Living in seventeenth-century China, Peony has never left her family’s home. Her mother has kept her inside to maintain her virtue and modesty as she prepares to marry out to a stranger. Peony is nearly sixteen, and on her birthday, her father has planned a performance of her favorite play, The Peony Pavilion. As the only child, Peony has been educated beyond what her mother deems appropriate, and as a result has a great appreciation for literature. On the night of the play, Peony accidentally meets a handsome young poet, immediately falling in love with him. In despair over her approaching marriage to a stranger and consumed by obsession for the play and her poet, Peony’s life spirals into a haunting struggle through the nebulous underworld and culminates with her quest to give Chinese women a voice.
I’ve been looking forward to this novel since it came out and was pleased to finally have the opportunity to read it. Lisa See didn’t let me down; while not as masterful as Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, which I read before blogging, Peony in Love* is a romantic story about the struggles of women in China with an abundance of fascinating historical detail and a healthy dose of fantasy. Peony dies in the first third of the novel (this is revealed on the back cover, so I don’t consider it a spoiler) and enters a world of Chinese mythology, where Lisa See uses her research on those beliefs to elaborate on how Peony can still communicate and influence those she loves. We know her ending cannot be totally happy, but her story is still compelling and absorbing.
My favorite aspect of the book was how it mirrored The Peony Pavilion in many ways but also reflected real historical events. I have never read the play, but enough is described in this novel to make it clear that Peony is essentially trying to become Liniang and get her Mengmei to bring her back to life. It was fascinating and maddening to realize that many young women did actually die of “lovesickness” in this way. Basically, it’s believed that they became anorexic, which is horrifying, to both gain control over their lives and because they supposedly believed that true love would save them. Even though this sounds a little far-fetched, it’s easy to relate to Peony and sympathize with her. She’s fallen in love and believes that now she is forced to marry a stranger. I loved the details of her preparations for marriage (except the repeat footbinding!) and the ceremonies enacted before and after her death. This is a part of the world and a period in history I just don’t read enough about.
Better yet, I liked how the novel emphasized the role of women in China and how it has been eroded throughout the centuries. The Three Wives’ Commentary on the play actually exists, as did the writing groups and female poets in the novel, and I’m incredibly intrigued by them and want to learn more about the movement. This is why I love historical fiction! Not only did I get a great story, but I also got a peek into unfamiliar history and a strong desire to learn what’s true and what’s fiction. Peony in Love is definitely recommended.
*I am an Amazon Associate. I purchased all books mentioned in this post.
I really liked this book. I have her newest on my TBR pile, but I haven’t got around to it yet!
I really appreciated how the author wove The Peony Pavilion story into the book as well. I really liked this book, but a lot of my friends didn’t appreciate it as much as her other novels.
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Your review is timed perfectly because I plan on reading Peony in Love next. I loved Snow Flower and the Secret Fan so I’m anxious to read this one!
.-= Stephanie´s last blog ..BTT: Autobiographies vs Biographies =-.
I actually liked this one better than Snowflower and the Secret Fan.
I also have the newest sitting on my shelf waiting tbr. I’m not sure when I’ll get to it though.
.-= Lahni´s last blog ..Book Review: Benny and Shrimp =-.
I also liked Snow Flower better, but this one comes close. I really enjoyed reading it, too. I’ve confirmed now that I’m one who really wants to be surprised. I didn’t know she would die until she did. It just goes to show I never read blurbs or summaries before reading a book. I would read opinions but skip anything that mentions anything about the plot. Do you plan to read Shanghai Girls even if it’s in a later era?
My Chinese family isn’t very traditional but there are a few rituals in this book that we still do (our friends’ families even more).
.-= claire´s last blog ..In the Mail Today =-.
I feel like I’m so behind – I haven’t read any of Lisa See’s books yet, and they all sound wonderful to me. I need to learn how to go without sleep!
.-= Kathy´s last blog ..Amelia =-.
I really enjoyed this one! If I *had* to pick, I would say that I liked this one just a smidge more than Snow Flower, but it’s a close run thing! I really want to read Shanghai Girls soon.
I have tried her contemporary detective series, but I was a bit underwhelmed by the first book. I might read more eventually, but in the meantime there are other books I want to get to first.
.-= Marg´s last blog ..Library Loot =-.
I’ve never read Lisa See, and I guess I should start with Snowflower and The Secret Fan, but – you said the word “mythology”! So now I want this, badly. And the historical setting appeals to me too. Hmm, saving the best for last might work too
.-= Nymeth´s last blog ..Strong Poison by Dorothy L. Sayers =-.
I have this one on my shelf, and am really glad to hear that it was so good, and that you liked it. I am really very interested in the book, and am hoping that I get a chance to read it soon. Great review, you really captured your excitement about the story.
.-= zibilee´s last blog ..Looking After Pigeon by Maud Carol Markson – 192 pgs =-.
I haven’t read anything by Lisa See, yet, and I feel like I’m really missing out. I need to fix that because her work sounds beautiful!
.-= Pam´s last blog ..BTT: Me Me Me =-.
Wow, this book sounds awesome! I’m totally lusting after it now.
.-= heidenkind´s last blog ..Favorite Authors =-.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! I read mixed reviews about this one, but I still want to read it. I read Snow Flower a couple years ago and completely loved it!
.-= Kay´s last blog ..Comic : The Man’s Birthday =-.
Another author I really really need to read! Her Shanghai Girls was all over the blogosphere! I hope to get to her soon!
.-= Veens´s last blog ..Wishing! =-.
I’ve been wanting to read Lisa See for ages; somehow always got sidetracked by some other book.
Your review reminds me that I need to make reading her books a priority
Sigh! so many books to read, so little time
.-= Nish´s last blog ..Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment – A Book Review =-.
I have this book lined up to go and I’m excited about reading it. I enjoyed Snow Flower and the Secret Fan and hope this is even better!
.-= veronica´s last blog ..Music Mix Friday…The Highway Men "Highwayman" =-.
I really liked Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, and I’ve been wanting to read this one for ages, but it never seems to make it to the top of the list. Sounds like I should make an effort to bump it up the stack, huh?
.-= Fyrefly´s last blog ..Charlaine Harris – Definitely Dead =-.
I think I’ve been hesitant about this one because I think it is odd that this book has a dose of fantasy that is not found in either “Snow Flower” or “Shanghai Girls”. However, you liking it is a pretty big deal in my book, so maybe I’ll pick it up with my Half Price Books gift card if I see it.
.-= Jen – Devourer of Books´s last blog ..Children of Dust – Book Review =-.
This one was my first Lisa See and I absolutely loved it. I know everyone loves Snow Flower, but I liked Peony in Love better!
.-= S. Krishna´s last blog ..Bed of Roses – Nora Roberts =-.
I don’t think I’ve heard a bad thing about any of Lisa See’s books. I’ve had my eye on this one for awhile, but I’ll be reading Shanghai Girls for an upcoming book tour first. Thanks for the review!
.-= Anna´s last blog ..Green Books Campaign: RIDDLE IN THE MOUNTAIN by Daryl Burkhard =-.
[…] I read too much Amy Tan. Not too big a fan of her books either. But Meghan’s review of Peony in Love by Lisa See convinced me that I should try it out. Meghan’s review highlighted the historical […]