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    Paper Wife: A Novel
    Paper Wife: A Novel
    Paper Wife: A Novel
    Audiobook9 hours

    Paper Wife: A Novel

    Written by Laila Ibrahim

    Narrated by Nancy Wu

    4.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    From the bestselling author of Yellow Crocus comes a heart-wrenching story about finding strength in a new world.

    Southern China, 1923. Desperate to secure her future, Mei Ling’s parents arrange a marriage to a widower in California. To enter the country, she must pretend to be her husband’s first wife—a paper wife.

    On the perilous voyage, Mei Ling takes an orphan girl named Siew under her wing. Dreams of a better life in America give Mei Ling the strength to endure the treacherous journey and detainment on Angel Island. But when she finally reaches San Francisco, she’s met with a surprise. Her husband, Chinn Kai Li, is a houseboy, not the successful merchant he led her to believe.

    Mei Ling is penniless, pregnant, and bound to a man she doesn’t know. Her fragile marriage is tested further when she discovers that Siew will likely be forced into prostitution. Desperate to rescue Siew, she must convince her husband that an orphan’s life is worth fighting for. Can Mei Ling find a way to make a real family—even if it’s built on a paper foundation?

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBrilliance Audio
    Release dateOct 30, 2018
    ISBN9781978637573
    Paper Wife: A Novel
    Author

    Laila Ibrahim

    Laila Ibrahim spent much of her career as a preschool director, a birth doula, and a religious educator. That work, coupled with her education in developmental psychology and attachment theory, provided ample fodder for the story lines of her bestselling novels: Paper Wife, Mustard Seed, and Yellow Crocus. She’s a devout Unitarian Universalist, determined to do her part to add a little more love and justice to our beautiful and painful world. She lives with her wonderful wife, Rinda, and two other families in a small cohousing community in Berkeley, California. Her young adult children are her pride and joy. Laila is blessed to be working full-time as a novelist. When she isn’t writing, she likes to take walks with friends, do jigsaw puzzles, play games, work in the garden, travel, cook, and eat all kinds of delicious food. Visit the author at www.lailaibrahim.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/lailaibrahim.author.

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    Reviews for Paper Wife

    4.5/5

    541 ratings30 reviews

    What did you think?

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    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 4/5
      Interesting story of a young woman's experience relocating to San Francisco from China with a new husband she had barely met and his son. The writing style was not poetic, but I enjoyed the story.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 3/5
      I skipped ahead to the end around chapter 24. Too slow. I was interested what happened to the main character’s family in China but they seemed to have completely disappeared from the strong storyline start. I also didn’t care for the nasal mumbling throughout the book.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      This Book was Sooo good. I would Love a sequel. What an amazing family.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Very good... you won't regret reading it. The book started out strong and remained strong until the end.
    • 5/5
      Very intriguing story. I loved it. Highly recommend to you.
    • 5/5
      After reading Yellow Crocuses I found this book by the same author. It was read with the same passion as I enjoyed in her last series. I really hope she will continue to write more as she has a true talent for writing and keeping you wanting more.
    • 5/5
      So much cruelty and hardships in the human adventure, its nice to read about people who rise above it..
    • 5/5
      A beautiful story portraying a mother's strength and resilience to protect her family. Well narrated.
    • 5/5
      Fantastic book that gives the reader a real glimpse into Chinese culture, society and spiritually. Told through the eyes of a woman, the reader experiences the gender power disparity of 1920s China and all of the hardships and sacrifices that befell women then. The narration wasn't an immediate hit with me but after an hour, I grew to really enjoy the narration style, it suited the book and characters very well. Highly recommended
    • 5/5
      I have loved all of her books. I listen and crochet the evening away.
    • 5/5
      Beautifully written and narrated. Such courage and determination in the face of adversity. Though it is only fiction it gives a good glimpse into the lives of immigrants in the early 20th century in US.
    • 5/5
      This was a fantastic book!!! I'm so glad I read it.
    • 4/5
      I was surprised how much I enjoyed this book and learning about a different culture and a glimpse of what it is like to come to a new country and start a new life full of Uncertainty. Paper wife had me captivated until the end
    • 4/5
      Beautifully narrated! Lovely, happy story of love and family with an interesting historical context.
    • 5/5
      Exactly what I was hoping for.
      I needed a book with a positive ending.
    • 5/5
      Enjoyed every bit! The narrators voice is very soothing and captures the personality of the woman in the story.
    • 5/5
      Great book, engaging from beginning to the end. It gives the reader a glimpse of what immigration looked like for Chinese citizens coming to America in the 1920s. The main character is as fierce as she is loving and hopeful. A beautiful love story showcasing the power of culture, determination, love and faith.
    • 5/5
      Very good book! Well developed characters, who are likable and easy to relate to (which seems to be unusual nowadays) The story was interesting and kept me listening!
    • 5/5
      This was a riveting part of the Chinese-American experience I never knew. I enjoyed the deeply developed characters and appreciated the ending I did not realize expect.
    • 5/5
      This was very easy listening, I enjoyed listening to it while I was sewing;)
    • 5/5
      This was such a beautiful and poignant story. I was a proper feel good book.
    • 5/5
      Great and beautiful story. Truly enjoyed and highly recommend it.
    • 5/5
      I loved everything about this book! The story drew me in from the beginning. Although there were some disturbing parts in this book the story itself was so uplifting and delightful. I kept expecting heavy outcomes but each twist left me feeling joyful! Refreshing book!
    • 4/5
      Book full of emotions. I enjoyed the main character, who was complex, and seemed real, among other things due to concerns she had, that weren't there for the sake of a story, but to show the true mind of a person being in strange land, among unknown people.
      Mayleen was hesitant and careful, even when she met people that would become her closest friends. She was quick to rage but also full of gratitude and love. I will miss this character.
    • 2/5
      This was more of a story book for young teens
      The plot was okay, but lacked depth and there was little to no suspense. The beginning had a little more spice but the story got duller and duller as itWent on.
      The story needed a lot of development as it seemed shallow and quite straightforward
      I skipped the last 3 chapters to the end as i was simply TIRED of the story
    • 5/5
      Beautifully written lovely book!
      So revealing of what Chinese women endured to come to USA
    • 5/5
      I really enjoyed this book. It has a unique storyline and point of view. I have not read any books before from the perspective of a Chinese immigrant woman. There was a plot twist that I did not see coming at the end but that was very satisfying. I have put two other books from this Author on my list to read/listen.
    • 5/5
      So very moving! Soulful characters. This is the second time I listen to this book and each time I’m sad that it’s ending.
    • 5/5
      great historic novel, well done , will look for more
    • 5/5
      This is a sweet and touching story that also brings to life the hardships of immigration and finding one’s footing in a strange country. It is beautifully written and narrated.

      2 people found this helpful