Women of the Silk: A Novel (Paperback)

by Gail Tsukiyama (Author) "Her first memory of pain was an image of her mother..." (more)
Key Phrases: hairdressing ceremony, nien kao, sedan carriers, Auntie Yee, Chen Ling, Sui Ying (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
An auspicious debut, this sensitively written, impressively researched novel covers 20 years in the life of Pei, a Chinese girl sent to work in a silk factory during the first decades of the 20th century. Quick-witted, inquisitive, spirited Pei spends her early childhood on a poverty-stricken fish farm; her uncommunicative parents consign her to the factory for the wages she will send home. Initially terrified, Pei soon settles into the communal routine, and finds the 12-hour factory day made bearable by the kindness of supervisors and fellow workers. Along with her best friend, Lin, she decides at 16 to go through the hairdressing ceremony, in which girls pledge to dedicate their lives to silk work instead of marrying, and move into the peaceful milieu of the "sisters' house." Details of the process of spinning silk, the close bonds among the sisterhood, and contrasts between the tradition-steeped existence the young women enjoy and the upheaval attending the new communist regime create a compelling narrative. Tsukiyama's simple, elegant and fluid prose weaves a vivid picture of rural China. In delicately evoking the silk workers' world, she has opened a window onto an aspect of China few outsiders ever see.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal
YA-- When Pei Chung is eight years old, her father leaves her at the house of Auntie Yee so that she can work in the silk factory. Her grief at the unexplained abandonment is softened by the kindness of Yee and the other girls, and slowly she begins to thrive in her new independence. The friendship between Pei and Lin, who is the support of her once wealthy and powerful family, is forged with the lives of the silk workers who begin to demand better conditions. The China of 1919-1938, when the Japanese threat became a reality, is woven into the threads of factory life and that of families faced with ruin. The characters are drawn with fine detail. Small village life contrasts vividly with an exciting visit to Canton, and ceremonies are exquisitely described. This fascinating story is beautifully written and slightly reminiscent of Pearl Buck's The Good Earth . YAs will find it a riveting story and an absorbing look at a country trying to deal with economic and political change. --Judy Sokoll, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (October 15, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312099436
• ISBN-13: 978-0312099435
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (61 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #5,436 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Compelling and Vivid - Not to be Missed, February 18, 2001

By	Xoe Li Lu "xoelilu" (Sea Girt, New Jersey USA) - See all my reviews

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.

35 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars China and the World of Silk Workers, September 5, 2002

By	Nancy R. Katz "NancyK18" (NJ) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heartfelt Tale of Women in Rural China, June 5, 2005

By	Richard Sawyer (Washington, DC United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.