Amanda

Amanda asked Lisa See:

I'm reading Lady Tan, and I'd assumed the characters were using Mandarin. The main character indicates that she uses "he" to refer to a baby in the womb and this subtlety wasn't lost on her listner. However, in spoken Mandarin there is no difference in "he" and "she"; they are both "ta." The difference is only in the written character. I'm curious: is this is an oversight/mistake? And if not, how did she say "he"?

Lisa See Such as astute question, but I think you've answered it yourself. In conversation the word would be "ta," as you point out. That's what I was thinking when I wrote that scene. However, you're right in the sense that this distinction isn't conveyed in English in the text. While I didn't explain this in this book, I know that I have in a couple of my other novels. Sometimes I don't want to slow the reader down with too much detail. Interestingly, in the novel I'm writing now, just yesterday I had a scene in which I was comparing written characters about men and women. Wife -- woman with a broom, and so on.

More Answered Questions

Megan

Megan asked Lisa See:

I love all your books! I have read them all a few times. Even the mysteries I tend to forget the details and always see something new! Looking forward to the book about the fisherwomen. While I'm waiting, can you recommend similar authors- mother daughter bonds in historical settings?

Michael L Richard

Michael L Richard asked Lisa See:

Hi Lisa, I'm moving forward slowly on the PUB journey. I thought I had a strong opportunity w/ a specific publisher. It was not a good fit. My novel Chosen's Beautiful Heart is (Asian women's fiction) which is a bit of a hurdle for a white man. Some agents have suggested adding wife as a co-author. And since she was my original editor in chief and the story is loosely based on her life in HK? Any thoughts?

Marion

Marion asked Lisa See:

We once saw you and your Mom present at the L A Book Festival at UCLA. It was delightful and is a wonderful memory! You were so darling together. Are you working on a new novel? I love reading your books, and I've read many of them. Thanks for being a writer.

All answers from Lisa See…

53,094 followers

To ask Lisa See a question, please sign up.

About Goodreads Q&A

Ask and answer questions about books!

You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.

See Featured Authors Answering Questions