This novel tells of Peony who succumbs to lovesickness in the exact same way a character from a famous opera does. We then experience Peony’s afterlife. I wish this novel was half as good as See’s Snow Flower and the Secret Fan. But this novel is stilted, even boring at times, and often the character becomes too self-aware and explanatory as a cop-out (or so it feels) to move things along. The only thing I found interesting about this book, which I really don’t know why I finished, is See’s research. I really enjoyed the afterword. She could have done so much more with her hard work.
Gwenamon says: Avoid