Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus More


Jul 09

15

Drood by Dan Simmons-Audiobook

Posted by Teddyrose@1 on July 15, 2009
Posted in Books Read in 2009 • Historical Fiction • London  | 13 Comments

Charles Dickens and Wilkie Come Back to Life

The story of Drood is based on an unfinished novel by Charles Dickens, “The Last Dickens.” It is narrated by Wilkie Collins, author and friend of Charles Dickens.

The story opened on June 9, 1865 with a train accident at Staplehurst. Charles Dickens and his mistress were on the train. Dickens helped some of the other passengers and saw some die. It is also where he first set eyes on a creepy man, Drood.

Dickens becomes obsessed with Drood and with the help of laudanum addict, Wilkie Collins, they explore the dangerous underbelly of London to find him.

Let me begin by saying that this isn’t the normal genre I read. It is historical fiction, yes but it is also horror/mystery. The reason I decided to listen to it was that it was historical fiction and based on two real classic novelists. I am attracted to historical books that have real life famous people in them as characters.

I really liked being able to experience 1860’s London, warts and all. Dan Simmons transported me there, where Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins lived and worked. It was worth the listen just for that! The British actor Simon Prebble was the narrator and did a fine job. He even made the female characters pop with a tone of voice change.

The horror part I could have really done without. It was quite gruesome and reminded me of an old B horror movie. Though, again, let me remind you that it is not my genre and so it is probably just me. I also found the ending anticlimactic.

If you like historical fiction with real famous people, this book is worthwhile.

3/5

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

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

18

My Splendid Concubine by Lloyd Lofthouse

Posted by Teddyrose@1 on June 18, 2009
Posted in Books Read in 2009 • China • Historical Fiction • Lloyd Lofthouse  | 16 Comments

Splendid Novel

This book is a fictionalized account of Robert Hart who was known as the ‘Godfather of China’s modernism’. Hart was born and raised in Ireland . In 1854 we went to China to work for the British Consulate as an interpreter.

Robert Hart was set on making up for his days of drinking and womanizing in Ireland. He went to China to prove himself and “grow up.” When faced with the possibility of getting a concubine for himself, he felt quite conflicted. However, it was what men did in China, even most of the “foreign devils”. He got a Chinese instructor and immersed himself in Chinese customs and culture.

He did end up getting two concubines, his first year in China. Ayaou and her younger sister Shao-mei. He taught Ayaou and Shao-mei how to read and enjoyed life with them both.
When he first met Ayaou, it was love at first site. He planned to buy her from her father but Ward, an American Opium smuggler, beat him to it. He was devastated and set out to rescue her from Ward, who is known for his mistreatment of his concubines. Robert does end up with Ayaou but with tragic consequences.

It took Lloyd Lofthouse close to 9 years to research and write this wonderful book. The pages kept on turning late into the night. This novel mostly covers Robert Hart’s life in China for his first year. He did eventually move on from the British Consulate and became Inspector General of Chinese Mandarin Customs, the Senior Guardian of the Heir Apparent of the Ch’ing dynasty, and the chief adviser for the Emperor.

My only complaint is that I would have liked to have learned more about Hart and how he became so important to China. I also would have liked to know what finally happened to Ayaou. This book is only 250 pages and I wish that it would have been long enough to touch on these important details. Could there be a book II in the works? I hope so!

I highly recommend this book! Be forewarned, there are some juicy sex scenes in this book. If that kind of thing bothers you, don’t read this book.

4/5

Thanks so much to Lloyd Lofthouse for sending me his book! Lloyd, if there is going to be a sequel, please send it my way!

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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