My fascination with books about China began in my teenage years when I read The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck. I was completely fascinated with this ancient culture that I knew nothing about. I enjoyed it so much that I actually took two Chinese history classes in college. I didn’t fully think that one through, because it was kind of like learning a foreign language when it came to answering test questions.
Fast forward to 2005 when I picked up a copy of Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See. I was once again hooked on books about China. This book was followed by Peony in Love. I thoroughly enjoyed them both.
Perhaps my most favorite books of hers, though, were the May and Pearl series which included Shanghai Girls and Dreams of Joy. These need to be read in sequence, and I highly recommend them. The stories of this mother daughter relationship is so full of the history of the time, and was so eye opening to me.
That is why I love historical fiction so much. You get to experience a time period through the eyes of each character. It helps you to better understand where we have come from, and maybe why we are where we are today. Hopefully, we can learn to not repeat the same mistakes of the past.
Lisa See’s book The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane sits on my bookshelf right now waiting for me to read it soon.
If you have never read any of See’s books then I suggest starting with Shanghai Girls. I don’t think you will be disappointed at all.
Are you familiar with this author?
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