They had formed a sisterhood of friendship and writing, and then they built an intellectual and emotional community of women throughout the country through reading. In looking for solace, dignity, and recognition, they brought their quest to other women who still lived behind locked gates or were being pushed back inside by the Manchus. -From Peony in Love

Peony in Love

Lisa See

If she loves books, this is the next one on her Must Read list.  "Peony in Love" is based on a true story of three young Chinese teenagers (of which Peony is one)...all loved to write, all three were completely obsessed with the opera "The Peony Pavilion". Their notes on the opera were published into a book ( Three Wives' Collaborative Commentary on The Peony Pavillion), the first book by women anywhere in the world.