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YOUR BOOK BEGINNING
MY BOOK BEGINNING
The years before the war forced everyone in Shanghai to choose: Nationalists or Communists? Resist the Japanese invaders or collaborate with them?
-- Night in Shanghai by Nicole Mones. Great beginning for setting the scene in pre-WWII Shanghai. But it doesn't hint at the terrific premise, which is how black American jazz musicians expatriated to Shanghai in the 1930s to avoid prejudice in the US.
Mones put meticulous research into this sliver of fascinating history. But the historical details never bog down the exciting, sexy story of an American pianist falling in love with a Chinese spy. Great stuff!
Night in Shanghai is the fourth novel by Nicole Mones, following Lost in Translation, A Cup of Light, and The Last Chinese Chef.
What an interesting time and characters. There are so many unusual historical themes that authors find and use.
ReplyDeleteHi Gilion,
ReplyDeleteThose first lines are not the most inspiring I have come across and based on them alone, I may pass this book by on the shelves.
However, both your potted synopsis and the full length version, which I couldn't resist checking out, tell a much different story.
The book does indeed sound rich with historical fact and human suffering and emotion.
I do hope that you continue to enjoy it and have a great weekend,
Yvonne.
I love reading about Chinese history. I will be looking for this book.
ReplyDeleteThose opening lines don't give an insight into the book you describe - I wonder why. I thought it may have been similar to Wild Swans: Three daughters of China by Jung Chang, until I read the rest of your post.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great read for British readers familiar with London...
ReplyDeleteI like the sound of this one. May have to add it to the ever-growing TBR.
ReplyDeleteI love books in this setting and with history.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing. Sounds quite good.
Have a great weekend.
Elizabeth
Silver's Reviews
My Book Beginnings
This sounds like a promising read. Thanks for posting about it!
ReplyDelete:)
Your synopsis put that book on my to-be-read list. Sounds wonderful.
ReplyDelete