While technically historical fiction, due to made up dialogue and insight into the protagonist's thoughts, the author stuck very close to the historical record in making this novel. As a result, the narrative doesn't flow as smoothly as in a purely fictional work. We jump around in time, and there isn't much of a theme tying everything together. Except for "life for Chinese people was really tough in the Old West especially if you are a woman." Technicalities of the law are explained well enough that even if you have no past exposure to this era in American history you should be able to understand the conflicts. It is a thoughtful look at a segment of the Old West that typically only gets a few sentences in history textbooks.

loved this book, couldn't put it down. what an amazing woman.

Thousand Pieces of Gold: A Biographical Novel (Asian Voices) by Ruthanne Lum McCunn (1989)

Own read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Very enjoyable about a Chinese girl who is sold off in terrible circumstances from her home & village and makes her way to the gold field of the American Northwest. She is bought by a Chinese saloon keeper and used in many ways but over time she makes her way through hard work and is aided by Charlie who becomes her love.
Very heart warming and full of interesting historical truths.
The book was nice but not WOW.
Could be a great movie of the gold rush/Chinese immigrant experience.

When her father is forced to sell Lalu Nathoy she gets involved in a live full of adventures that forces her to cross half the world from China to America.
A really touching story that won't left indifferent anybody.

True stories are the best! This one has its fill of sadness, though. Also, I kept thinking I'd skipped a section by turning too many pages, or that I'd missed things because of the mental fog that comes with being sick, but the way this biographical novel is structured is to jump from the middle of one situation to the middle of another scene without following the protagonist through every transition. Movies are cut like that, but I hadn't really seen it in a book before. This lady lived such an interesting life... I can see why people wanted to make a movie out of it. It's definitely on my to-watch list!

This book about a real woman's sale to Chinese bandits as a young girl and her subsequent trip to America and life here until death in her old age was awesome.

I really enjoyed this novel. What a strong woman who never forgot her joy. Sad that she wasn't buried with Charlie though.

Life story of Polly Bemis, well told.

Really wonderful. A quick read but packed with detail and vivid characters.

Added 3/27/11.
_Thousand Pieces of Gold_ (1983) by Ruthanne Lum McCunn

GR reviewer, Sarah, wrote: "This is about one of Idaho's most famous pioneers, Polly Bemis.".
GR reviewers indicate this is easy reading and interesting, but the writing is poor.

Adapted to film (1991):
http://movies.netflix.com/Movie/Thous...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100774/p...
"In 1880's China, young Lalu is sold into marriage by her impoverished father. Rather than becoming a bride, Lalu ends up in an Idaho gold-mining town, the property of a saloon owner who renames her China Polly and plans to sell her as entertainment for the locals. Refusing to become a whore, Lalu ultimately finds her own way in this strange country filled with white demons."
IMDb trivia: "Based on the true story of "China Polly."

Sample Google eBook (same title, different book, about Chinese proverbs):
http://books.google.com/ebooks/reader...
Meaning of Book Title: The third chapter is entitled: "One Written Word is Worth a Thousand Pieces of Gold". (Chinese or Japanese proverb)

2/27/14 - UPDATE (copied from my comment at my group):
Yesterday I watched the following Netflix DVD: "Thousand Pieces of Gold" (1991).
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100774/?...
http://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/Thousand...
"In 1880's China, young Lalu is sold into marriage by her impoverished father..." (part of IMDb description)
I gave it 4 stars. Good story. Kept my attention all the way through. Well acted. Interesting choreography. Chris Cooper was very appealing in this movie.
Adapted to film from the book: Thousand Pieces of Gold (1983) by Ruthanne Lum McCunn

Dnf p. 181. The story is good, but the writing let's it down. Had I been stuck on a plane or something I'd have finished it. The story is worth telling, but it deserves a better telling than what it received.