Shanghai Girls – An Interesting Head Shaking Read

Our book club, Circle of Sistahs had the privilege of reading Shanghai Girls, by Lisa See

My goodness gracious, if you haven't read this book, please do. This is such an interesting and head shaking read. Seriously, as you read about May and Pearl, two sisters living in Shanghai in the mid-1930s, who are beautiful, sophisticated, and well-educated - you will get caught up, you will get involved, and most of all, you will be moved.

The girls are living a nontraditional and carefree life of privilege, sadly they are unaware their family is on the verge of bankruptcy, until the day their father tells them that he has gambled away their wealth and that in order to repay his debts he must sell the girls as wives to suitors who have traveled from California to find Chinese brides. But when the sisters leave China and arrive at Angel's Island (the Ellis Island of the West)--where they are detained, interrogated, and humiliated for months--they feel the harsh reality of leaving home. And when May discovers she's pregnant the situation becomes even more desperate. The sisters make a pact that no one can ever know.

As Japanese bombs fall on their beloved city, Pearl and May set out on the journey of a lifetime, one that will take them through the Chinese countryside, in and out of the clutch of brutal soldiers, and across the Pacific to the shores of America. In Los Angeles they begin a fresh chapter, trying to find love with the strangers they have married, brushing against the seduction of Hollywood, and striving to embrace American life even as they fight against discrimination, brave Communist witch hunts, and find themselves hemmed in by Chinatown's old ways and rules.

I really would like to see this book adapted into a movie - as long as it stays true to the storyline as written by Lisa See. Perhaps they can take a page from another book focusing on Women of Asian descent, "The Joy Luck Club" (1989) is a best-selling novel written by Amy Tan. It focuses on four Chinese American immigrant families in San Francisco, California who start a club known as "the Joy Luck Club," playing the Chinese game of mahjong for money while feasting on a variety of foods. In 1993, the novel was adapted into a feature film directed by Wayne Wang and starring Ming-Na, Lauren Tom, The screenplay was written by the author Amy Tan along with Ronald Bass. They had the good sense to have the author write the screenplay and that may have been the reason the movie manage to mirror the book so well. And I see no reason why they cannot do the same with Shanghai Girls.

Did I say, this is a must read for any book club and/or reader? If I didn't say it, consider it said. Read, Shanghai Girls by Lisa See.

Simple Techniques to Help You Lose 10 Pounds in One Week

Losing extra pounds gradually along with routine exercise is the healthiest way to keep in shape. Instead of wanting to shave off those extra pounds in a day or two, which can be a very daunting endeavor, a pound or two each day is a healthier alternative. There are several ways to lose 10 pounds in one week but only a handful of them work. More so, some of those diets even subtly suggest going to extremes like not eating anything at all, and not eating anything at all is an unhealthy not to mention unsafe alternative.

If you are unsure of what kind of diet regimen you should undertake to help you lose weight, here is a one-week meal plan you can try. Just follow these few simple steps and see yourself slimmer in a span of one week. For some of us, it's not always about losing weight, but this is also a pretty good method to becoming more tone.

Day One

On the first day of the diet, it is important to condition the body. You can do this by taking a detox
mixture. Not only will this help the body lose weight faster but cleanse it as well. Start the day by mixing a cup of lemon juice, slices of ginger and honey with one cup of water.

It is helpful to prepare a mixture of this detox drink that can last the whole day. This way whenever you are hungry, all you have to do is to drink a cup of the detox mixture.

Day Two

It is important to limit the amount of food you eat to help your body lose weight fast. However, don't forget to eat healthy and incorporate lots of fruits and vegetables to your meals. You can also eat meat but remember to chose lean ones or opt for white meat like chicken or fish instead.

Day Three

Once you got used to your new diet, start adding two pieces of apples and a cup of black beans to your meals. You can also substitute the beans for the meats. This can jumpstart your fiber intake, which in turn helps for healthy weight loss.

Day Four

During the fourth day of the diet, start eating a heavy breakfast mostly consisting of grains and cereals. Again, fiber is very important because it really does wonders for the digestive system. As for your dinner, remember to eat the meal before seven o'clock. Eating after seven in the evening or hours before sleep can restrict the body from properly digesting your meal.

Day Five

It is important to realize just how many calories you consume during the previous three days especially now that you have established a healthy diet. Once you are aware of this, try to scatter your meals all throughout the day. Eating five to six small meals is a great way to help you lose weight.

Day Six

During this time, you must be able to limit your sugar and fat intake. If not, try to limit your consumption further. There are other healthier alternatives for these kinds of foods. For instance, instead of eating ice cream for dessert, eat yogurt. They are healthier and provide the body with helpful and healthy bacteria.

Day Seven

Eat fresh fruits instead of packaged juices. Another healthier alternative is to drink freshly squeezed juices without additives and flavorings. You can even stop drinking juice altogether and rather opt for a healthier green tea. Personally, I prefer the taste of juice.

This kind of diet can be prolonged if you want to continuously lose weight. Once you lose 10 pounds in one week, remember that maintaining this type of healthy diet can prevent you from gaining weight.