Peony in Love: A Novel

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It's a hit!

Reading this book is like being caught in an abeyance of disbelief; for the story is a coalesce of myths, beliefs and mayhem of imperial China, so ... (show more)

Reading this book is like being caught in an abeyance of disbelief; for the story is a coalesce of myths, beliefs and mayhem of imperial China, so much that even life after death is depicted in all its apparent utopia. That said it is also one of the most passionate tales, crafted in conformance to the famous Chinese opera (The Peony Pavilion ) and the publication of ‘The three wives’ commentary’ of that work.

The story unwinds through the narration of the protagonist, who is the sixteen year old Peony, the typical nubile of fragrant bound feet, eyelashes like bamboo leaves, painter of lilies and all that was the view of the perfect daughter-wife-mother in that era. However, like in life, the perfection is not contained and Peony falls in love with a man she meets at the opera, though she is engaged by her family to somebody else she hasn’t met.

The author gracefully takes the story to a whole new dimension; she boldly hints at the female strength of mind and emotion in a period that succumbed women to the inner chambers and away from worldly matters. The melodrama ensues with Peony dying of lovesickness, caused by undue indulgence in the opera ‘The Peony Pavilion’ and her state of having fallen in love. While this is nothing but the present day anorexia, the desperate attempt to control one’s life and to be heard.

From here on, the recitation is told by Peony’s apparition. Here the various customs and credence of life of the dead is well rendered, transforming the reader to a suspension of fantasy. Peony’s struggle even after death to find the love she died for and cause her writings about the opera to be heard to the world fills the reminder of the book.

The twists in the tale and the complexity created by love and death, is written in elegant lucidity - of passion, fear and poignancy. The dynamics of the relationship of Peony with other women of that genre, including her mother and dead grandmother take center stage to move the story further. The author concludes with fervor, the impact women's poetry and writings had on the way their world looked at them.

The book is heart-wrenching yet valiant; it is passion’s apotheosis; it is a book you might devour and apprehend. But it is certainly a book you must not miss. (show less)

 

 

by Divya Durgadas

No, it's a flop!

I was really excited to read this book after hearing about it on NPR, but was disappointed. The premise of the story is really fascinating, but fo... (show more)

I was really excited to read this book after hearing about it on NPR, but was disappointed. The premise of the story is really fascinating, but for me, the book in its entirety didn't deliver. Ultimately, the story was emotionally shallow and rushed, even if the cultural research See did to create such a tightly interlocked story was obviously extensive. The "Author's Note" concerning her research was the most interesting part of the book. (show less)

 

 

by Facebook narys

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  page 263 - 'that nothing in this world is permanent. the only permanent thing is impermanence'

  this sums up so much of unspoken words, emotions. makes you realise that life is really short and for Peony and Ze to make it shorter by ending it, is the ulimate loss.With that Peony grew to understand the loving someone is to finally let go and watch over them, safe guard them. This showed maturity.

  The story was written through Peony and that was really an interesting way to write and It wa... (show more)

  page 263 - 'that nothing in this world is permanent. the only permanent thing is impermanence'

  this sums up so much of unspoken words, emotions. makes you realise that life is really short and for Peony and Ze to make it shorter by ending it, is the ulimate loss.With that Peony grew to understand the loving someone is to finally let go and watch over them, safe guard them. This showed maturity.

  The story was written through Peony and that was really an interesting way to write and It was amazing journey to see Peony's life as a girl and then into the afterlife. Even with the sufferings, she was not about to give up the one man she truly loved.

  and as for the love sickenss - it was too much to absorb.

  But nothing beats Snow flower and the secret fan. Lisa See shows how women are depicted from the turn of the century and yet they retain their strenght to fight on silently. (show less)

   

  by Facebook narys on Apr 17, 2009 at 01:53PM

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  I liked this book. It is not what it appears to be from the immediate book jacket description, which mostly focuses on the heroine’s (Peony’s) life in the world of the 17th century China, and the fact that she has an arranged marriage coming in a few months’ time. While the first third of it does revolve around Peony’s impending marriage and her love of the opera “the peony pavilion”, the rest of it takes place after she dies of love-sickness, having fallen for a boy she meets against all con... (show more)

  I liked this book. It is not what it appears to be from the immediate book jacket description, which mostly focuses on the heroine’s (Peony’s) life in the world of the 17th century China, and the fact that she has an arranged marriage coming in a few months’ time. While the first third of it does revolve around Peony’s impending marriage and her love of the opera “the peony pavilion”, the rest of it takes place after she dies of love-sickness, having fallen for a boy she meets against all convention.
  The next two thirds of the book deal with Peony’s life as a ghost and her growth and eventual release from that state, much of which parallels the heroine in the Peony Pavilion.
  The historical details and traditions of 17th century China (including graphic details on foot-binding and the destruction and rape of Canton by the invaders) are displayed in great detail and seem accurate from what I know, and did not detract from the book, indeed made it much more real.
  The rules of the life after death that were taught in 17th century China are then taken as reality and woven into the story, where your soul is split in three separate bits, and the paper money burnt at your grave is useful in the afterlife. That added to the atmosphere and feel of the book.
  The author’s note tells us that the female poets referenced in the book did exist at the time, and the book as a whole grew up from that, as a kind of labor of respect for those poets. The book is successful then in three ways – it is a great imaginative fantasy, it describes mores, culture and customs of old China and introduces us to some of the history of the period. Quite an accomplishment for what is not a large book, and all the better for that. (show less)

   

   

  by Stuart Mowat on Jul 24, 2009 at 05:43PM

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