Peeking Between the Pages

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Book Review: Shanghai Girls by Lisa See

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Shanghai Girls by Lisa See is about two sisters, Pearl and May, and starts out in the year 1937 and ending in 1957. The first part of the story brings us the sights and sounds of Shanghai and later we move on to the US and learn of the struggles they encounter there. It’s an emotional novel in many ways and it brings to light the discrimination that people feel when going to another country, the way life is for women in other countries, and the love that can exist between two sisters that can’t be broken.

Pearl and May work as Beautiful Girls in Shanghai – they pose for calendars and various advertisements. Pearl is twenty-one and May is a few years younger. They are used to and have been brought up with the good life.; they’ve never wanted for anything. Their father owns a successful rickshaw business and his girls have been given many advantages that others haven’t. With life the way it is the girls don’t really adhere to the authority of their parents or the traditions that should be followed. They are much more concerned with having fun. Both girls are outgoing but May seems to be the more beautiful one. The girls spend their time going shopping and to clubs so needless to say they are shocked when one day they are informed by their father that he has lost everything they own and he is marrying them off to save the family.

The girls are to be married off to men who have traveled from Los Angeles to find themselves Chinese brides. The girls are horrified as they had always planned to marry for love, but go along with their family’s wishes; they have no choice as they are now penniless. The girls marry and their husbands go back to the US and the girls are to follow. The girls being defiant as usual do not do what they are supposed to and end up in an even worse situation. They are now trapped in a country at war and are forced to face unbearable hardships to get out of the country – hardships that will break them both emotionally and physically.

Finally they make it to Los Angeles and to the home of their husbands which comes as a bit of a shock to them as well as they thought they were much better off than they are. However this is their life now so they work to make the best of it and at least they are still together. Life is very different for them now and many times Pearl can’t believe this is the life they are actually living. Pearl is constantly working, either at home or in the family owned businesses while May has had the opportunity to live a more carefree lifestyle even with the restrictions put on them by the family.

What I found most memorable about this book was the bond and the loyalty between Pearl and May and the courage of people to make it against all odds. As well the discrimination they suffered when coming to the US was interesting as well. it’s a shame that people aren’t just accepted for who they are and many times while reading what they went through it made me angry. Another thing of interest to me was what life was like for these women. Thankfully foot binding wasn’t happening when they were born but still women were considered as nothing in China and that even folded over to their lives in the US. They hold no value at all and that is really hard to read.

I read Shanghai Girls for Lisa See’s blog tour with TLC Book Tours and I really enjoyed it. Once I started reading it I had trouble putting it down as I needed to know what would happen next to these girls. I’ve got Lisa’s other two books, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan and Peony in Love on my shelf and I’m really looking forward to them. I have to say that Shanghai Girls really ends in the middle of nowhere. I was shocked when I got to the last page as I still expected more story but that leads me to believe there will be a sequel and that I’m looking forward to.

You can see other tour stops for Lisa See’s Shanghai Girls here. You can purchase Shanghai Girls here in the US and here in Canada. As well be sure to visit Lisa See’s website. Stop by tomorrow when Lisa See visits Peeking Between the Pages with a guest post.


My thanks… to Lisa with TLC Book Tours for my review copy of Shanghai Girls.

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  2. I really liked Snow Flower and The Secret Fan, too… will check this one out. Thanks for the review!

  3. I just won this book in a giveaway, and I can't wait to read it. The author seems to have fans based on not only this book, but her other works as well.

  4. That sounds like a really good book, and there have been some really positive comments about the author. Thanks for sharing!

  5. Thanks for the great review! I've enjoyed all 3 of Lisa See's books including this one. I think I have 2 more to read of hers.

  6. The end was somewhat abrupt. I think I flipped back a few pages just to make sure I didn't miss anything. It does end as if a sequel is planned, one a lot of readers will be eagerly anticipating.

    Have a good week, Dar, and happy reading.

  8. I enjoyed this book as well. The bond between the sisters and their life in China and USA was fascinating. I love Lisa See's writing. You're in for a treat when you read Snow Flower and the Secret Fan. The foot binding is a bit tough to read but the story is absolutely wonderful. I haven't read Peony in Love yet.

  9. Thnakfully there will be a sequel to Shanghai Girls!

    I loved Snow Flower and the Secret Fan. The foot-binding descriptions are hard to bear, but overall the story is wonderful and brimming with vitality.

  10. The book sounds wonderful. I imagine moving to a new country strengthened the sisters' bond even more.

  11. I'm glad you liked this one Dar. It made my list of favorites read during 2010. I just know that you will love Snow Flower also. Thanks for the review!

  12. This was one of my 2009 favorites too–but I have loved everything else by Lisa See too. After I posted about the book's ending on my blog, Bookfan Mary commented that she had received an email from Lisa See confirming that there would be a sequel! Hooray–as I want the story to continue.
    Great Review!
    *smiles*

  14. I have been so excited reading the reviews for this book tour. It looks like a great book and since I am already a fan of See's work, I think I am definitely going to read this one. Great review! Glad you liked the book.

  16. This book sounds wonderful. I saw it on another blog a few days ago, and I added it to my TBR list. I loved your review, especially what you said about the characters' loyalty and courage.

  17. I've Snow Flower and The Secret Fan and Peony in Love in my pile, but just haven't got around to reading them yet. Looks like I've to add this to my wishlist too since I've heard nothing but raves about it. 🙂

  18. I was floored by the ending, too…totally wasn't expecting it!

    Peony is my favorite of her books, but Snow Flower is great, also.

  19. I promised myself I would read this soon. I've read most of See's works and loved Snow Flower and The Secret Fan. Thanks for the review, Dar!

  20. I loved Snow Flower and the Secret Fan. I have an arc of Shanghai Girls and have had a funny experience with it – I started reading it and stopped because I didn't want it to end. Intellectually, I know that's just silly, but I get very emotional with my reading! I should finish it, though – after all, I still have Peony in Love in reserve!

  21. Interesting review on bonding between two sisters who faces lots of hardships after leaving their home country.

  22. I always love books about the relationship between sisters. This one seems to get nothing but good reviews. I'm going to have to get it soon.

  26. I have been waiting to read your review on this one Dar. I have had in my mind to read..but now I REALLy want to read it. I liked the points your brought out in your review.

  27. Wonderful review, Dar! I'm so pleased that you enjoyed the book and so thankful for all the time you put into reading and reviewing it! Thanks so much.