China Dolls by Lisa See (2014)

San Francisco, 1938. While war is brewing in Europe, the International Exhibition is about to open its doors. Three young Chinese-American women - Grace, Helen, and Ruby - with different trajectories, meet by chance at the Forbidden City, a chic and exclusive night club. Grace Lee, an American of Chinese origin, left the Midwest to escape an abusive father. Helen Fong wants to escape the shackles of her traditionalist Chinese family. Meanwhile, the sublime Ruby Tom defies the conventions of the time with her provocative attitude and boundless ambition. The three become best friends and together face the unexpected and a reversal of fortune. But the attack on Pearl Harbor soon comes to shake up their lives. Will they find the courage and determination to make their dreams a reality?

Although they have taken a “one for all” vow of eternal loyalty, each harbours secrets that cause a pervasive atmosphere of distrust to simmer just below the surface.

Author: Lisa See is a Chinese American writer. She was born on 18 February 1955 in Paris and lives in Los Angeles, the city where her great-grandfather immigrated when he left his Chinese village early last century to become the godfather of Chinatown in Los Angeles.

It was with the novel “Snow flower and the secret fan” (2005) that she met with real success. She has so far published 10 books. Her latest novel is China Dolls.

My thoughts: I learned about Lisa See recently, thanks to Judy’s “Keep the Wisdom” blog. I liked her review and I was curious to discover this female writer.

I found the book to be a fascinating portrait of life as Chinese-American women in the America of the 1940’s. China Dolls is the story of three Asian girlfriends.

There is Grace, who is graceful, naive and a very good dancer. In order to escape her village and a brutal father, she flees to California. In her struggle to find a job, she crosses the path of Helen, a native of San Francisco and daughter of a wealthy Chinese businessman in Chinatown.

The life of Helen, which was previously filled with boredom and loneliness, changes through her contact with Grace. When auditioning as cabaret dancers in the Forbidden City in Chinatown, they meet Ruby (a Japanese posing as a Chinese). She is carefree and full of cunning. The three become friends and stick together in hard times and in this America filled with prejudice towards Asians.

We discover their parallel stories and thoughts which are narrated by each of them. This is a very original approach to writing and Lisa See is a true discovery for me (thanks, Judy!). I was intrigued and fascinated by this novel. I liked the story of the friendship between these three young women: not always easy, made of multiple noble actions and less noble feelings at times. But they knew how to stick together and believed in the power of friendship. I, myself, cherish long term friendships, not flash in the pan acquaintances.