NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “A fascinating portrait of life as a Chinese American woman in the 1930s and ’40s.”—The New York Times Book Review “Superb . . . This emotional, informative and brilliant page-turner resonates with resilience and humanity.”—The Washington Post (One of the Best Books of the Year) San Francisco, 1938: A world’s fair is preparing to open on Treasure Island, a war is … world’s fair is preparing to open on Treasure Island, a war is brewing overseas, and the city is alive with possibilities. Talented Grace, traditional Helen, and defiant Ruby, three young women from very different backgrounds, meet by chance at the exclusive and glamorous Forbidden City nightclub. The girls become fast friends, relying on one another through unexpected challenges and shifting fortunes. When their dark secrets are exposed and the invisible thread of fate binds them even tighter, they find the strength and resilience to reach for their dreams. But after the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor, paranoia and suspicion threaten to destroy their lives, and a shocking act of betrayal changes everything.
Praise for China Dolls
“A sweeping, turbulent tale of passion, friendship, good fortune, bad fortune, perfidy and the hope of reconciliation.”—Los Angeles Times
“Bravo! Here’s a roaring standing ovation for this heartwarming journey into the glittering golden age of Chinese nightclubs.”—Jamie Ford, author of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
“Lisa See masterfully creates unforgettable characters that linger in your memory long after you close the pages.”—Bookreporter
“Stellar . . . The depth of See’s characters and her winning prose make this book a wonderful journey through love and loss.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
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I am very glad that this novel was suggested as a book club selection. I did not like the first Lisa See Book I read, but I really enjoyed this one. I learned a lot about Chinese Americans, the prevalent racism against Asians, and the Chinese nightclub circuit. I also learned a bit about the Japanese internment camps during WWII, as well as the treatment of Japanese Americans.
This novel follows Grace, Helen, and Ruby as they struggle to break into show business, and navigate through the end of the Depression and through WWII.
This is a novel that covers a great deal of history and I thought Lisa See did a great job with it.
#ChinaDolls #LisaSee
Lisa See is a wonderful writer
Fabulous book. Easy to read. Wonderful story and characters.
I love this author!
While I enjoyed listening to this book, I didn’t always love the narrator on certain voices. I love Lisa See and will continue to read her books, but this one is not my favorite. It’s still worth a read and takes a very different approach to life during WWII, in this case for people of Chinese and Japanese descent in the United States. It takes a close look at the ups and downs of three friends who live through good times and bad together and apart. The jealousies and petty differences, along with mean actions of the women toward someone who was supposed to be their “best friend” were not something I could relate to very well.
Lisa See writes wonderful stories that hold my interest and I always learn something about history in the process.
Great story teller
A wonderful author with wonderful characters.
Again, Lisa See outdoes herself. What a fantastic glimpse at another culture and the ups and downs of maintaining ones status and reputation, highly competitive and often sad. Great page turner 🙂
I enjoyed seeing the lives of these three young women join together to create a very interesting and creative book. The book kept my attention and made me want to keep reading and not put the book down.
Loved this book. Could not believe what one young woman went through to get to freedom from the horrific N Korean regime. Hard to put the book down.
Loved this book so much I had to find more books by this author…and loved them. Could not put the book down. This was a page turner. Loved it.
I enjoy anything related to Asian culture.
ENJOYED THE HISTORICAL INFORMATION, THE DESCRIPTIVE LIVES OF THE GIRLS AND HOW THEY LIVED AND WORKED, PLUS THE DYNAMICS BETWEEN THE GIRLS WAS GREAT. VERY INTERESTING AND MOST ENJOYABLE READ.