| | |  | PHILOSOPHY | Home » » Shanghai Girls: A Novel | | | | | | | Features: | |
• ISBN13: 9780812980530
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
| | | Product Details: | | | Author:
| Lisa See | | Paperback:
| 336 pages | | Publisher:
| Random House Trade Paperbacks | | Publication Date:
| February 02, 2010 | | Language:
| English | | ISBN:
| 0812980530 | | Package Length:
| 7.9 inches | | Package Width:
| 5.1 inches | | Package Height:
| 0.8 inches | | Package Weight:
| 0.55 pounds | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 245 reviews |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.
 A waste of timeMar 09, 2010
I've read a few of her other books and actually enjoyed them. With this book, I got the sense that she phoned in the whole thing, and her editors didn't have the nerve to point out that her writing was passionless, disjointed, and often nonsensical. I agree that she forgot the first rule of writing - show, don't tell. When Pearl's mother dies in front of her, in the most horrible way you can imagine, we are told by Pearl, basically, "and then my mother died" - and that was that. Apparently the author couldn't be bothered to imagine or convey the emotional anguish that Pearl would experience at that moment. There are countless scenes like that - just rattling off random events with no justifications or attendant emotional reactions.
And there is little consistency in the characters. Vern, the husband who was "not quite right," went from being simply passive and slow to being severely mentally disabled somewhere in the last 50 pages. And why would May, a gorgeous and vain social climber, be content with Vern as her only lover? Seriously? And what event made the wicked, domineering father-in-law suddenly become meek and beloved? Maybe because it better fit the plot at that point in the book.
If Lisa See doesn't care a bit about her characters or storyline, why should I? And the ending was a total joke. Maybe she had to ship the manuscript off to the publishers by 5:00 that day and she was late for her 3:30 manicure appointment, so she just ended the book right then and there. That's what it seemed like. It's enough to make me want to dig out "Joy Luck Club" so I can be reminded of how well this story could have been told.
 I'm in the middleMar 09, 2010
I enjoyed this book for the most part, even though it was it was written in a bland fashion and without sufficient description. It was just fluid enough to keep me engaged for extended periods of time. I kept reading in the hopes that things would get better for the girls, but I don't even get the satisfaction of an ending. I'm not terribly upset that it was a cliffhanger, but it seems as though the ending was poorly constructed.
What frustrates me most about the novel is the characters: predictably developed and highly unlikable. I never could bring myself to sympathize with either of the sisters despite their few redeeming qualities, especially May. I kept finding myself getting increasingly frustrated with the plot, which is probably See's intention, but it seems more dramatized soap opera-y than other stories I've read.
I liked that this was a historic story, and I can really appreciate it for the perspectives it gives, but it is an aggravating story that I won't want to read for a very long time.
 Shangai Girls - five starsMar 06, 2010
I loooved this, couldn't stop reading it, I am waiting to see if there is a second part of it I hope so. I have read other books from Lisa and she is wonderful.
Great authorMar 06, 2010
I discovered a wonderful author in Lisa See. Her books are riveting in their story lines but also very educational. Her Shanghai Girls was an enjoyable read for me and as well as Peony in Love. I plan to read all her books!
1 of 2 found the following review helpful:
LACKS CLOSURE!!!!!!!!!!!!!Mar 05, 2010
A great read...but the ending lacks closure!!!!!! If that is the way this author writes all her books...I won't buy again. I feel all books should:set the Scenes, tell a good story (ups and downs) and have closure. How disappointing there is no closure!!! What happens when they go back????????????? It's off to the thrift store for donation...Won't disappoint anyone else I know, least they hit me with it!!!
| | |
|
