Seannea

Seannea asked Lisa See:

How much do you know about Chinese dialects? If I learn one dialect such as Mandarin will I be able to understand people of other dialects. I heard various things about dialects online but it's confusing.

Lisa See I grew up in a Cantonese-speaking family, specifically the Sze Yup dialect. I studied Mandarin for four years and I got pretty good, but the minute I stopped studying it went right out of my head. I can understand a fair amount, but I can’t have much of a conversation anymore. But there are more English speakers in China than there are altogether in the United States! It’s not hard to get by in a big city. When I go to the countryside, I always hire someone who speaks that particular dialect. (Remember, there are a lot of dialects in China. In Guangdong province alone there are 1,200 dialects.) All the Mandarin or Cantonese in the world wouldn’t have helped me very much in Jiangyong County in Hunan province (where I did research for "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan"), where even today the dialect changes from village to village. I could understand some of what was said, but not everything. I hope this helps!

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Pam Wong

Pam Wong asked Lisa See:

Dear Lisa, Thank you for such thoroughly researched novels. My mother, from the Lee Family in L.A. Chinatown, was SOOO excited when "On Gold Mountain" first came out. She gifted annotated copies to her 3 adult children & 3 nieces & nephews. Did you know her courtyard neighbors were the Fong See family and her sister played with Sissy? Since then, I've read 8 more.

A Goodreads user

A Goodreads user asked Lisa See:

Hi Lisa, In exchange for a lengthy, honest review could you please mail me a copy of "China Dolls"? If you're skeptical as to what my idea of a review is feel free to visit the following link: www.comfortingreads.weebly.com/my-reviews.html. If you agree to this arrangement, please contact me at [email protected] and I'll provide you with the mailing address. Thanks, Demiere Lee

Carol

Carol asked Lisa See:

Thank you for your moving, informative, lyrical books about China, women and Chinese American experience. While reading Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane, I finally booked a trip to China in 2017, visiting highlights, a cruise on the Yangtze, and memorable day in fascinating Wuhan. On the river, I struck up a conversation with a lovely young Chinese woman who had also read Tea Girl. Unforgettable. Hope to return someday.?

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