After having to return this twice and wait for several weeks each time, I finished. It was really good, and I loved the relationship between Miss ZhaoAfter having to return this twice and wait for several weeks each time, I finished. It was really good, and I loved the relationship between Miss Zhao and Yunxian, as well as Meiling and Yunxian. This is what Lisa See excells at, as well as the heartbreak that comes with loosing children and them leaving home. The circle of love eventually built was great.
A beautiful and heart wrenching story of friendship, love and loss set on a unique island off the coast of Korea. Lisa See does extensive research on A beautiful and heart wrenching story of friendship, love and loss set on a unique island off the coast of Korea. Lisa See does extensive research on every aspect of her story. When the hanyeo are diving, I felt like I was there with them. Every pain Young-Sook felt I felt. The characters are all really well developed as well. I can't recommend this book enough!...more
Again, Lisa See brings to life these characters and their lives. She obviously does extensive research into anything she writes. She captures the nuanAgain, Lisa See brings to life these characters and their lives. She obviously does extensive research into anything she writes. She captures the nuances of relationships so well. As usual, there is tragedy mixed in with the triumphs, but it makes her writing so believable. The ties between mothers and daughters, sisters, and best friends are all explored here. The form of the story, being a letter to Snow Flower as it were, ties the whole thing up into a heart breaking form. I can't say enough about Lisa See's writing and how she brings everything together....more
A powerful novel, set against a harrowing time in China's history. The history and people come alive. Lisa See is such a great writer, and this does nA powerful novel, set against a harrowing time in China's history. The history and people come alive. Lisa See is such a great writer, and this does not disappoint. Make sure you have a box of tissues handy!...more
This was an interesting story based on true events. In the late 1500's in China, there was an opera written called "The Peony Pavilion". By the mid 16This was an interesting story based on true events. In the late 1500's in China, there was an opera written called "The Peony Pavilion". By the mid 1600's, when this takes place, it had become a very popular opera. In a parallel to the opera, several girls, called "The lovesick maidens", starved themselves to death in an attempt to be brought back by a true love. This story follows one of them through her short life and her death. It also incorporates the story of a commentary about the opera written by the three wives of a man. This was a very interesting book for the most part. I thought Part One dragged a bit, but it was a good snapshot of life for nobles at that time. I found all the ways the myths of the Chinese afterlife were shown to be quite well done. Overall, I would recommend it to anyone who likes historical fiction or has an interest in Chinese history, or The Peony Pavilion. ...more
Lisa See has a way of transporting you to another time. This book was more of a character study with places just there as just that- settings. They weLisa See has a way of transporting you to another time. This book was more of a character study with places just there as just that- settings. They were still well realized and described, but were much less important to the overall story than Island of Sea Women for example. I feel like I lived with these sisters and their family. Their experiences and thoughts were so well described. I highly recommend this one!...more
The characters were well developed, as I have come to expect from Lisa See. The book was also well written and nuanced. I just did not care for the chThe characters were well developed, as I have come to expect from Lisa See. The book was also well written and nuanced. I just did not care for the characters all that much. They could be rather shallow at times, and I feel like some of the hard parts of their lives were glossed over. I can understand their wanting to dust off and get back on the hose, but I felt that they were rather hollow... again, rather understandable but I did not care for it. I would still recommend this book but with the warning that it is not See's most poignant novel....more
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