have conflicts, but resolve them because they are sisters who love each other.
For those who are constantly burdened with family responsibilities, this story could almost be a fable, a lesson in how ones viewpoint or attitude could change and color how one perceives and reacts to life's little blessings.
I give this book a high rating because I learnt something about relationships, and it was enjoyable even though it was primarily a tale of hardships. The story was never tedious, and, in the end, I wish the story went further than it did.

I listen to this book while walking--I always make my 3 mile goal. The narrator is superb, the story telling exquisite, the characters have become people I know better than my actual neighbors. What an achievement to have written this narrative.

I loved this book. I've read See's "Snow Flower" and "Peony in Love" and this is by far my favorite. It does appear that it is being set up for a sequel, so don't expect the story to have a real ending. There is a lot in the story that is hard to take. Because the characters go through a lot in the story, we as readers do to.

The story is mainly about the relationship between two sisters, with the back drop of war in China and then China Town in Los Angeles in the late 30's, 40's, and 50's. Lisa See often deals with the theme of how perception shapes your world and actions, and "Shanghai" is no exception.

I loved the story and the lessons presented. Don't miss this one!

My introduction to this author was Snowflower and the Secret Fan, which I loved, and I think I enjoyed this one even better. The setting, 1937-1957, is an historical context that I am more familiar with, which may have made the main characters more relatable. Viewing the atrocities of the war years and the transition to the 1950's through the eyes of the Chinese immigrants offered a new perspective to the immigration experience and the communist witch hunts which has typically been told as a Russian Cold War. The ending obviously carries the story to a sequel, which I have already downloaded to continue the journey. I love Janet Song's reading - she brings the characters to life for me.

Shanghai Girls is the story of two sisters Pearl and May starting out in 1930’s Shanghai China. It takes you on a journey of war, family, betrayal, obligation and relationships. The girls’ father, loses his daughters in a gambling debt and sells them into arranged marriages with American husbands. Plagued by war, separation, rape, torture and the birth of a child, the author Lisa See, explores the strengths and weaknesses of these two sisters as she pushes them to their limits. Their struggle with secrets, racism and fitting into a new world, all play important roles to create the backdrop and develop the personalities of the two protagonists. The sisters’ relationship is complex and entwined in loyalty, jealousy and different perceptions. Lisa See paints a very hard life for these two women who endure tragedy after tragedy. She manages to capture how their circumstance bonds Pearl and May and pulls them apart at the same time.
Rich in culture, this book delves into everything from bound feet and rickshaws to Chinese cooking and fashion. The many Chinese idioms throughout adds authenticity. I am glad I read this book with the intentions of reading the squeal, Dreams of Joy. The book ends abruptly. The ending leaves you hanging. Had I read this book a few years ago with no where to find answers, the ending would have disappointed me. Fortunately, I have just started Dreams of Joy.
The reader does a very good job narrating the book. I was glad it was the same reader for the sequel as it give continuity to the story.

This is an engaging book with an interesting dose of history. Not a challenging piece of literature, neither does it insult your intelligence. I enjoyed it

A very good read for those who love historical novels and novels about women and the "age they grow up in". A good novel for those who wish to learn about the oppression of women's personal growth based on the times they are raised in, and how some manage to survive and surmount in overcoming the restrictions in their lives.

I ejnoyed listening to this book as the story was both interesting and exciting. The story is complex and it makes you both smile and cry. The reader became like a friend and I was sad when the book was finished. The fact that the story is built on historical facts makes it even more compelling. I can warmly recommend this book.

I would recommend See's story for those who are ready to learn about the culture of the east, mixed in with a rich, emotional tale of perseverance and complex relationships. The reader Janet Song's voice is very mezmorizing also. Such a captivating tale.

I loved this book about sisters. The bond that exists between the two women is what drives this amazing book. The assumtions that the two women make about each other gently reveal themselves. A perfect book.