Women of the Silk: A Novel

This is a simple, yet heartfelt and elegant tale of the lives and struggles of women in rural China of the 1920s and 1930s. The story centers on Pei, who as a young girl, is sold by her parents to work in a silk factory. The story evolves as Pei befriends other women in the silk factory, participates in a strike for fair working conditions, reconnects with her family, loses loved ones, and escapes from advancing Japanese soldiers. The plot is succinct and the characters are interesting, varied, and believable, if perhaps lacking somewhat in psychological depth. Socio-cultural aspects of life in 1920s-30s China are elegantly woven into the plot. Themes of friendship, love, and courage are convincingly presented. Overall, the book is a captivating read, and strongly recommended.

I have long maintained that one of the primary reasons to read a book is to learn something new. And nowhere is learning achieved more than in Gail Tsukiyama's novel Women of the Silk, her first published title. Not only does the author provide her readers with memorable characters but introduces us to the world of women silk workers and their sisterhood.Pei Ling is the first-born daughter of Chinese peasant farmers. Although her mother has been pregnant several times only Pei and her younger sister Li survive past infancy. When she turns 8, Pei is brought to an area of China known for their silk factories. Although she is unaware of what will happen to her once her father leaves, it is evident to the reader that she has been sold and her parents will receive a stipend for providing her as a silk worker. Pei is at first shy and lonely but slowly learns her job and makes friends with an older silk worker, Ling. After several years when Li become comfortable with her surroundings, Pei chooses to be bound to the sisterhood by partaking in the hair ceremony. Once this ceremony is over, Li will not be free to marry or work elsewhere but pledges her life to the Sisterhood of silk workers. Then as conditions worsen for the workers, it is obvious that change within the silk factories is necessary. And then when Japan begins to occupy China, the world Li and her sisters have known for so many years begins to crumble. For me as reader this was a wonderful title and one filled with many learning experiences. In the deft hands of Tsukiyama, I felt as though I was the silk worker learning my trade and making friendships with the other girls and women. This book is not to be missed and when you finish it, I hope you will consider reading The Language of Threads which continues the story of Pei as China is occupied during WWII.

This book was captivating from the start. The novel is a simple one on the surface. At the most elemtary level, it is the story of Pei, a Chinese girl, and her journey towards maturity. Gail Tsukiyama uses this story to reveal to her reader the cultural and class struggles fought by poor females in China beginning in the late 1920's. Her style is powerful, yet subtle. At first, you see life through the eyes of a bewildered girl caught in an economic crisis where the solution yeilded clearly comes from a sexist society. As Pei matures and begins to accept her fate as a commited member of the "Sisterhood", one begins to see stirrings in her. The stirrings originate from a sense of curiousity, a longing for family, and a realization that her survival depends on her alone. Women actually organize against the owners of the silk factory. The timespan of this book takes you to 1938 and enables the reader to feel the pending fate of the looming and inevitable Japanese invasion of mainland China. This work is filled with twists and turns. The writing is so crafted that the reader moves from page to page hungry to experience the next scene. This book is a quick read, but the subtlety begs a second read. This is the first experience I had with Gail Tsukiyama. I now have read (and own) each of her others.

Women of the Silk captures the realities, struggles, and infrequent joys of working women in early 20th century China. Gail Tsukiyama's elegant portrayal of Pei, a girl sold to a silk factory by her destitute parents is riveting. Pei's life, though riddled with hardship, is enriched by her relationships with other women who share her fate. The factory women enjoy a sisterhood, which bolsters their self-confidence and sense of self worth. This bond, coupled with the autonomy afforded them by living on their own without husbands, enables the silk factory women to enjoy a measure of freedom and self-confidence that was unobtainable to married Chinese women of the era. Instilled with a sense of belonging and confidence, the "sisters" gather the collective strength to stand up to the brutal factory chiefs and fight for their rights. Women of the Silk is a compelling story of sisterhood, finding inner strength, and standing up for what you believe in. Gail Tsukiyama's writing style is flowing and well organized, making the story immensely enjoyable to read. The characters are three-dimensional and extremely well developed. Ms. Tsukiyama's vivid imagery allows the reader to actually "see" the scenes that she describes. The story of Pei and her sisters will make you think, as it provides accurate historical overviews of life in China in the 1920s and 30s. The women endure tragedy, societal abuse, and the effects of political strife while enjoying unique bonds of friendship and solidarity. I was sorry to see this book come to an end, but luckily there is a sequel - The Language of the Threads.

Gail Tsukiyama's beautifully written book is the poignant story of life in rural China in the 1920's. The characters are so finely crafted that the reader feels every emotion -- the joy, the heartbreak, the drudgery, and the intense friendship of women drawn together by the bond of the silk factory. Gail Tsukiyama is a true artist, using her pen to draw detailed pictures which will stay in the mind of the reader long after the final page has been reluctantly turned. A novel by Gail Tsukiyama is a rare treat which would best be savored slowly, if only the storyline was not so compelling!