Lisa See is the bestselling author of thirteen books. Nine of those are historical fiction novels about Chinese cultures and deep female friendships.
In 2013, I read her novel, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, set in 19th-century China. Illiterate and secluded women in a remote county developed a secret code painted on fans and embroidered on handkerchiefs to communicate with one another.
My library hold of See’s recent release, Daughters of the Sun and Moon, arrived at the perfect time. I had already DNFed (readers’ term for Did Not Finish) two books that week and was looking for something different from what was already loaded on my Kindle.
In 1870, Los Angeles had 6,000 residents, 110 saloons, six policemen, and very few laws. Even though slavery had been abolished in 1865, Chinese women were still bought and sold, and anti-Chinese sentiment ran high.
Daughters of the Sun and Moon was inspired by real men and women living during the time. Much of the story is set before and after one the largest mass lynchings in United States history known as the Chinese Massacre of 1871 or the “Night of Horrors”.
Three women who are brought to Gold Mountain or America in very different circumstances form an unlikely but lasting friendship. Moon narrates in first-person past tense with 55 years of reflection and wisdom from 1926. Petal tells her story in first-person present tense, while Dove appears in third-person present.
“We each had weaknesses to overcome, but we also faced a larger society that wished us not one ounce of goodwill. We shared the experiences of having little choice, little power, and little opportunity. We unearthed within ourselves bravery, endurance, and the ability to eat bitterness. We discovered our voice, found freedom, and changed our destinies.”
See’s novel is an emotional and heartbreaking immigrant story. It is a story of survival. My favorite reads are the ones that make me feel deeply while learning about an event I did not know or teach in my history classes. Daughters of the Sun and Moon would be an excellent book club choice.
Check out Lisa See’s website for more information about her books and the Chinese American experience. It is a treasure trove of information.
Look for books at Knox County Online Library or your local independent bookstore each week.
Linda Sullivan is an avid reader and wants to inspire you to become one, too. For more recommendations or to talk books, reach out to her at thebookwhisperertn@gmail.com. She can also be found @thebookwhisperertn on Instagram.
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