I normally love to read books and only listen to them while we’re on a drive of more than four hours.
This past week, I listened to “The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane” by Lisa See, published in 2017.
I highly recommend this book. A friend of mine in Santa Barbara only listens to books, she never reads. That’s because she is constantly moving and busy. She never takes a break from work around the house, yard, cooking or her business sewing for interior designers until bedtime. She also works at a school during the week. (She’s exhausting to be around!) She finished this book and said it was “so good!”
It was! I have read other Lisa See books including the novel “Shanghai Girls” and her family’s biography, “On Gold Mountain: The One-Hundred-Year Odyssey of My Chinese-American Family.”
I’m a Lisa See fan.
I decided to experiment and listened to this book, rather than read it. It seemed like cheating, but I enjoyed it. The narration was good and I wasn’t hung up by trying to pronounce Chinese words in my head.
Here’s an overview of the story from Lisa See’s website:
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa See, a moving story about tradition, tea farming, and the enduring connection between mothers and daughters.
In their remote mountain village, Li-yan and her family align their lives around the seasons and the farming of tea. For the Akha people, ensconced in ritual and routine, life goes on as it has for generations—until a stranger appears at the village gate in a jeep, the first automobile any of the villagers has ever seen.
The stranger’s arrival marks the first entrance of the modern world in the lives of the Akha people. Slowly, Li-yan, one of the few educated girls on her mountain, begins to reject the customs that shaped her early life. When she has a baby out of wedlock—conceived with a man her parents consider a bad match—she rejects the tradition that would compel her to give the child over to be killed, and instead leaves her, wrapped in a blanket with a tea cake tucked in its folds, near an orphanage in a nearby city.
As Li-yan comes into herself, leaving her insular village for an education, a business, and city life, her daughter, Haley, is raised in California by loving adoptive parents. Despite her privileged childhood, Haley wonders about her origins, and across the ocean Li-yan longs for her lost daughter. Over the course of years, each searches for meaning in the study of Pu’er, the tea that has shaped their family’s destiny for centuries.
A powerful story about two women separated by circumstance, culture, and distance, The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane is an unforgettable portrait of a little known region and its people and a celebration of the bonds of family.
https://lisasee.com/books/the-tea-girl-of-hummingbird-lane/
I loved the characters, the drama, learning about the different ethnic groups of China, how the Akha people believe in spirits and how they were untouched from the modern world until after the Cultural Revolution. I also learned about tea farming, connoisseur’s, and the many health properties of tea.
After I finished listening to “The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane,” I decided to try another book on Audible. I chose an Elin Hilderbrand novel called “The Castaways.” I have to confess that it did not work for me to listen to it. It’s about four couples and I can’t keep the characters straight, not did I care about them.
I’m not sure if it’s the format of listening to a book that made the Lisa See book so accessible and enjoyable — and it doesn’t work for Elin Hilderbrand. Or, maybe I don’t like the second book as much even if I read it?
What are your thoughts of reading versus listening to books? What’s your preference and why?
Are you a Lisa See fan?
What a compelling story! I love the idea of books on tape, but alas, I lack concentrated time and concentration enough to enjoy them. I guess that makes me a page-turner.
I’m with you on page turning! I really enjoyed this book and it’s making it difficult for me to enjoy another book. They don’t compare.
I much prefer reading over listening. My aunt listens to audio books while doing routine tasks, like gardening, so maybe I need to try something like that.
I have another book by Lisa See on my to-read list, I think called The Island of Sea Women, but I haven’t read anything of hers yet.
That’s one of Lisa See’s books I haven’t read yet. I’m trying to decide which book of hers to read next. I’m back to reading real books. My experiment with Audible is over, except for our car trips. Then the challenge is choosing a book my husband and I both like.
I don’t know how to say this any other way than to admit that I don’t like to listen to people talking…which I know sounds odd and not really accurate because I love IRL convos with friends, family, interesting people, etc. I don’t however find it enjoyable to listen to a book being read that I can physically hold in my hand and read for myself- letting my own brain and emotions tell me when to pause, to re-read, to stop and contemplate or question, to underline or make notes… I think short story telling is an art and there has to be a mood set that goes along with bringing the story to life. I don’t think that concept works with a novel. Too much, too long, too impersonal for me.
This topic actually causes a bit of anxiety for me as I’ve often wondered about adjustments I would have to make as I age if for some reason my sight began to fail and I was unable to read. Or even cognitive decline where I simply didn’t remember or understand. Morbid thoughts I know, but reading for myself means so much to me. It would be so very hard if I couldn’t do it well, or at all.
I totally agree with you that it seems impersonal to listen to a book rather than physically hold and read it. I should put in context that I had minor surgery so I thought I’d give the Audible a try while I recovered. Like I said, it worked with the first book. The second book I could not stand it. Maybe it was because I was feeling better and didn’t need the help?
Good point EA, maybe knowing you needed a little help made it easier to accept… at the time! I know there are plenty of people who love listening however so I say whatever works for you 🙂
I’ll say it worked for me at the time 😊 Now I’m back to real books. I’m looking for another great one to read.
I haven’t come across anything “great” in quite some time…
They are few and far between
We read that book for book club this year. I read ebooks almost exclusively
Did you like it? I want the read another Lisa See book, but haven’t decided on which one.
I like Snow Flower and the secret fan. But I enjoyed tea girl. She’s a beautiful writer
Thank you for the suggestion. I’ve only read a couple of her books and enjoyed them. I’ll read Snow Flower next.
I might suggest this for our Book Club. It sounds like something our Leader would like.
I prefer to read verses listening. I like the actual turning and book marking of pages. Plus, it’s easier to get back to where I left off.
So true. I like reading also. Although I often turn down the corners of my books — if I own them and they aren’t borrowed from the library or a friend.
Thank you for ALL of this. I haven’t figured out how to listen to books yet…and make it work without getting distracted by what I’m doing in the moment. (Sort of like Deb’s great post this week about listening to music while trying to get stuff done…especially writing.) You’ve given me encouragement on two levels! One — to try listening again and Two — fab book recommendations. Thank you, Elizabeth! 🥰
I love Lisa See and I’ve only read three of her books. I guess that means I’ve got lots of joy ahead in reading. I can put music on in the background or mindless news while doing other things, but I can’t do that with books. I get distracted, miss a little bit and I’m lost.
Yep…and heaven help us if the music has a flute solo! We’re doomed! 😁
So true! 😊
I used to do both. I will listen to books when painting a room. I prefer to read books. E-Books have fallen out of favor with me. Just a mental thing. I feel like they take 3 times as long to read. All becasue I cannot get my mind to recognize progress when reading. I am just finishing The Handmaid’s Tale. I can see there are only a coule pages left. I feel the anticipation. I read Red Mars as a e-book retanl from the library (question, who goes to libraries anymore – ME!) It was obviously building to a conclussion but I feel like it simply ended.
Just as I don’t like digital scrapbooking, I don’t like listening to books either. I can’t focus. I need to feel the pages and hold the book. I don’t even like using my iPad to read although I do if that’s the only way I can get the book. I don’t use my phone to keep notes either. Pen and paper planners for me!
I’m a real book reader and a pen paper list maker. I totally agree with you. 😊
I did try to listen to a book a decade ago but I’m an impatient listener and they were talking their time, so I downloaded the book and read it instead. 😅
That’s so true. The audio book may not line up with your pace of reading. I think the second book really annoyed me, because at the end and beginning of each chapter it had a musical interlude!
Oh no😂
I read books. Listening takes a different skill than reading. While I’m a great listener in real life, when it comes to pleasure time I like to read, pause, read, muse, read at my own pace.
That’s it. With audio books, we’re tied to their pacing. It’s too cumbersome to stop and pause and return. If I fall asleep I have no idea where I left off!
I like Lisa See, too. I’ve read Shanghai Girls and Snowflower and the Secret Fan. Both so good! I’m adding the Tea Girl to my list. I have an Audible account, but I seem to miss more with my ears. If I space out (which happens a lot), it’s easier to go back and reread. If the language is especially poetic, I appreciate it more in print.
I agree with you. I think the best time for Audible is on our car trips. It’s better than listening to the radio and makes the time fly by. I’m going to read Snowflower next.
I really liked The Island of Sea Women and Snow Flower and the Secret Fan. I’ll haven’t had a chance to listen to the Tea one yet. I enjoy the audios too. HOWEVER, I have to like the voice of the person reading… and of course, the story line, but if the voice is not engaging, I immediately move on.
The voice makes a big difference. You named three of Lisa See’s books that I haven’t read. I’m going to read Snow Flower next. I’m thrilled there are so many Lisa See books left for me to read.
The one good thing about having an hour commute a few years ago was being able to listen to books. I find I don’t have the same attention span listening around the house. I really liked it in the car, not so much at home.
We always pick out a book for our road trips. It’s something we look forward to on our long drives. John Grisham seems to work for both of us.
Oh that’s a really neat idea. I have to remember that!
The hard part is finding books we both like, but Grisham works for both of us.
What an interesting question you’ve asked and all the different answers. I prefer reading because it’s faster for me. But I like audiobooks as well because I can do them while driving, working out or gardening. However, I don’t do as much of that these days so I’ve replaced audiobooks with listening to podcasts. The Lisa See book sounds wonderful. Thanks, Elizabeth!
I listen to podcasts in the background while I write or have things to do around the house. An audiobook takes all my attention. I’d rather read a book, when I’m doing nothing else. If I’m interrupted, I can stop and reread or pick up where I left off.
Years ago when I did a lot of driving (and cars still had cassette and CD players) I listened to a lot of books. I haven’t listened in a long time. On my long drives I prefer music or an occasional podcast.
Once, though, I listened to The Lacuna read by the author, Barbara Kingsolver. She really brought it to life. Other people who read the book didn’t seem to like it as well.
Personally, I’m going to stick with print (best) or ebooks.
I agree with you and loving to read books. On our road trips we like to listen to audio books, but break it up with music. I have to check out “The Lacuna.”
I only read books, preferably paperbacks. I’m on the screen enough, so reading on a kindle is too much for the eyes. 🙂 And I love the feel of a physical book. But audio books are a great option to those whose vision isn’t the best and for long road trips. Thanks for the great recommendation.
I love paperbacks, too and the feel of real books. Hardbound are too heavy. I hope you enjoy the Lisa See book.
I agree with you about hardbacks; they’re heavy to hold. I’m sure I will. 🙂
I read, but I think that I would enjoy listening to certain types of books. Maybe books on subjects I’m not as interested in. My husband isn’t a reader, but he listens to audiobooks while driving for work.
It’s nice to have the option of audiobooks. There’s something for everyone and difficult situations.
I read this book a few years ago and remember liking it a lot. I read and listen both, but lately mostly listen on my commutes (at 2x speed, ha!).
What a great idea for your commutes. Especially at a faster pace.
I’m adding that book to my list. I do a combination of audiobooks and print books because I’m also on the go a lot and love to have stories in my ear. Some books are made for being read aloud! The voice actor makes all the difference, I’ve found.
I agree with the voice actor bring important. I’m on my third Lisa See book since then.