Random House Reader's Circle Forum

Our first official RHRC online book club will be discussing Lisa See's Shanghai Girls!

To kick it off, here's a question: Was there a sister you liked better than the other? Did that impression change as you were reading?

Throughout the book, Pearl was my hero and I saw May as bratty and selfish. But the conclusion of the book challenges those perceptions. What is selfish, what is selfless? If a woman doesn't look out for herself, who will do it for her? Like the good writer she is, See sets up a neat little world and then knocks it down. It is a good example that we are all the heroes of our own life story---and as Pearl narrates, we see events through her eyes. At the end, even seeing things somewhat through May's point of view, I still prefer Pearl. And I can't wait to read what others think.

I wondered along if Z.G. wasn't Joy's father and that Pearl only saw what she wanted to see but I never gave it another thought about what happened after their mother's death and Pearl's rape. I really enjoyed this story and it made me cry more than I usually do. I see Pearl as playing the oldest daughter always feeling she is the martyr, while she watches May lead her life. I think Denise makes a good point, that the end changes the outlook. I'm not so sure that I prefer Pearl.

I also prefer Pearl. May just struck me as along for the ride. As the pretty little sister, she looked to Pearl to make decisions and just followed along. I do have a tendency to relate to the narrator of any story, but I guess that this is just of way of "getting into character". One reason that I love novels is because they allow me to travel to a wide variety of places and times. I love to immerse myself in a good book for this reason, especially historical fiction which often inspires me to learn more about the setting. Lisa See is a wonderful author and I was so excited when she came out with Shanghai Girls.

Also love Pearl. But I love, love, love Lisa See! Have read each & every one of her books. Thank you for my copy.

I couldn't decide. Each sister had an important role, and I thought that each girl was brave. I agree with Denise about women looking out for themsevles. Pearl was very traditional and May was more modern in their thinking.

While that presented one set of horrors, there were indignities and difficulties to be faced in gaining acceptance into the United States. The passages detailing Pearl and May's experience with immigration authorities are very real, much taken verbatim from immigration interviews of arriving Chinese. See has a remarkable facility for incorporating dry immigration law seamlessly into the narrative flow of the novel and infusing it with life. In 1848 Chinese laborers began coming to America to search for Gam Saan, Gold Mountain.
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I agree with Denise about women looking out for themsevles.
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