Shanghai Girls starts out well and I found myself genuinely interested in the lives of the two main characters. I did not find the novel particularly well written and found many of the characters to be one-dimensional. Lisa See appears to have done a lot of research and attempted to give an accurate description of what life was life for Chinese families in Los Angeles but she has written one of the most depressing novels I have ever read. So many terrible things happen to Pearl and May that the story turns into a bad soap opera. I kept on reading hoping for something remotely joyful to happen but was disappointed at every turn. I would not recommend this book to anyone, it was depressing and made no real attempts to develop any of the secondary characters.

This book kept me up all night, turning pages to find out what happened next. I strongly identified with Pearl and May, as my own fore-bearers came through Angel Island (they stayed here by a fluke, as they were on their way to being deported when an act of God intervened).
From what they've told me, this novel is very true to the immigrant experience, and Lisa See has captured it compellingly.
It's clear from the ending that Pearl, May and Joy still have many trials ahead of them. Please, Ms. See: tell us more!

I don't know a whole lot about Asian culture, but I had a hard time not getting sucked into this book. The characters are so easy to connect to and even when I wasn't reading, I found myself wondering what was going to happen to Pearl and May.

A LOT happens in "Shanghai Girls" and at some points you might feel like the book has gone on too long. After I was about 1/4 way through, I felt almost tired wondering what else could go wrong for these poor girls. But I also felt really curious and invested in their story and at no point did I get the desire to close the book and give up.

Even when I finished the book, I found myself still thinking about Pearl and May. Lisa See is an incredibly engaging writer and does an excellent job at describing sister and family relationships.

I just finished this yesterday. It's a good story about two Shanghainese girls's life from pre-War Shanghai to 50s and their life in first generation Chinese American society. There are three particular scenes that I would highly recommend people to read. The first is the strong contrast of pre-War Shanghai's life vs at the beginning of war and the sisters journey out of China. It tells life and death and cruelty of the war. The second is the sisters' experience in Angel island while arriving in US and their experience in interrogations during that period. The third is around the period where Sam, the main character Pearl's husband, committed suicide at the end of the story. For those, I would recommend people to read through the whole book.

However, in general, I find the book is a bit slow paced as the author spend a lot of time laying out great detail of the story line. And also, as myself a Shanghainese origin, I found the main characters less credible and does not really ring a bell as people from my city. To cite one obvious thing, the book always mentioned Pearl describing her and May speaking Wu dialect. It's academically correct that people in Shanghai speaking a dialect belongs to Wu dialect. But absolutely no one in Shanghai, now, or several decades ago, will self describe as speaking Wu dialect. People in Shanghai always refer the language as Shanghainese or Shanghai Hua, as people living there consider Shanghai as a distinct culture and life different than people and life outside of Shanghai city boundary. Kind of how New Yorkers regard themseves in US. When people talk about Wu, it normally refer to Suzhou dialect specifically, or Wuxi dialect, two cities about 50 and 65 miles west of Shanghai.

For that, I can only give it a 3 stars rating as it does not really let me feel that the 'Shanghai Girls' are really from Shanghai.

This story had too much in it - too many plots, storylines, ideas and historical facts, and in the end, I found a story that never delivered on intriguing the reader to know more about the the characters or situations they found themselves in. Incident happens....brief description...on to the next incident/event....brief description....and so on.

As for the 2 main characters - May and Pearl - highly unlikeable and annoying. I can't find many redeeming qualities in either of them and they are meant to be incredibly close, but fail to discuss major events in their lives with each other? Another character, Joy, is written in similar vein - annoying, self centered and unlikeable.

Nothing really good happens to them in the book - so prepare yourself for continual hardship and complaints. The ending also will no doubt disappoint many (it did me). Maybe there is a sequel coming to Shanghai Girls, but I certainly would not read it, nor recommend anyone to do likewise.

Great book the author gets you on the first page... everyone I have recommended it to said they did not want the story to end....hope there will be a sequel..

"There is no simple way to comment upon this extraordinary tale. It is part `Tess of the D'urbervilles' and part `Memoir of a Geisha'. I initially wondered why I was spending my time engaged in the story when every episode of change in the days of Pearl and May was fraught with one egregious act after the next bit of injustice. And the men! There were no men to stand up for them. Their lives were a wretched horror.

But then I noticed something to give me hope and continue on. These two, though very different in appearance and temperament and outlook were sisters in the purest sense. They fought for each other; they fought against each other. They argued. They cried. They rejoiced. They shared life. And despite the reality that life can often be harsh and unfair, they never let it alter who they were - true Shaghhai Girls. This is a wonderful story of triumph."

For those eagerly awaiting the sequel to "Shanghai Girls", I suggest "Lotus Land" and "110 Shanghai Road", which were co-authored by Lisa See, her mother, Carolyn, and John Espey under the pen name, Monica Highland, in 1985 and 1987, respectively.

Lisa is spell-binding even at this early stage of her literary career. There are brief portions of both books where you will find yourself saying, "That's not Lisa", however, the remaining 95+ percent of these books reveal that captivating style that she seems to have been blessed with from birth.

You'll have to try Alibris or eBay to find them but you won't be disappointed. It may help satisfy that craving for more Lisa See, as it has done for us. But when will the "Shanghai Girls" sequel be published? You're driving us crazy, Lisa!

The first Lisa See book I read was last July, when I picked up "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan: A Novel" at Borders (see my review on that page, if you'd like to know how my experience with the novel went). I decided to give See a second chance and purchased this yesterday. I was thinking, footbinding was more depressing and a darker topic than immigration from an Asian country to a Western one.

I really wanted to like this book, but as you can see from my review... I didn't enjoy it all that much. The novel is loaded with cliches. Any person who has spent time in Asia or a less fortunate foreign country would probably experience some of these events, or hear of them through word of mouth.

We start off the book with a rich man who moved his wife and two young female children from Guangdong (or Canton, as is the Western spelling and what See refers to the province in this book) to the largest city in China, Shanghai. He has racked up six handymen to help around the house, including but not limited to: a cook, gardener, and servants.

Unfortunately, the reader's fascination and awe with this rich family in China falls short, and fast. In a surprise announcement, their father breaks the news that, because he foolishly gambled away the family fortune, he has set up arranged marriages for his two daughters, who have already made it through the pains of childhood and being a teenager in the first few pages of the story. They are of legal ages, respectively: May is eighteen and Pearl twenty-one.

Several awkward entourages with the Chinese American men follow. Their mother passes away, and the girls never again come into contact with their father or other family members. May does not lose her virginity to the man her father told her to marry, nor do they ever manage to have a strong bond, but somehow becomes pregnant through casual sex with somebody else. On the other hand, Pearl is infertile. Throughout all this, the four have arrived at Angel's Island, a cramped, dirty immigration camp in San Francisco. When her sister becomes pregnant, Pearl lies to everybody else and claims that she has become pregnant with her first child. She and her husband raise the daughter as their own, even after the four move to Los Angeles.

Many more tragic, long events follow. At many times throughout the book, I could not remember how the sequence of events followed. It was difficult for me to keep up with all the new incidents and ideas (most of them tragic) that Lisa See kept pushing towards the reader. I found most of these, along with the dialogue, to be bland and unbelievable. When I finally had pieced out that one thing in the story had happened, another completely new event or concept would come along to wipe it out. I often wanted to just put the book down and go to sleep. Needless to say, I could not relate to the characters in any way.

Lisa See's books are often aimed at an Asian immigrant audience, or children of those people. I hate to say this, but many other writers, such as Amy Tan, can and have done a lot better than her. She often tries to incorporate self-researched tidbits of East Asian history and shove it into her novels. It would be fine if she could manage it, but as a couple other reviewers have noted, her novels often come published appearing as a history major's university notes: good details and hints, but not satisfying for some to have as pleasure reading material.

Overall, it just really depends on what you're looking for. Her historical facts this time around were well-chosen and structured for such a book, the plot was actually organized and made sense (even though I felt it was cliche), compared to her other books. I won't be reading another book put forth by See again, but it seems she did sprinkle a little effort into this latest one. Two stars.

Oh, and I don't know why, but as I write this, the book is insanely overpriced. It was released in late May of this year and I still paid $27.44 USD for it at Borders. I returned it the next day, after staying up all night to finish it. Paperback doesn't come out until next February, nearly an entire year after the original hardcover did.

Lisa See is a master at building characters with depth and emotion. Her understanding of the Chinese history and culture is helpful to a person who has a limited understanding of this period in history; Immigration from Shanghai in the 1937-1967 period. She offers insight into the character's mind without offering her personal bias. Unlikely heroes appear and the plots thickens like a good roux, slowly with patience. Picking up See's books opens doors to exploration into a period that is relevant to this reader as her characters are able to persevere through horrific events and still come out with a lesson to teach. She is a must read for me and I highly recommend this book as a Christmas gift for the reader in your life.Shanghai Girls: A Novel

This book won't change your life, but it's a very entertaining read. Lisa See definitely knows how to spin a tale -- she doesn't bog things down with too many descriptions, or details, or author-indulgent dialogue. Instead, she paints a vivid picture of each scene and then moves the story along at a good pace. Even though I can barely finish a novel these days without skimming ahead to find out if there's a reason to keep reading (adult ADD maybe?), I never felt the urge to do that with Shanghai Girls. See's style kept me interested and engaged throughout.

I will try to review this without ruiining the plot, as I do not enjoy spoilers. My wife really wanted to read this. I wasn't sure that I did. Well, let me tell you that the story is simply lovely, the writing lyrical and joyful, and the story all too wonderful, even if so painful. I am certain that I am not spilling any secrets when I let you know wthat you will shed more than a tear while reading this, but the ending is so satisfying that I felt that it was worth it. When we were done, we couldn't wait to recommend this to friends and have them read it as well. If you are into amazing tales that ring true, full of friendship and pain, beautifully written, then you can do far worse than enjoy Shanghai Girls.

I really enjoyed this book and the character build. I didn't know what to expect when I bought it and was really surprised. I was a little disappointed in the ending, hence the four star and not five. I guess it was left open for an sequel.

If one picks up Shanghai Girls thinking they are going to get a valuable lesson on Chinese immigrant life, they're going to get shortchanged. The Chinese elements in Shanghai Girls are just window dressing for a good old fashioned soap opera, complete with a cliff-hanger ending. In order to generate emotion out of the story, See puts her characters through the wringer; subjecting them to just about every misfortune a human can endure. But, thanks to a sharp narrative style, See portrays the trials and tribulations of the book's heroines in an efficient and entertaining manner. In the end, the reader is left with a well-made soap opera that's not as informative as the book's marketing might suggest. So, if one is looking for a more serious look at the struggles of Chinese immigrants, they should reader authors like Maxine Hong Kingston or Amy Tan. But, if one wants a light course of Chinese culture and a heavy course of ham-fisted story, then Shanghai Girls is a perfect choice.

This book tells the story of two sophisticated Chinese sisters, May and Pearl, who are living in Shanghai in the mid-1930s. Suddenly their family is on the verge of bankruptcy and their parents arrange for them to marry two brothers who live in Los Angeles, California. Meanwhile, Shanghai is invaded by the Japanese. and both the sisters and their mother encounter the war's brutality before making their way to America. They are first detained, interrogated and humiliated for months in Angel Island, which is the detention center for Chinese immigrants. After that, the sisters have to endure their father-in-law's tyranny. But through it all, the sisters remain devoted to each other.
This novel is very deep, historical and captivating. I can highly recommend it.

Joyce Akesson, author of Love's Thrilling Dimensions and The Invitation

I was very disappointed in this book. While the subject and events held a lot of promise, the author failed miserably at developing the characters in the novel. There was no opportunity to get emotionally involved with the story when the book just moved from one event to the next. The ending isn't much of a "cliffhanger" when really, the reader can't possibly care.

"Shanghai Girls" opens with the Pearl and May, sisters who are living the high life in 1930s Shanghai, then known as the "Paris of Asia". They worked as "beautiful girls", whose portraits are used for commercial advertisements. Everything changes when their father arranges their marriages to strangers, Chinese men from Los Angeles. It turns out that their owed a great deal of money because of his gambling and practically sold his daughters.

Being progressive-thinking women, they rebelled against the marriage but after finding out that their father's life was in danger, acquiesced. But they delayed their going to America until it was too late. The Japanese had invaded China and they only way out was to trek out of Shanghai on foot. Along the way, they experience brutal things but somehow managed to get on a boat to San Francisco.

Their troubles did not end there because upon entering Angel Island, they were detained and lived in deplorable conditions. It was obvious that America did not want Chinese immigrants and made it as difficult as possible. They endure further hardship and during this time, the sisters make a pact that will change their lives.

It is a story that is steeped in Chinese tradition and parts of history that are distasteful but true. Very beautifully written and authentic, it mirrors the life of Chinese immigrants and the discrimination they faced. I believe this is a book that Chinese descendants should read to gain a better appreciation of how they came to be here. It is full of culture and tradition and anybody interested in the Chinese way of life would appreciate this tale of tragedy and endurance.

I'm enjoying this book like I enjoy all See's books, but who is the woman on the back of the book? It says Patricia Williams and I can't find anything about this book that would entitle her to have her picture there. Big mistake by the publisher? Also can't find her listed as an author anywhere. Any body have any ideas?

"There is no catastrophe except death; one cannot be poorer than a beggar."
This book started out a bit slow, then once I was lulled into the girls pre-war lives it hit full force.

"I hear whistling and then feel a sickening lurch accompanied by a shattering explosion as the first bomb lands in front of the Cathay Hotel. My eyes go white, my eadrums go silent, and my lungs stop working, as if the explosion has punched out my body's knowledge of how to operate...It's said that the worst part of the bombing experience is the seconds of total paralysis and silence that immediately follow the intial concussion. It's as though - and I think this is an expression used in every culture - time stands still"

Parts of this book were truly riveting. It is the story of two sisters who have grown up with a privileged life in Shanghai. When they are young adults their world is forever changed by their father losing his fortune and the Japanese invading Shanghai. It's a story about sibling love and rivalry. bravery and sacrifice. About the effects parents have on their child's life long after they are adults. It gives great insight into the experience of Chinese immigrants, particularly women, into California.

Shanghai Girls was the first book I read on my Kindle. I loved the ability to "highlight" and make notes as I read. After waiting a few days, when I went back and reread the marked passages, I was even more touched by the beauty of See's writing. This is a great book for my friends who enjoy historical or ethnic fiction and women's issues novels.

This is the first novel I have read by Lisa See so I can't offer any comparison on this versus her other novels. What I can tell you is that this book takes you on a journey that is beautifully told of the time in China and in the US during the Japanese invasion of Shanghai.

Pearl & May are sisters who deal with many of the insecurities and rivalry that most sisters endure. Pearl is studious and responsible while May is beautiful and has the ability to get her way in any type of situa...more This is the first novel I have read by Lisa See so I can't offer any comparison on this versus her other novels. What I can tell you is that this book takes you on a journey that is beautifully told of the time in China and in the US during the Japanese invasion of Shanghai.

Pearl & May are sisters who deal with many of the insecurities and rivalry that most sisters endure. Pearl is studious and responsible while May is beautiful and has the ability to get her way in any type of situation. Both girls are living a life of privilege and are unaware of the poor and less fortunate. The girls enjoy the good life and are able to afford their lifestyle thanks to modeling for advertisements that help afford them what their family needs.

This all takes a turn when they discover that their father is in deep debt. In order to pay off his debts, he arranges for a marriage and marries off the girls to a set of brothers residing in the United States. They are expected to make the journey to the US and fulfill their father's debts.

Getting to the United States proves to be more challenging than either sister bargained for as the invasion of Shanghai happens at the same time they are to be heading on the boat.

To say that this journey to the United States is epic, would be a small understatement. The girls endure incredible tragedy, untold brutality, and a journey that they never dreamed they would ever endure.

The story, above all else, is about sisters. Sisters that love each other in spite of it all...and sisters that would do anything for one another.

The ending could have been brought together better, but that was the only thing missing for me. I felt as though I had been on the journey with these sisters and the ending left me wondering if a sequel could follow

Very much in the tradition of Amy Tan's books about the ways that mothers and daughters relate, this novel tells the story of Pearl and May, two lovely upper middle class girls in 1930s Shanghai. This is all about how we relate to each other: not just how we relate to our siblings, but how we relate to our parents, our children, and our nations - both by birth and by adoption. This book deals with mature subjects (rape, war), but I think most people who like Amy Tan's books would like this one, too.

Having thoroughly enjoyed Lisa See's "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" and "Peony in Love" I was not disappointed in "Shanghai Girls". We all leave home, but usually not as desperately or drastically as May and Pearl. After an affleunt spoiled upbringing, including being "beautiful girls", the family suffers a devastasting spiral into poverty and hopelessness. Pearl and May see a completely different side of their family and friends including their beloved city Shanghai. They come to America with hopes of a better life and very little else, enduring a long, tortuous isolation during processing having to rely completely on one another. Although life becomes better in America, it is not the perfect. Not every story has a fairytale ending with everything tied up in bows including May and Pearl's. Was the book depressing? No, but it was eye-opening to what May and Pearl have to endure to come to this country. Others have complained about the way book ended and hope Ms. See writes a sequel. I don't think Shanghai Girls needs it. The book stands squarely on its own merits. I have been joined in this sentiment by several friends the book has been loaned to and they all raved about it too. I highly recommend Lisa See's previous two novels: Snow Flower and the Secret Fan: A Novel] and [ASIN:0812975227 Peony in Love: A Novel. I have gifted each book several times. Their look into Chinese history combined with spirtual beliefs and how it impacts a Chinese women's daily life is fascinating.

While there are scenes that were vivid in their horror, most of the book is incredibly bland and depressing. The two sister are not particularly sympathetic characters and I soon lost interest in what happened to them.

This book makes A Day in the of Ivan Denisovich a Disneyland adventure. The author never lets up.

For me, this book came off as a bland retelling of what was in On Gold Mountain. I finished reading it with the feeling that See took all the work she'd done for OGM and just reused bits and pieces to chuck out another book. Maybe she was just trying to tell it from a different perspective, I don't know, but it didn't work for me. If I hadn't read OGM first, I probably would have liked this book much more. Parts of it were great, but as a whole I was very disappointed.

I've just read many of the other reader reviews. And frankly, I'm flabergasted any reader can give this novel fewer than five stars! For I consider it Lisa Lee's best novel yet -- some of her others, while great reads, do not achieve the literary excellence of this one. The characterizations, descriptions, voice, and plotlines are all perfect for conveying this tragic, yet hopeful historical story. I know most readers don't have my background (I was born in China in 1942 to missionary parents, and lived there or in Taiwan until I was nearly 30), so perhaps that's why some miss the story's eloquent power. I was also impressed by the spiritual aspects of the novel, and was grateful for the realistic difference that faith in One-God made in Pearl's life. What's so sad to note is that fifty years later, around the world innocent women and children are still struggling victims of horrendous wars.

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.

From the first page to the last page it was extremely depressing. The ending was a huge disappointment also! Lisa See left the ending wide open!! Why? For a sequel that I won't be reading? I suppose so. I loved Lisa See's Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, but Shanghai Girls pales in comparison. It was just too much misery and heartache for me.

Lisa See's most recent book pales in comparison to Snowflower and the Secret Fan. The first half developed the two sisters' personalities and followed a storyline which was fairly weak. The second half was a more interesting read with the events and details of their stay on Angel Island. This was certainly not a proud moment for our history. The ending appears to be put into the book to accomodate a sequel.

It's a great read and it was imposible to put down. It`s a well written book. This novel is plotted well and moves quickly. I closed the book slowly, running my hands all over it, before I held it tightly to my heart for a few moments.

If you like variety you must check these out:
The Mysterious Affair at Styles
The Secret Adversary: A Tommy and Tuppence Mystery!

If you like a book with full character development that introduces you into a different life in a different time, I recommend Shanghai Girls. While not quite as "meaty" as Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, I enjoyed hearing of the challanges faced by these early Asian immigrants to the US.

The book was great until the last chapter. It was like she just decided to end the story but it didn't have an ending. I was terribly disappointed. If there is a sequel to this book - we should get if for free!

Pearl and May are sisters born in Shanghai, where they have jobs as models and are not rich, but make more than most. They soon learn that their dad has gambled away all of their money and has sold his daughters to the family he owes money to. They are to be married to the sons. Pearl is the oldest sister, with the most sense. May is the youngest sister, who is very spoiled. They have to move to California and leave their parents to live with their husbands and new families. It's about their plan to escape Shanghai to be on their own before they are to be married, how they encounter Japanese soldiers invading their country, how once they finally make it to America, they are held in containment for months.
This story is about the sisters and everything they go through from this point to about the next 20 years. It's about how they fight and are jealous of each other, and also how they show their sisterly love since all they really have are each other. There is a sequel coming out which is given away by a huge shock at the end. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because the cliffhanger, along with other details in between, seem a little over the top.

If you've never read any of Lisa See's books, I highly recommend them. I've read Snow Flower & the Secret Fan and also Peony in Love. So far, I've yet to be disappointed by this author :)

I can't understand any of these bad reviews. I reserve 5-stars for something exceptional, and in my opinion this definitely was. It was so many things... a novel of sisterhood, of loyalty, struggle, conscience, and survival... one does not easily forget this novel. Author Lisa See is amazing. Not only does she research well for each novel, but has the quality of reeling us in and bonding us to her characters so we can feel what they are going through. Yes, most of it was sad, it was hard times for many, but it gave us a realistic look at what Chinese immigration was like for the many who suffered through it. It was an enlightening look at life through another's eyes and teaches us that all men are the same in their hearts, regardless of their heritage... we all want the same for ourselves and our children, to live free and enjoy life without oppression or discrimination... wondering, will it ever truly happen?

Personally, I found the Chinese culture interesting, their beliefs in the zodiac signs, how it seems to play out in the personalities of the characters, their superstitions, respect for family elders, all of it. The love/hate relationship between the two sisters was presented very well exposing the strengths and weaknesses of each of them, showing us once again the strength of women and their loyalties.

A major portion of this takes place in Los Angeles. A native myself, I found the writing relatable and could feel myself right there in Chinatown and Olvera Street, even smell the food cooking. Much of this novel is actual history and real places, which I really enjoyed the refresher course on, and the fictional part is entirely believable - this is one I will remember for years to come. I do hope there is a sequel as it leaves itself open to one.

I tend not to write a review unless I feel passionately (positively or negatively) about a book. Unfortunately in this case I feel passionately negatively. Wow, what a bummer I found this book to be!

After reading a review for this book I thought I would give it a try. Having not read any of See's earlier work, I did not have clear expectations. I like reading books about different cultures, and thought this would have an interesting historical perspective.

The book centers around two sisters and two families - their family prior to marriage and their family after marriage. It takes you through decades of these young women's life but you don't walk away with a character to embrace. Instead, you walk away from families in all kinds of strife (similar to real life) but family members who seem disoriented from one another. I kept waiting for the pot at the end of the rainbow - the place in the book where fortune and happiness befalls the family and it never happens. In fact, I found the ending to the book a huge disappointment.

My overall recommendation is to avoid this book. And if you're looking for a "pick me up" run like your hair is on fire!!

If your a "Fan" of Snowflower, go ahead and forge ahead with Shanghai Girls. Maybe 1 star less than Snowflower, but fear not, it's not another Peony disaster. Characters are well developed and enough historical fiction to keep it engaging.

Loved, loved, loved this breathtaking story about two beautiful sisters in China and their transition to the United States in the early-to-mid part of last century. A very well-researched and documented depiction of immigration and the never-ending ties that bind us to our homelands. While my own grandparents were immigrants from Greece I could detect many similarities in the way May and Pearl were treated while trying to make new homes in Los Angeles. Both faced ridicule and humiliation along with acceptance and self-resistance, eventually leading to tolerance and even happiness.

The author has painted a very accurate and moving depiction of these two girl's tumultuous and tragic lives. I also read SNOW FLOWER AND THE SECRET FAN by the same author and loved it equally. This novel was more relatable as I lived in Los Angeles for many years and I could identify with and recall the locations named within. SHANGHAI GIRLS opened my eyes to the prejudices that not just the Chinese immigrants but all "foreign" races faced in the early years, and in many cases continue to face into present times. I highly recommend this engrossing tale of heroism and family ties. Easily one of my favorites of 2009.

I am a huge fan of Lisa See's novels and anxiously awaited the release of this book. I was very disappointed in it, however. While it was well-researched and gives the reader an opportunity to learn of the experience of being a Chinese immigrant to the US in the 30s, the actual story line drones on and on with one wrenching scene after another. Somehow, it all begins to feel a bit repetitious. I read the book through ~ hoping it would get better ~ but I was actually relieved when I finished this book. If you are a Lisa See fan, too, then you should probably read this book. However, if you haven't yet read one of her books, then you should probably start somewhere else. I'll look forward to the next one in hopes that she returns to her former excellence.

I thoroughly enjoyed Lisa See's Snow Flower and the Secret Fan: A Novel and Peony in Love: A Novel and respect the talent and effort that goes into this kind of work. See now demonstrates a grasp of the people, times, and especially, the role of women in not just two complex periods of Chinese history, but three.

With this, her latest book, I was blown away. This is a page turner with a lot of substance within the high interest action.

While I don't know how realistic the Shanghai story could be, it seemed very real and fit within what I know of the time. The writing in the Angel Island story made the incredible events believable. The next part, for which I have more knowledge, seemed utterly real.

While a few reviews here have panned the ending, I think it was as good as it was seamless. Finally, you have the voice of May. What she says is fully forshadowed in the narrative. Joy digests the hopes and dreams of her family in a way they never would expect. In the ending See digests the 20th century Chinese diaspora in all its complexity. I could be more specific here, but it would reveal the story.

There is so much food for thought here. The Shanghai sisters face trauma unknown to most readers of this book. They cope in ways that complement and use one another. Their shared secrets, trauma and heroism is unknown to passers on the street, their husbands, "their" daughter and the world around them.

This was a very interesting read; even though I was a young girl when the girls were in China, I had no idea how miserable someonelse's life could be. All in all, I am blessed to have been born here and not a "paper daughter".

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....

Chinese sisters Pearl and May grow up in early 20th century Shanghai amid American influences. They are "beautiful girls", posing for pin-up calendars that promote a variety of innocuous products. Like young women, or "girls", in all industrialized nations they shop for clothes, for shoes, for make-up, for men... they live a frivolous life far removed from the traditional Chinese upbringing of their parents. But this is pre-World War II China so the reader knows, as a student of history and via excellent foreshadowing by See, hard times are on the way. When those hard times arrive, with gut-wrenching brute force, these "beautiful" girls become survivors and embark on a reluctant journey that leads them to new lives in the United States.

Author Lisa See does an excellent job of demonstrating the difficult love-hate dynamic between sisters. Pearl and May are best friends; they are also arch rivals. They both believe their parents are hopelessly old-fashioned, yet they vie for attention. They flee China together, each trying to protect the other from harm, yet in America they each believe the other has a better life. See captures the duality of the relationship between sisters and uses that relationship to create a solid foundation for a satisfying novel that is as entertaining as it is emotional.

I am a dialogue-oriented reader. Content that contains a lot of exposition quickly loses my attention and interest. However, See has created the descriptive, narrative voice of Pearl so convincingly that it's like reading a letter from a good friend. And like a letter from a good friend, you keep reading because you care what happens to these women and the people who occupy their world.

This is the third book I've read that See has written. It's safe to say, as long as she continues to write like this, I'll keep reading her novels and enjoying the characters who occupy the worlds within.

This was a thoroughly engrossing read. The historical matter mixed with the fictional lives of these two sisters was great.

They had to survive challenges: fleeing China, getting in to America, just living through the years. But, they were lucky to have each other to depend on. Of course, they had their squabbles and differences, but they always came out loving each other and on their feet.

I loved all of the research that went into this novel. The facts about China, Angel Island, Hollywood, and Chinatown itself were amazingly told and woven into the fictional lives of May and Pearl.

I have previously read "Poeny in Love" and I enjoyed that, too. I like Miss Sea's writing style.

I am the author of Summer Born: A Life With Cerebellar Ataxia and Dreams in August: Life, Love, and Cerebellar Ataxia.

Good read. Sisters through the ages still have the same likes and dislikes. Makes one truly cherish their siblings.

I really did enjoy this Lisa See book. Better that Snow Flower and the Secret Fan and that was a very enjoyable book. I can see what her next story will be and I am eagerly waiting for it.

A big fan of her 2 previous books, this one left me wanting a lot more. Maybe that will come in the sequel. Almost depressing in it's entirety. This story tells of horrible conditions with the never ending desire to survive. Not a feel good novel, but a very good portrayal of the historical implications of the time period.

this was a novel about 2 sisters in shanghai china and how they each ended up comming to live in the united states.
i ordered it used and it came within the time they had said i could expect it and it was in great condition.
i have already passed it on for others to read.

as other commentators have stated, for fans of previous Lisa See novels, this one's a sad disappointment.
I found those sisters stupid and unlikeable. More than once, I had to exclaim while reading" do these dumb brats EVER learn?". The more I read, the less I cared, and finally gave up about 3/4s into the book.
I really felt like I had wasted my time

Shanghai Girls
Pearl and May Chin are two modern girls in 1937 Shanghai, the Paris of Asia. Their father runs a successful rickshaw business and the two sisters pose as models for the Beautiful Girl campaign. But their father loses his money and to pay his debts, he marries Pearl and May off to two brothers, who have come with their father from Los Angeles to find brides. Pearl and May plan to be wives in name only and refuse to go to America. But then the Japanese attack and they, along with their mother are forced to travel through the dangerous countryside to find a way to get to Hong Kong. Their mother is killed and they must travel to America to find the husbands they abandoned. The journey takes them to Angel Island, where they wait in limbo for months to be admitted to America. The Chinese are not wanted in the US and immigration makes it very difficult. the Chinese are not allowed to own land and are considered the lowest class. Pearl and May find a different life than they envisioned, full of secrets. Pearl tries to remain true to the more traditional Chinese ways, while May is lured by the glamour of Hollywood and this threatens to destroy the bond between them.
I have never read a Lisa See novel, though I own Snow Flower and the Secret Fan. I can see now why everyone has recommended her work to me. See is an excellent writer and story-teller. Though the story is ultimately about the bond between sisters and family, See brings to light to struggle of the Chinese in America and the ravages of the civil war in China. I really enjoyed this story, heart-breaking though it was at times. It also ended somewhat unfinished and I imagine that there will be a sequel. But I most definitely will read Snow Flower and then Peony in Love.

I recently read Lisa See's memoir "On Gold Mountain" and her recent novel "Shanghai Girls" is a great follow up.