Characters | |
Shanghai | Los Angeles |
Baba Mama Pearl May Z.G. Li – artist, Joy’s father Tommy Hu Betsy Howell Old Man Louie | Old Man Louie/Father Louie Yen-yen Pearl Sam May Vern Joy Uncles: Edfred (Fred) – in military - eventually had Japanese wife and became a dentist Wilburt Charley Joe – Joy’s friend at college Violet Lee and Rowland – students Leon – son China City: Tom Gubbins Christina Sterling Agent Sanders |
For discussion:
1. Discuss Pearl and May:
a. Their relationship with each other and with their parents
b. Their profession as “beautiful girls”
c. Their ability to adapt to different situations
d. May giving Joy to Pearl
e. Their different paths in life
2. When did you suspect that May was pregnant? Were you surprised to find who the father was?
3. Discuss the different versions of Old Man Louie in Shanghai and in China City in Los Angeles. On page 158 (paperback) Pearl thought, “In Shanghai, we looked at Old Man Louie and saw what we chose to see…” Have you had a similar experience in how you view people?
4. What did you learn reading about the immigration experience? Do you think it was accurately portrayed in the novel?
5. What did you think about the idea of paper sons? Were you surprised to find out that Sam was a paper son?
6. On page 72 (paperback) Pearl states, “When you don’t have much, having less isn’t so bad.” Discuss how they adapted to poverty. Do you think you could do the same or do we have too much?
7. Discuss the relationship between Pearl and Yen-yen and how gradually they became friends.
8. The author wrote, “When you lose your country home, what do you preserve and what do you abandon?” Discuss the various characters and their relationship with their home country.
a. Violet and Rowland Lee – students, trapped in U.S. when China closed
b. People did everything they could to escape China and then tried to recreate their country here
9. Can you understand May’s rationale for telling Agent Sanders about Sam?
a. Can you understand Sam’s reaction to the threat of being sent back to China?
10. This author is known for her Chinese historical fiction. Did you like the way she blended facts with fiction? Did you learn anything?
