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Dreams of Joy

by Lisa See

Average based on 11 comments. Synopses & Reviews Read an Excerpt Customer Comments (11) ISBN13: 9781400067121 ISBN10: 140006712x Condition: Standard Dustjacket: Standard All Product Details

 

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

In her beloved New York Times bestsellers Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, Peony in Love, and, most recently, Shanghai Girls, Lisa See has brilliantly illuminated the potent bonds of mother love, romantic love, and love of country. Now, in her most powerful novel yet, she returns to these timeless themes, continuing the story of sisters Pearl and May from Shanghai Girls, and Pearl's strong-willed nineteen-year-old daughter, Joy.

Reeling from newly uncovered family secrets, and anger at her mother and aunt for keeping them from her, Joy runs away to Shanghai in early 1957 to find her birth father — the artist Z.G. Li, with whom both May and Pearl were once in love. Dazzled by him, and blinded by idealism and defiance, Joy throws herself into the New Society of Red China, heedless of the dangers in the communist regime.

Devastated by Joy's flight and terrified for her safety, Pearl is determined to save her daughter, no matter the personal cost. From the crowded city to remote villages, Pearl confronts old demons and almost insurmountable challenges as she follows Joy, hoping for reconciliation. Yet even as Joy's and Pearl's separate journeys converge, one of the most tragic episodes in China's history threatens their very lives.

Acclaimed for her richly drawn characters and vivid storytelling, Lisa See once again renders a family challenged by tragedy and time, yet ultimately united by the resilience of love.

Review:

"See revisits Shanghai Girls sisters Pearl and May in this surefire story of life in Communist China. Joy, the daughter Pearl has raised as her own in L.A., learns the truth about her parentage and flees to China to seek out her father and throw herself into the Communist cause, giving See ample opportunity to explore the People's Republic from an unlikely perspective as Joy reconnects with her artist father, Z.G. Li, and the two leave sophisticated Shanghai to go to the countryside, where Z.G., whose ironic view of politics is lost on naive Joy, has been sent to teach art to the peasants. Joy, full of political vigor, is slow to pick up on the harsh realities of communal life in late 1950s China, but the truth sinks in as Mao's drive to turn China into a major agriculture and manufacturing power backfires. Pearl, meanwhile, leaves L.A. on a perhaps perilous quest to find Joy. As always, See creates an immersive atmosphere — her rural China is far from postcard pretty — but Joy's education is a stellar example of finding new life in a familiar setup, and See's many readers will be pleased to see the continued development of Pearl and May's relationship. Looks like another hit. (May)" Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Review:

"One of those hard-to-put down-until-four in-the-morning books...With each new novel, Lisa See gets better and better." Los Angeles Times

Review:

"Once again, See's research feels impeccable, and she has created an authentic, visually arresting world." The Washington Post

Review:

"See is a gifted historical novelist. She illuminates a turning point in Chinese history when people still remembered the inequities of the feudal caste system, and in some cases embodied them....See is unflinching in her willingness to describe it all." San Francisco Chronicle

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About the Author

Lisa See is the New York Times bestselling author of Shanghai Girls, Peony in Love, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, Flower Net (an Edgar Award nominee), The Interior, and Dragon Bones, as well as the critically acclaimed memoir On Gold Mountain. The Organization of Chinese American Women named her the 2001 National Woman of the Year. She lives in Los Angeles.

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What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 11 comments:

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Margaret Young, January 3, 2012 (view all comments by Margaret Young)
Fantastic story that enlightened me about many aspects of Chinese culture and history, woven through the lives of sisters and daughters who love each other deeply, despite very complicated relationships.

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mbusath, January 1, 2012 (view all comments by mbusath)
Amazing character dynamics between mother/daughter/sister/aunt.

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Sarah Schacker, January 1, 2012 (view all comments by Sarah Schacker)
An amazing story of China, Mao, and family relationships. Even better than Lisa See's previous books!

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Product Details

ISBN:

9781400067121

Author:

See, Lisa

Publisher:

Random House

Subject:

General Fiction

Subject:

Literature-A to Z

Subject:

Literary

Copyright:

2011

Publication Date:

20110531

Binding:

HARDCOVER

Grade Level:

General/trade

Language:

English

Pages:

368

Dimensions:

9.55 x 6.39 x 1.09 in 1.42 lb

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Dreams of Joy Used Hardcover Lisa See

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Product details 368 pages Random House - 2011-05-24 English 9781400067121 Reviews:

"Publishers Weekly Review" by Publishers Weekly, "See revisits Shanghai Girls sisters Pearl and May in this surefire story of life in Communist China. Joy, the daughter Pearl has raised as her own in L.A., learns the truth about her parentage and flees to China to seek out her father and throw herself into the Communist cause, giving See ample opportunity to explore the People's Republic from an unlikely perspective as Joy reconnects with her artist father, Z.G. Li, and the two leave sophisticated Shanghai to go to the countryside, where Z.G., whose ironic view of politics is lost on naive Joy, has been sent to teach art to the peasants. Joy, full of political vigor, is slow to pick up on the harsh realities of communal life in late 1950s China, but the truth sinks in as Mao's drive to turn China into a major agriculture and manufacturing power backfires. Pearl, meanwhile, leaves L.A. on a perhaps perilous quest to find Joy. As always, See creates an immersive atmosphere — her rural China is far from postcard pretty — but Joy's education is a stellar example of finding new life in a familiar setup, and See's many readers will be pleased to see the continued development of Pearl and May's relationship. Looks like another hit. (May)" Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

"Review" by Los Angeles Times, "One of those hard-to-put down-until-four in-the-morning books...With each new novel, Lisa See gets better and better."

"Review" by The Washington Post, "Once again, See's research feels impeccable, and she has created an authentic, visually arresting world."

"Review" by San Francisco Chronicle, "See is a gifted historical novelist. She illuminates a turning point in Chinese history when people still remembered the inequities of the feudal caste system, and in some cases embodied them....See is unflinching in her willingness to describe it all."