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Shanghai Girls (Shanghai Girls, #1)

Lisa See

Discussion: September/October 2009

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September/October 2009

Commencement - J. Courtney Sullivan
By Stephanie · 3 posts · 19 views

last updated Aug 10, 2011 01:35PM

Shanghai Girls - by Lisa See
By LynnB · 7 posts · 16 views

last updated Dec 28, 2010 07:59AM

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What Members Thought

Mar 06, 2009 The Sassy Bookworm rated it really liked it

I really enjoyed this one, not quite as much as Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, but it was still a really good read. One thing I love about books by this author is her beautifully descriptive writing, it just pulls you into the story, makes you part of it, makes you care and how she can weave facts with fiction into such a compelling story. The only negative thing I will say about it was the ending, wasn't of fan of the ending. LOL Definitely another great book from this author who is fastly bec ...more

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Jul 30, 2009 Bookmarks Magazine rated it liked it

Shelves: sept-oct-2009

"Like Lisa See's previous works, Shanghai Girls is a rich, historical novel that portrays the immigrant experience and the bonds of sisterhood. In deft, graceful prose, See depicts the challenges and hardships -- many unimaginable -- that the Chin sisters face. However, despite the realistic detail and excellent research, particularly in the portrayals of Angel Island and the poverty-ridden China City, some critics thought that the descriptions about the women's divergent lives in Los Angeles sl ...more

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Jul 05, 2009 Aylin rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: _reviewed, fiction, fiction-historical, bookmarks-mag, by-of-in-china

Review for the audiobook.

I had a very hard time deciding between 3 or 4 stars for the audio version. I think if I would have read the paper edition I would have given it another star.

I thought the reader was a bit monotonous at times. Some of the more lengthy narratives tended to drag on and struck me as rambling overviews of events- mostly later in the book. I'm not sure if I would have had the same impression or not with the book version. I suspect the ending would still have seemed a bit like ...more

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Aug 19, 2009 Suzanne Moore rated it really liked it

Shelves: east-texas-library-friends, winter-challenge-picks, ashe-fall-challenge

I learned a lot with this novel... facts on Angel Island, Japan's invasion in China, and Chinese culture. Lisa See's descriptions are very detailed. Many of the details are graphic, bringing all the senses to life.

The two sisters, Pearl & May, are always close, even though there are deep-seated jealousies. They are forced to flee their homeland when war breaks out. From there the journey to America isn’t an easy trip. I think the fact that they had no other living relatives brought them even cl ...more

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Aug 17, 2009 Sera rated it really liked it

Shelves: own, literary-fiction

What went from being my favorite See book to date, unfortunately fizzled out as a result of the unsatisfying ending. Oh, Lisa, you let me down on this one, but don't get me wrong, until the ending, I found this book to be a fantastic read. ...more

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Mar 14, 2010 Lisa Hickman rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction, nook-book

Shanghai Girls kept me turning the pages. The story of sisters, Pearl and May, was compelling; but sometimes a little predictable. I enjoyed learning about the history of Shanghai, Chinese assimilation into the US, Angel Island and paper sons. It's one of the things I like about Lisa See. She is highly entertaining, while at the same time imparting lessons in Chinese culture and history. The ending left me wanting, but I hope that means a follow-up book is in order. Another hit by See! ...more

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