Welcome to Litsy!

This book follows three young women—Ruby, Grace, and Helen—mostly in the 1930s and 40s in San Fransisco, as they are navigating a career of dancing in nightclubs and World War II. Lisa See is a great storyteller, and I thought there were good elements, but overall it fell a little short for me. I liked how sweeping the story was, but also some parts felt a little too protracted. Some parts had interesting commentary, but other parts felt trite.

My library did it again! Their displays sent me home with 5 books not already on my long TBR.

I loved this one! My only Lisa See book so far!

#AlphabetGame
#LetterC

Share one of you favorite books that starts with C and tag friends!

Time for this month‘s #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead discussion!

I have 8 questions under the spoiler…thanks to the reading guide from Ballantine/Penguin Random House. Comment general thoughts below!

You can find these either by searching the hashtags, under my feed or the book‘s feed. Thanks to those participating this month. If I did not tag you in the post for next month‘s discussion, and you wish to be tagged, let me know!

I am shocked that March is almost over, which means discussion day for this month‘s #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead is nearly here! I will post discussion questions on the 31st.

I‘ve seen a lot of not finished for this month!

Finished this one for #authoramonth earlier this week. I‘m giving it a low pick because I cared just enough to find out what happened. However, it‘s my least favorite of See‘s books so far.

Ruby, Grace and Helen are thrown together at their audition to be dancers at the Forbidden City. We follow their careers through the book as they are friends, enemies and generally make bad choices informed by past hardships they‘ve endured. ⬇️

Unfortunately I‘m going to bail on this month‘s book for #literarycrew and #authoramonth. I don‘t have time to read the book right now but was listening on my commute. I‘m over an hour in on the audio and I can‘t differentiate the characters/povs. I think it‘s because the narrator isn‘t differentiating their voices. I‘ll be back for both next month.

At halfway I didn‘t really see the point of the book. All three main characters are stuck in repeating patterns of self destructive behaviors. The plot isn‘t really compelling. Putting it down for now. I‘m disappointed because I usually really like Lisa See but this one doesn‘t seem up to her usual standard. Maybe a case of wrong book/wrong time. #AuthorAMonth

Finish ‘The Tea Girl Of Hummingbird Lane‘ which was great read and given 4.5 stars ... next up is China Dolls both by:Lisa See. #authoramonth @Soubhiville

I finished this one yesterday for #AuthorAMonth #LiteraryCrew #Booked2022 @Librarybelle @Soubhiville

I did like it, and I learned some things, but I felt like it was too long. The end was strange to me. I was also reading another by the same author at the same time - not recommended. I listened on audio and liked the narrator, but I sometimes had trouble telling the characters apart with her voices.

Repost for @Soubhiville

#AuthorAMonth readers,
There are a couple of Lisa See events you may wish to join in on in March.
First is the #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead of China Dolls, hosted by @Librarybelle , check out her post for more info.
Second @Julsmarshall found this author talk happening this Sunday, which will also be available to watch after the event if you can‘t make it live. :

https://www.paperlanternwriters.com/events/lisasee

#AuthorAMonth readers,
There are a couple of Lisa See events you may wish to join in on in March.
First is the #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead of China Dolls, hosted by @Librarybelle , check out her post for more info.
Second @Julsmarshall found this author talk happening this Sunday, which will also be available to watch after the event if you can‘t make it live. :

https://www.paperlanternwriters.com/events/lisasee

Enjoy your readings! 💕📚💕

New month, new book for #LiteraryCrew .

We are a low key #BuddyRead group…I‘ll post check ins periodically and will post discussion questions at the end of the month.

If you would like me to tag you in the posts, and I don‘t have you tagged on this post, please comment below! If I missed adding you, please let me know!

It‘s March, time to pull out our Lisa See books for #AuthorAMonth. What are you planning to read?

#AuthorAMonth is a no-pressure challenge, read as many or as few as you like. The authors were voted on by Litsy.

Visit @Soubhiville for more information.

I‘m behind with the reminder for March‘s #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead …life has been a bit complicated lately.

I‘m so excited to say we will read Lisa See‘s China Dolls. This is a low key buddy read; read at your own pace, and I will post periodic check ins. Discussion March 31st.

Tagging those who have either expressed interest or are participating in this month‘s read. All are welcome! Please comment below if you wish to be tagged in March posts.

This was January‘s FOTL book club read. I snagged it on Libby because I was afraid I‘d not get to it otherwise this month. I‘m really glad I made time for it! The story, set predominantly from the end of the Depression through the years of WWII, follows three young Asian women as they navigate life as nightclub performers with sexism, racism, and familial cultural responsibility weighing them each down in their own way. Unique period fiction!

Your package arrived today Misty. Thank you for the birthday love! I‘m a big Lisa See fan, and I look forward to reading this. Thanks for all the crafty gifts and LitsyLove goodies. I hope things are going better for you today. 💕

I loved this one!! I bought this one solely based on the cover! 💗 I have some of her others and haven‘t read them yet, imagine that! #TBR My beautiful China from Christine 💜

#China
#LitsySpringBreak

I love the Libby app! I can‘t get enough audio books!

So, I‘m going to give this a try too. Omg my head is spinning with all the challenges and such I want to participate in. But how could I not. Join us!

Decided for the first time to sign up for #booked2021 and planned out the winter quarter. It‘s not written in stone but these book‘s intrigue me. Some older, some newer, some kids‘ books.

All set with my January #Bookspin list. I saw some others doubling up so I thought that might be a good idea.

Merry Christmas everyone. Waiting for the fam to wake up and so I started an older Lisa See book. Not a Christmas book for my #dashingdecember #readaothon but I‘m enjoying it so far. Enjoy a peaceful day, Littens.

One of my favorite books 📚
I hope everyone has had a great weekend! I‘ve been working and trying to wrap my head around things... just soooo much going on... sending love to everyone ❤️ 🌎

#AugustAuthors
#LisaSee

I couldn‘t put this book down but unlike other books by Lisa See all of the characters were incredibly unlikable. I did enjoy how each characters perspective of an event came back to be so different

I listened to this one by See, whom I've previously loved. However, I did not like it at all. The voice acting was a big deterrent, but the characters weren't likable, and the story wasn't interesting. I can't recommend this one.

This audiobook was very enjoyable during a long road trip.

#JulyColdPlay @Eggs
#PrincessofChina

I drew a blank on this one. This is the only book that I could think of that remotely matched the prompt. 🤔

My little China girl
You shouldn't mess with me
I'll ruin everything you are🎶

#chinagirl #wanderingjune @Cinfhen @BarbaraBB

Just finished this Jewel last night! And it definitely deserves 5⭐ .Grace, Helen and Ruby fascinating stories. I love how every chapter had something totally unpredictable to the story. Great book!

I can't put this down! It is such a thrilling story, I can't wait to see how this comes to an end... keep you tuned 😁👍 @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Grace, Helen, and Ruby meet by chance at the exclusive and glamorous Forbidden City Nightclub in San Francisco. They become best friends dancing and hiding dark secrets right before American involvement in WW11.... This was my first Lisa See book and I‘ll be reading many more!!

#DancingOnMyOwn
#AMonthofSongs

My partner in crime💗

Rainy afternoon and China Dolls, my kind of day 💗🧘‍♀️

A little Goodwill shopping while I waited 4 looonnnggg hours for Bentley to be groomed!! Wth!! I think he is as traumatized as I am if not more so by the wait time that he is unavailable for a photo at this time... 💙📚🐶

I have read China Dolls and loved it!! Anyone read the others?

Currently listening to this audiobook I found I am loving it. It is making prep for school more bearable #audiobook #currentlyreading

Next vacation read—I‘m so relaxed.

Happy Monday! Pippin is reading China Dolls today.

#Spinepoetry
#DiverseSpines

China Dolls
Leaving Atlanta
Salvage the Bones
Where the Line Bleeds

I really liked this! I have to admit, I liked Grace best of the three girls, and I found her story the most interesting. The book is told in alternating chapters from each of the girls‘ points of view. Each chapter is titled with the girl‘s name, so I was able to follow this quite easily. It was really interesting to learn about the Chinese entertainers from the time period.

So... I‘m down with chicken pox!!!

I‘ve been given medical leave for a whole week and all I could think off - are the amount of books I can read the entire week!! 😂

It‘s party time!!