Women of the Silk: A Novel

Though the townsfolk regarded the silk workers as odd spinsters, warped, and rejected by society, the portraits of Pei and Lin dare to imply that their lives were actually satisfying alternatives to women's traditional roles of wife and mother. In this well done debut novel, Gail Tsukiyama (who is half Chinese and half Japanese) explores women's relationships within the framework of economic and political change in rural China between 1919 and 1938. Women of the Silk offers a rare window into the details of the silk making process and into the lives led by the women devoted to this industry. Tsukiyama suggests that the beauty and joy the simplicity of the silk working women's lives brought them could not only exist, but could also be fulfilling. Arguably, the author also implies that a kind of satisfaction can be achieved within female bonds that does not exist between men and women.The story's heroine, Pei, grows up on a struggling fish farm in the Canton countryside. When her parents confirm, through a fortune-teller's assessment, that the intellectually curious and sensitive girl is not marriage material, Pei's father leaves her at Auntie Yee's silk factory to help support the family and to learn the trade for her own future. Throughout her short life, Pei's mother "had to quiet her spirit with scoldings, so that life would be easier for her later. It was hard enough to find a husband of worth, because a girl with such spirit was not wanted by most families." Pei's energy, intellect, and natural curiosity count against her in the marriage market, but they are precisely the traits that enable her to thrive in the life of the silk sisterhood. Pei's spunk and intellect serves her well in her silk work, and she readily rises among the ranks. She also begins to find the company of the women, especially Lin, fulfilling. Pei was only eight when she was given to the silk factory, so she was grateful that Lin almost immediately befriended her and became a substitute for and agreeable alternative to Pei's family. She is able to accept her fate once she feels secure within Lin's friendship, guidance, and support.The like-minded Lin has come to the silk factory to help support her family, after her well-to-do father is murdered. The two girls' friendship deepens as they face twelve-hour days and overcome the various hardships and tragedies of the silk factory. The relationship eventually becomes so strong that Lin gives up the chance for an advantageous marriage situation that will provide a financially fortunate life for herself and her family in favor of undertaking the "hairdressing ceremony," where she will pledge to devote the rest of her life to the silk sisterhood and thus be able to remain with Pei forever. At age 16, Pei decides to undergo the hairdressing ceremony in order to stay with Lin forever. Their relationship has become as satisfying to them as any marriage might be and is possibly more rewarding as they have had the opportunity to choose one another--whereas Chinese marriages were traditionally arranged by the family, and the couple often had never met each other before the wedding day.After the Japanese invasion of China in the 1930s, Lin is killed in a fire, and the silk factory is forced to close. Pei must leave behind the beauty of the countryside she loves, the sisterhood she cherishes, and her crucial memories of Lin. The book ends with her facing a new life, as she sails for the safer shores of Hong Kong.Women of the Silk qualifies as a tribute to the road less traveled, where a woman was given to or chose work rather than to marriage and family. For Tsukiyama's heroines in this story, the silk sisterhood offers them a taste of freedom, a sense of self esteem, and a unique and positive experience, suggesting that there can be an upside to an alternative lifestyle.

Women of the Silk, was the debut novel written by Gail Tsukiyama first published in 1991. Ms. Tsukiyama is a new to me author.Pei is one of the several Chinese daughters born to a poverty stricken fish farm family, dominated the father. She is the outgoing, and curious child, and according to the fortune teller that her father takes her to, she is the "non marrying" type. When another girl is born to the family (who dies soon after), Pei's father decides her fate. He arranges to sell her to a motherly sort of woman called Auntie Yee who runs a home for silk workers.By doing this Pei's family will get paid for her work in the factory.Initially Pei is hysterical when she realizes that she has been left at this strange place by her father. Before long she adjusts to her new life and actually begins to thrive. Pei finds that she is treated with kindness, and she forms a special bond with another girl named Lin. Pei and the other girls live together, work together, earning money for their families, and form strong bonds accepting the fact that they will never marry, but instead will retire to spinsterhood at the age of 40.The effects of war with Japan eventually touch the lives of everyone, and there are some tragedies which occur as this book covers a 20 year time span.The author does a wonderful job with this coming of age story. The character of Pei was extremely well developed. I could feel the bond between the girls, and I could also feel the emotional pain suffered by Pei. It was also interesting to learn about the silk process, and about China between 1919 and 1938. I plan to read more books by this author.

Interesting story in the description of pre-invasion and the beginning of China by Japan. Gives a good example of traditional Chinese families mostly from the more impoverished point of view and a slight description of wealthier families. The harsh realities of the way Chinese children, mostly girls, were subjugated and considered the one to assume blame because they were female. Illuminates some of the life of working in a silk factory, sweat shop, and in the poorest of conditions with no safety. Tells of the different societal levels of women who work the silk and the choices afforded them being silk factory workers. It most instances though harsh realities of being stripped away from your families was a blessing to many as they were kept in better conditions and given viable opportunities that were uncommon for Chinese women.

This is a beautiful book embracing history of China before and during the Japanese invasion. The authors uses discriptive language to put you right in the place of the characters. I read the second book right after as I was thoroughly engaged in the life of Pei.

Good book. Terrific research was done in order to write this. I had no idea there was an amazing, gutsy group of women in China that held a strike before women in America were really even accepted in the work place. The novel follows Pei and how her family "gives her" to the silk life and she then grows up in a girls home and works 14 hour days in a silk factory. I would have liked more information about the actual silk work process. All this novel really told me was they start with cocoons and boiling vats of water and steam is involved. A little more detail on that would have been nice, as my curiosity is picqued now. One thing I found utterly ridiculous: there was never a fight or an unkind word exchanged in the girls home. They were all sweet as sugar to each other and loved each other and well, even nuns have been known to have words amongst each other. Thus, too angelic. Young adults may enjoy this novel, as it was written in a young adult style.

Wonderful story of a hard but rewarding life So well written about to read the the language of threads I would recommend this book as a lovely read

The condition could have been better but then again it was a used book. I could have forgiven this had I not been disappointed in the story.

Have read much fiction. The authors style and story telling stand up with the greatest authors - personally I was entrenched, captivated by her words. I think she outclasses the others at the top end of all time fiction.

An absorbing read, although the style of writing has slowed my reading pace a little. Amazing descriptions of a silk factory and the hard work involved, and some very interesting characters.

When you read this treasure, you may find yourself crying. One eye crying tear drops of sadness, the other tears of empathy