Dreams of joy

Great book!

I was disappointed with this book after reading both Snow Flower and the Secret Fan and Shanghai Girls. I felt the author cut too much out.

I really enjoyed this book. It would be helpful to have read Shanghai Girls, but not necessary. Reading about China during Mao was very interesting.

aug 29 11

The sequel to Shanghai Girls tells the rest of the story. What happens when Joy runs off to communist China with Pearl following her. I was captivated by life in Red China and the results of Mao's "Great Leap Forward". The characters have lots of imperfections but the story telling is stellar. The historical tidbits are interesting as well (who knew women weren't allowed to wear bras in Mao's...more

The sequel to Shanghai Girls tells the rest of the story. What happens when Joy runs off to communist China with Pearl following her. I was captivated by life in Red China and the results of Mao's "Great Leap Forward". The characters have lots of imperfections but the story telling is stellar. The historical tidbits are interesting as well (who knew women weren't allowed to wear bras in Mao's China). It amazes me that some people call our country or some of our leaders socialist or communist without having a clue what that really means.   hide

Superb novel! Great account of the atrocities in China during Mao's Great Leap Forward. Lisa See presents one absurdity after another concocted by the "Great Helmsman" Mao that resulted in the deaths of 30 million Chinese in a horrific famine: literal walking dead. The final chapter of these book is full of surprises and offers a well-crafted conclusion.

This book kept me on the edge and I couldn't put it down just like the first one. I am very interested in history and loves that this writes does a lot of research before she writes her books. I was very pleased with how it ended. The first ended very sad. I was always hoping that Pearl and May would be able to have a better and happy life. I am very pleased that it all finally worked out in the...more

This book kept me on the edge and I couldn't put it down just like the first one. I am very interested in history and loves that this writes does a lot of research before she writes her books. I was very pleased with how it ended. The first ended very sad. I was always hoping that Pearl and May would be able to have a better and happy life. I am very pleased that it all finally worked out in the end.   hide

Just finished reading Lisa See's latest, "Dreams of Joy". Along with "Shanghai Sisters", which is the beginning of the story, it will forever be on the list of my all-time favorite books. Lisa tells an amazing story, and brings to light, in a very specific, heart-rending way, things that we have only heard of before in very general terms, all the while keeping the reader entertained and deeply...more

Just finished reading Lisa See's latest, "Dreams of Joy". Along with "Shanghai Sisters", which is the beginning of the story, it will forever be on the list of my all-time favorite books. Lisa tells an amazing story, and brings to light, in a very specific, heart-rending way, things that we have only heard of before in very general terms, all the while keeping the reader entertained and deeply involved with the lives of her characters. Lisa, I will recommend this book to all my reader friends. Also, can't wait to see "Snowflower and the Secret Fan". Thank you, Lisa!   hide

Good book - but not as good as Shanghai Girls...