I had a mixed reaction to The Flower Sisters. I loved the two main characters, Daisy and Rose Flowers, and I found the story to be movingly told. In places, the plot seemed slow and the author provided more grisly details than I personally prefer - but the ending of the book was beautiful and made me glad that I had taken the time to finish it. The writing was crisp, and each of the characters was drawn very vividly. I believe that book clubs would find a great deal to discuss, as the characters and plot are complicated. In places I found a few of the plot points implausible, but yet I keep thinking about the book days after I finished it. The overall question that the book explores is how catastrophic events affect us long into the future, and the book approaches this question with grace and sensitivity.

This book is a work of fiction, but it's based on the real life of the author's grandmother. A mother and three daughters are left behind when the more powerful members of their Nationalist family flee to escape communists during the revolution. The story is told from the perspective of the oldest daughter, Li Hai, and the author does an astonishing job of capturing the thoughts of an adolescent girl dealing with both inconceivable trauma and everyday concerns. The author portrayed the relationship between Li Hai and her slightly younger sister with tenderness and frankness, showing both the squabbles and closeness of sisters. The book is a page-turner, with a gripping plot describing the mother and daughters' flight and their treatment as females. At the same time, the story provides much food for thought and offers inspiration for the struggle for gender equality. The book is well-written and not a word is wasted. One of the best books I've read this year.

The beginning of this book seemed slow, but I'm so glad I continued reading. This story of four generations of women proved to be compelling, moving, and beautifully written. Across the generations, the women had unusual gifts related to memory, and the portrayal of memory challenged and enriched my own understanding of memory. As the women moved across the world, each sought, or sought to avoid, knowledge and memory of the character Ishmael from Moby Dick. I haven't read Moby Dick, but I was able to follow the story and understand what he represented. I especially loved the whale imagery, and even several days after finishing the book, I find myself thinking about the whales and the role they played in the story. I recommend this book for anyone interested in family history, New England, oceans, women's roles, and memory, among many topics.