China Dolls: A Novel | 
I loved this one! My only Lisa See book so far!
#AlphabetGame
#LetterC
Share one of you favorite books that starts with C and tag friends!
Time for this month‘s #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead discussion!
I have 8 questions under the spoiler…thanks to the reading guide from Ballantine/Penguin Random House. Comment general thoughts below!
You can find these either by searching the hashtags, under my feed or the book‘s feed. Thanks to those participating this month. If I did not tag you in the post for next month‘s discussion, and you wish to be tagged, let me know!
8. “China doll” or “China dolls” are phrases used often in the novel. What are the most important meanings behind this phrase? Which are positive? Which are negative? #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead
Adapted from Reader‘s Guide
7. This novel, much more than other works by See, focuses on clothing and fashion. Why do you think there is such a focus on these elements, and what what See trying to say? #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead
Adapted from Reader‘s Guide
6. While there are big betrayals in the novel, there were also moments of great resiliency and hope as the girls helped each other. In what ways did Grace, Helen, and Ruby support each other? #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead
From Reader‘s Guide
5. What important elements did Eddie bring to the novel? Would you have married Eddie if you had been in Helen‘s situation? #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead
From Reader‘s Guide
4. Helen‘s narratives were filled with traditional Chinese sayings. Which are the most important to the novel and why? What aspects of Helen‘s life made her situation fundamentally different from that of the other girls? When Helen‘s past was revealed, were you surprised? How did it affect her approach to friendship? #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead
From Reader‘s Guide
3. How did your perception of Ruby shift throughout the story? Did the hardship and discrimination she experienced affect the rest of her actions, whether commendable or not? How did Ruby‘s ambition differ from that of Grace? #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead
From Reader‘s Guide
2. Early in the novel, Grace states “All right, so I have pride. But what price would I have to pay for it?” This is something Grave realized about herself when she just started out as a performer. How did her outlook evolve throughout the novel? #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead
Adapted from Reader‘s Guide
1. The novel opens with this quote: “Only three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.” What does this quotation mean in context of the novel? This is a novel filled with secrets - some hidden and not revealed until late in the novel. What were the most important ones? Why were they hidden and did you agree with how and when they were revealed? #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead
Adapted from Reader‘s Guide
I am shocked that March is almost over, which means discussion day for this month‘s #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead is nearly here! I will post discussion questions on the 31st.
I‘ve seen a lot of not finished for this month!
Kangaj1, Soubhiville, Jerdencon, kspenmoll, PurpleyPumpkin, BookNAround, MeganAnn, BethM, megnews, Deblovestoread, Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks, coffeewithbooks, sblbooks, CarolineLovesToRead, KristiAhlers, JuniperWilde, PageShifter
pickFinished this one for #authoramonth earlier this week. I‘m giving it a low pick because I cared just enough to find out what happened. However, it‘s my least favorite of See‘s books so far.
Ruby, Grace and Helen are thrown together at their audition to be dancers at the Forbidden City. We follow their careers through the book as they are friends, enemies and generally make bad choices informed by past hardships they‘ve endured. ⬇️
bailedUnfortunately I‘m going to bail on this month‘s book for #literarycrew and #authoramonth. I don‘t have time to read the book right now but was listening on my commute. I‘m over an hour in on the audio and I can‘t differentiate the characters/povs. I think it‘s because the narrator isn‘t differentiating their voices. I‘ll be back for both next month.
bailedAt halfway I didn‘t really see the point of the book. All three main characters are stuck in repeating patterns of self destructive behaviors. The plot isn‘t really compelling. Putting it down for now. I‘m disappointed because I usually really like Lisa See but this one doesn‘t seem up to her usual standard. Maybe a case of wrong book/wrong time. #AuthorAMonth
Finish ‘The Tea Girl Of Hummingbird Lane‘ which was great read and given 4.5 stars ... next up is China Dolls both by:Lisa See. #authoramonth @Soubhiville
so-soI finished this one yesterday for #AuthorAMonth #LiteraryCrew #Booked2022 @Librarybelle @Soubhiville
I did like it, and I learned some things, but I felt like it was too long. The end was strange to me. I was also reading another by the same author at the same time - not recommended. I listened on audio and liked the narrator, but I sometimes had trouble telling the characters apart with her voices.
Repost for @Soubhiville
#AuthorAMonth readers,
There are a couple of Lisa See events you may wish to join in on in March.
First is the #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead of China Dolls, hosted by @Librarybelle , check out her post for more info.
Second @Julsmarshall found this author talk happening this Sunday, which will also be available to watch after the event if you can‘t make it live. :
https://www.paperlanternwriters.com/events/lisasee
#AuthorAMonth readers,
There are a couple of Lisa See events you may wish to join in on in March.
First is the #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead of China Dolls, hosted by @Librarybelle , check out her post for more info.
Second @Julsmarshall found this author talk happening this Sunday, which will also be available to watch after the event if you can‘t make it live. :
https://www.paperlanternwriters.com/events/lisasee
Enjoy your readings! 💕📚💕
New month, new book for #LiteraryCrew .
We are a low key #BuddyRead group…I‘ll post check ins periodically and will post discussion questions at the end of the month.
If you would like me to tag you in the posts, and I don‘t have you tagged on this post, please comment below! If I missed adding you, please let me know!
Kangaj1, Jerdencon, Crazeedi, PurpleyPumpkin, BookNAround, MeganAnn, megnews, Deblovestoread, Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks, sblbooks, CarolineLovesToRead, KristiAhlers, PageShifter, julieclair
It‘s March, time to pull out our Lisa See books for #AuthorAMonth. What are you planning to read?
#AuthorAMonth is a no-pressure challenge, read as many or as few as you like. The authors were voted on by Litsy.
Visit @Soubhiville for more information.
I‘m behind with the reminder for March‘s #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead …life has been a bit complicated lately.
I‘m so excited to say we will read Lisa See‘s China Dolls. This is a low key buddy read; read at your own pace, and I will post periodic check ins. Discussion March 31st.
Tagging those who have either expressed interest or are participating in this month‘s read. All are welcome! Please comment below if you wish to be tagged in March posts.
Kangaj1, Cinfhen, Jerdencon, Crazeedi, catebutler, kspenmoll, PurpleyPumpkin, BookNAround, MeganAnn, BethM, megnews, TrishB, Deblovestoread, CoverToCoverGirl, Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks, CoffeeNBooks, CBee, sblbooks, CarolineLovesToRead, Blackink_WhitePaper, KristiAhlers, katy4peas, JuniperWilde, PageShifter, julieclair
pickThis was January‘s FOTL book club read. I snagged it on Libby because I was afraid I‘d not get to it otherwise this month. I‘m really glad I made time for it! The story, set predominantly from the end of the Depression through the years of WWII, follows three young Asian women as they navigate life as nightclub performers with sexism, racism, and familial cultural responsibility weighing them each down in their own way. Unique period fiction!
Your package arrived today Misty. Thank you for the birthday love! I‘m a big Lisa See fan, and I look forward to reading this. Thanks for all the crafty gifts and LitsyLove goodies. I hope things are going better for you today. 💕
I loved this one!! I bought this one solely based on the cover! 💗 I have some of her others and haven‘t read them yet, imagine that! #TBR My beautiful China from Christine 💜
#China
#LitsySpringBreak
I love the Libby app! I can‘t get enough audio books!
So, I‘m going to give this a try too. Omg my head is spinning with all the challenges and such I want to participate in. But how could I not. Join us!
Decided for the first time to sign up for #booked2021 and planned out the winter quarter. It‘s not written in stone but these book‘s intrigue me. Some older, some newer, some kids‘ books.
Merry Christmas everyone. Waiting for the fam to wake up and so I started an older Lisa See book. Not a Christmas book for my #dashingdecember #readaothon but I‘m enjoying it so far. Enjoy a peaceful day, Littens.
One of my favorite books 📚
I hope everyone has had a great weekend! I‘ve been working and trying to wrap my head around things... just soooo much going on... sending love to everyone ❤️ 🌎
#AugustAuthors
#LisaSee
pickI couldn‘t put this book down but unlike other books by Lisa See all of the characters were incredibly unlikable. I did enjoy how each characters perspective of an event came back to be so different
panI listened to this one by See, whom I've previously loved. However, I did not like it at all. The voice acting was a big deterrent, but the characters weren't likable, and the story wasn't interesting. I can't recommend this one.
pickThis audiobook was very enjoyable during a long road trip.
#JulyColdPlay @Eggs
#PrincessofChina
I drew a blank on this one. This is the only book that I could think of that remotely matched the prompt. 🤔
My little China girl
You shouldn't mess with me
I'll ruin everything you are🎶
#chinagirl #wanderingjune @Cinfhen @BarbaraBB
Just finished this Jewel last night! And it definitely deserves 5⭐ .Grace, Helen and Ruby fascinating stories. I love how every chapter had something totally unpredictable to the story. Great book!
I can't put this down! It is such a thrilling story, I can't wait to see how this comes to an end... keep you tuned 😁👍 @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
Grace, Helen, and Ruby meet by chance at the exclusive and glamorous Forbidden City Nightclub in San Francisco. They become best friends dancing and hiding dark secrets right before American involvement in WW11.... This was my first Lisa See book and I‘ll be reading many more!!
#DancingOnMyOwn
#AMonthofSongs
A little Goodwill shopping while I waited 4 looonnnggg hours for Bentley to be groomed!! Wth!! I think he is as traumatized as I am if not more so by the wait time that he is unavailable for a photo at this time... 💙📚🐶
I have read China Dolls and loved it!! Anyone read the others?
Currently listening to this audiobook I found I am loving it. It is making prep for school more bearable #audiobook #currentlyreading
Happy Monday! Pippin is reading China Dolls today.
#Spinepoetry
#DiverseSpines
China Dolls
Leaving Atlanta
Salvage the Bones
Where the Line Bleeds
pickI really liked this! I have to admit, I liked Grace best of the three girls, and I found her story the most interesting. The book is told in alternating chapters from each of the girls‘ points of view. Each chapter is titled with the girl‘s name, so I was able to follow this quite easily. It was really interesting to learn about the Chinese entertainers from the time period.
So... I‘m down with chicken pox!!!
I‘ve been given medical leave for a whole week and all I could think off - are the amount of books I can read the entire week!! 😂
It‘s party time!!
I had to buy something at the Dollar Tree, so while there, I had to look at the books. I came out with these and a book I already own (I thought it looked familiar but failed to look at my LibraryThing app for confirmation). Oh well...it‘s a #giveaway candidate! #bookhaul
pickThis was a really good read about three Asian-American young women who go through national struggles and more personal struggles than people their age should go through. I didn‘t think I would like this one, but it was engaging, the characters were developed and the plots were engaging.
