 a fairy tale filled with chinese history, November 20, 2008
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no need for details. this book has stayed with me. i now feel that loved ones that have past on really do remain or return for certain reasons or unfinished business. this novel was a beautiful and romantic ghost story.... i loved every page
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 Disappointing, November 8, 2008
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I loved Snowflower and the Secret Fan so couldn't wait to read this book. What I found was a ridiculous mishmash of ghosts, the afterlife, superstition and illogic. Peony and Ren fall madly and eternally in love after spending minutes together over three nights. We are treated to tales of superstition and rigid Chinese customs that seem to lack any humanity or basic kindness most of the time. In places the machinations of these ghosts become laughable. I was relieved to finish.
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Silly predictable plot, November 7, 2008
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I was very disappointed in this book. If I had not been reading it for a book club I might not have even bothered investing the time to finish the book. The main character was very frustrating to even read about..a silly anorexic immature spoiled girl. The plot was very predictable and as I read I hoped along the way that my predictions would be wrong so I could be surprised, but alas, no. The story line was plodding, predictable, and just plain silly. The only redeeming quality in the story was the interesting information regarding the culture during that time.
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 Didn't meet my expectations, October 27, 2008
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I absolutely loved Snowflower And The Secret Fan, so I had high hopes for this novel by the same author.
I didn't hate it, and there were many parts that I genuinely enjoyed, but overall the plotline really needed help. At times it seemed to be going nowhere, and quite frankly I got sick of Peony's obsession with a man she never knew. I found the parts about the Chinese culture's beliefs in the afterlife really interesting, so that kept me reading. I just wish the story itself had a little more depth to it.
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Favorite Summer Fiction Read, October 13, 2008
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Such a wonderful love story. I wanted to be there and in the moment. It felt so real at times. I wanted to believe in the story so much....that all of it was really possible.
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Reviews
