Wonderfully written, interesting tale...
At first blush, I thought this was a sweet, simple summer read, but having finished it I can safely say it is so much more than that. It is deeply moving, wonderfully written, and fascinating in its exploration of women in China in the early 20th century.
As the reader follows the story of Pei, a young girl born to a poor farming family who is sent to the "big city" to become a silkworker, we learn of the constant struggles and hardships faced by women in Chinese society at this time, where it was much more adventageous and acceptable to send a female child away to work and reap the benefit of her income, than to have her at home with the family and face shame from the community. Her story is one of hope, love, tenderness, and loss, and it will continue to follow you long after the book is closed.
I highly recommend this novel to everyone, especially those with interest in womens' issue, Chinese society, the early 20th Century, or silkworkers.
