Shanghai Girls by Lisa See

Length: 309 Pages
Genres: Historical Fiction
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Trigger Warnings in this book for Graphic Depictions of Rape, Violence, Blood, Racism and Xenophobia, Suicide, An Intense Birth Scene, Illness and Death

"The last thing May says to me is 'When our hair is white, we'll still have our sister love.'"

My sister, who is a huge fan of See, has been trying to get me to read something of hers for years now. Finally, I decided to read the one I had on my list: Shanghai Girls.

Beginning in 1937 in Shanghai, the "Paris of Asia", this novel follows the Chin sisters: the eldest, Pearl, who is a Dragon in the Chinese Zodiac which makes her strong and stubborn (sometimes to a fault), and May, who is a Sheep. Sheep are gentle, creative, and will always need someone to look after them. They are twenty-one and eighteen, work as "beautiful girls", posing for an artist to paint them to use their likenesses in ads and calendars, and stay up late going from club to café. Their life is that of a modern Chinese girl, one not bound by tradition and filial piety.

And then, their world crumbles. Their father announces he has lost all of their money, and to keep their house he has arranged marriages for each of them to "Gold Mountain Men", Chinese men from California. No matter how they fight they cannot win. Pearl is heartbroken, because her one-true love is the artist Z.G., but when she confesses her feelings he brushes her off. What follows is a tale of heartbreak, set amongst the beginnings of the Sino-Japanese war, as Pearl and May fight to escape the invading Japanese and get to America. But America is not a place of endless opportunity, like they were told. America has its own problems, from the Depression to Pearl Harbor, and their fight will be one that goes on for many mores years and claims many that are important to the girls.

The heart of Shanghai Girls is always the relationship between the sisters, which goes from caring to fractured to anger and resentment and back again. It is a true story of "sister love", and "mother love", too, and how strong those bonds are in even the darkest of times.

This book is dark, yes, as it features some of the darkest moments in the history of mankind, but throughout it all there is hope and love, as bright and searing as it can be. A must-read for women everywhere!

Book Review: The Library of Legends by Janie Chang

The Library of Legends by Janie Chang
Length: 400 Pages
Genres: Historical Fiction
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Trigger Warnings in this book for Death, Torture, and a Suicide Attempt

"That night Lian dreamed there was a procession on the street below. She stood on the balcony watching it go by. The Shanghai City God was leaving and the entire city had turned out to mourn his departure. Dressed in the court robes of a high-ranking Ming Dynasty official, his long black beard hung down to his belt and beaded strings of jade and coral hung from his hat. He sat in a magnificent sedan chair carried by giants. There was music, flutes and drums, cymbals and horns.
And in the entourage walking behind the City God, she recognized Sparrow."

I chose this as my Book of the Month for January, though it was originally published in May of last year. It was an add-on choice, and it sounded so interesting, and boasted a beautiful cover, too.

Set in China in 1937, during the Second-Sino Japanese War, which is considered to be the start of WWII for China, we follow the students of Minghua college, who are fleeing Nanking from the impending threat of Japanese occupation. Walking 1,000 miles to the relative safety of the western provinces, it is a journey filled with hardship, with hunger and disease, exhaustion, and sometimes, death. Each student has been tasked by the wise Professor Kang with transporting one book from the invaluable "Library of Legends", a collection of 500-year-old folklore, legends and myths put together by the scholar Yao Guangshu, on their person.

Among them is Hu Lian, a scholarship student who is reserved and intelligent, but also incredibly cautious of letting anyone in. All her life she has been hiding, moving constantly with her mother in the hopes of outrunning a tragedy from their past, one that Lian fears would have horrible consequences if found out. But when a teacher, Mr. Lee, threatens to expose her if she doesn't spy on the vocal communists of their group, she feels she has no option but to obey.

Shao is from an affluent Shanghai family, and is handsome, charismatic, and loved by two different women, one of them being Hu Lian, the other, his loyal servant, Sparrow. Life has been easy for him, but still he feels unmoored, left to drown in an ocean that is made up of purposelessness.

And, perhaps most important of all, is Sparrow. Little does anyone know, she is a celestial being, an immortal who has chosen to live her life on Earth. She is the Willow Star, from a myth in the Library of Legends, who fell in love with a mortal, her Prince, and begged to be beside him in each reincarnation, cursed to never be recognized as his one true love. But now she has another purpose, too. She has been tasked by the Queen Mother of Heaven with sending the Gods and other beings, like the qilin, a Chinese unicorn who brings spring, home, before the gates of the Palace shut, forever.

On their journey they will face suspicion and accusations by their own people, their own fellow students, sickness and the horrors of war; a girl left orphaned by her single father, a soldier who had no choice but to take her to the front; countless bodies, given a water burial because it is cheap and the crematoriums are already overburdened; and of course the ever-constant threat of being gunned down in the street by Japanese aircraft. But threaded throughout are stories of love, too, of sacrifice and friendship, of a people who are forced to flee their country but never give up.

Janie Chang's father was made a refugee in his own country, and fled from Nanking with his own school, like so many others. You can truly feel the heart and the history behind this amazing book, and for those that are interested in learning more about this story, I highly recommend checking out her website, where she has extras she wasn't able to fit in the book! 

If you're looking for a WWII story that shines a light on places and atrocities outside of Europe and the US, you can stop your search here -- The Library of Legends is as informative as it is moving, a true tour de force of heartache -- and hope.

Book Review: The Lotus Palace by Jeannie Lin

The Lotus Palace by Jeannie Lin
Length: 378 Pages
Genres: Historical Romance, Mystery
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Trigger Warnings in this book for Forced Prostitution, References to Rape, Slavery, and Murder

"'I’ve heard my face described as flawed, ruined, unfortunate. A bad omen. People avert their gazes and move away from me as if it’s a disease they might catch. But after being separated for so many years, my sister was only able to find me because my face was so recognizable. The red-faced whore.' A tear slid down her cheek, but she ignored it. 'I don’t wish to be owned ever again.'”

As someone with a lifelong love of history, I of course have my own favorite time-periods and places, many of which are the usual that people start off with: Victorian and Regency England (especially if you're an Austen lover, like me), and WWII. And as much as I love those settings, and will always pick up a book or watch a movie during them, I believe we're way past due to inject a different flavor into the historical fiction genre, which has long been turning stale. Combined with a new fascination with Ancient China (and Joseon Korea), I decided to pick up the first book in Jeannie Lin's Pingkang Li Mysteries series, which are a wonderful blend of romance, historical detail, and mystery.

Tang Dynasty China, 847 AD. Yue-ying is maidservant to the beautiful and mercurcial courtesan Mingyu, the most valued woman within the Pingkang Li, or Lotus Palace, a place where scholars and politicians alike come to woo women with poetry and words. Before coming to work for Mingyu, Yue-ying was bought from her home and sold to a brothel, never once being considered to be a courtesan because of the red birthmark marring her cheek. Her past still haunts her, and she wants nothing more than to be a good companion to Mingyu, and to leave flirtation to others.

Bai Huang is known as the "flower prince of the Pingkang Li". He is handsome, gullible, and readily plays the fool, which endears him to everyone, even if his words conceal hidden barbs. Beneath that mask is a man of undeniable strength and smarts, and one who has possibly the best heart in China. Secretly, he attends parties and pleasure houses to gather information for his father, a man he is trying to prove himself to after running up a staggering debt gambling.

Drawn together by the death of the courtesan, Huilan, and the corpse of a man discovered stabbed in the neck with a beautiful hairpin that only the elite could afford, Yue-ying and Huang delve deep into the mysteries hiding beneath the perfume and powder of the North Hamlet. And even more troubling to Yue-ying is the growing attraction she's feeling for Huang -- especially after vowing to never be owned by a man again.

Full of breathtaking romance between two deeply developed characters that you want nothing more than to find happiness together, intrigue and fascinating tidbits about Tang Dynasty China, The Lotus Palace by Jeannie Lin is a sure win for romance and history lovers alike!

Five Period Romances That You Haven't Seen (But Should)

I think the only thing that holds a candle to my love of books is my love of movies and TV shows. As such, many of my favorite films reflect the exact sort of thing I enjoy reading, with my #1 being historical fiction! I also adore a good romance, and something about all the restraint, be it of manners or clothing, makes the romance that much better for me. I've set out to list some that aren't often mentioned, in the hopes that others will learn to love them like I do!

The Handmaiden directed by Park Chan-Wook (2016)

An adaption of Sarah Waters' novel Fingersmith by Award-winning Korean director Park Chan-wook, this movie had been on my radar ever since it came out. I finally watched it this month and was completely blown away. The actors were amazing, the cinematography was beautiful, and I loved how it stayed true to the story even while changing the setting from Victorian England to Japanese occupied Korea! This movie is one to go in without too much prior knowledge as the twists will shock (and delight) you.

"1930s Korea, in the period of Japanese occupation, a new girl (Sookhee) is hired as a handmaiden to a Japanese heiress (Hideko) who lives a secluded life on a large countryside estate with her domineering Uncle (Kouzuki). But the maid has a secret. She is a pickpocket recruited by a swindler posing as a Japanese Count to help him seduce the Lady to elope with him, rob her of her fortune, and lock her up in a madhouse. The plan seems to proceed according to plan until Sookhee and Hideko discover some unexpected emotions."

Belle directed by Amma Asante (2013)

This beautiful romance has the added bonus of being based on a true story, that of Dido Elizabeth Belle, a mixed-race British heiress who lived 1761 to 1804. (And for those curious, it does have a happy ending).

"This movie was inspired by the true story of Dido Elizabeth Belle, the illegitimate mixed race daughter of Royal Navy Captain Sir John Lindsay. Raised by her aristocratic great-uncle Lord William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield and his wife, Belle's lineage affords her certain privileges, yet the color of her skin prevents her from fully participating in the traditions of her social standing. Left to wonder if she will ever find love, Belle falls for an idealistic young vicar's son bent on change, who, with her help, shapes Lord Mansfield's role as Lord Chief Justice to end slavery in England.

Firelight directed by William Nicholson (1997)

This film utilizes a favorite trope of mine: the governess who falls in love with her employer, only with a much bigger twist. Beautiful Sophie Marceau is subtle and wonderful, and her leading man is one of my favorites, Stephen Dillane.

"In 1830s England, debt-ridden governess Elisabeth Laurier consents to bear a child with aristocrat Charles Godwin, whose crippled wife cannot conceive. So long as Elisabeth relinquishes any maternal claims, he will pay off her father's debts. Though the arrangement is meant to be perfunctory, a forbidden romance blooms between them. Years later, she is hired as governess to a young girl on a remote estate -- who turns out to be the daughter she surrendered."

Lust, Caution directed by Ang Lee (2007)

I loved Lust, Caution from my very first watch, and highly recommend it for those who are fans of relationships along the lines of those in Dangerous Liaisons and Fatal Attraction. It is very deep and dark, with absolutely outstanding performances by Tony Leung and Tang Wei.

"During World War II, a secret agent must seduce, then assassinate an official who works for the Japanese puppet government in Shanghai. Her mission becomes clouded when she finds herself falling in love with the man she is assigned to kill."

The Piano directed by Jane Campion (1993)

One of my absolute favorite films, The Piano tells the story of the forbidden romance between mute and married Ada and her husband's friend. This haunting film will stick with you long after.

"After a long voyage from Scotland, pianist Ada McGrath and her young daughter, Flora, are left with all their belongings, including a piano, on a New Zealand beach. Ada, who has been mute since childhood, has been sold into marriage to a local man named Alisdair Stewart. Making little attempt to warm up to Alisdair, Ada soon becomes intrigued by his Maori-friendly acquaintance, George Baines, leading to tense, life-altering conflicts."

Book Review: Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao
Length: 400 Pages
Genres: YA Fantasy and Sci-Fi
Rating: 3 out of 3 Stars

A special thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Teen for an ARC of this book!

Trigger Warnings in this book for Violence, Alcohol Abuse, Torture, Murder and Physical Abuse

"He should be the Iron King, and I should be the Iron Queen. Yet Iron Demon and Iron Widow is all they'll let us be."

I was really excited for Sci-Fi take on the infamous Wu Zetian, who was the de facto ruler of the Tang dynasty and the only female Emperor of China, so much so that I specifically asked to get an ARC of it. Iron Widow relies heavily on Guillermo del Toro's Pacific Rim (which I thoroughly enjoyed, even if I was in the minority), so I thought I would really enjoy this! Unfortunately, I was more than a little let down.

Wu Zetian has been raised for one thing: to become a concubine for a pilot so that he can power the towering Chrysalises, made of precious spirit metal to combat the Hunduns. They are bug-like aliens who have taken over the planet and wiped out a whole city hundreds of years ago, driving the remaining humans back behind the Great Wall. It is a fate few survive, for the pilot's spirit pressure, or qi, obliterates the minds of the concubines. Zetian has already lost her Big Sister, but instead of a valiant death in the midst of a battle, she is murdered by a cruel pilot, one Zetian will do anything to get close to. When she is matched up with him something incredible happens -- it isn't Zetian who is killed but him. Her spirit pressure is enormous, so she can only match up with one pilot, Li Shimin, a convicted murderer who killed his family is still a prisoner despite his powerful qi. 

Zetian is tired of being used and will stop at nothing to eradicate a system that views girls as nothing but kindling to fuel the boys' fire. With help of her friend Yizhi, and the eventual acceptance of Shimin, she strives to become the most powerful woman in all of Huaxia.

My main issue with this book was the writing. It was, for lack of a better word, amateur, bordering even on fanfic-y. Everything Zetian said was cool and witty and a perfect retort that left mouths hanging open and people cowering in fear. It was trying to be edgy and coming across as more cringe than anything else. I was very interested in the relationships between Shimin, Yizhi and Zetian, and the fact that they were in a polyamorous arrangement. I really liked that aspect and it was a breath of fresh air from the usual love triangle. Iron Widow takes a while to get going and ends on a massive, unsatisfying cliffhanger. I don't think I'll be picking up the sequel to this one, much to my disappointment!

Book Review: Remembering Shanghai by Claire Chao and Isabel Sun Chao

Remembering Shanghai by Claire Chao and Isabel Sun Chao
Length: 308 Pages
Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

"Before Shanghai become Shanghai, it was a marshy fishing village, where Asia's longest river met the world's largest ocean. The city was born of vice -- the offspring of unbridled commerce and colonialism, a treaty port where the illegal importation of opium shortened the lives of thousands and where Westerners were granted immunity to Chinese law."

Trigger Warnings in this book for Violence and Gore

My last book for the Asian Readathon! I have to admit I'm usually not a fan of anything Nonfiction, and I don't believe I've read, or at least, completed, a memoir. However, I am so pleased that this readathon prompted me to read something nonfiction, because otherwise I might not have had the chance to read this amazing book.

Remembering Shanghai is not only a love-letter to "Old Shanghai", but an unflinching portrait of the Sun family, told by one of the daughters, Isabel, and her own daughter, Claire. Isabel is brought up during the glamorous 1930's and 40's of Shanghai, where she is cushioned from the outside world by her family's wealth and status. Here, we meet her fashionable and flighty Muma, her patient and art-loving Diedie, the strict Buddhist Qinpo, and her siblings. 

Isabel's memories, both the good, the bad, and the incriminating, are told vividly, and with a sort of humor that only time can create. Besides her immediate family, we are told of her great-grandfather's rise to status and money, his sons' maltreatment of him, all in the name of money (his youngest son, No. 7 being Isabel's grandfather), and her godfather's run in with a Shanghainese gang. All of these early memories are tinged with a bit of sadness, as with the rise of Communism, the Sun family is irrevocably torn apart. Isabel, her daughter, and many of their family members, have lived such fascinating lives and despite all the hardship, from lives stolen from them to the oppression and fear of living under Mao's Regime and the Japanese occupation, retain such infectious optimism. 

Along the way, we learn interesting little snippets about Chinese life, from playing mahjong, to the difference between qipao and cheongsam, and even about the popular movies and actresses, like Nancy Chen who played Hua Mulan in 1939's Mulan Joins the Army. The pages are filled with glorious little illustrations, and photos of the family and Shanghai, which I really enjoyed seeing.

It is an essential read, not just for those interested in China, but for those interested in the spirit and strength of humanity, and the ways we can learn from history to better our futures.