My favorite phrase from the book so far, and indeed, the only attempt at humor at all is relating to when to birth a baby: "you have pain until you feel like you need to fart a watermelon" (not a direct quote, but pretty close).
I will say that the mood lightens from "suicidally depressing" to "majorly depressing" in part 3.
I'm finding the book very well written, with a good story. I enjoy the act of reading it, and never really want to put it down. At the same time, the plot is just SO sad and downright pathetic, it hurts your heart to read it. For me, at least, it's bringing out a lot of WASP guilt.
I completely understand what you mean in your second comment. I am making quick progress in the book because I find it hard to put it down. For me, in part, the draw seems to be the wish to see their lives improve and the hope that it will happen in the next chapter, or maybe the next chapter...
I had my first nightmares from it two nights ago and haven't even read it before bed! (I read it during daylight hours with a warm kitty purring next to me- dulls the sadness and pain a bit).
I find the bond between the sisters to be extraordinary. Maybe because I've never had a sister but I cannot imagine pushing my brother in a wheelbarrow until my hands bled and certainly not Pearl's sacrifice for her sister. Do you think this type of sisterly bond transcends culture or is it really part of the way you are raised?
I can see that "Paint Season" has seriously impacted my reading schedule. My copy of Shanghai Girls came today. So finish Shirley, start Shanghai QUICKLY! And school starts next week with NEW textbooks (that I just learned about this week, so much fun.....)
I've finished Part 1 and first thoughts are Caroline and Shirley need to get their head out of the sand and stop all this nonsense over men and experience life like May and Pearl. THEN they'd have something to mope about!
Since I brought my lunch to work today I'll take the opportunity to post here while I chow down.
I usually start out with a generic "I liked/disliked this book" but for this one I'm having trouble forming a generic opinion. I liked the writing style, the descriptions of people and scenery, and feel like See was able to construct a plot that moved quickly, covered many years without taking many pages to do so. I was also able to get a constant and vibrant image in my mind's eye (one of my top criteria for books I enjoy). However, the plot and the characters were just so - depressing, and the reality of the book so guilt-inspiring that they overshadow the good aspects.
I did enjoy the first part of the book as it was set in an area - China - that is new to me, and about which I am curious due to the secrecy that our political agendas have enacted. See included a lot of great day-to-day details (the rickshaws, the wheelbarrows, watermelons, night soil, night life, etc) that interest me, and I think draw in most Western readers. The descriptions of the attacks by the Japanese were very realistic, and made me ready very fast (the rape did the same thing) to get through it quickly.
I was mortified for both girls when their father-in-law examined their sheets in the restaurant! I think it was you, M, that was telling me about a story about a family in which the blood stains from the bridal sheets were framed for generations, yes? Anyway, the story goes that one of the framed sheets was still pure white, and everyone assumes the girl wasn't a virgin, but noone stops to think that maybe the man couldn't get it up, or she refused him, or him her, etc. I was glad that Father Louie was able to see that Vern played a role in her clean sheets.
M, in response to your question about sisters, yes, I would do both things to save my sisters. I'm not sure if all families are this way; mine is very close knit, and I would fight to the death for them.
Had to post in two sections - too many words for blogger!
The time at Angel Island made me the saddest. Knowing that the interrogations were taken word for word from actual transcripts made it even worse. Some of the questions, and the attitude of the interviewer just made my blood boil. I've always been very sensitive to the plight of immigrants (so much so that I once had an hour long shouting match with a state trooper on the subject) and get very angry when "policy" makes the enforcers stop thinking of immigrants as people.
I was very surprised when May announced she was pregnant, and even more shocked at who the father was. At the same time, I can't say "poor Pearl" because she brought a lot of her bad luck onto herself. She was given a lot of opportunities that she didn't take, and her attitude (though granted, she did endure a LOT of hardship with very little emotional release or healing). While having each other to lean on through the entire story was good for them, I also think that it's very hard to escape the role that your family assigns to you if you don't have a chance to be on your own. Being so close to May all the time made it hard for Pearl to move forward with her individual growth.
Towards the end though, I could sympathize with Pearl as she had to care for Vern. I really think May should have stepped up - but, after Pearl "mothered" for so so so many years, there was noone else to fill that role for Vern except Pearl.
So yes, the ending. WTH? When Sam killed himself, I was just... dumbfounded. I NEVER saw something like that coming for his character. Ugh. And Joy. Slightly spoiled, and completely self-absorbed which I think is typical for someone of her age. And then the fight between the sisters. I was proud of May for finally standing up and telling Pearl how it was. I was wondering through the whole book if we would ever find out what happened while Pearl was unconscious. However, I'm not really sure if it was necessary to have Joy hear the entire thing. The book, for me, could have ended just fine with the sisters having it out and moving on. I think the only reason to have Joy hear was to send her packing and set up for book #2. I'll be interested to see if See writes another Pearl/May novel.
The underlying theme that I did like was that you don't have to be related to be family.
1. I am not the source of the framed bridal sheets story but find it disturbing. In addition, sometimes women don't bleed because another activity in their life already caused the break (for example- horseback riding).
2. I did expect May's pregnancy and the father. I actually thought it was rather obvious after the whole painting her naked thing. Not that there is always something going on between artists and nude subjects, but the familiarity between them seemed to indicate a previous physical intimacy.
3. I agree about not expecting Sam's reaction. I was floored. And I don't care that she is setting it up for another book- I think the ending was stupid and completely unsatisfying for the reader.
Joy, I think it is your next pick (if we keep with the latest rotation schedule)?
Okay so I just finished minutes ago. I liked the whole book EXCEPT for the last chapter. WHAT? Picking up and taking off to China? That's ridiculous.
There were a few things that bugged me. I really couldn't see how May could hide her pregnancy and especially conceal the birth. Along with that is Pearl pretending to be pregnant and giving birth. The part that got to me was how May had to leave the baby whenever it cried because her boobs would leak!
The other thing that bugged me was I fully expected someone to recognize Pearl and May from the magazine covers and that never happened.
Even though, most of the "family" was "paper", they did congeal into a very loving, caring family. And I cared for them. I was completely shocked when Sam hung himself. I was totally not ready for that AT ALL.
I did like the argument between May and Pearl towards the end of the book when they "got things out into the open", each thinking the other was the favorite. (See Angie, I AM the favorite, just so you know.)
And I wonder if Americans have such love of country? I don't think it is as internalized as the Chinese love of country portrayed in this book.
P.S. I am using Randy's laptop and it is driving me crazy so I am done now with my comments (it keeps jumping back and forth among my typing so I can't keep track of where I am and what I've said). He of course, says, he never has these problems and it works just fine. Right.
15 comments:
Wow. I'm sorry this book is so depressing. Peter Pan it is not.
***Somewhat spoiler alert***
My favorite phrase from the book so far, and indeed, the only attempt at humor at all is relating to when to birth a baby: "you have pain until you feel like you need to fart a watermelon" (not a direct quote, but pretty close).
I will say that the mood lightens from "suicidally depressing" to "majorly depressing" in part 3.
I'm finding the book very well written, with a good story. I enjoy the act of reading it, and never really want to put it down. At the same time, the plot is just SO sad and downright pathetic, it hurts your heart to read it. For me, at least, it's bringing out a lot of WASP guilt.
I completely understand what you mean in your second comment. I am making quick progress in the book because I find it hard to put it down. For me, in part, the draw seems to be the wish to see their lives improve and the hope that it will happen in the next chapter, or maybe the next chapter...
I had my first nightmares from it two nights ago and haven't even read it before bed! (I read it during daylight hours with a warm kitty purring next to me- dulls the sadness and pain a bit).
I find the bond between the sisters to be extraordinary. Maybe because I've never had a sister but I cannot imagine pushing my brother in a wheelbarrow until my hands bled and certainly not Pearl's sacrifice for her sister. Do you think this type of sisterly bond transcends culture or is it really part of the way you are raised?
I just finished it and have one comment- WHAT THE HELL?????!!!!!
I'll say more when you've both finished.
M - I finished last night as well, and totally agree with you. I think Lisa See is setting up for a second book, which I will NOT be reading.
I can see that "Paint Season" has seriously impacted my reading schedule. My copy of Shanghai Girls came today. So finish Shirley, start Shanghai QUICKLY! And school starts next week with NEW textbooks (that I just learned about this week, so much fun.....)
I've finished Part 1 and first thoughts are Caroline and Shirley need to get their head out of the sand and stop all this nonsense over men and experience life like May and Pearl. THEN they'd have something to mope about!
Since I brought my lunch to work today I'll take the opportunity to post here while I chow down.
I usually start out with a generic "I liked/disliked this book" but for this one I'm having trouble forming a generic opinion. I liked the writing style, the descriptions of people and scenery, and feel like See was able to construct a plot that moved quickly, covered many years without taking many pages to do so. I was also able to get a constant and vibrant image in my mind's eye (one of my top criteria for books I enjoy). However, the plot and the characters were just so - depressing, and the reality of the book so guilt-inspiring that they overshadow the good aspects.
I did enjoy the first part of the book as it was set in an area - China - that is new to me, and about which I am curious due to the secrecy that our political agendas have enacted. See included a lot of great day-to-day details (the rickshaws, the wheelbarrows, watermelons, night soil, night life, etc) that interest me, and I think draw in most Western readers. The descriptions of the attacks by the Japanese were very realistic, and made me ready very fast (the rape did the same thing) to get through it quickly.
I was mortified for both girls when their father-in-law examined their sheets in the restaurant! I think it was you, M, that was telling me about a story about a family in which the blood stains from the bridal sheets were framed for generations, yes? Anyway, the story goes that one of the framed sheets was still pure white, and everyone assumes the girl wasn't a virgin, but noone stops to think that maybe the man couldn't get it up, or she refused him, or him her, etc. I was glad that Father Louie was able to see that Vern played a role in her clean sheets.
M, in response to your question about sisters, yes, I would do both things to save my sisters. I'm not sure if all families are this way; mine is very close knit, and I would fight to the death for them.
Had to post in two sections - too many words for blogger!
The time at Angel Island made me the saddest. Knowing that the interrogations were taken word for word from actual transcripts made it even worse. Some of the questions, and the attitude of the interviewer just made my blood boil. I've always been very sensitive to the plight of immigrants (so much so that I once had an hour long shouting match with a state trooper on the subject) and get very angry when "policy" makes the enforcers stop thinking of immigrants as people.
I was very surprised when May announced she was pregnant, and even more shocked at who the father was. At the same time, I can't say "poor Pearl" because she brought a lot of her bad luck onto herself. She was given a lot of opportunities that she didn't take, and her attitude (though granted, she did endure a LOT of hardship with very little emotional release or healing). While having each other to lean on through the entire story was good for them, I also think that it's very hard to escape the role that your family assigns to you if you don't have a chance to be on your own. Being so close to May all the time made it hard for Pearl to move forward with her individual growth.
Towards the end though, I could sympathize with Pearl as she had to care for Vern. I really think May should have stepped up - but, after Pearl "mothered" for so so so many years, there was noone else to fill that role for Vern except Pearl.
So yes, the ending. WTH? When Sam killed himself, I was just... dumbfounded. I NEVER saw something like that coming for his character. Ugh. And Joy. Slightly spoiled, and completely self-absorbed which I think is typical for someone of her age. And then the fight between the sisters. I was proud of May for finally standing up and telling Pearl how it was. I was wondering through the whole book if we would ever find out what happened while Pearl was unconscious. However, I'm not really sure if it was necessary to have Joy hear the entire thing. The book, for me, could have ended just fine with the sisters having it out and moving on. I think the only reason to have Joy hear was to send her packing and set up for book #2. I'll be interested to see if See writes another Pearl/May novel.
The underlying theme that I did like was that you don't have to be related to be family.
Just a few comments in response to Angie.
1. I am not the source of the framed bridal sheets story but find it disturbing. In addition, sometimes women don't bleed because another activity in their life already caused the break (for example- horseback riding).
2. I did expect May's pregnancy and the father. I actually thought it was rather obvious after the whole painting her naked thing. Not that there is always something going on between artists and nude subjects, but the familiarity between them seemed to indicate a previous physical intimacy.
3. I agree about not expecting Sam's reaction. I was floored. And I don't care that she is setting it up for another book- I think the ending was stupid and completely unsatisfying for the reader.
Joy, I think it is your next pick (if we keep with the latest rotation schedule)?
Okay so I just finished minutes ago. I liked the whole book EXCEPT for the last chapter. WHAT? Picking up and taking off to China? That's ridiculous.
There were a few things that bugged me. I really couldn't see how May could hide her pregnancy and especially conceal the birth. Along with that is Pearl pretending to be pregnant and giving birth. The part that got to me was how May had to leave the baby whenever it cried because her boobs would leak!
The other thing that bugged me was I fully expected someone to recognize Pearl and May from the magazine covers and that never happened.
Even though, most of the "family" was "paper", they did congeal into a very loving, caring family. And I cared for them. I was completely shocked when Sam hung himself. I was totally not ready for that AT ALL.
I did like the argument between May and Pearl towards the end of the book when they "got things out into the open", each thinking the other was the favorite. (See Angie, I AM the favorite, just so you know.)
And I wonder if Americans have such love of country? I don't think it is as internalized as the Chinese love of country portrayed in this book.
P.S.
I am using Randy's laptop and it is driving me crazy so I am done now with my comments (it keeps jumping back and forth among my typing so I can't keep track of where I am and what I've said). He of course, says, he never has these problems and it works just fine. Right.
M, I jumped the gun last time so you pick the next one (as long as it is not a Bronte or ANYTHING in that genre!)
Joy, just because you're the oldest doesn't mean you're the #1 daughter....
Melissa, you'd better tell her to stop it or there's going to be a fight!
I'm the only daughter, which makes me naturally not only the favorite but the most specialist. :-) You two can fight it out for your mother's love...
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