Dreams of Joy (Shanghai Girls, #2) in Ask Lisa See!

Mar 26, 2022 Anna rated it it was amazing

I have had this book on my shelves for many years and had not read it. I loved Shanghai Girls so I don't know why this one got shoved to the bottom of the reading pile . . .

It was a powerful story. May and Pearl were the two Shanghai girls of the previous book. May gave birth to Joy, but Pearl raised the baby girl as her own. Joy knew May as her aunt and Pearl as her mother. When the truth of her birth parents is revealed to her, Joy flees Los Angeles and gets into China, which is about at the t ...more

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Jun 23, 2011 Bobby rated it liked it

I have learned much of my knowledge of Chinese History from novels. At least, novels have set an understanding that clarified. In Non-Western Civ, as a Freshman in HS, we read, The Good Earth. I gained a perspective of China's past, but remember being very confused about China's current status at that time. I remember watching films about Mao Tse Tung befuddled and ignorant. Indeed, until I read Dreams of Joy, I have felt that way about Chinese history in the 1960's and early '70's. I understand I have learned much of my knowledge of Chinese History from novels. At least, novels have set an understanding that clarified. In Non-Western Civ, as a Freshman in HS, we read, The Good Earth. I gained a perspective of China's past, but remember being very confused about China's current status at that time. I remember watching films about Mao Tse Tung befuddled and ignorant. Indeed, until I read Dreams of Joy, I have felt that way about Chinese history in the 1960's and early '70's. I understand perhaps that may have been because of distorted images of China that befuddled everyone. The historic understanding is reason enough to read, Dreams of Joy. Nonetheless, I was looking for much more.

Perhaps memories of Snowflower and the Secret Fan and Shanghai Girls especially Shanghai Girls, set me up with extremely high expectations for this novel. I would not be surprised if I gain a higher perspective from a rereading or later consideration, but to be honest, after Shanghai Girls, Dreams of Joy was a let down. The characters with whom I had gained extreme emotional attachments, with whom I ached and soared, became merely cardboard cut-outs whose actions were recorded, but little of the underlying humanity revealed. Perhaps we were to already know these characters, but all too often, they did not ring true. It seemed that the story was predestined to wrap up the happy ending where everyone comes out on top and in this way becomes predictable and flat. The depth becomes the historical aspects, now the story of people. To be honest, I missed Pearl, May, and Joy tremendously.

Dreams of Joy was definitely a wonderful read. I was tied to the page, even if only wanting to know more about the history. I found myself developing a personal sense of what Joy and Pearl may feel based on what I knew of them from Shanghai Girls, perhaps this was Lisa See's intent. On the other hand, both character's growth and change lacked depth with only surface revealed. The reader learned how characters felt because they were told. I longed for the turbulence and power in See's previous novels, when the reader experiences with the character rather than needing to be told.

I recommend Dreams of Joy to anyone. I must praise it's ability to stand up independent of it's prequel, teaching history with reverence and comprehension, and as always, it's excellent writing. On the other hand, I personally believe that this novel had a potential, which it did not achieve. ...more

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Aug 29, 2011 Lisa rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical-novel

After reading Shanghai Girls, I had been anxiously awaiting Dreams of Joy to see what happens to the three main characters May, Pearl, and Joy after the tumultous ending in the first book. I felt that from a historical perspective, the second book was even more interesting. It gave a lot more information about the events and life in China during a time when this country was closed off to Americans because of both Chinese and American propaganda during the Cold War. Lisa does this so well through ...more

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Aug 31, 2011 Janet rated it it was amazing

Shelves: historical-fiction

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I absolutely fell in love with this book and its prequel "Shanghai Girls"! The two novels must be read consecutively because they're really one continuous story of women of two generations spanning across two vastly different eras and geographies. I actually gave Dreams of Joy an extra star because Shanghai Girls was incomplete without it.

My review of Shanghai Girls focuses more on the socio-political backdrop of the novel and how Lisa See brilliantly takes the reader from 1930’s Shanghai at th I absolutely fell in love with this book and its prequel "Shanghai Girls"! The two novels must be read consecutively because they're really one continuous story of women of two generations spanning across two vastly different eras and geographies. I actually gave Dreams of Joy an extra star because Shanghai Girls was incomplete without it.

My review of Shanghai Girls focuses more on the socio-political backdrop of the novel and how Lisa See brilliantly takes the reader from 1930’s Shanghai at the height of its prosperity to humble beginnings of Chinatown in the U.S. In contrast, Dreams of Joy takes place entirely in China post WWII and the Communist takeover. This historical fiction zeros in on the Great Leap Forward, one of Mao Zedong’s various criminal policies that cost 45 million Chinese lives (2x as during Japanese occupation). Lisa’s depiction of the horrific famine in rural China that led to cannibalism within families was bone chilling. You’ve heard of similar stories before, i.e. Nothing to Envy, a collection of North Korean memoirs from the 80’s by Barbara Demick. However, Lisa was able to make these poor souls you’ve read or heard about come alive through her character Joy and her personal suffering. I think this book is about much more than the surface level emotions related to family, love and motherhood.

It’s about a nationalistic Chinese American who returns to China at the call of Mao’s communist movement to rebuild China, as many Chinese Americans did in the 50's for the love of their country - Ai Guo Zhu Yi – only to witness the most utter betrayal of the Communist ideals she believed in and the Chinese people. This is one of my favorite books although I’m still torn between loving or hating the ending. It's unrealistic to say the least, but I'm also a sucker for happy endings. I felt that it would’ve been more powerful if at least one of the characters you’ve come to love had sacrificed his or her life in order for the rest of the family to escape as that was what many families did for each other in order to get out of China before it headed straight into Cultural Revolution.

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Feb 21, 2011 Kate rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This is the sequel to Shanghai Girls. I need to find this one so I can see how it all ends, since the first one's ending left me wondering.

I liked this one even more than Shanghai Girls. This one picks up where the last one left off, with Joy learning her family truths by overhearing an argument between Pearl and May, in which she runs away.

In Dreams of Joy we learn that Joy has run away to Shanghai to find her birth father, Z.G., and to see for herself if China is really as bad as her mothers' This is the sequel to Shanghai Girls. I need to find this one so I can see how it all ends, since the first one's ending left me wondering.

I liked this one even more than Shanghai Girls. This one picks up where the last one left off, with Joy learning her family truths by overhearing an argument between Pearl and May, in which she runs away.

In Dreams of Joy we learn that Joy has run away to Shanghai to find her birth father, Z.G., and to see for herself if China is really as bad as her mothers' claim it to be. May stays behind in America to tend to the Cafe and her prop business, whereas Pearl, goes back to Shanghai to find Joy. May's voice is prevelant throughout the story through letters to both Pearl and Joy. This is a complex, intertwined story of a mother's love and a daughter's rebellion, in which both characters grow significantly, and come to understand one another better.

Joy does find Z.G. and as soon as she's introduced to him, they must leave to go to the countryside to teach art to the peasants of Green Dragon. This is Z.G.'s punishment for producing black art instead of red, but it's much better than being sent to labor re-education.

Once there, Joy falls in love with the georgeous countryside, Tao, art, and communism. However, things aren't at all what they seem, and the tide seems to shift for Joy when she gives birth to a baby girl, Samantha. Then things get even worse when the famine turns the people into famished zombies and Tao swaps Samantha with another baby girl to eat, in order to stay alive. Luckily, Joy realizes what's going on, and she's able to save Samantha from this cruel death. This part was heart-breaking because it was an actual historical event throughout China in the 1950's. Joy does everything she can to get the birgade leader on her side so that she can send pictures and hidden messages to Pearl, who literally drives to rescue her. Pearl also rescues Tao, Joy, and Ta-ming (a little boy Joy was close with, who's mother dies, and Pearl adopts).

Once safe and healthy Joy confides in Pearl and tells her everything and eventually she comes to understand that Pearl does love her and just wants her to be happy.

While all this is going on with Joy, Pearl finds her old Shanghai home. It's not the same as it once was, as there are many people living there, but she finds companionship with Dun (a professor whom she marries) and her old Cook. She also rekindles a friendship with Aunti Hu, and resolves her mixed up feelings regarding Z.G. At the end, she finds out that her father is still alive and burries the hatchet with him, as well.

Yes, this book requires you to suspend belief at times, but at the same time, it is a wonderfully written historical novel that has memorable characters, great descriptions, and historical relevance.

I'm excited to read See's next book. ...more

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Jul 31, 2011 Mary rated it it was amazing

I just finished another great book by Lisa See. Dreams of Joy picks up the story of Joy, daughter of one of the sisters we met in Shanghai Girls. Discovering her real mother launches the story and Joy heads for China to find her real Father. Mothers, daughters, sisters -- no one paints them more vividly than Lisa See; this time against the backdrop of The People's Republic of China. It is always a treat when you love the first book, and the sequel is just as strong. Our library book club read t ...more

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Mar 23, 2011 Sharon/ LFrog1386 rated it it was amazing

This book has not even been released yet so how could it get only one star??!! It will be released May 31, 2011 as a sequel to Shanghai Girls, which I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend.

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Jun 27, 2011 Ellen November rated it it was amazing

This sequel to Shanghai Girls is an engaging work that stands on its own. I was so fortunate to hear Lisa See speak yesterday at Pages Bookstore in Manhattan Beach. The shop was filled to capacity to hear the charming Ms. See tell stories from behind the scenes of her historical fiction. She is so poised and charming, telling tales of her relatives. Tales of chance meetings with elderly people who lived in China and provided inspiration for her stories, often in while she is well into the manusc ...more

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Sep 25, 2011 Elizabeth rated it really liked it

I have enjoyed all of Lisa See's books that i have read, I think this one the most! ...more

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Jun 04, 2011 Clara rated it it was amazing

Another masterpiece by my sister! No, seriously, it's a great book. xoxo ...more

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May 21, 2011 Beth Lunsford rated it it was amazing

It took me a while to get into this Lisa See book. I usually read them quickly. I read Shanghai Girls prob 2 years ago, but the book catches you up in the first chapter or two.

I knew nothing of the Great Leap Forward, a sad chapter in China's history.

Well worth reading, but not quite as good as Shanghai Girls or Snow Flower. ...more

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