Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus More


Jun 09

26

The Painter from Shanghai by Jennifer Cody Epstein

Posted by Teddyrose@1 on June 26, 2009
Posted in Books Read in 2009 • China • Historical Fiction • Jennifer Cody Epstein  | 16 Comments

Stirring Portrait of an Artist

Pan Yuliang never envisioned that her life would turn out like this. When her mother died, she was sent to her uncle’s house. He raised her along with the help of a maid. She was to be promised to a man and then be married. That is what her mother’s wish for her and a promise from her uncle.
However, her uncle had a drug habit and ran out of money. He had to get drugs somehow, so he sold Yuliang into prostitution at the age of 14.

She was brought to “The Hall of Eternal Splendor” and was taught the ways of seduction and “bed business.”

She was told to seduce the new inspector, Pan Zanhua. This was very important so that he could be kept in line and continue turning a blind eye, as the old inspector did. However, it did not work out that way. He could not be bought. He didn’t fall for the hook as much as he was attracted to Yuliang.

Yuliang knew her fate. “Grandmother,” the madam would beat her unmercifully. Pan Zanhua saw she was crying and he got her to tell him the truth. Zanhua rescued her from her fate and took her in as his concubine.

Zanhua really believed in equality and gave Yuliang an education. She became fascinated with art and started sketching. As her career as an artist took off both her and Zanhua become torn between her success and their love for each other.

Pan Yuliang was a real person, a famous artist. This book of historical fiction fills in what parts of her life may have been like. Jennifer cody Epstein really did her research and paints a colourful portrait of the life of Pan Yaliang. I felt like I was there as a witness to everything she endured and her triumph as an artist. The characters are believable and the writing is beautiful and richly textured.

This books is a real page turner and kept me up into the wee hours of the morning. I just couldn’t put it down! I cannot recommend this book high enough. It does not disappoint!

5/5

Thanks to Lisa with TLC Book Tours for inviting me to participate in this book tour!

Baby Arms by Pan Yuliang

Here is the line-up for other stops on the book tour:

Tuesday, June 2nd: The Literate Housewife Review
Wednesday, June 3rd: Book-a-Rama
Thursday, June 4th: Book Nut
Monday, June 8th: She is Too Fond of Books
Tuesday, June 9th: S. Krishna’s Books
Wednesday, June 10th: Becky’s Book Reviews
Thursday, June 11th: Redlady’s Reading Room
Monday, June 15th: Dolce Bellezza
Tuesday, June 16th: Peeking Between the Pages
Wednesday, June 17th: A Work in Progress
Monday, June 22nd: Beth Fish Reads
Tuesday, June 23rd: Do They Have Salsa in China?
Wednesday, June 24th: Bookworm with a View
Thursday, June 25th: So Many Precious Books, So Little Time
Friday, June 26th: Savvy Verse and Wit
Monday, June 29th: Nerd’s Eye View
Tuesday, June 30th: Pop Culture Junkie

Copyright 2007-2010: All the posts within this blog were originally posted by Teddy Rose and should not be reproduced without express written permission.

Jun 09

22

Giveaway: SOUL SURVIVOR: The Reincarnation of a World War II Fighter Pilot by Bruce and Andrea Leininger with Ken Gross

Posted by Teddyrose@1 on June 22, 2009
Posted in My 2009 Giveaways  | 42 Comments

Thanks to Kelly Leonard O’Keefe of Hachette Books there are 5 copies up for grabs.


BOOK INFORMATION:

This is the story of James Leininger, who– a little more than two weeks after his second birthday– began having blood-curdling nightmares that just would not stop. When James began screaming out recurring phrases like, “Plane on fire! Little man can’t get out!” the Leiningers finally admitted that they truly had to take notice.

When details of planes and war tragedies no two-year-old boy could know continued– even in stark daylight– Bruce and Andrea Leininger began to realize that this was an incredible situation. SOUL SURVIVOR is the story of how the Leiningers pieced together what their son was communicating and eventually discovered that he was reliving the past life of World War II fighter pilot James Huston. As Bruce Leininger struggled to understand what was happening to his son, he also uncovered details of James Huston’s life– and death– as a pilot that will fascinate military buffs everywhere.

In SOUL SURVIVOR, readers are taken for a gripping ride as the Leiningers’ belief system is shaken to the core, and both of these families come to know a little boy who, against all odds and even in the face of true skeptics, harbors the soul of this man who died long ago.

Here are the rules:
1. For one entry, leave a comment Please be sure to include your email address (if it isn’t available in your profile), so that I can contact you if you win.
2. For two more entries, post about this giveaway on your blog and leave link to your blog post in the comments. You will also get an entry for each person who tells me that they learned about this giveaway from you.
3. For another 5 more entries: Become a Follower of my blog or subscribe to my blog through Google Reader or other subscription service. If you are already a subsriber or follower you still get the five extra entries! Please do not comment that you are a follower five times! I will give you the extra entries myself. I will delete any extra entries that you make as it will just confuse me when I go to pick the winners.
The giveaway is open to Canadian and US residents only.
The winner’s mailing address: NO P.O. Boxes.Only one entry per household/IP address.
This giveaway will end on Friday July 10th at 11:59 PM E.S.T. The winners will be notified by email, so remember to include your email address in the comments, if it isn’t available in your profile! If there is no way for me to email you about winning, you will be disqualified! Winners must respond within three days or will be disquilified. Therefore, if your moving or going on a trip, etc. . please let me know.
Copyright 2007-2010: All the posts within this blog were originally posted by Teddy Rose and should not be reproduced without express written permission.

Jun 09

21

Completed-The 2nd Canadian Book Challenge

Posted by Teddyrose@1 on June 21, 2009
Posted in 2009 Completed Challenges  | 13 Comments

Thanks to John from Book Mine Set for hosting this awesome challenge! I look forward to participatining in the 3rd!

The object was to read (and write about) 13 Canadian books (by Canadians and/or about Canadians). John set a goal of 1000 books read and reviewed collectively, as a group. We will know at the end of the month is we met this goal. I read a few extra to help.

Here are the books I read:

1. The Horseman’s Graves by Jacqueline Baker
2. Look for Me by Edeet Ravel
3. The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson
4. Divisadero by Michael Ondaatje
5. Amos’s Sweater by Janet Lunn and Illustrated by Kim LaFave
6. Finklehopper Frog Cheers by Irene Livingson and illustrated by Brian Lies
7. The Party by Barbara Reid
8.Pigs by Robert Munsch and illustrated by Michael Matchenko
9.Mary of Mile 18 by Ann Blades
10.Bamboo by Paul Yee Illustrated by Shaoli
11.Mud Puddle by Robert Munsch, Art by Sami Suomalainen
12.A Promise is a Promise by Robert Munsch & Michael Kusugak, Art by Vladyana Krykora
13.It’s Raining, It’s Pouring by Andrea Spalding, Illustrated by Leslie Elizabeth Watts
14.Show and Tell by Robert Munsch, Illustrated by Michael Martchenko
15.Mister Got to Go and Arnie by Lois Simmie, Illustrations by Cynthia Nugent
16.Gordon Loggins and the Three Bears by Linda Bailey, Illustrated by Tracy Walker

Copyright 2007-2010: All the posts within this blog were originally posted by Teddy Rose and should not be reproduced without express written permission.

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