China Dolls by Lisa See

China Dolls by Lisa See

Lisa See, author of “Peony in Love”,” Snow Flower and the Secret Fan” and “Shanghai Girls” has a reputation for writing beautiful epic tales about women’s lives and friendships set in interesting historical backgrounds. Her the latest novel combines the themes of friendship, betrayal and self-discovery.

It begins with the sumptuous backdrop of the 1939 San Francisco International Exposition.  Grace is a young Chinese girl from the Mid-West who’s never seen another Chinese person outside of her small family. Fed up with her father’s abuse she’s runaway with just her dancing talent and a dream.

Almost immediately, Grace meets Helen, a conservative young woman raised by a traditional extended family in San Francisco’s Chinatown. They form a fast friendship and meet another happy- go-lucky girl named Ruby when they try out for an all-Asian dancing revue at a club called the Forbidden City. The woman work and play together and become sisters. Its a dazzingly behind the scenes look at the glittery nightclub world these woman inhabit as "big thigh girls." (A term that other Chinese-Americans use to describe the scandoulous nature of their jobs as dancers.)

The story begins with Grace’s voice then switches from Helen and Ruby, throughout the many years of their friendship.  The reader is offered a unique perspective as each friend gives their account of the same events to reveal their secrets, fears and hopes.  The ubiquitous Chinese fortune cookie saying rings true for these women, “May you live in interesting times”. The optimism of the SF Exposition gives way to the threat of war to the reality of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

The woman navigate these changes with imperfect grace and the times bring out the best and worse in each of them.  Each woman is trying to survive the secrets of their past and the trials of the present.  Eventually, there are several acts of betrayal, which will drive the woman apart.  In the end, all secrets will be exposed and the friends will have to decide if they can forgive each other.  It’s an emotional and complicated journey for each of them.

The book explores familiar themes of that time in history, racism and the Japanese interment camps, the changes to the traditional roles of women, homosexuality and promiscuity and marriage. The difference in See’s novel is that one empathizes with each of the woman’s struggle, despite their opposing values. This adds a beautiful texture to the blend of their stories.  Highly recommend and if you liked this subject, read James Ford’s “On the Corner of Bitter and Sweet”, set during the same era in Seattle.