Book Review : Daughter of Xanadu by Dori Jones Yang

Daughter of Xanadu by Dori Jones Yang

Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (January 11, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385739230
• ISBN-13: 978-0385739238

Daughter of Xanadu is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble & The Book Depository

Athletic and strong willed, Princess Emmajin's determined to do what no woman has done before: become a warrior in the army of her grandfather, the Great Khan Khubilai. In the Mongol world the only way to achieve respect is to show bravery and win glory on the battlefield. The last thing she wants is the distraction of the foreigner Marco Polo, who challenges her beliefs in the gardens of Xanadu. Marco has no skills in the "manly arts" of the Mongols: horse racing, archery, and wrestling. Still, he charms the Khan with his wit and story-telling. Emmajin sees a different Marco as they travel across 13th-century China, hunting 'dragons' and fighting elephant-back warriors. Now she faces a different battle as she struggles with her attraction towards Marco and her incredible goal of winning fame as a soldier.

I don't know much about Mongolian history, but it's true that I don't have a liking for the Mongols after watching movies and reading storybooks depicting their barbaric acts. But now I realize it's just the way a story is portrayed that influences the reader's mind, thanks to Daughter of Xanadu. When a same story is told in two different perspectives, we will have different perceptions and feelings after reading them.

In this book, our heroine, the 16-year-old granddaughter of Kubilai Khan - Princess Emmajin has no intention of getting married and become a good wife. She sole ambition is to get enlisted in the army and fight for the Khan to gain fame and glory in order to make herself comparable to men. She wants to help contributing a part in helping the Great Khan conquer the whole world. But as she eventually befriends a Latin merchant named Marco Polo whom she is initially assigned to spy on, she learns about the countries which is far off the borders of the Mongolian empire. Marco's words about the bad effects of wars start to prick her consciousness, and she thinks about the possibility of attaining peace through an alternative solution. As time passes, Emmajin and Marco begins to develop special feelings for each other.

While being historically accurate and highly entertaining, Daughter of Xanadu is also a thought-provoking novel. It questions the act of waging a war simply because of one man's aspiration to be the supreme world ruler. You will not fail to discover the brutalities and grittiness of war, which is portrayed vividly in this novel during the Battle of Vochan. However, I must say that I really admire Marco's wit in introducing a special tactic that proved to work against the Burmese King's troops. I love the part where Emmajin, Suren and Marco helped in capturing live dragons (crocodiles) to be taken back to Khanbalik.

In the front pages of the book, you will find a map of the Mongol Empire under Kubilai Khan from 1275 - 1276, with translations of ancient names of places to today's standard names. Also, there is a page on Emmajin's family tree. The author really deserves compliments for her meticulous research on the Mongolian lifestyle and culture. She describes the scenery of the wide stretches of land in Mongolia skillfully using beautiful words which makes me feel as if I were in that place. Included in the back is a glossary of some of the Mongolian and Latin terms which is used by the characters in the novel.

Dori Jones Yang has created word images so vivid that it is almost like watching a movie. She takes you on a brilliant Odyssey through the often-discussed-but-seldom-written-about Mongolian history through the eyes of the courageous royal princess herself. I heartily recommend this book to everyone, especially those who has a keen interest in the history of China and Mongolia or the founding of the Yuan Dynasty.

Many thanks to the author for providing a copy of Daughter of Xanadu for this review!

If you've read the book, feel free to take the quiz on Goodreads to test your understanding for the book!

Dori Jones Yang grew up in Ohio, the daughter of a bookseller, and fell in love with foreign travel at an early age. Among other languages, she speaks fluent Mandarin and has lived in Singapore and Hong Kong, where she was foreign correspondent for Business Week.

Her first book, The Secret Voice of Gina Zhang, was a Skipping Stones Honor Book in 2001, and was also awarded the Pleasant T. Rowland Prize for Fiction for Girls. Her most recent book is Daughter of Xanadu, set in 13th century Mongolia, under the Khubilai Khan.

Dori lives near Seattle with her husband Paul Yang; they have three grown-up children.

Find Dori Jones Yang On:

Daughter of Xanadu is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble & The Book Depository

Lisa See's Snow Flower and the Secret Fan Now A Movie!

Snow Flower and The Secret Fan by Lisa See has been adapted into a movie! Starring Bingbing Li, Gianna Jun and Vivian Wu, this story centers on the lifelong friendship between two girls who develop their own secret code as a way to contend with the rigid cultural norms imposed on women. To be released on 15th July 2011.

Friday Feature: Daughter of Xanadu by Dori Jones Yang

Daughter of Xanadu
by Dori Jones Yang

Synopsis:

Athletic and strong willed, Princess Emmajin's determined to do what no woman has done before: become a warrior in the army of her grandfather, the Great Khan Khubilai. In the Mongol world the only way to achieve respect is to show bravery and win glory on the battlefield. The last thing she wants is the distraction of the foreigner Marco Polo, who challenges her beliefs in the gardens of Xanadu. Marco has no skills in the "manly arts" of the Mongols: horse racing, archery, and wrestling. Still, he charms the Khan with his wit and story-telling. Emmajin sees a different Marco as they travel across 13th-century China, hunting 'dragons' and fighting elephant-back warriors. Now she faces a different battle as she struggles with her attraction towards Marco and her incredible goal of winning fame as a soldier.

Interested? Yes, definitely! I love reading young adult novels with a historical setting. And I've always thought that Genghis Khan was a great warrior and conqueror. This story may be not about him, but it's about his granddaughter, albeit a fictional one. Nevertheless, it still sounds exciting. Imagine the significant network of numerous lakes, rivers, streams and springs in the north and the mountainous topography covered with meadows, steppes and forests that support good pastures in the west of Mongolia!

Cover Comment: Hmm... A pretty Mongol girl who has an interest in archery and horse riding. I think it's a perfect portrayal of the heroine Emmajin in the story. The intricate patterns on the background also has an ancient Chinese style. Thumbs up!

Daughter of Xanadu is available on Amazon & The Book Depository

Author Michelle Moran Answers Readers' Questions on The Bookaholics!

Michelle Moran, the bestselling author of Nefertiti and The Heretic Queen has graciously agreed to answer our readers' question on her latest book, Madame Tussaud. Enjoy the interview!

US Hardcover:

Amazon $13.71
The Book Depository $21.32
Barnes and Noble $13.57

UK Paperback:
The Book Depository $15.68

Lexie asked: What inspired you to write about the French Revolution?

It is a period that has always fascinated me and I feel that it has some resonance today. Marie found herself struggling to survive and protect the ones she loved in a time of intense political conflict. Of course, in her time, those passions culminated in one of bloodiest political purges in history. I chose to write about Marie and the times she lived through because I wanted to understand her amazing instinct for survival. It is easy to believe that our times, with ongoing war, unrest around the world and tragic natural disasters, are the worst humanity has seen. But history has had many periods of tumult and chaos. I hope that readers will find some solace in Marie's story and strength.

Kelly asked: How do you pick the historical figures whom you write about?
It varies from book to book. I occurred to me that almost everyone has heard of Madame Tussaud, but few people know her story. The more I learned about her in my research, the more I knew that I wanted to write about her.

Misha asked: According to your bio, you have travelled to India. Can I ask which historical sites you visited there?

I visited many places in India. I loved my travels there, the colors, the sights, the richness of the history there. I was moved by the Taj Mahal and the love story that built it. I was also deeply impressed by my visit to Gandhi's house. I have always found him to be an inspirational figure, a modest man whose impact on the world was colossal.

Vivien asked: How much research did you have to do for this novel? Did you have to research multiple things?
I immersed myself in many months of research, poring through historical newspapers, memoirs of Marie's contemporaries and tomes of non-fiction.

TheGirlOnFire asked: The French Revolution is a very interesting time period. Do you think the was an era you would have wanted to live in?
It was a very dangerous time, a time in which the smallest misstep could cost an innocent person her life. People were beheaded for wearing the wrong colors or style of hat. As much as it captures my imagination as a writer, I do not think I would want to live in that time.

Elysium asked: Which wax figure is your favourite?
My favorite is the wax figure of Shakespeare in the London museum. I felt it was the closest I could ever come to standing beside him. I think it was that feeling that made Marie, in a time before photographs and television, so popular. That's what makes Madame Tussaud still so impressive today.

Rachel asked: Would you like to have a wax model made of yourself?
I am not sure I would ever see myself in that pantheon of celebrities. I am just happy to visit the museum and enjoy.

Terry asked: Have you started working on a new book yet and if so can you disclose the topic?
I am working on a book about Napoleon's second wife, Marie-Louise. When Napoleon conquered Austria, he demanded that Austrian princess Marie-Louise marry him as a political alliance. She came to Napoleon's court as another of his spoils of war. The book follows her struggles living with this complicated and often cruel man and how she finds the strength to survive and find happiness.

Amanda asked: Why do you enjoy writing about history?
I studied history and I have always loved other times and places. It is a way of taking yourself out of the world that you know and imagining alternative realities, ones that really existed. In what I do, I seek to understand the people and the motivations that made history, what's beyond the dates and facts.

Michelle Moran was born in the San Fernando Valley, CA. She took an interest in writing from an early age, purchasing Writer's Market and submitting her stories and novellas to publishers from the time she was twelve. When she was accepted into Pomona College she took as many classes as possible in British Literature, particularly Milton, Chaucer, and the Bard. Not surprisingly, she majored in English while she was there. Following a summer in Israel where she worked as a volunteer archaeologist, she earned an MA from the Claremont Graduate University.

Michelle has traveled around the world, from Zimbabwe to India, and her experiences at archaeological sites were what inspired her to write historical fiction. She is the international bestselling author of Nefertiti, The Heretic Queen, and Cleopatra's Daughter. Her fourth novel, Madame Tussaud, was released on February 15, 2011.

Giveaway Winner!

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Congratulations, amandawk from Tales and Treats! You've won a signed hardcover copy of Michelle's upcoming novel, Madame Tussaud: A Novel of the French Revolution + a pair of Marie Antoinette cupcake earrings! Please reply to my e-mail with your full name, address and signing preference (general / personalized) within 3 days or a new winner will be selected.

To those who are not lucky enough to win this book, please don't be sad, as there are more giveaways to come! And, you can still buy yourself a copy of the book as a treat! Check the online booksellers below to buy your favourite version of Madame Tussaud! Thanks for your support!

US Hardcover:

Amazon $13.71
The Book Depository $21.32
Barnes and Noble $13.57

UK Paperback:
The Book Depository $15.68

P/S: I will be passing your questions to Michelle, but I'm not sure if she'll be able to reply all of them as she is very busy right now. I will post the answers once she sends them to me. So stay tuned if you want to know her answer! You can subscribe via e-mail to The Bookaholics by entering your e-mail address in the widget on the right sidebar so that you don't miss anything great!

Released: Madame Tussaud by Michelle Moran

Madame Tussaud is now available at all leading bookstores and online book retailers. You can also enter to win a SIGNED copy on The Bookaholics HERE.

Madame Tussaud

Synopsis
Excerpt
Madame Tussaud Q&A

Michelle Moran was born in the San Fernando Valley, CA. She took an interest in writing from an early age, purchasing Writer's Market and submitting her stories and novellas to publishers from the time she was twelve. When she was accepted into Pomona College she took as many classes as possible in British Literature, particularly Milton, Chaucer, and the Bard. Not surprisingly, she majored in English while she was there. Following a summer in Israel where she worked as a volunteer archaeologist, she earned an MA from the Claremont Graduate University.

Michelle has traveled around the world, from Zimbabwe to India, and her experiences at archaeological sites were what inspired her to write historical fiction. She is the international bestselling author of Nefertiti, The Heretic Queen, and Cleopatra's Daughter. Her fourth novel, Madame Tussaud, was released on February 15, 2011.

US Hardcover:

Amazon $13.71
The Book Depository $21.32
Barnes and Noble $13.57

UK Paperback:
The Book Depository $15.68

Guest Post with Michelle Moran + Giveaway!

Have I ever told you how much I loved Michelle Moran's novels? Well, obviously, I adored them! From Nefertiti, The Heretic Queen to Cleopatra's Daughter, every one of her books has a special place in my heart, and apparently, on my bookshelf. Her books made me fall in love with the historical fiction genre and left me deeply mesmerized with the ancient Egyptian culture. Her fourth book, Madame Tussaud, will be launched on 15th February, and I'm eagerly anticipating its release. Make sure you purchase a copy of Madame Tussaud when it comes out! It is available for pre-order at The Book Depository.

MADAME TUSSAUD: The Woman

When most people hear the name Madame Tussaud, the first thing that comes to mind are the eerily lifelike waxworks which crowd her museums throughout the world. But who was the woman behind the name, and what was she like in the flesh?

Wax sculptor Marie Tussaud

Madame Tussaud’s story actually began in 18^th century Paris. While most people know her from her famous museum in London, it was in France, on the humble Boulevard du Temple, where Marie first got her start as an apprentice in her uncle’s wax museum, the Salon de Cire. At the time, the Boulevard du Temple was crowded with exhibits of every kind. For just a few sous a passerby might attend the opera, watch a puppet show, or visit Henri Charles’ mystifying exhibition The Invisible Girl. The Boulevard was a difficult place to distinguish yourself as an artist, but as Marie’s talent grew for both sculpting and public relations, the Salon de Cire became one of the most popular attractions around. Suddenly, no one could compete with Marie or her uncle for ingenious publicity stunts, and when the royal family supposedly visited their museum, this only solidified what most showmen in Paris already knew — the Salon was an exhibition to watch out for.

Madame Tussauds, Washington DC

But as the Salon’s popularity grew, so did the unusual requests. Noblemen came asking for wax sculptures of their mistresses, women wanted models of their newborn infants, and – most importantly – the king’s sister herself wanted Marie to come to Versailles to be her wax tutor. While this was, in many ways, a dream come true for Marie, it was also a dangerous time to be associated with the royal family. Men like Robespierre, Marat, and Desmoulins were meeting at Marie’s house to discuss the future of the monarchy, and when the Revolution began, Marie found herself in a precarious position. Ultimately, she was given a choice by France’s new leaders: to preserve the famous victims of Madame Guillotine in wax, or be guillotined herself.

Madame Tussaud: A Novel of the French Revolution is the story of Marie’s life during one of the most tumultuous times in human history. Her survival was nothing less than astonishing, and how she survived makes for what I hope is a compelling read.

Madame Tussaud

Synopsis
Excerpt
Madame Tussaud Q&A

Michelle Moran was born in the San Fernando Valley, CA. She took an interest in writing from an early age, purchasing Writer's Market and submitting her stories and novellas to publishers from the time she was twelve. When she was accepted into Pomona College she took as many classes as possible in British Literature, particularly Milton, Chaucer, and the Bard. Not surprisingly, she majored in English while she was there. Following a summer in Israel where she worked as a volunteer archaeologist, she earned an MA from the Claremont Graduate University.

Michelle has traveled around the world, from Zimbabwe to India, and her experiences at archaeological sites were what inspired her to write historical fiction. She is the international bestselling author of Nefertiti, The Heretic Queen, and Cleopatra's Daughter. Her fourth novel, Madame Tussaud, will be released on February 15, 2011. You can visit Michelle’s Blog: History Buff

One of my lucky readers will have the chance to win:

• A signed hardcover copy of Michelle's upcoming novel, Madame Tussaud: A Novel of the French Revolution
• A pair of Marie Antoinette cupcake earrings!

Please leave a separate comment for each entry or it will only count as one comment! Remember to include your e-mail address or your entry will be disqualified!

Main entry (Mandatory): Tell me something you've learned after reading the guest post OR ask Michelle a question.

Extra entries (Optional):
+1 Join Michelle Moran's Mailing List
+1 Tweet about this post (You can use the tweetmeme button)
+1 Add Michelle as a friend on Facebook
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+2 Add any ONE of my buttons to your blog sidebar - Leave 2 separate comments

Rules and Regulations:
This giveaway is for entrants of all ages from all countries. Please get permission from your parents or guardians if you are under 13 years of age. The author is responsible for the mailing of the prizes. This giveaway will end on February 22nd, 2010 at 6 p.m. Malaysian time. The winner will be selected randomly by random.org, and he/she must respond with his/her name and complete mailing address within 48 hours of being notified via e-mail. Prize(s) not claimed will be forfeited and a new winner will be selected.

*******

You can also enter the Madame Tussaud giveaways on these blogs to increase your chances of winning!

• Alternative-Read.com
  
• Bookworm's Dinner
• The Clock Monkey
• The Eclectic Reader
• Peeking Between The Pages
• Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf
• Violet Crush
• Walking On Sunshine
• Angel-on-a-move
• Fresh Fiction

Waiting for Madame Tussaud!

Hey guys! I have some uber awesome news!

Michelle Moran sent me an e-mail last Sunday, announcing that the publishing date for her fourth book Madame Tussaud has been moved up to February 15th, 2011.

In case you're not sure who she is: Michelle Moran is a national bestselling author who has traveled around the world, from Zimbabwe to India, and her experiences at archaeological sites were what inspired her to write historical fiction.

And the best thing is, Michelle, always so kind and generous, has offered to send me a copy of her book when it comes out on February 15th! Isn't that the best thing ever?! OMG! Can you imagine how excited I am?

I fall in love with Michelle's books when I first read The Heretic Queen (Review) and Cleopatra's Daughter (Review). Later on, I got myself a paperback copy of Michelle's first book, Nefertiti (Review). And you know what? I love them all! Take note, it's LOVE with a capital L!

Michelle is going to be doing a guest post on my blog AND she will be sponsoring a giveaway on The Bookaholics! The winner (anywhere in the world) will receive a signed hardcover copy of Madame Tussaud as well as a pair of Marie Antoinette cupcake earrings! (See picture above). So stay tuned! You can also subscribe to my blog via e-mail so that you won't miss anything special! (See the widget on the right >> )

Take a look at her new book!

Madame Tussaud: A Novel of the French Revolution

The world knows Madame Tussaud as a wax artist extraordinaire…but who was this woman and how did she become one of the most famous sculptresses of all time? In these pages, her tumultuous story comes to life as only Michelle Moran could tell it. The year is 1788, and a revolution is about to begin…

Marie Tussaud has learned the secrets of wax sculpting by working alongside her uncle in their celebrated wax museum, the Salon de Cire. From her popular model of the American Ambassador, Thomas Jefferson, to her tableau of the royal family at dinner, Marie’s museum provides Parisians with the very latest news on fashion, gossip, even politics. Her customers hail from every walk of life, and when word arrives that the royals themselves are coming to see their likenesses, Marie never dreams that the king’s sister will request her presence at Versailles as a royal tutor in wax sculpting. Yet when a letter with a gold seal is delivered to her home, Marie knows she cannot refuse—even if it means time away from her beloved Salon and her increasingly dear friend, Henri Charles.

As Marie becomes acquainted with her pupil, Princess Élisabeth, she is taken to meet both Marie Antoinette and King Louis XVI, who introduce her to the glamorous life at court. From lavish parties with more delicacies than she’s ever seen, to rooms filled with candles lit only once before being discarded, Marie steps into to a world entirely different from her home on the Boulevard du Temple, where people are selling their teeth in order to put food on the table.

Meanwhile, many resent the vast separation between rich and poor. In salons and cafés across Paris, people like Camille Desmoulins, Jean-Paul Marat, and Maximilien Robespierre are lashing out against the monarchy. Soon, there’s whispered talk of revolution…Will Marie be able to hold on to both the love of her life and her friendship with the royal family as France approaches civil war? And more importantly, will she be able to fulfill the demands of powerful revolutionaries who ask that she make the death masks of beheaded aristocrats, some of whom she knows?

Spanning five years from the budding revolution to the Reign of Terror, Madame Tussaud brings us into the world of an incredible heroine whose talent for wax modeling saved her life and preserved the faces of a vanished kingdom.

Michelle Moran's Online Connections
Website :: Goodreads :: Blog :: Facebook

Don't forget to enter the Monthly Website Contest on Michelle's website!

Book Review : His Last Duchess by Gabrielle Kimm

His Last Duchess by Gabrielle Kimm

Product details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Sphere (5 Aug 2010)
• ISBN-10: 0751544507
• ISBN-13: 978-0751544503
• Product Dimensions: 21.6 x 14 x 3.3 cm
• Buy His Last Duchess at Amazon

When sixteen-year-old Lucrezia de' Medici marries the fifth Duke of Ferrara, Alfonso d'Este, she imagines life with her handsome husband will be idyllic. But little does she know that he is a very complicated man. The marriage is fraught with difficulties from the start, and, as time passes, Lucrezia becomes increasingly alienated. For Alfonso, the pressure mounts as the Vatican threatens to reclaim his title should the couple remain unable to produce an heir. Only his lover Francesca seems able to tame his increasing fury. But Alfonso's growing resentment towards his duchess soon becomes unbearable, and he begins to plot an unthinkable way to escape his problems.

If you want to read a good historical fiction, this book is what you need. Before marrying the Alfonso, Lucrezia lives a happy, free life with her parents. She expects her wedded life to be blissful and felicitous, but she does not understand the man under the admirable facade. He is actually a cold and distant man who cares little for his wife and only views her as a rare treasure.

Gabrielle has written this book in a way that readers will immediately connect with Lucrezia's pitiful condition and vote for her happiness. She is an aristocrat, but she is actually a poor girl, because she can never pick her own partner. When she seeks happiness beyond the castle in which she is trapped, you will feel excited but scared for her. Her only friend is the kitchen maid she brought from her parents' residence, Catelina.

Alfonso's character is dark and depressing. I can't figure out his motives most of the times. He doesn't seem to have a heart. Well, metaphorically. He gives me an impression of a man without a soul. When he tries to do something terrible towards Lucrezia, I'm really shocked.

His Last Duchess starts out well, and the plot keeps building until the climax, which is totally awesome. I love the ending of this story because it gives us an exact idea of the aftermath of the terrifying event. Never lacking of suspense and thrilling events, His Last Duchess is a book that you will not be able to put down.

Parental guidance is suggested for teenagers under 18 years of age as there are adult contents in this book.

Rating:

Many thanks to Gabrielle Kimm for sending me a paperback copy of this book, which I won from Historical Belles and Beaus.

Gabrielle has a BA in English Language and Literature, from the University of Reading, a PGCE in English from the University of Oxford, and an MA in Creative Writing (Distinction) from the University of Chichester. She is married with two daughters (currently twelve and sixteen) and a grown-up stepson, and they share their lives with an elderly and charming Lakeland Terrier.

Gabrielle Kimm's Online Connections:
Blog :: Website

Buy His Last Duchess at Amazon

Book Review : Shanghai Girls by Lisa See

Shanghai Girls: A Novel (Paperback) ~ Lisa See

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Random House Trade Paperbacks; Reprint edition (February 2, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812980530
• ISBN-13: 978-0812980530

For readers of the phenomenal bestsellers Snow Flower and the Secret Fan and Peony in Love--a stunning new novel from Lisa See about two sisters who leave Shanghai to find new lives in 1930s Los Angeles.

May and Pearl, two sisters living in Shanghai in the mid-1930s, are beautiful, sophisticated, and well-educated, but their family is on the verge of bankruptcy. Hoping to improve their social standing, May and Pearl’s parents arrange for their daughters to marry “Gold Mountain men” who have come from Los Angeles to find brides.

But when the sisters leave China and arrive at Angel’s Island (the Ellis Island of the West)--where they are detained, interrogated, and humiliated for months--they feel the harsh reality of leaving home. And when May discovers she’s pregnant the situation becomes even more desperate. The sisters make a pact that no one can ever know.

Pearl and May are two young, beautiful girls living in the modernized Shanghai. Everything seems to be perfect until their father tells them that he is broke and has to sell both her daughters to Gold Mountain Men (Chinese men living overseas who comes back in search for Chinese brides). They are arranged to embark for San Francisco, but Pearl throws away their tickets, insisting that she does not want to live her life with a man she does not love.

The bond between Pearl and May is special and strong. As the elder sister, Pearl has a feeling that she has the responsibility to look after May, and always does her best to keep her safe. During the Japanese invasion, Pearl and her mother suffered the humiliation of being raped repeatedly by Japanese soldiers. Pearl sacrificed herself to protect her sister from being ravished by the cruel men because she knew that the soldiers are bound to search the place and finally find them (she and May), who were not concealed safely under the wooden planks.

During their confinement at Angel Island, the 18-year-old May gives birth to a child in result of a premarital relationship with a man. For fear of being rejected by her in-laws, May pleads her sister to accept the child, named Joy, as her own. At first, Pearl intends to run away, but after many years living with the Louies, she begins to have a feeling of home and family, although Chinese are constantly discriminated by the Americans.

The characters of this story are very well drawn, especially Old Man Louie's stinginess and fatherly concerns and Pearl's determination, stubbornness, fears and weaknesses. Pearl's character can be summarized by this sentence:

"We’re told that men are strong and brave, but I think women know how to endure, accept defeat, and bear physical and mental agony much better than men."

The story has an excellent plot, which implores me to keep on reading. I really take my hat off to the truth and lies that Lisa creatively inserted into the story. They never fail to make me surprised and shocked at the same time. I have always loved Lisa's way of writing : There is a smooth flow and strong transitions, which makes me to understand and follow the story easily. Even though I love the story, I have a feeling that Shanghai Girls ended too abruptly. I didn't expect it to end so soon and was earnest to read the next chapter, but when I turn the page - there's the acknowledgments page.

Shanghai Girls explores the loving yet conflicted relationship between sisters --- how they support each other during bad times, share the happiness during good times and blame each other when something bad happens. Towards the end of the novel, each of them finally confronts each other, pouring out all their anger and hurt which they have kept in their hearts for so long.

Your sister is the one person who should stick by you and love you no matter what, but she’s also the one person who knows exactly where to drive the knife to hurt you the most.

As the adage goes, blood is thicker than water, Pearl and May eventually becomes supportive of each other again when there is a problem. Their sisterly-bond can never be destroyed. Lisa See brings us on a provocative journey along with Pearl and May, from Shanghai to Angel Island and finally to America. She has once again exhibited her gift and talent in writing through this amazing and gripping novel, Shanghai Girls.

Rating:

Pros: Excellent writing style, well drawn characters, amazing plot.
Cons: The story ends too soon. I want more!

I'd like to say THANK YOU to Lisa See for sending me a signed paperback copy of Shanghai Girls for this review!

Lisa See, author of the critically-acclaimed international bestseller, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan (2005), has always been intrigued by stories that have been lost, forgotten, or deliberately covered up, whether in the past or happening right now in the world today. Ms See is probably best known for Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, for which she traveled to a remote area of China—where she was told she was only the second foreigner ever to visit—to research the secret writing invented, used, and kept a secret by women for over a thousand years. ~ Visit Lisa See's Website HERE

Purchase Shanghai Girls in Paperback:

Amzon $10.47
Barnes and Noble $10.80
The Book Depository $21.83

The Book Depository $15.56

The Book Depository $7.11

Notes:

These are examples of calenders with "beautiful girls" as models.