January 1 2007: Review: Women Of The Silk – Gail Tsukiyama
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With the incongruency of a Japanese-American (albeit, a half Japanese, half Chinese American), writing a novel about a rare breed of independent Chinese women in China of the 1930s, aside, this novel really is a fantastic read. Tsukiyama really has succeeded in shaping a novel that is both lyrical and poetic, yet deeply realistic. At no point in the novel does she ever create a situation that’s unrealistic; everything that occurs seems undisputably real, as if it’s a historical account of something that really happened.
A tale of a girl (Pei) given by her family at a young age to a lifetime of working in the silk trade (working with silkworm cocoons and so on in a silk factory), Women of the Silk depicts a different brand of woman to that usually described in novels dealing with China of the same era. Rather than being women subject to the whims and desires of the males in their families, this novel deals with women who are separated from the families and earning good money independently. Living within a community of all women, a great number of them have taken the vow to join the sisterhood for life, thereby forsaking any possibilities of getting married – a huge step for a woman of that time in China.
While the novel ostensibly focuses on Pei and her life in the silk factory, there are a number of little sidestories which focus on the background and experiences of other girls in the factory. These subplots deal with issues like arranged marriages, concubines (or second wives), unwanted pregnancies, and other issues that plague women in China even to this day – one of the reasons why this novel is so relevant yet poignant.
One of the more beautiful scenes in the novel deals with the suicide of one of the girls of the sisterhood. She had been pregnant by her secret lover who had just left her, and her parents had just arrived to reclaim her from the silk work, to marry her off to a complete stranger. The grief depicted by Tsukiyama following this event is never over-the-top; it’s quiet and personal to each of the other girls. It’s the description of the emotions, rather than the actions, that makes this novel so superb.
One (of the many) beautiful friendships in the novel is the one between Pei and her mentor at the factory, an older girl by the name of Li. While the novel doesn’t expressly state that there is a romantic relationship between the two, it certainly hints towards this. Taking the vow of the silk sisterhood together, rooming together, travelling together to visit each other’s families, Pei and Li enjoy and experience a friendship and mutual love for each other that is infinitely more touching than any stereotypical romance.
Overall, Women of the Silk is one of the more enjoyable novels I’ve ever read. I highly suggest that everyone picks up a copy and reads it for themselves. With or without knowledge of Chinese culture, it’s enjoyable and plays on one’s emotions.
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