China Dolls (Paperback) by Lisa See

About the Book

"In 1938, Ruby, Helen and Grace, three girls from very different backgrounds, find themselves competing at the same audition for showgirl roles at San Francisco's exclusive 'Oriental' nightclub, the Forbidden City. Grace, an American-born Chinese girl has fled the Midwest and an abusive father. Helen is from a Chinese family who have deep roots in San Francisco's Chinatown. And, as both her friends know, Ruby is Japanese passing as Chinese. At times their differences are pronounced, but the girls grow to depend on one another in order to fulfill their individual dreams. Then, everything changes in a heartbeat with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Suddenly the government is sending innocent Japanese to internment camps under suspicion, and Ruby is one of them. But which of her friends betrayed her?"--]cProvided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - "A fascinating portrait of life as a Chinese American woman in the 1930s and '40s."--The New York Times Book Review

"Superb . . . This emotional, informative and brilliant page-turner resonates with resilience and humanity."--The Washington Post (One of the Best Books of the Year)

San Francisco, 1938: A world's fair is preparing to open on Treasure Island, a war is brewing overseas, and the city is alive with possibilities. Talented Grace, traditional Helen, and defiant Ruby, three young women from very different backgrounds, meet by chance at the exclusive and glamorous Forbidden City nightclub. The girls become fast friends, relying on one another through unexpected challenges and shifting fortunes. When their dark secrets are exposed and the invisible thread of fate binds them even tighter, they find the strength and resilience to reach for their dreams. But after the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor, paranoia and suspicion threaten to destroy their lives, and a shocking act of betrayal changes everything.

Praise for China Dolls

"A sweeping, turbulent tale of passion, friendship, good fortune, bad fortune, perfidy and the hope of reconciliation."--Los Angeles Times

"Bravo! Here's a roaring standing ovation for this heartwarming journey into the glittering golden age of Chinese nightclubs."--Jamie Ford, author of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

"Lisa See masterfully creates unforgettable characters that linger in your memory long after you close the pages."--Bookreporter

"Stellar . . . The depth of See's characters and her winning prose make this book a wonderful journey through love and loss."--Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Review Quotes

"Superb . . . This emotional, informative and brilliant page-turner resonates with resilience and humanity."--The Washington Post

"This is one of those stories I've always wanted to tell, but Lisa See beat me to it, and she did it better than I ever could. Bravo! Here's a roaring standing ovation for this heartwarming journey into the glittering golden age of Chinese nightclubs."--Jamie Ford, author of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

"A fascinating portrait of life as a Chinese-American woman in the 1930s and '40s."--The New York Times Book Review

"A sweeping, turbulent tale of passion, friendship, good fortune, bad fortune, perfidy and the hope of reconciliation."--Los Angeles Times

"Lisa See masterfully creates unforgettable characters that linger in your memory long after you close the pages."--Bookreporter

"Stellar . . . The depth of See's characters and her winning prose makes this book a wonderful journey through love and loss."--Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"China Dolls plunges us into a fascinating history and offers an accessible meditation on themes that are still urgent in our contemporary world. The women's story explores burning questions about the possibilities of friendship, the profound effects of betrayal, the horrors of prejudice and the nature of ambition--especially female ambition. . . . These Asian artists were true pioneers, breaking ground, chasing vast dreams, subverting stereotypes simply by appearing onstage against the odds. Here, in China Dolls, they have found another stage of sorts, another place to rightfully shine."--San Francisco Chronicle

"China Dolls is [Lisa See's] most penetrating since Snow Flower and the Secret Fan."--The Seattle Times

"A spellbinding portrait of a time burning with opportunity and mystery."--O: The Oprah Magazine

"[An] impeccably researched and distinctive historical saga of desire and ambition, betrayal and revenge . . . See again lavishly explores the thorny intricacies of female friendships."--Booklist

"Fresh and lively . . . powerful passages . . . a compelling story."--Los Angeles Review of Books

"China Dolls mines a fascinating part of our cultural history through the story of a trio of women who become a complex constant in one another's lives even as the world serves up painful transformation. Lisa See gets so much just right here. You'll want to dive right in."--Paula McLain, author of The Paris Wife

"Colorful and fascinating historical touches tie the story together perfectly and form an exquisite backdrop."--Library Journal

About The Author

Lisa See is the New York Times bestselling author of Dreams of Joy, Shanghai Girls, Peony in Love, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, Flower Net (an Edgar Award nominee), The Interior, and Dragon Bones, as well as the critically acclaimed memoir On Gold Mountain. The Organization of Chinese American Women named her the 2001 National Woman of the Year. She lives in Los Angeles.