Mondperle

by Ruthanne Lum McCunn

A rich historical novel that draws from the lives of the real young heroines of China's Pearl River Delta who in the nineteenth century won a battle for independence that changed the lives of thousands of others.

Genres: Historical Fiction, China, Fiction, Asian Literature, Historical, Asia, Womens

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Ruthanne Lum McCunn is an American novelist and editor of Chinese and Scottish descent.

Reviews

[Belinda Vlasbaard · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 sterren - Nederlandse paperback

Als een vogel in een net, zo voelt het meisje Schaduw zich op het Chinese platteland. Zij heeft weinig opties: ze kan non, hoer of huisvrouw worden. In het laatste geval verkoopt men haar aan een volstrekt onbekende man en wordt ze de slavin van haar schoonmoeder.

Samen met haar twee vriendinnen, Haantje en Mei Ju, durft Schaduw tegen haar lot in opstand te komen. In plaats van gehoorzame echtgenote zal het trio vrijgezel blijven en zelfstandig en onafhankelijk in hun eigen levensonderhoud voorzien.

Hun roep om erkenning wordt niet op prijs gesteld door de traditionele dorps- gemeenschap.

Het boek geeft een indringend beeld van hoe het leven er voor een jong meisje in het landelijke China van pakweg 150 tot 200 jaar geleden moet hebben uitgezien. Al van jongs af worden ze voorbereid op hun huwelijk, een gebeurtenis waarbij ze naar het dorp van hun man verhuizen en onderworpen worden aan zijn wil, maar vooral ook aan die van hun schoonmoeder.

Het boek is opgebouwd uit de verhalen van enerzijds drie meisjes uit eenzelfde dorp die worden voorbereid op het huwelijk, maar er uiteindelijk voor kiezen om niet te trouwen, en anderzijds het relaas van Yun Yun die opgroeit in een ander dorp en door haar huwelijk naar het dorp van die drie meisjes verhuist.

In het begin vond ik het boek een beetje verwarrend door de mix van Chinese en naar het Nederlands vertaalde namen, waardoor het even duurde voor ik de relaties tussen de verschillende hoofdpersonages begreep. Maar na de eerste paar hoofdstukken las het boek heel vlot weg.

Persoonlijk vind ik dat het gebruik van vier hoofdpersonages die hun verhaal door elkaar vertellen, elk hoofdstuk wordt door een van hen verteld, een beetje teveel van het goede is. Een van de redenen dat het géén 5 sterren kreeg van mij.

Drie van de vier verhalen worden goed uitgewerkt en afgerond, maar dat van het laatste meisje eindigt een beetje in het ongewisse. Desondanks heb ik dit boek met veel plezier gelezen en vind ik het zeker een aanrader.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A historical fiction drawn from the lives of real women of china in the 19th century. Young girls are sent to a Girls’ House at night to serve the girls in preparation for their marriage and how they’d serve their mother-in-laws and other elders of the household.
The three main characters(Shadow, Mei Ju and Rooster) defy the norm and lead independent lives. They’re ostracized by everyone including their family. Despite that, they learn to live and earn. They eventually find their own peace inspire so many daughters to understand that they could control their own lives.

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Moon Pearl has to be one of my most favorite reads in a while. A gripping historical fiction (I know—three words that usually never go together, right?), this book just drew so much out of me: sympathy, fright, disgust at times, and—I’d have to say is the ultimately dominant feeling after completing the book—pride. Knowing that the three main characters (Mei Ju, Shadow, and Rooster) all found their inner peace in one way or another at the end, despite them being subject to all of society’s excoriations and condemnations, really made me just… proud. It’s a strange thing to describe as proud, I suppose, but it’s also this “YES!” feeling I have, having finished the book, and knowing that the girls (basically) kicked society’s butt.

I usually rate a book on how I feel at the end: Did I want it to end? Did I want to cry because it ended? Did I even finish? … And I’d have to say this book deserves a five: It left me with nothing but a content, fulfilling happiness. True, I didn’t want it to end (because I find many books’ endings either terribly abrupt or just lame), but this book’s last few chapters were a story so beautifully woven together I almost couldn’t accept it as ended. I have a feeling that in the next few days, when I have free time, I’ll reach for The Moon Pearl but realize I’ve finished it. Oh, that’s another thing about this book: It was easy for me to pick up where I left off, and though the story flipflops between characters in the beginning, everything ties together wonderfully at the end.

… Jeez, I feel like this review did this book absolutely no justice. But hey, I loved this read. I’ll definitely come back and reread it if I ever get the chance! :)

[Kayleen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I would give it it a star and a half just for the historical part of the book. I'm sure awful things like this happened in China but to heap it all on one character was a little much. I just seemed a little to formulatic for me. One character is in the worst situation possible and the main characters run the other way, understandably but I didn't really like it very much.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the October 2002 Book club book and everyone liked it. 19th Century China, good historical fiction inspired by three real girls who lived in a girls' house in the Pearl River Delta. They defy the customs of the time and attempt to earn their own living in the silk worm trade. Interesting information on worm farming and on the Chinese customs of the time. They are treated very badly by many of the people including their own families. The novel goes on and tells what happens to each girl.
I wasn't writing reviews at the time so my memory is somewhat foggy but I do remember that I found it most interesting.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know why I love stories about pre-revolution Chinese culture. Frequently the themes are too brutal to read comfortably. During this story I wondered if the entire 19th century world turned "Victorian," in the sense that they seemed to believe society was better off if girls & women were mostly confined to their homes & terrified of men / sex.

[Ellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story to read it just flows from one page to the next. Really enjoyed it.

[Anna Scribner · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting view into a girl/woman's experience in 19th century China.

[Cameron · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, though mostly fictional, is actually quite educational. It taught me a lot about what it was typically like to be a woman in China during the early 19th century. Much information was included about marriage in China and the lifestyle led by many in rural areas. The characters often expressed there feeling through the mourning cries they had been taught in the "marriage schools" they attended a girls, which I felt helped give me a feel for the cultural setting.
McCunn's writing style is fairly simple (often a bit too simple). I found this annoying at times yet realize that this style makes it an accessible book for people with less developed vocabularies. Overall I found this book to be insightful; depressing in its descriptions of the abuse many women go through (physical and emotional), yet slightly hopeful in its message of woman's progress. I did not adore The Moon Pearl but it is certainly worth reading.

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story of young girls as they choose to fight the standards of society and make vows of spinsterhood rather than marry in rural China in the 1930's. I'd probably just give this book 3 1/2 stars, but it was a good, easy to read, historical fiction book. I found the writing not necessarily beautiful or rich and the changing points of views were sometimes confusing, but I was able to read it quickly and it captured my attention. Overall the historical part was educational and it gave me a lot of reasons to be thankful that I was born in America and given the power of choice when it comes to marriage. Glad I read it!

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good story, well told, with interesting characters and historical details. The book provides an intriguing look at marriage practices and the plight of women in 19th century China (and an unfortunate reminder that circumstances aren't much better for women in many parts of the world today.) At times the author's modern sensitivities seemed to interfere somewhat (e.g., the main characters sometimes seemed a little more self-aware and liberated than they likely would have been in that era) but overall a well-researched story and a worthwhile read.

[Phair · Rating 4 out of 5]

In re-reading my journal entry I was not quite as taken with this book as I remembered (I gave it a 7+out of 10) but it has certainly stuck in my mind whenever I think of books with a Chinese setting. I wrote that it was a quick read but that the ending seemed rushed. The author created a vivid picture of the culture and society. The booked got a little confusing with the changing points of view but the sentence structure had a nice flow.

[Anna]

Meh. I was underimpressed. The premise sounded fascinating ("spinsters" in 1830s China - bucking societal trends and making a living on their own, while providing each other with financial, emotional and social support), but the plot was pretty simplistic and the characters were two-dimensional. It seemed like a Disney version of something that could be better.

[Ginger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. An interesting glimpse into a part of Chinese life I was largely unfamiliar with- the "girls' houses." Young girls would spend the days with their family then spend the night at the girls' houses where the younger ones fetched and carried for the the older ones as training for serving their future mother-in-law.

[Nicolette Bernhardt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This truly was an amazing story about 3 Chinese women who faught against diversity. This is a must read for every woman. These characters reminded me that strong women do exist and that frienship can be everlasting.

[Fonnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

What beautiful written words. I picked this up because I take classes from the authors husband. He's so proud of her....Well I can see why! The stories just grab you in. I've read three of her books now and hope to keep going.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful insight into early China, where three young girls choose to remain unmarried and care for themselves. A side-story line involves the miserable life of a married girl, who is unlucky in marriage.
It was really compellingly written, but I felt like the ending left a little to be desired.

[eggimaru · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tiga Dara Berhati Baja ini mengisahkan persahabatan dan tekad kuat para gadis menuntut kebebasan. Pesan moral yang sangat kuat dibumbui latar belakang keadaan ekonomi Cina di masa lalu membuat novel ini menarik dan mendidik.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Moon Pearl is the story of two courageous and enterprising young women in China.

[anie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love this book...
Three very young girls hwo have a courage to break the tradition, to choose their own life. A modern woman in past years.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but without suitable endng. A reminder of what women have had to endure in some societies.

[KitCat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this story about Shadow, Rooster and MeiJu, three Chinese women in the 1800s choosing to make their own path in life.

[Rebecca · Rating 1 out of 5]

i really didn't like this book.. when i read it at school, in my freshman year of highschool

[Suzanne Manners]

The Far East

[Maureen Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful look into a culture that is difficult for westerners to accept. This is a well told story that I found hard to put down.

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

A glimpse into an era of Chinese history I didn't know much about. It got the feminist in me all riled up.

Writing: 3 stars

[Francien · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prachtig geschreven verhaal over drie meisjes die in opstand komen tegen de Chinese tradities in de 19de eeuw.
Echt een boek waar je in blijft lezen, een echte aanrader.

[Hko · Rating 3 out of 5]

plat verhaal maar boeiend door de inkijk in cultuur en gewoontes in het oude (?) China

[Shelley]

Great book if you enjoy strong female characters and learning about other cultures.