The Girl Who Wrote in Silk

There is a lot to love about this modern day/historical romance story, written from the late 1880, to present day. I never would have heard of this book, except that it was recommended to me, which are the books I always end up loving, and The Girl Who Wrote In Silk is no exception. The story starts in the past with Mei Lein, a young Chinese girl living in Seattle at the time of the anti-Chinese movement that had Mei Lein, who was born in Seattle, put on a steamer ship, supposedly bound for China. Mei Lein's grandmother, and father never make it to China, but end up being tossed overboard by Duncan Campbell, who turns out to the Inarna Ericsson's great, great, great, grandfather. While it may seem to be the height of improbably coincidence, the two main characters, separated by a hundred years, end up being connected by fate, a hotel, and an embroidered sleeve of silk. As with the best of historical romance, the author gives us not only a love story, but lots of history, this time the history of Seattle, and Orcas Island, part of the San Juan chain of islands at the tip of Washington state. Being familiar with Orcas Island, and the Rosario Hotel(which I'm sure Rothesay is based on), I really enjoyed learning some of the history of its past. While the author took poetic license with the owner of the hotel, there was enough that lined up to make it a fascinating read. (The Rosario Hotel as a music room with a giant pipe organ built it which isn't in this story, but is my favorite part of the hotel.) Inara gives up the safe job she had after graduating from college, after she inherits the family estate from her aunt, on Orcas Island. Her Aunt Dahlia's request was to have the house turned into a Bed & Breakfast, but Inara decides on a boutique hotel instead. After finding the embroidered sleeve under on of the stairs, Inara looks for answers and finds her ancestor's dark past which could affect her own future if it becomes known. Interspersed in Inara's modern day story, is the story of a young Chinese girl who loses her family and must learn to trust the 'white devil' who rescues her from the cold waters of the East Sound near Orcas island. Both women are brave and resourceful and had me hoping they'd succeed. This book is not your typical romance novel, or your typical 'chic-lit', but a cut above making it a very enjoyable read.

I am very interested in Chinese culture and history, and this book caught my attention because of those aspects. At the end of the book, the author mentions that this story is based on true events that happened in the United States in the late 1800's. I was unaware of the great hostility and racial prejudice against Chinese people that pervaded the U.S. at that time. The book kept my attention as a well-written tale of mystery, history, and relationships (family and romance). The primary characters were well-developed, especially Mei Lien whose pain and personal turmoil came alive to the reader. In terms of plot, I certainly didn't see the twists and turns coming. The only reason I rated this 4/5 stars is that I thought the ending was a little too tidy. Everything wrapped up quickly and neatly, and though I enjoy a satisfying ending like most people, I felt this one was a bit contrived. Still, the story was a great work of historical fiction (with a bit of romance and drama mixed in), and I recommend it to anyone looking for a good read.

I can't even begin to say how much I loved this book. It brought out emotions in me that I never would have expected. This is the story of a young Chinese-American woman whose family is forced to leave the United States. All the Chinese in Seattle, US citizens or not, are rounded up one morning and made to buy passage on a ship that's said to be heading to China. (Sounds similar to current events in the United States.) It isn't. Overhearing a conversation between the ship's owner and it's captain, the girl rushes to tell her father the fate that awaits them, and it's not a good one. He takes action and makes her jump into the water in the hope that at least she will survive and make it back to land. She's seen "falling overboard" and rescued by a kind and caring man who takes her back to his farm and nurses her back to health. In time, they marry and lead a fairly happy life, having a child. Water, however, is always a malevolent character in this story. The take of Mei Lein is juxtaposed with that of Inara Erickson. Inara has just received finished school with a degree in International Business and has recently inherited the family's estate on Orca Island off the coast of Seattle. While her father insists she take a job with Starbucks, Inara has other ideas, wanting to develop the estate into a luxury, specialty hotel. While on the island, she discovers a loosened stair tread. Curious, she moves it away and discovers a small package wrapped in fabric. She opens the package and discovers a silk sleeve with remarkable embroiders. She researches this unusual finding online and discovers a professor at a nearby university who specializes in such things. She seeks him out and, as easily as that, the story blooms into a full and fulfilling book. This book did what few can, it made me cry, deep, bone-shaking sobs, and made me miss my parents more that I can say. If you want to read an excellent novel, filled with true emotion and history that may well be repeating itself, this is the one.

Outstanding read and interesting historical aspects that I was only vaguely aware of. Character development is generally even and competent; the two-character storyline weaves an emotional and enjoyable tale across time. Highly recommend for book clubs who can discuss racial bias and historical events in a respectful environment.

This book quickly became an old friend. One of those books you are sorry to get to the end of. I wanted to keep on reading it. This was simply a lovely read although it has also opened my eyes to a time in history I knew nothing about. I shall certainly be looking for further books by this author.

Very well written! I was drawn in right at the first chapter. Amazing read!

Wonderful story of love and family secrets, which kept me hooked through out the whole story. Characters very relatable and fun to get to know

Enjoyed the historical content but coincidences too far fetched which actually spoilt the story

The prologue Sunday February 7th 1886 introduces us to Mei Liein on a steamship at sunset just past Puget Sound Washington territory and is a great opening to her story and life. Her story is interspersed with that of modern day Inara Erickson and Daniel Chin a handsome young professor at the university of Washington -Seattle who Inara turns to when she finds an embroidered Chinese silk sleeve in a property she is renovating and becomes curious about its history. But the book is so much more than those bare bones. I found it moving, gripping, and hard to put down. I also learned a lot along the way about racial prejudice at that time against the Chinese which as a Brit I had zero knowledge about and found appalling and interesting. A little known pocket of history. The chapters switch from Inara's point of view to Mei Lin's throughout and I found Mei Lin's chapters far more moving and gripping than the modern parts of the book although I enjoyed the unfolding detective story as Mei Lin's tragic story unfolded. Well written and very enjoyable. It ended with all the ends neatly sewn up like Mei Lin's embroidered sleeve and the twin tales a neat device for the more meaningful story of Mei Lin and the hard time had by the Chinese of Seattle and surrounding islands at the time of the book. Sad but satisfying too at the conclusion. I visited Seattle once some years ago and wish I had known then some of this history of which I had no idea until I read this lovely, sentimental, well written book. Thoroughly enjoyed it.