A beautiful historial fiction novel of ancient China
a woman, a fiction reader, avid reader, a fan of clever plots, character lover, read for fun
FEB
25
2009
Peony in Love —
PEONY IN LOVEby Lisa See
This story is set in 17th century China. Peony is a young girl, soon to be married, who is obsessed with the opera "The Peony Pavilion", which actually was a real opera. She is also pining away for the young man she has been meeting in secret, unknown to her family. Her family has arranged a marriage for here, as was the custom of wealthy families of that time, but she dies of "love sickness", finding out too late that the man was betrothed to was actually the man she was in love with and meeting in the garden.
The story follows Peony as she tries to reunite with the man she loves, despite death. The story follows her journey into the afterworld.
Some of the characters in the book were actually real people, who lived at that time, though their life stories are fictionalized. I found it interesting to read about the ancient Chinese customs regarding how girls are raised, marriages are arranged, and the customs of death and morning, and their beliefs in the after life. The author also describes the process of foot binding, and there are many references throughout the story of how difficult it was to walk on those of feet. I still can't imagine how those women put up with that pain having it done as little girls, and how they walk at all as adults. The novel also references other historical events which really happened.
Much of the book is quite melancholy, but it was a fascinating story, about how love survives even death, and love wins in the end.
Peony in Love is recommended by mom2acat
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