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Description
Peony in Love"I finally understand what the poets have written. In spring, moved to passion; in autumn only regret." For young Peony, betrothed to a suitor she has never met, these lyrics from The Peony Pavilion mirror her own longings. In the garden of the Chen Family Villa, amid the scent of ginger, green tea, and jasmine, a small theatrical troupe is performing scenes from this epic opera, a live spectacle few females have ever seen. Like the heroine in the
"I finally understand what the poets have written. In spring, moved to passion; in autumn only regret." For young Peony, betrothed to a suitor she has never met, these lyrics from The Peony Pavilion mirror her own longings. In the garden of the Chen Family Villa, amid the scent of ginger, green tea, and jasmine, a small theatrical troupe is performing scenes from this epic opera, a live spectacle few females have ever seen. Like the heroine in the drama, Peony is the cloistered daughter of a wealthy family, trapped like a good-luck cricket in a bamboo-and-lacquer cage. Though raised to be obedient, Peony has dreams of her own. Peony's mother is against her daughter's attending the production: "Unmarried girls should not be seen in public." But Peony's father assures his wife that proprieties will be maintained, and that the women will watch the opera from behind a screen. Yet through its cracks, Peony catches sight of an elegant, handsome man with hair as black as a cave-and is immediately overcome with emotion. So begins Peony's unforgettable journey of love and destiny, desire and sorrow-as Lisa See's haunting new novel, based on actual historical events, takes readers back to seventeenth-century China, after the Manchus seize power and the Ming dynasty is crushed. Steeped in traditions and ritual, this story brings to life another time and place-even the intricate realm of the afterworld, with its protocols, pathways, and stages of existence, a vividly imagined place where one's soul is divided into three, ancestors offer guidance, misdeeds are punished, and hungry ghosts wander the earth. Immersed in the richness and magic of the Chinese vision of the afterlife, transcending even death, Peony in Love explores, beautifully, the many manifestations of love. Ultimately, Lisa See's new novel addresses universal themes: the bonds of friendship, the power of words, and the age-old desire of women to be heard.Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Random House Trade
Published: 02/19/2008
ISBN: 9780812975222
Pages: 297
Weight: 0.52lbs
Size: 8.01h x 5.16w x 0.71d
Review Citations: New York Times Book Review 03/09/2008 pg. 28
People Weekly 03/24/2008 pg. 53
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4.8 ★★★★★
Based on 21 reviews
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Product Reviews
★★★★★ 3
Not the best, but not the worst either
Format: Hardcover
By any means not the funniest book in the series, only the one on Krusty the Clown was more un-funny; but still a worthy addition to your collection and, just like all the others from the series providing a retrospective of anecdotes you might have forgotten.
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Reviewed in the United States on July 22, 2012
★★★★★ 1
One Star
Format: Hardcover
The book I received had 3 pages cut out of it.
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Reviewed in the United States on August 17, 2014
★★★★★ 2
Not that great
Huge "The Simpsons" fan. I watched all the episodes and read a lot of the comics and enjoy most. This one however was quite boring. Turns out I'm just not a big fan of Chief Wiggum. I really enjoyed The "Homer" and "Bart" book. But not this one. Maybe if you love Wiggum you'll love it. If you're not too fond of him then I wouldn't buy it.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2013
★★★★★ 3
Good for my collection.
Format: Hardcover
This was another quick and entertaining read. This instalment wasn't as enjoyable as some of the other books but it was still good. I'm glad to have it in my collection.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2014
★★★★★ 4
Creepy, unpredictable and an all-around great read!
Format: Kindle
The power of our choices has never been more evident than in this novel. This book is filled with both good, and bad, decisions that lead to terrifying consequences. Right from the start, our protagonist, Eve, has to make a choice — should she let the family who showed up at her front door inside her home or send them back into the cold? Inevitably, Eve’s inability to say no and need to please others outweighs Stranger Danger and soon the family of five is wandering through the isolated Victorian house.
The book warns early on, “Once you let them in, they’ll never leave.” For sure once she let them in, things were never the same. The visit seems innocuous enough until things start to change. Subtle changes, the kind that makes you second guess yourself, slowly emerge and, as time goes on, transform into the kind that makes you question reality.
Eve, too, transforms throughout the book. Her character bounces through bouts of paranoia, insecurity, impulsiveness and courage, never fully landing on one attribute, although paranoia always seems to be lurking in the depths of her mind. She constantly questions her own perceptions of what is and what was and the intentions of even the most innocent interactions.
The book goes beyond the fear of what goes bump in the night and harnesses the fear of the unknown, keeping us on the edge of our seats. Nothing is as it seems. And it is scary! Kliewer’s frightening images and heart stopping encounters stay with you long after you’ve closed the book. At times, I found myself gripping my Kindle tightly and reading at lightning speed as if I, too, am escaping the sinister situations Eve faces.
All in all, this is a good read. It’s quick and easy and Kliewer sets the stage with plenty of backstory, foreshadowing, suffocating tension, and creepy moments that all manage to tie into the moment a strange family shows up at her door. However, upon finishing, I found myself left with several unanswered questions (the only reason it got 4 and not 5 stars), which can be uncomfortable for readers who need everything wrapped up on a nice neat bow. But if you can handle a little ambiguity, take the time to read this book. Trust me, it's worth your time. And it may leave you questioning if things really are as they seem or have you hesitating before taking that trek down to the basement. For me, I may reconsider answering the door should a family of five come knocking.
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Reviewed in the United States on July 15, 2024