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Petals From The Sky by Mingmei Yip

Petals From The Sky by Mingmei Yip is a wonderful insight into the lives of Buddhist nuns and of a woman’s search for her true calling

My Book Review Rating:

Fiction or non-fiction? What’s the genre?

Petals from the Sky is a work of fiction inspired by the authors own inspirations to be a Buddhist nun.

Why did you decide to read this book?

I read this book as part of the ARC Reading Challenge. I couldn’t resist picking it up due to the gorgeous cover art which really grabbed my attention!

Summarise the plot – without revealing the ending!

It’s not often that you pick up a book with a plot that is truly unique – but that is the case with Petals from the Sky. Meng Ning, the main character, fell into a well when she was little and was ‘rescued’ by Yi Kong, a Buddhist nun who becomes her mentor. Meng Ning goes through life believing that her calling is to pass through the Empty Gate and become a nun like her mentor. That is until she is rescued from a fire by the wonderful Michael Fuller, a young American doctor who knocks her world off its axis and makes her question her beliefs and her calling.

What did you like about this book?

I loved this book – from the very first page. It’s beautifully written, it’s unique, it’s thought-provoking and it gave me an insight into the world of Buddhism. There is an air of calmness and escapism in the way Yip weaves her story that makes the book so enjoyable.

What didn’t you like?

I can’t actually think of anything about this book that I didn’t like – hence the 5 star rating!

What did you think of the main character?

Meng Ning is a bit of a troubled soul in this book. She has gone through life so sure of her destiny and her beliefs and then suddenly at the age of 30 she meets Michael and everything goes out of the window. She suddenly finds herself torn between love in the Dusty World or a simple life as a nun in the Empty Gate. In Meng Ning Yip has created a strong and compelling character who is easy to empathise with.

Are there any other interesting characters in the book?

Lisa Fulton deserves a mention here, daughter to Michael’s father-figure and his ex-fiance. Lisa further adds to Meng Ning’s anguish by questioning her relationship with Michael and taking her on a path that confuses Meng Ning further.

Lisa is not a likeable character, though she has flaws that Meng Ning finds inspiring and somehow the two almost become friends.

Share a quote from the book:

I picked out this quote from page 283 of my copy as it embodies Meng Ning’s anguished state of mind. She and Micheal have just found themselves trapped in a falling elevator:

“Then I was knocked off my feet by a strong jolt.

Fate plays games with morals. I’d survived the well, and now this! This would be the end of everything, nun or not nun, married or single, empty gate or dusty world. I was going to die. I was dying, and Michael… Oh, Michael!”

What did you think about the ending?

I enjoyed the ending of the book; Yip pulls together all the strings from the novel’s sub-plots and ties them together in a way that’s satisfying but not predicatable.

Have you read any other books by this author? What did you think of them?

No, I haven’t; but Yip’s previous novel Peach Blossom Pavilion is now on my wish list.

Which of your readers are likely to enjoy reading this book?

If you enjoy beautifully written novels that provide a rare peek into a beautiful culture and are both captivating and inspiring then you’ll enjoy Petals from the Sky by Mingmei Yip.

Amazon.com Price: $2.99 (as of 2010-07-29 16:20:29 GMT) Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

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Petals From The Sky
	Manufacturer: Kensington Customer Rating:   List Price: $15.00 Sale Price: $2.99 Availibility: Usually ships in 24 hours Free Shipping Available Buy Now
Product Description
When twenty-year-old Meng Ning declares that she wants to be a Buddhist nun, her mother is aghast. In her eyes, a nun's life means only deprivation - 'no freedom, no love, no meat'. But to Meng Ning, it means the chance to control her own destiny, and to live in an oasis of music, art, and poetry far from her parents' unhappy union. With an enigmatic nun known as Yi Kong, 'Depending on Emptiness', as her mentor, Meng Ning spends the next ten years studying abroad, disdaining men, and preparing to enter the nunnery. Then, a fire breaks out at her Buddhist retreat, and Meng Ning is carried to safety by Michael Fuller, a young American doctor. The unprecedented physical contact stirs her curiosity. And as their tentative friendship grows intimate, Meng Ning realizes she must choose between the sensual and the spiritual life.
Product Details
ISBN13: 9780758241818 Condition: New Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
Customer Reviews
Exquisitely Portrayed Characters and Exotic Locales   Review Date: July 27, 2010 Reviewer: Lee Kochenderfer, Riverside, Ca USA Mingmei Yip's exquisitely portrayed characters and exotic locales in PETALS FROM THE SKY will draw you intimately into the life of 20-year-old Meng Ning, an aspiring Buddhist nun whose life takes unexpected turns. From the mystique of the temples to the streets of New York, this fast-paced novel sweeps across continents and cultures as the protagonist's desire to become a nun begins to fade. The daughter of a troubled marriage, she has vowed to allow no man in her life. At thirty, highly educated, with a Ph. D earned in Paris, she advances toward her original goal to become a nun, guided by her long-time model, nun Yi Kong--Depending on Emptiness. But at a retreat in Fragrant Spirit Temple, she is rescued from a fire by an American doctor and lay Buddhist, Michael Fuller and soon, she is caught between old convictions and new desires. Working through the conflict is no easy love-wins-out scenario, or its opposite. It is difficult, sometimes painful, sometimes illogical as real life can be, but fascinating. Don't miss the final, satisfying resolution! To Be or Not to Be...   Review Date: July 6, 2010 Reviewer: R. DelParto, Virginia Beach, VA USA Novelist Mingmei Yip opens a window of examination to the culture and traditions of Eastern religion in her book Petals From the Sky: Between Devotion and Surrender lies a World of Discovery. Main character Meng Ning at the age of thirteen years old confronts her supposed destiny to becoming a Buddhist nun, but as one reads the first few passages of the book, she is not alone in determining what exact path she must take. It is the people, her family and friends, especially her mother, boyfriend Michael Fuller, nuns Yi Kong and Wong Dai Nam, and others she meets during her journey that helps her to deeply question what she really wants out of life. With the fortunate experiences outside of her traditional Chinese culture and customs that take her away from her country to other parts of the world, Europe and the United States, this plays an essential part in her attempting to understand and determining what decision she will eventually make by the end of the novel. There are several interesting aspects about Petals From the Sky that may draw readers to the storyline that shows that the bridge of understanding between Eastern and Western traditions continues to be told through the art of fiction. Mingmei provides the cultural backdrop but adds more dimension to that element as it relates to ethnic and gender boundaries within the Asian experience that deal with sexuality that have often been taboo or somewhat reserved within conversations or have been quaintly narrated in Chinese classic literature, The Dream of the Red Chamber, that Meng Ning refers to throughout her ordeal; she does a good job presenting those issue within the story, especially with specific chapters that involve Meng Ning's relationships with her mother, Yi Kong, and Michael's former fiancé Lisa. Meng Ning discovers that the path towards the nunnery is more than living a carefree life filled with poetry and mysticism where she has challenges that must be confronted before she could fully commit her life to that particular lifestyle that her mother had wisely suggested and warned her about. Petals From the Sky is a thought-provoking story that is filled with unpredictable moments that may have readers wanting to read the next page. However, it is one of those stories that may appear to be slow in the beginning but gradually builds by the middle and concluding chapters because of the suggestive themes and issues that are not specifically mentioned but are presented within the characters' dialogues. Indeed, one must read carefully in order to find out what is happening between each character, but otherwise, this is an informative novel. Choppy Story Line   Review Date: June 28, 2010 Reviewer: Mary Poppins, Pennsylvania, USA Maybe this is the Chinese style of writing, but I found the storyline of this book to be very choppy. The main character was all over the place both physically and emotionally with no clear transition or reasoning why she was behaving that way. Although the end of the book pulled most (but certainly not all!) of the pieces together, the disconnect throughout made the entire novel less enjoyable. Petals From the Sky more than delivers a fabulous tale   Review Date: June 17, 2010 Reviewer: Marcia T. S. Owens, A beautiful story of making difficult choices. The heroine Meng Ning a beautiful person looks outside herself to quench her thirst for beauty not knowing she carries it within herself the entire time. Being beautiful includes imperfections along the way. Mingmei Yip developes her characters with such detail and genuine care about their inner turmoil that it reads like a true story. The reader will love the poetry and insights into human nature and the difference between Eastern and Western problem solving and survival skills. Relationships between mother and daughter, romantic relations and friends is intense and moving. It's impossible to guess what will happen because the spiritual world and the real world intersect with interesting consequences. The writing in Petals from the Sky moves flawlessly from moment to moment. It's a wonderful read with beautiful explanations of Buddhist philosophy and Chinese culture. I'd rate Mingmei Yip right up there with Anchee Min and Amy Tan when it comes to telling a spellbinding story. A must read. Wanted more... fell short of expectations.   Review Date: June 13, 2010 Reviewer: , I received this book for free on my kindle, and was excited to read it because it sounded like an excellent struggle between original characters. But I found the story tedious and the plot very cliche. I had to force myself to read it at times. If anything I enjoyed the information on Bhuddist philosophy, but the story did not hold my interest enough for me to recommend it. Very disappointing   Review Date: May 16, 2010 Reviewer: Monica E. Hackett, Wayne, PA Having spent time in an ashram and at several Buddhist retreats I was taken with the premise of the book--the choice between a life of celibacy and devotion and the life of a householder. I was so disappointed--the lack of depth, the lack of character exploration, the lack of editorial care...I cannot lend out this book because I cannot recommend that it is a good read--from a spiritual perspective or a romantic one. Promising premise, rather disappointing delivery.   Review Date: May 5, 2010 Reviewer: E. Leon, Rochester, NY USA This book is based on the interesting premise of the choice between becoming a Buddhist nun or choosing a secular life. The plot is quickly complicated by the introduction of a rather extraordinary tender man (Michael) in the life of the heroine, Meng Ning. However, quickly thereafter the book starts to disappoint. The exposition of Meng Ning's choices and feelings is rather shallow, and at times repetitious. Also, Michael turns out to be quite wounded and emotionally needy. The emotional implications for Meng Ning are not really addressed. Additionally, as other reviewers have pointed out, her behavior during a visit to NYC seems out of character, especially for a woman who had lived by herself in Paris for 5 years. Also, her behavior is not addressed in her actual relationship with Michael. The portrayal of Ming Meng's family and the Buddhist scene in Hong Kong and China are interesting. The character of "the Scarred Nun" is particularly interesting, and stands out in the book, as particularly well crafted. The worse book I've ever read   Review Date: May 3, 2010 Reviewer: N. Peters, Kingston, ON, Canada This novel was full of cliches, blantant foreshadowing and absolutely ridiculous and unbelievable characters. What little suspense might have been found in the book was ruined time and time again with the obvious chapter titles. I only wish I could count the number of exclamation marks used in the writing of the novel. The writing was overly sentimental in a dripping, cheesy way. I read on thinking that it would improve, but the novel actually got worse as it continued along. A real disappointment. Petals from the sky   Review Date: April 6, 2010 Reviewer: Lisa Manzilli, This was a fascinating book with much good insight into the world of modern Buddhism as well as a touching love story. I have traveled to Hong Kong many times and could relate to the parts of the book that took place in temples there, so much so that I want to go back and find those temples described in the book. I loved learning about life in the Buddhist nunnery and the lives of the nuns. A Different World   Review Date: March 29, 2010 Reviewer: Paul Le Mat, California This is an enjoyable story. It's a look into a world of Buddhism and Chinese culture not general known by Americans. Mingmei Yip tells us of the sometimes mystical, sometimes romantic life of a smart woman, deciding how to live, which direction to take in her life: to become a nun with a shaved head, alone and separated from mainstream civilization, but protected and peaceful, or become the wife of a successful Westerner who shows her the New York world of art and fine restaurants, enjoying physical love, yet exposed to the turbulent world outside the Buddhist Temple? We are drawn into this young woman's life, into her struggle, into her varied experiences by the careful, detailed writing of an author who seems to know this subject well. The characters this women encounters, the learning, the joy, the pain, the richness of these two worlds, are all spelled out in a pleasing writing style. Well worth making the effort to purchase and read. Loved it!   Review Date: March 26, 2010 Reviewer: SharonID, Idaho, USA I adored Petals from the Sky. Ms. Yip pulled me right into the central character, a woman of my own world and time, but with a life, culture, and context vastly different from my own. Meng Ning completely engaged me, leading me through a magical space where the simplest of everyday expressions were transformed by idiomatic magic and metaphors wandered exotic pathways, each destination a delightful surprise. I loved Ms. Yip's first novel, Peach Blossom Pavilion, and Petals from the Sky is another exceptional story, driven by another strong female character. I highly recommend this warm and exotic tale that bridges cultures, continents, and the gulfs of the human heart with such charm and grace. Beautiful exotic story!   Review Date: March 23, 2010 Reviewer: N. Wadel, Moyie Springs, ID United States MingMei Yip writes a beautiful tale about a 30 yr old woman, Meng Ning who is torn between her love to be a Buddhist nun and Michael. Meng Ning joins a retreat to " test her karma to be a nun". When she pays her fee for the retreat, she is told that her $500 dollar bill is a fake. When she was in Paris, she had asked a friend to exchange her Hong Kong money in the black market. How could she have known it was fake? As she was trying to talk to the registration lady about her situation, a man asked if he could help. Meng Ning explains to him what happened and he pulls out his wallet and pays the lady the money. Meng Ning thanks him repeatedly and tells him she'll pay him back. His name is Michael Fuller and this is the starting of Meng Nings confusion. The story doesn't slow down, it keeps moving with beautiful descriptions of China and the exotic life of Buddhist nuns. I loved every minute of it and am looking forward to reading her other books. Natalie :0) ~~[...] Very Enjoyable   Review Date: March 15, 2010 Reviewer: Mrs. Em, I really enjoyed this book- the descriptions of places and cultures were wonderful. Definately worth reading! Hao-la   Review Date: March 13, 2010 Reviewer: S. Voetsch, Charlotte, NC This was an interesting book. Since I am an American man married to an Asian woman, the main romance story hit home with me. It makes me feel almost part of the story when I can relate to the characters and know exactly what they are talking about when window shopping, they see a poster of famous (in Asia) Sally Yeh, one of my favorite singers! Overall, it was a good read. Had potential, but ended up a boring cliché   Review Date: March 11, 2010 Reviewer: Stephanie Vogel, Stockholm, Sweden When I first saw this book in stores, I thought it would be a pretty interesting read. "A Hong Kong girl conflicted about becoming a nun or following her heart." Certainly a different change of pace, considering most Asian culture books are about a young girl who ends up being a prostitute of some sort. Well, I was wrong...very wrong. The book starts of relatively interesting, but about 100 pages in you stop wondering what will be on the next page. I thought all of the characters were very dry with no depth to them whatsoever Frankly I didn't care whether or not there was a happy ending because I didn't care about the characters. Still, the most disappointing thing about the novel is how much of a cliché it turned out to be! Asian man= bad, White man = good, Asian woman= completely innocent with no faults, white woman= wild and slutty. Understand I don't like giving bad reviews, but this book was extremely disappointing. I just hope my "harsh" review can save someone else the time and money that I cannot get back.
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