Women of the Silk: A Novel Paperback

Lovely historical fiction novel discussing the role of working women in rural China

This book puts your mind’s eye to work—the words evoke stunning visual images and characters. Women of the Silk, by Gail Tsukiyama, is a powerful novel set in the 1920s in China. The book follows Pei, an orphaned young girl, who is sent to work in a silk factory. Along the way, she learns about the hardships of women in Chinese factories, how they have been treated throughout history, and how they are often taken advantage of. This book is appropriate for readers aged 13 and up. Good book. There was obviously some great research done in order to write this. I loved reading about the gutsy group of women in China about 100 years ago. Given the name of the book, I thought there would be a little more detail about the silk work process (which I find fascinating) but there really wasn’t a lot about that. The book is a little ‘too perfect’ and ‘too convenient’ in places and the main character seems flawless. I would have liked a little more three-dimensional character growth for the characters, but I did like reading how Pei grew from a timid child to a strong, self-assured woman. Despite some moments of sorrow or distress, it is ultimately a story of hope and courage. A worthwhile aspect of the book is the discussion of the historic role of women in China and the underlying theme of the importance of ancestry as determining one’s position in life. This book is an important read as it offers an incredible account of a particular time and gave me a glimpse into a historical event I didn’t know about before.