Valley of Amazement, by Amy Tan

I didn't much like the main characters in the book, Lucia, her daughter, Violet, and her daughter Flora.  Each made some dreadfully bad choices and had some dismal luck. They didn't become likable until the end.   But Lucia and Violet made these rotten choices in the context of life in courtesan houses in Shanghai during the first half of the 20th century, which was fascinating, and some of the supporting cast were favorites of mine.