I found this book to be an intriguing read. Although the premise of the plot is one with which many readers will not agree, it makes for fascinating reading. The author has interwoven fact and fantasy in a story which claims the reader's attention immediately and doesn't loosen its grip until the last page.

The characters in this story are so real that when they despair, the reader despairs. Each of the three principals grow as they interact with each other and meet the situations life has thrown at them. Some of the story line seemed to me to reach a bit for credibility, but real life is not always credible. I found this to be a good read, one I shall remember.

The title gives the reader the impression that htis book is a fictionalized biography of Pearl S. Buck, but in fact it is a story of an ordinary Chinese woman's life - her trials and tribulations, brought on in part because of her lifelong friendship with Ms. Buck. It presents a well written and graphic view of life in China before, during and after Mao, and as such is a worthy read.

This was not an easy book to read, but somehow I was reluctant to put it down, and when I finished it I realized how deeply I had been drawn into the lives of this extended family.

The writing is sharply expressive, the landscapes vividly described; the reader is truly there. There is no happy ending, just a continuation of the will to survive no matter how long dreams must be deferred or how many hopes are dashed.

This little book is a gem! The authors take readers through the gamut of emotions from laugh-out-loud to lump-in-the-throat; you care about the finely drawn characters because they are so real. Book clubs should have wonderful discussions about this story.

I found this story perplexing. I was unable to identify with most of the characters; they seemed one dimensional. From the onset the conclusion was obvious and when it came it left many situations unresolved. Was the author writing with an eye on a possible sequel? If so, count me out.