Rating: 
Summary: A Story of Friendship, Love, Courage, and Silk
Review: In her first novel, Women of the Silk, Gail Tsukiyama weaves a beautiful tale about a young girl, named Pei, growing up in 1930's China. The novel is historical fiction, but the author does such a wonderful job of capturing the reality of the times, that it is hard to believe it is not true. Women of the Silk is a story of love, friendship, war, and women. This book is a fantastic read, and I would suggest it for anyone who enjoys a good book.
The war going on in China, during the period that the novel is set, is the Second Sino-Japanese War. This was a war between Japan and China fought for control of the Chinese mainland. During this time, economy in China suffered great loss and threw many workers into hard times. Tsukiyama shows brilliantly the effects of war on Chinese society, and also how women were treated in 1930's China. Her characterization is wonderful; she makes each character believable individuals, although the book lacks male characters. The book is full of imagery that is touching to the soul. The only element that the book lacks is a strong ending.
The story is told mainly from the perspective of Pei, a precocious young Chinese girl, the daughter of a fish farmer. When money becomes scarce, her father is forced to give up one of his daughters: "The fortuneteller had as much as predicted that Pei was of a nonmarrying fate. An unmarried woman had little in this world without a husband and his family to care for her" (15). Because of this, Pei's father sends Pei to work in a Silk Factory to earn money for her family. This line also begins one of the most important ideas of the work: the choices that women were given in Chinese society. Pei meets many friends at the Girls' House where she lives, and some of the most poignant images in the book are those of the friendships that are forged. After a good friend dies, Pei decides to go through the Hairdressing Ceremony, a ceremony like a marriage that marries the girl to her work, with her best friend Lin. The working conditions become worse, and Pei and her friends form a strike, the first one ever seen in rural China. They are successful, and life gets better for them, until the invading Japanese get closer to Yung Kee, the village in which they live. At the end of the book, Pei is making her way to Hong Kong to avoid the war.
This book succeeds in enlightening its readers both to the struggle of Chinese women in the 1930's, and also to the struggle of China as a whole. It shows, through Pei, that although most women were expected to marry and serve their husband, other things were possible, namely independence. The characters in the book are magnificently crafted and very real. The only thing missing in the book are strong male characters. With the exception of Pei's father, Pao Chung, all male characters are minor and one dimensional. This is done because the book focuses on women, however it would be more realistic if there were some more believable male characters. The only other unrealistic part of the book is that it is implied that perhaps Pei and Lin are more than just good friends. This part of the book is overdone, and in my opinion unnecessary. The strongest images in the book are those of the friendship between Pei and Lin, and when anything more than friendship is implied, it is unbelievable. Tsukiyama is a master of language; the words she uses create vivid images that can be either heartwarming or heart wrenching.
Women of the Silk is a story of love, courage, and beauty, but it is clear that none of this comes without a price. Many people in Pei's life die, or are harmed, but in the end there is hope, and Pei is sailing towards Hong Kong in search of a new life. The end, however, does not seem to be complete. Throughout the book time is taken to tell the story, and then the end comes abruptly. It seems almost as if the author were out of time. However, there is a sequel, and perhaps that is why the book ended so abruptly, causing the reader to yearn for more.
Tsukiyama's novel is magnificent. It touches on issues such as the choices women had in 1930's China, and the effects of war on Chinese society and economy. It also shows the strength of love and friendship. The characterization is mainly good, and the author's use of language and imagery is superb. I enjoyed this book and am excited to read the sequel, The Language of Threads, which will follow Pei's life in Hong Kong. I recommend this book to anyone, and more strongly to all women. It is a wonderfully well crafted novel, and is a joy to read.
Rating: 
Summary: The best book I have read
Review: It Made me feel like I was part of the book. The story was well told and had a beautiful story. It was full of emotion, sadness, love, anger, friendship and happiness. I fully recomend this book it is one that makes you want to read it over and over.
Rating:
Summary: very impressive
Review: It's for the first time I read Gail Tsukiyama's book. Before reading this, I only knew that her father is Japanese and her mother is Chinese, and that this novel deals with young Chinese women before the WWII. It goes without saying, in WWII, Japan invaded China and caused extensive damage to her, and has not apologized to her yet, both officially and privately. Considering it, I wondered what kind of story it is.
But as soon as I started reading it, I forgot all the concerns. The protagonist is Pei. When eight, she was forced to go to the silk factory in order to save her family from ruin. At first, she was so sorrowful, but she found her friends there and they got together to lead an autonomous life: The 'girls's house' and the 'sisters' house' are comfortable family for them. And they struck against the factory owner for shorter working hours.
Their friendship moved me deeply. But Japanese invasion brought their peaceful life to a crisis. The factory was closed. And just before departing for Hong Kong, Pei's beloved friend, Lin, was burned to death. In an abyss of grief, Pei departed with Ji Shen, who was a survivor from Japanese massacre.
Tsukiyama's prose is simple and tender, not sentimental. This novel is very impressive and gave me a clear viewpoint about Japan's 20th century.
Rating: 
Summary: Good story, poorly told
Review: Like so many other reviewers here, I have read many stories set in pre- to post-revolution China. There was a fascinating twist in this book, namely the class of women working in the silk factories. These unmarried women broke many taboos and lived unusual lives.Unfortunately, the writer never brings the women or their times to life. She narrates the story in a dry, cliche-ridden manner, with stilted, unnatural dialog. Even the "dramatic" climax comes and goes without much drama. It's like a show-and-tell with no "show" ... I sincerely hope her subsequent books delve into equally interesting topics, but that her writing skills develop to a level that can do them justice. In the meantime, I would recommend "Wild Swans : Three Daughters of China" by Jung Chang, "Bittersweet" by Leslie Li , or anything by Amy Tan. Barbara
Rating:
Summary: Women of Silk
Review: My daughter gave me this book for Christmas, and I thought it was one of the most wonderful books I have read in a long time. Although it was sad, it left me with a sense of calmness. Gail Tsukiyama is a great writer and I have read all four of her books. I look forward to reading more of her works.
Rating:
Summary: Compelling reading
Review: One of the descriptions on the back of this book is "a soft ring of feminism....". Considering the environment women in China are born into - any woman would have to be a "feminist" to rise above the norm. But the word feminist is such a narrow description for women who analyze their surroundings and think beyond the role set in front of them - who dream about what life is and what is has to offer. This is a beautiful book that details life for woman in China at the beginning of this century. It takes you deep into the souls of women making you feel a part of their lives. I would recommend this book to absolutely everyone. It is too bad that I felt compelled to read it in just two days - I wish the experience had lasted a little longer. I already have her next book on order.
Rating: 
Summary: Amateurish
Review: Our book group read this book and all ten people present at the discussion felt the book to be a great disappointment. We had a hard time understanding how such a childish, sketchy, romanticized book could be published when there are so many books that are better--namely Red Azalea, White Swans, Women Warrior, Joy Luck Club, etc. This book seemed like it was aimed at a young adult audience except for its sexual content and hinted lesbianism. The characters were cardboard; Pei, the main character, was supposed to "come-of-age" but all she did was grow older without any struggle that the reader could identify with. The author seemed to have an agenda: presenting a fellowship of women that was ideal and to demonstrate that traditional marriages and childbearing didn't offer the happiness that the society of women alone could. However, this picture is not convincing. In fact, the strike the women engage in seems contradictory to the author's point. This is not feminism but romanticism of a kind. We were totally surprised that some considered the book to be well-written. Yes, it was simple, but rather than generate elegance, the style was passive and full of cliches and lack of development and specificity. Note the description of Canton (p. 145) and see if you think the author even looked at a picture of Canton to arrive at something so vague and lackluster. Dramatically the work suffered as well. The author relied on deaths, funerals, trips, reunions, etc. for dramatic effect instead of developing conflicts. The subject of the novel is an interesting one, but the author needed to enter the world of the silk factory through her imagination much like the author of Memoirs of a Geisha did.
Rating:
Summary: Lovely but quiet
Review: This book gave me much of the same feeling as "Snow Falling on Cedars"--that of very lyrical description. I actually liked this novel better because it knows that's what it is and does not try to force a lot of fast-paced action or intense drama, as "Snow..." did. Instead, it moves much like a dream. A good bathtub book.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful
Review: This book is beautifully written, and despite its simplicity, it is rich and moving. I have given this book as gifts to several women who have all loved it and went on to read the authors other works. I found the review by Kirkus puzzling as Pei did not work on a silk farm, but rather in a silk factory. The factory provided Pei and the other girls the independence, freedom, and friendship that they otherwise would never have experienced. These experiences are the foundation for Pei's future and gird her with strength. I read this book twice, the second time around I enjoyed it more than the first.
Rating:
Summary: Women of the Silk
Review: This book was captivating from the start. The novel is a simple one on the surface. At the most elemtary level, it is the story of Pei, a Chinese girl, and her journey towards maturity. Gail Tsukiyama uses this story to reveal to her reader the cultural and class struggles fought by poor females in China beginning in the late 1920's. Her style is powerful, yet subtle. At first, you see life through the eyes of a bewildered girl caught in an economic crisis where the solution yeilded clearly comes from a sexist society. As Pei matures and begins to accept her fate as a commited member of the "Sisterhood", one begins to see stirrings in her. The stirrings originate from a sense of curiousity, a longing for family, and a realization that her survival depends on her alone. Women actually organize against the owners of the silk factory. The timespan of this book takes you to 1938 and enables the reader to feel the pending fate of the looming and inevitable Japanese invasion of mainland China. This work is filled with twists and turns. The writing is so crafted that the reader moves from page to page hungry to experience the next scene. This book is a quick read, but the subtlety begs a second read. This is the first experience I had with Gail Tsukiyama. I now have read (and own) each of her others.
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