This past week has been fun but a little exhausting. I’m on a working vacation right now (several states away) and am without internet access, so if I’m a little slow at responding to comments or emails — that’s the reason. I’m actually posting this from the library, which will be my only way to catch up with everyone for the next 6 weeks or so.
The good news is that I have been reading, though! I finished up How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff and am currently reading The Optimist’s Daughter by Eudora Welty (a Pulitzer winner) and I’m listening to Shanghai Girls by Lisa See. I’m loving Shanghai Girls! Just as she did in Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, Lisa See has me totally swept up in this story. Set in Shanghai and in California before and during WWII, it’s a tale of two sisters caught up in the times and their circumstances. So far it’s at least a 4.5 rating. If you loved Snow Flower, I believe you will enjoy Shanghai Girls as well.
As for the rest of the time I’m here, I hope to be able to post at least once or twice a week with reviews and/or a Sunday Salon post.
Hope everyone is having a wonderful summer!
I’m so glad you’re loving Shanghai Girls! I really loved Snow Flower, and I can’t wait to read this, too
That is a lot of reading!
I had a long break too
I’m about to read Shanghai Girls, and the way you describe it, I’m more excited than ever. I loved See’s Snowflower books.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did, Barbara!
I loved Snow Flower and I loved Peony In Love. I am about 1/3 of the way through Shanghai Girls, and your thought of being swept away is exactly how I have felt. See is one the authors which has encouraged me to read more about the Asia–Japan and China mostly–as it is an area of the world I didn’t have much interest in 5 years ago! I feel that I have learned a lot about China’s history through her books. I believe that after reading her first 2 books, I was able to enjoy Pearl S. Buck’s The Good Earth much more when I read it last winter.
Soumdslike you are having a great working vacation!
*smiles*
Kim
Kim, I feel the same way about learning so much about Chinese history. I also enjoyed Wild Swans for that reason, but I still get to look forward to The Good Earth.
Need to get to Peony in Love sometime, too!