"Shanghai Girls" by Lisa See

There is no simple way to comment upon this extraordinary tale.  It is part ‘Tess of the D’urbervilles’ and part ‘Memoir of a Geisha’, the primary reasoning behind my undertaking its tale.  

I initially wondered why I was spending my time engaged in the story when every episode of change in the days of Pearl and May was fraught with one egregious act after the next bit of injustice.  They were treated with unspeakable disregard.  Despite the shallow nature both exhibited at the story's inception, tossed about like some trivial position by the men of that era, reading this from a 21st century perspective, one can merely sit back mouth agaped.   

And then the men!  There were no men to stand up for them, to defend them.  Their lives gradually turned into a wretched horror.

Why was I reading this?  Why continue with a book that offered no redeeming characteristics.  True, the historical aspect (learning how people lived during a particular era) presents a certain allure; but eventually even that aspect cannot compete with the misery these two women go through on a regular basis.

Then I began to notice something that offered a bit of hope.  These two, though very different in appearance and temperament and outlook, they were sisters in the purest sense.  They fought for each other; they fought against each other.  They argued.  They cried.  They rejoiced.  They shared life.  And despite the reality that life can often be harsh and unfair, they never permitted their circumstances to permanently drive a wedge between the fact of who they were; they never allow life to alter who they were – true Shaghhai Girls.  This is a wonderful story of triumph.