The Girl Who Wrote in Silk

The author skillfully wove a very moving story around Mei Lien from the 19th century and Inara from the present. The book opened my eyes to the horrible persecution of the Chinese in our country in the past. The research that went into writing the book was impressive! I really liked this book.

this book was recomended to me by a librian, and friend who loves good fiction as much as i do. i was intriged by the title and devoured every word of this beautiful novel. thanks for this book.

This is the best book i have read in a long time loved the stories of mei lie and irana and how their families were all connected

Probably one of the most amazing books ever. The story actually tore at my heart, be prepared to feel some of the strongest emotions ever. The writing is so descriptive you feel you are right there, hearing the waves, smelling the forest, and seeing all the beauty of the Orcas Island. I had never heard of this part of our country's history, it should be taught in our schools. Be prepared for one of the best books ever!

Well written, complex and interesting plot. Great read!

Loved reading this book with its contrast between modern and historic times. Historic fiction that painted clear pictures though its good writing.

The parts of the story that tell of Mei Lein were interesting , however the rest of the book was just too romantic and saccharine for this reader.The novel might have appeal to young adults .

A well told story that reminds me of something Lisa See would write. I was pulled in immediately; author created believable characters and the duality of the history kept me wanting more.

Sometimes books come along that just fill your heart. This is one. The story of Mei Lien and Inara is compelling and timely. Racism, injustice, and love are all explored by the author. Highly recommended !

This is one of the best books i have read

Reads fast. Keeps your interest. Good story line but weakens at end.

This was a wonderful book! Loved the characters and the historical time period. Easy to read and a story that you never wanted to stop! Looking forward to reading more from this author.

Way too many coincidences. Had to force myself to finish. Very predictably happily ever after.

This book should be made into a movie. The interwoven layers of culture, human experiences, gender issues, family issues all enveloped in interact detail and creative expression- it's simply to die for. I couldn't put the book down. Awesome work! I would recommend it to any of my finicky fellow writers or family members.

I don’t run into a 5-star read very often-this is one. The Girl Who Wrote in Silk follows the stories of 2 women. Mei Lien, is a Chinese woman who lived in the late 19th century. Inara Erickson is a modern woman who is trying to unearth Mei Lien’s story after finding an elaborate embroidered sleeve hidden in the property she recently inherited. As the book unfolds, we learn more about each woman’s life, and their 2 stories are intertwined. The book is well plotted, well written, and well researched. The story deals with prejudice, intolerance, love, and honor. It was written in 2015 but it felt incredibly timely in early 2017. While there are tragedies in both women’s lives, the book left me feeling uplifted. The reader learns more about Mei Lien than Inara does, and some details of Mei Lien’s story are not revealed at all, but the ending was extremely satisfying. My biggest disappointment with this book was going online and discovering that the author has not yet written another book! I will be looking for future works by Kelli Estes.

Best book I've read in a while. So interesting that I didn't want to stop reading it. You cannot go wrong with this book. I urge you to read it soon.

I loved the intertwining stories told in this book of the lives of Mei Lie and Irana. At any free moment, I had to pick up the book to see what would be happening next. Now that I've finished it and completely enjoyed the book, I hope I can find another equally as well written.

I just finished a marvelous novel from Kelli Estes. It is called The Girl Who Wrote in Silk. I just loved this book and did not want it to end. The book starts out in February 1886 in Puget Sound, Washington Territory. Liu Mei Lien (Liu is her surname) works with her father in his shop in what is now Seattle in Washington Territory. The white people in the area are not happy with the Chinese. They do not like them coming in and taking their jobs. Mei Lien dresses like a boy as protection when she is out in the city (a girl could be attacked). One morning just after Mei Lien awakened there are white men outside their homes with weapons. All the Chinese are being escorted out of the city to a ship called the Prince of the Pacific. Mei Lien, her father, Liu Huang Fu, and her grandmother (who is frail) are forced onto the ship (and have to pay for passage). The ship is to take them to San Francisco. Once the ship is underway Mei Lien overhears Duncan Campbell (owner of ship) talking about the Chinese on the ship. Campbell has no intention of allowing the Chinese to stay on his ship. He is going to dump them into the water when they get far enough out. When Mei Lien tells her father what is going to happen, he gives her his money bag and, when they are near the last island before open water, he pushes her off the ship. Inara Erickson has just inherited her Aunt Dahlia’s estate on Orca Island called Rothesay (near Seattle, Washington). Inara loved going their when she was younger before the death of her mother. Inara has just graduated from graduate school (majored in business) and has a job lined up at Starbucks. Inara is a descendant of Duncan Campbell. Her family runs the business Campbell started. It was originally called Campbell Lines but is now called Premier Maritime Group. PMG is run by Charles Erickson (Inara’s father). Charles has high expectations for his daughter. He expects her to sell the estate and return to Seattle. Inara is exploring the house when she discovers a loose step in Aunt Dahlia’s house (she lived in a little house behind Rothesay). There is a cloth wrapped bundle in the step. When Inara unwraps it she finds a beautifully embroidered blue silk sleeve. It has lovely silk embroidery picturing scenes. Inara would like to discover more about the sleeve. She feels that it is important. Inara calls Dr. Daniel Chin who teaches China studies. This sleeve leads Inara and Daniel on a journey into the past. We get to find out what happened to Liu Mei Lien after she was shoved into the water near Orcas Island. It is amazing how the past can affect the present. This is a moving book that will captivate you from the very first page. I give The Girl Who Wrote in Silk 5 out of 5 stars. This is one of the best books I have read this year. The Girl Who Wrote in Silk is superbly composed. It is one of those books that you will continue to think about for days after you have finished reading it. This is Kelli Estes first novel and I impatiently await her next book. I received a complimentary copy of The Girl Who Wrote in Silk from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The review and opinions expressed are my own.