Shanghai Girls: A Novel

Shanghai,1937. Another world, almost another century. The sights, the smells, the incredibly varied and intriguing cuisines and the lives of two beautiful Chinese girls intertwine and flow along in this beautifully written novel like an inexorable river. Lisa See can write and you're there in a Shanghai which will never come again, when women still tottered about on bound feet, when the wealthy had many servants and the poor had nothing. Shanghai was a little country unto itself, self-sufficient, snobby towards the rest of China which was considered backwards and primitive. The Shanghai girls are two beautiful sisters who lived remarkably uninhibited and un-chaperoned lives, posing for advertising posters, staying out most of the night with their friends. May is the younger sister, eighteen and the favorite of the girls' father. Shewas born under the sign of the Sheep. Pearl, the narrator of the novel, at twenty-one is also lovely but tall with cheekbones, born a Dragon, and not quite as much loved by her parents as her sister, because she is not quite as beautiful. The sign one is born under is very important to the Chinese, and indeed, May is as comfortable and obliging as a sheep and Pearl is a scrapper, brave and feisty, like a dragon. In 1937 the girls are carefree, cosmopolitan, secure in their father's wealth, and they are rather heedless like the American flappers of the twenties. Although the sisters seem yin and yang, their love for each other is forged in steel and this bond is very important although at times their opposite natures clash. The Sheep versus the Dragon. Waiving off tradition, the two girls revel in their youth and beauty until their father tells them he has lost their inheritance gambling and in order to pay his debts he must farm the girls out as husbands to two brothers who have traveled from Los Angeles in search of suitable Chinese brides. The girls meet their husbands briefly, Pearl's husband is Sam and he is her age, but May's husband, Vernon, is only fourteen years old and cannot consummate the marriage. Pearl sleeps with a total stranger, her husband, but hates the experience and incredibly the sheets of her marriage bed are examined by the man who arranged the marriages, as proof of the consummation and Pearl's virginity. In the meantime Japan attacks China and Pearl and May and their mother, (their father has disappeared) try to escape the bombs by sneaking into the country, sleeping in huts or on the ground, scrounging for food. They are brutalized by Japanese soldiers and Mama dies after the soldiers strip off the coverings of her bound feet and stamp on the tortured toes. The girls manage to across the Pacific in a decrepit ship and are held at the immigration office in San Francisco for weeks, where they suffer one indignity after another in this virtual prison. May secretly gives birth to a baby girl in the shower room. Since Vernon is too young to be the father, May and Pearl change places, Pearl stuffs her clothing with pillows and May hides her growing belly behind loose clothing. Pearl acts as midwife in the shower room, and the authorities are none the wiser. But from that day on baby Joy is the daughter of Pearl and her husband, Sam, will fully accept her as his child. May keeps the paternity of the real father hidden even from Pearl, but the identity of the father will be revealed at the end of the book and his identity will have a profound effect twenty years later when Pearl discovers who actually sired the beautiful girl who has always been accepted as her daughter. When the sisters are finally freed from the immigration bureau at Angel Island and travel south to meet their husbands, they become part of a cultural roller coaster ride. In China Town, LA, they are obliged to be crammed into a small flat where the two husbands and their tyrannical parents all live together. They are also trapped in another prison of sorts, a Chinese ghetto, living with husbands they hardly know, buffeted between American culture and traditional Chinese values. They try to balance the China of memories with the present, the now reality with golden memories of the past. Can one be an American but still be Chinese? "We raised our children to be Americans but what we wanted were proper Chinese sons and daughters." But in China the respect of parents and of ancestors has been replaced by worship of Chairman Mao. An FBI witch hunt for communist sympathizers infiltrates the Chinese community, and Chinese who simply want to send money to their families are branded with the mark of Cain: communists. Author See very deftly paints a vivid picture of the Chinese experience in America, her brush is filled with background color and the strokes of that brush are expertly applied. But the ending of the novel is rather a shocker and it absolutely guarantees a sequel. I am not sure the ending works, but her sensitive approach and beautiful writing style earn her five stars for this novel. Lisa See is a highly perspective writer and she will help you see inside the Chinese psyche and catch a glimpse of the Chinese heart.

I was engaged with the story and characters almost from the very first paragraph. The writing style is simple and easy to follow. The personalities of the two girls -- so similar in looks, but so different in their approaches -- create interest. Their position in life as upper middle class members of Shanghai society and as "beautiful girls" with active social lives and classy wardrobes keep the reader hooked. As the story develops and they enter into multiple troubles and tragedies, it's nearly impossible to stop turning pages to find out what happens next. The writer frequently does not give you what you expect, so there are twists that are difficult to predict. Kudos to her for that: I've read too many novels lately where I know exactly what's going to happen next. I appreciate the elements of history in this novel that had me checking the internet for facts and details: What did Angel Island look like? Who was Christine Sterling? I know there's a Chinatown in LA, but never heard of China City. What was a "beautiful girl?" I was chuckling at the descriptions of the 1940s movies depicting Chinese by taping up the eyelids of Caucasian actors and actresses. Many of the places and events described in the book are captivating, especially if you are familiar with the locations or have a general interest in this history before you read. Spoiler warning: the book ends on a cliff-hanger and you will have to get the sequel ASAP. I'm about to do that. I'm cutting it by one star because at times it can be a bit soap-opera like and "telling" -- telling one event after another. This just crops up in sections of the book, towards the end, however.

As a historian I'm normally leery of historical fiction as the authors usually don't do their homework and get so much so wrong. That is NOT the case with Lisa See who clearly has steeped herself in the era, reading over diaries, books, memoirs, and more. For me this was the starting point for See's writing and I'm rather struck by the ire and venom directed at her by other reviewers here over "Shanghai Girls" as I found it quite well crafted and a gripping drama. It is the story of two sisters, Pearl and May, who enjoy the Belle Epoque of Shanghai before the Japanese invasion only to face a humiliating reversal of fortune by their father. Facing horrifying choices the daughters have no option but arranged marriages with Chinese-Americans, but before they can leave the Japanese invasion unfolds. There's so much here that is so intense, so detailed, and which advances the narrative that I cannot give away details or become a spoiler. What is captured is so brutally honest and so evocative of the era I can scarcely explain or elaborate on it. What means the most to me is that the book touches on issues such as cultural identity, ethnicity, place, the challenges of emigration and immigration, political orientation, assimilation, and identity. What makes someone Chinese, American, Communist? What secrets will you reveal or withhold, and at what cost? Will you sell your soul and your heritage to preserve your rights to citizenship? What does citizenship mean? Reading through this I found myself wondering the negotiations and navigations my ancestors made when they immigrated to America. How did they feel as strangers in a strange land. How do you preserve what you know and love while simultaneously embracing where you are and assimilate into that culture? The final chapters "Dominos" "The Boundless Human Ocean" and "When Our Hair is White" are jammed full with shocking plot twists and a no-holds-barred confrontation between Pearl and May that had my jaw hit the floor. Indeed the ending is unresolved but the story is picked up and resolved in the sequel Dreams of Joy: A Novel which I have not yet read, but intend to shortly. Clearly that was Ms. See's intent; to create compelling relatable characters that you'll want to follow in the sequel (and sell a few more books while you're at it!). And I have to admit that conceit played out brilliantly as I have to know what happens. That's a high risk/high reward gamble as the sequel may not unfold the way you hope it will. I can certainly think of three authors who elected not to write a sequel for varying reasons where I really wish they would (Tony Groom's incomparable Bombingham the heart-wrenching Wench: A Novel (P.S.) by Dolen Perkins-Valdez which ends just before the Civil War and Emancipation, and Margaret Walker's masterful Jubilee ). In those cases you have to create your own concept of what may have happened with characters who have touched your heart and resonate with you well after you finish reading the book. "Shanghai Girls" is in a league with those three great books and it's hard to temper my expectations for Dreams of Joy: A Novel lest I be disappointed. I was so enthralled by "Shanghai Girls" that now I want to read See's other books that other reviewers have spoken of so highly.

This is not a bad read. It is a story of two sisters who were born rich but became poor and had to suffer all sorts of things to remain alive. It is depressing at times and some of the incidents made me wince. Chinese is my native tongue so when I first started reading, I was taken by surprise to see how many Chinese words were spelled and incorporated in the book. It was interesting for me and I am sure for many non-Chinese readers too. You know, I tried to pronounce those words out as they were spelled and see if they were remotely close to how they were supposed to be said and that could be a bit of fun. My feelings became negative as the book went on and I started to see some not-so-accurate translation in the book. As the story continued, even I had a hard time trying to understand what the author was trying to say and it became distracting. I always appreciate when author goes an extra mile to do something out of his or her comfort zone. I do appreciate the author of this book trying to mix things up a little bit but I truly believe there is too much Chinese language throughout the whole book and it is not necessary. Plus, if you are going to do it, you want to make sure you have a reliable and competent translator of both languages. I could not help but shake my head when the author translated the "mo tan da lau" as magical tall building.....where did "magical" come from? Well, again, it is not a bad read. It definitely gives you some knowledge of the ANCIENT Chinese culture as well as some historical facts. If you live in Los Angeles or have lived in LA, the book mentioned several street and city names after the sisters immigrated to LA and it was quite interesting.

I just finished Shanghai Girls about 5 minutes ago, so this is very fresh in my mind. The story itself was very unique, the details about that time in history is well researched, and the characters are very well developed. However, as good as this story was, it was definitely NOT unpredictable. I could see the one major "cliffhanger" in this story from a mile away, and it doesn't get to "page-turner" status until the last chapter, and then, as many of the other reviewers have already mentioned- BAM the story just ends. Just POOF. DONE. Obviously there will be a sequel and thats great and all, but I can't say this story was as memorable or haunting as Snow Flower was. If I had the sequel in my top drawer right now, i'd definitely read it, but I wont be on the edge of my seat waiting for it either. That being said, if you're going to write a story that has a lot of substance, lots of loose ends, but leaves the fate of the characters hanging in such a ridiculous balance, don't expect too many readers to be happy about it when they get to the end. My recommendation,: wait until the sequel is close to its release date to read Shanghai Girls. Its a GOOD BOOK (because Lisa See is a great author), but it wont keep you desperate for more unless you can pick up the next book and continue on. I hope that when the sequel comes out, I'll remember that I did like this book ENOUGH and I'll read it. Maybe i'll come back and read my own review....

Lisa See’s Shanghai Girls is, as always, a beautifully written and deeply moving story. She has such a gift for bringing history to life through intimate, emotional relationships, and this novel is no exception. At its core, it explores the bond between two women whose relationship is at times tumultuous, complicated, and even painful—but also filled with moments of resilience and connection. Set against the backdrop of war, immigration, and cultural upheaval, the story feels richly detailed and historically accurate. Lisa See clearly did her research, and it shows in the vivid settings and the authenticity of the characters’ experiences. You don’t just read about that time period—you feel immersed in it. What stands out most is how the relationship evolves. Despite misunderstandings and hardships, there is always an undercurrent of love, forgiveness, and ultimately, growth. It’s a reminder of how complex and enduring close relationships can be. It’s a beautiful but sad story—one that stays with you. I always enjoy reading Lisa See’s books, and Shanghai Girls is another powerful example of her storytelling.

This is an novel written using as inspiration a compilation of stories of chinese people during the war between Japan and China, Chinese immigrants to America in XX century and finally the rise of the Communist China. For a person interested in XX century chinese people history this is a must-read book. It is very interesting to know all the obstacles people in China had to endure during those troubling times. I could not put the book down for a moment, the story certainly keeps you hooked due to the many misfortunes of the characters and their drive to overcome them. On the downside, the plot is not credible at time. Sometimes the characters get out of trouble too easily or take obviously bad decisions without second thought. The characters are cartoon-like and do not allow for empathish involvement. This does not stop Shanghai Girls being an entertaining historical novel. It is actually fun seeing how the bad decisions of the characters cascade into prophesied consequences. The second book of this series, The Dreams of Joy, is also written in the same present tense style and with the same passion driven characters. And it is also highly recommended novel for those interested in a novel set in the first years of chinese communist regime.

After reading Snow flower and the secret fan (which I also enjoyed) I started reading this book and could not rest until I had finished it. Absolutely fascinating but also really tough at times. This is a story that will stay with me.

Un livre à dévorer que cette chronique tragique de la vie de deux sœurs de la petite bourgeoisie de Shanghai d'avant-guerre. L'invasion japonaise les lance sur la route et jusqu'en Amérique où elles subiront la tyrannie d'un patriarche chinois et les préjugés racistes des blancs. Jusqu'á un dénouement inattendu et tragique.

Liked the characters and story line. A good mix of interesting chapters. Recommend to anyone who has an interest in China and the culture. I had never thought much about the prejudices the Chinese were subjected to for generations in the US.

Woah, the last part of this book has left me breathless - the pace was upped fantastically and WOW I need to read the second book asap. I loved this book after the first couple of chapters and knew immediately that I'd need to read more of Lisa See's books. The character building was of top quality throughout and I really feel like I know Pearl. At times May really annoyed me, she wasn't serious enough for me, but I like that the sisters are opposites. This story wasn't about a happy ending; it was about telling the truth and about creating a realistic life for realistic characters - things would be great and then something would happen to make it not-so-great, which helped make the story seem so very, very real. I suspect there were people whose lives planned out how Pearl and May's have, and at times it honestly felt like I was reading a true story. There were so many surprises throughout and all of the characters surprised me at one time or another. This book has so many layers to it and, as I've said, it was written so well that it felt like real life... why hasn't this book been made into a TV show?! So, so much happened in this book and I'm hungry to read the sequel - I hate that I can't afford to buy it right this second and that I instead have to wait for it to be available at the library :( I want to know where the character's lives are going - although there is one particular character that won't be in the sequel and I am so sad, because I was in love with said character. I don't know what else to say other than I loved this book SO much and it's definitely going on my favourites list!

Amo Lisa See e ho letto molti dei suoi libri. Shangai Gilrs è coinvolgente e appassionante, un libro per chi ama i romanzi ambientati.