Shanghai Girls

A Novel

By: Lisa See

Narrated by: Janet Song

Number-one New York Times best-seller.

“A gifted writer...explores the bonds of sisterhood while powerfully evoking the often nightmarish American immigrant experience.” (USA Today)

In 1937, Shanghai is the Paris of Asia, a city of great wealth and glamour, the home of millionaires and beggars, gangsters and gamblers, patriots and revolutionaries, artists and warlords. Thanks to the financial security and material comforts provided by their father’s prosperous rickshaw business, 21-year-old Pearl Chin and her younger sister, May, are having the time of their lives. Though both sisters wave off authority and tradition, they couldn’t be more different: Pearl is a dragon sign, strong and stubborn, while May is a true sheep, adorable and placid. Both are beautiful, modern, and carefree...until the day their father tells them he has gambled away their wealth and that in order to repay his debts, he must sell the girls as wives to suitors who have traveled from California to find Chinese brides.

As Japanese bombs fall on their beloved city, Pearl and May set out on the journey of a lifetime, one that will take them through the Chinese countryside, in and out of the clutch of brutal soldiers, and across the Pacific to the shores of America.

In Los Angeles, they begin a fresh chapter, trying to find love with the strangers they have married, brushing against the seduction of Hollywood, and striving to embrace American life even as they fight against discrimination, brave communist witch hunts, and find themselves hemmed in by Chinatown’s old ways and rules.

At its heart, Shanghai Girls is a story of sisters: Pearl and May are inseparable best friends who share hopes, dreams, and a deep connection, but like sisters everywhere, they also harbor petty jealousies and rivalries. They love each other, but each knows exactly where to drive the knife to hurt the other the most.

Along the way, they face terrible sacrifices, make impossible choices, and confront a devastating, life-changing secret, but through it all the two heroines of this astounding new novel hold fast to who they are: Shanghai girls.

Praise for Shanghai Girls:

“A buoyant and lustrous paean to the bonds of sisterhood.” (Booklist)

“A rich work...as compulsively readable as it is an enlightening journey.” (Denver Post)

©2009 Random House (P)2009 Random House

Critic reviews

"A buoyant and lustrous paean to the bonds of sisterhood." (Booklist)

“See is a gifted writer, and in Shanghai Girls she again explores the bonds of sisterhood while powerfully evoking the often nightmarish American immigrant experience.” (USA Today)

“A rich work... as compulsively readable as it is an enlightening journey.” (Denver Post)

Lisa See gets it right

I listen to this book while walking--I always make my 3 mile goal. The narrator is superb, the story telling exquisite, the characters have become people I know better than my actual neighbors. What an achievement to have written this narrative.

Great Listen!

I loved this book. I've read See's "Snow Flower" and "Peony in Love" and this is by far my favorite. It does appear that it is being set up for a sequel, so don't expect the story to have a real ending. There is a lot in the story that is hard to take. Because the characters go through a lot in the story, we as readers do to.

The story is mainly about the relationship between two sisters, with the back drop of war in China and then China Town in Los Angeles in the late 30's, 40's, and 50's. Lisa See often deals with the theme of how perception shapes your world and actions, and "Shanghai" is no exception.

I loved the story and the lessons presented. Don't miss this one!

Just okay.

This book dragged on for me. I am not sure if it was the monotone of the narrator or just the storyline. The reader had inflection in her voice when necessary but it was so soft and monotone most of the time that I would get lost in whatever else I was doing and then would have to rewind to find where I tuned her out.

The storyline was okay. I am usually excited to learn about other cultures, but didn't get much from this book other than the general "hardship" of the Chinese in China and the problems the Chinese had with coming to and living in America. And even these were a bit shallow.

I did finish the book, but don't think I will be interested in the sequel. I was glad to be done with this one.

Good story - fair book

While the book has an interesting story - two sisters are forced from their native china and end up living in America, I was disappointed with the book overall.

A great book that kept me in suspense!

Looking forward to reading her next book! This book will make you cry, laugh and motivate you. The journey of these amazing women is simply inspiring.

Sad, but wonderful book

An historical fiction - really good story and narrator. Happy parts, sad parts. Sisterly devotion. Dreams of Joy, the sequel is also excellent. I love this author.

Wonderful book!

I felt like I was in Shanghai and LA. Wonderful story with so much imagery and great characters.

great story and performance

well done, Lisa See👍💪
Well performed,Janet Song 😀👏
look forward to the follow-up book.

wonderful!

loved it, beautiful story, rich incredible characters. Lisa see is an amazing novelist and this stoy shows that. It is moving, vivid and shows what it truely means to love.

Another "favorite" book for me

I found this book to be incredibly enjoyable and did not want to see it end. Although other reviewers seemed disappointed with the ending, I liked the ending because it left the door open for a sequel ( I hope). And even if a sequel never comes to be, I still liked the ending because it was neither syrupy sweet nor awful and depressing. I know I will listen again.