Book Review: Shanghai Girls by Lisa See

Author: Lisa See
Title: Shanghai Girls (Shanghai Girls #1)
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 319
Published: May 2009
Where I Got It: My shelf (Aamazon)

In 1937 Shanghai—the Paris of Asia—twenty-one-year-old Pearl Chin and her younger sister, May, are having the time of their lives. Both are beautiful, modern, and carefree—until the day their father tells them that he has gambled away their wealth. To repay his debts, he must sell the girls as wives to suitors who have traveled from Los Angeles to find Chinese brides. As Japanese bombs fall on their beloved city, Pearl and May set out on the journey of a lifetime, from the Chinese countryside to the shores of America. Though inseparable best friends, the sisters also harbor petty jealousies and rivalries. Along the way they make terrible sacrifices, face 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.

This has been on my shelf for a while. I'm not sure why I avoided it. Maybe because I knew it was going to be sad? Not sure, but I regret waiting so long to read this. 

Yes, I was right that this was sad. It was a realistic sad. May and Pearl come from Shanghai. They are close and love each other, but they are polar opposites. Bad things happen and they lose everything. More bad things happen and they are forced to flee China to the US. It was all sad, but there was always an element of hope which made all the sadness bearable. 

I liked Pearl and I saw a little of myself in her which made me like her more. May? Parts of me liked her, but as the story went on I liked her less and less. Yes, I felt bad for her in many ways, but she was a little snot. Same can be said of Joy. Joy needed a smack outside of the head. 

Not only was this entertaining and sad. It also really shows a side of immigration that people should read. People even back then were not the nicest to legal and illegal immigrants. It's horrible how racist some people can be. 

This felt so real and it was beautifully written. I really liked the author's writing style and I want to read more. Beautiful world-building...beautifully written characters...just great all around. 

There is a sequel and I want to read it. Not because I want to find out what happens to Joy, but what is going to happen to Pearl. Joy doesn't deserve a second thought...but who am I I guess? *grumbles* Spoiled, little brat. 

Anyways, this was great. I loved it. I highly recommend that you read this if you even remotely like Historical Fiction. Out of five stars, I'll give this a full 5. 

Book Review: The Dance of Spirits by Catherine Aerie

Author: Catherine Aerie
Title: The Dance of the Spirits
Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance, and Drama
Pages: ebook
First Published: September, 2013
Where I Got It: My shelf (Given to me by the author/publisher for my honest and unbiased opinion)

"Spring 1951: it is the fiery zenith of the Korean War, a war that the youthful US Army lieutenant Wesley Palm and his men thought that they had won... until the Chinese swept across the Yalu River. Traveling with the million-man army bent on driving back the march of "American imperialism" is Jasmine Young, a Chinese surgeon who has volunteered herself into the war for unspoken, grave reasons. Through a chronicle of merciless battles, freezing winters, and the brutality and hypocrisy of human nature, the two will find themselves weaving through the twists and turns of fate and destiny. Though their love is forbidden, their passion and pursuit of liberty cannot be quenched."

Another dark novel on my hands, but it was good. Jasmine and Wes are in the middle of a bloody war. Wes is an American who is fighting, while Jasmine is a Chinese doctor trying to save lives at the same time as trying to safe herself and try to be the perfect "communist", but her mid-set is from the old world.

So sad, so dark. War is such a nasty thing and the author does a wonderful job bringing it to life. However, it's not over-the-top. The ending was sooooooooooo sad with a sparkle of hope. I can't say what happened, but it was good, but I didn't like it. I wish that it wasn't so quick, I wish it was longer. But it was a good way to end it. I admit, I had to re-read it a couple times, because I didn't believe it happened! NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Anyways....I also wish that Wes had more spotlight and got to tell his background too, because I wanted to know more about him. Maybe a short story is in the works? *hint hint* I liked Wes, but I didn't get to connect with him like I did with Jasmine. I liked Jasmine and I felt so bad for her. Yes, she had a good life and it was blown up due to the Communists taking over the government, but I am proud of her, because she managed to adjust and survive. She has "thinking issues" (lol) and she gets in trouble a lot with her commanders for it, but she has adjusted well for being a rich girl. 

I can't say much else without giving up some major spoilers, but I simply couldn't put this down, because I wanted to know what happened next.

In the end, this was a good war and romance novel. Sometimes the war outshined the love story, but it felt realistic and the author did a good job showing this. I liked Jasmine and I wanted to know more about Wes. Like where he is from and what he did before the war. I felt disconnected with him, so I didn't really care about his POV. Other then that, it was a good book! If you like war and a tragic romance, I recommend this for you. Out of five stars, I stamp this with 4 stars. 

Favorite Character(s): Jasmine, Tin Bo (Until he made me mad at the end....), and Jasmine's mother.
Not-so Favorite Character(s): Tin Bo (*shakes my head*)