Peony in Love

A reviewer

With too much intelligent history to be pegged a romance, Peony in Love is, indeed, romantic. It is a tale of love and death in 17th century China - a time of Cataclysm and a place where, pound for pound, salt was more valuable than women. Painting her words on a ghostly dreamscape, See once again explores themes of love, language and the strength of women amidst a revealing and sometimes disturbing history................ Already promised in marriage, young Peony Chen falls in love under the spell of her favorite opera, The Peony Pavillion. Fated to follow in the footsteps of the opera's heroine, Peony dies of lovesickness soon thereafter. It is only after she dies and her tortured soul waits to be dispersed in the proper way that she learns her beloved and her betrothed were one in the same. Now a hungry ghost, Peony hopes to be reconciled with Wu Ren just as her opera heroine was reunited with her own true love............. But Peony confronts many obstacles, the least of which is the unfinished state of her written critical commentary on The Peony Pavillion. Although abundant in number and talent, China's earliest female writers were often published posthumously and anonymously. Yet, working between the worlds of life and death, Peony manages to have her work published and, more important, her words recognized by Wu Ren................ What kind of reconciliation can Peony possibly expect when so many ancient rules were broken, so many rituals left unperformed? How can a ghost-wife love a husband who loves someone else? See's rich writing style will keep you turning pages for answers. Drawing from resources including Tang Xianzu's opera The Peony Pavillion 'first published in 1598', Wu Wushan's Three Wives' Collaborative Commentary on The Peony Pavillion, Jingmei Chen's dissertation The Dream World of Love-Sick Maidens, a plethora of scholarly research and personal interviews See weaves a haunting blend of history and love.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

A great story

I was concerned that this book would be too complicated since I didn't know much about the Chinese culture and traditions but it wasn't a problem. Lisa See tells an amazing story and is very knowledgeable herself. As already stated, this isn't a fast read. I took my time and paid attention to the names and the descriptions. I was rewarded with an inspiring story about Peony and her family and how she learns and grows even in the afterworld. This was my first book by this author but I will be reading more of hers now.

3 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

Surprising dissapointment

Earlier I had read Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, by Lisa See, which I loved. This prompted me to buy Peony in Love. What an unexpected dissapointment...I wonder are the authors other books as wonderful at Snow Flower.

2 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

This book will haunt your soul - wonderful!

This is my first book by Lisa See, but it will definitely not be my last! Although there is certainly a point in the book that is so heartbreaking I almost stopped reading it, I'm so glad I continued on this journey with Peony. What a wonderful, incredible book on women, men, love, passion, mothers, daughters, and the golden threads of words that bind our souls together forever. Take your time reading this book - it is a complex, beautiful tapestry that deserves your time and attention.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Great read--for the right people

I just finished reading this novel, and I cannot seem to let her 'Peony' go. Such a beautifu, haunting story, all the more so knowing that the three wives did exist. While See has invented their biography here, she's done it in such a way that even the most supernatural elements seem to be their truths. In reading the novel, I can see where some impatient readers might not like it--if you're looking for a quick and airy summer read, don't go for this book--it is not meant to be read as such. It is meant to be reflected upon and savored. The themes within it are many, and are deep--they will not leave once you have closed the book for the last time. I myself became a little frustrated right around the time Peony died in the book--I stopped reading, because I didn't want her to die so unfulfilled! But I was so wrong in this, and once I resumed my reading, I could barely put the book down, let alone stop thinking about it. This work is a wonderful blessing, about a world that most of us, sadly, know little about.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Boring

I have enjoyed all of Lisa See's other books so got this one. What a disappointment. I couldn't even finish it.

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

simply irresistible

i remember not being able to put the book down once i caught a hold of it...a truly powerful novel held through the eye of a 16 years old woman up in heaven

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

A reviewer

This was the second book I read by Lisa See and it was just as good as I hoped it to be! I love how she told the story from a unique point of view.....

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Unbelievable!

Peony In Love was by far the most enjoyable book I have ever read. It takes a great look at China's society and reveals women's desire to be heard. The book mixes undying love with suspense, revenge, joy, and heartbreak. The book kept me on my toes, and as I became emotionally involved, I began to relate to the characters very easily. Reading Peony In Love was extremely full filing and I will never forget it.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Amazed

I loved this book b/c it is so rich in the Chinese culture and Lisa See does a wonderful job in explaining certain traditions and sticking to the facts. Although some parts were extremely depressing, I couldn't put down the book without wondering what will happen in the end. In some aspects I was so touched by the main character (Peony) that I started picking up on her emotions and feeling them myself. Through the experiences I've gone through in life and the beautifully crafted story of Peony, I've gained lots of insight about dreams, love, and death after reading See's book. I highly recommend it to anyone who is fascinated by the Chinese culture.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

loved it

this is a book that you don't want to end....Ms See is a master of weaving a tale

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AP World History: Illuminating

Peony in Love tells the story of The Three Wives and how their lives have become interconnected all because of one play, The Peony Pavilion. Lisa See weaves an intricate story of love, life, death, and a harrowing history into the life of Peony. By doing so, See makes the book very revealing of Chinese society during this time period. The reader learns about the day-to-day lives of Chinese women, marital customs, burial rites, and the traumatic Yangzhou massacre. While reading about Peony's tragic life, the reader also learns about the history and culture of China. Lisa See does a wonderful job telling the story of Peony while weaving a story of love, life, and death. From the first page, I was entranced by Peony in Love and the story it tells. I learned more from this book than I did from the lesson on the Manchu conquest in class because Peony in Love vividly describes how the Manchus affected the lives of regular people, not just the government officials and the elite. Lisa See provides a rare glimpse into the lives of Chinese women and as a result captures the reader immediately. I would recommend this book to anybody interested in learning more about the lives of women in China during the Manchu Empire.

Did not hold my interest.

I have read 3 other books by this author and really enjoyed them. However I had to force myself to keep reading Peony in Love. I kept hoping the story would get better, if possible it became more tedious.

Good quick read

I enjoyed this book much more than Shanghai Sisters. Very curious as to how Peony would 'grow' or mature in death and See demonstrates Peony's maturation and changing view on love through the Three Wives Commentary. Thoroughly enjoyed this novel's combination of Chinese literature (Peony Pavilion), culture, and spirituality.

A Ghostly Story, but a bit long-winded

I was really excited to read this story because I'm a big Lisa See fan,unfortunately this story lacked something. I felt as if I was reading page after page but I wasn't moving forward in the story. It was so drawn out that by the time I got to the ending it lacked any emotion for me. I'm a hopeless romantic, and this story pretty much went against a lot of my own personal feelings. So unfortunately I didn;t enjoy this story as much I was hoping to. All in all it is a pretty story, but don't be fooled by the title be ready for a story that twists and turns.

Amazing.

This book was really intrguing.

Worth the wait....

Yes, the writer took her time with her words in developing the time, the culture and its intricacies, but the story is worth the wait... You grow to love the characters and their surprising passion, pain, and love.

Unique

I was captivated and didn't find the story to be slow at all...

Very, very disapointing.

I do not recommend this book. I found it to be very drawn out & unrealistic. I will never purchase a book by this author again.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.