Reviews

I wanted to like this book, I really tried to like this book. Given the subject matter, it sounded exactly in line with books I love... The first chapter grabbed me. And that was it.

Throughout, I found myself critiquing the writing, rather than just reading and enjoying the book. The book was too slow-moving and frequently read like a textbook, despite being fiction. Simply, it didn't hold my attention, and after getting through about 200 pages, I had to give up, something I rarely do.

Oh well.

jgintrovertedreader's review against another edition

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3.0

Lydia Ivanova and her mother fled war-torn Russia as the Communists came into power and wound up in China with no passports and very little hope. But 16-year-old Lydia is a survivor and finds ways to make ends meet. One day she meets Chang An Lo, a Chinese Communist who saves her life. The sparks are instant, but the cultural divide is huge.

This is another book that I wanted to give more stars to. I tore through it, breathlessly waiting to see what happened next. Overall, I wasn't disappointed. It was a solid story with enough twists and turns to keep me interested. But there was one HUGE thing that I can't let go.

*************************SLIGHT SPOILER********************************

Why on earth was the title of this book The Russian Concubine? Is my definition of concubine wrong? I did not see any concubines, Russian, Chinese, or otherwise, in this story anywhere. Was it just a ploy to make us think it was racier than it was? I don't get it.

****************************END SPOILER*********************************

There were a few other threads that weren't tied up at all, beyond the obvious fact that a sequel will be coming.

So, this was enjoyable, and maybe the problems I saw were things that I just missed. I was in bed with a cold as I read it, after all. I've asked the questions I had in a group here, hoping someone can explain what I missed. That may make me change my mind. But right now, it was a good book that could have been better. I will look for the sequel though.

therealkathryn's review against another edition

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2.0

If you enjoy soap operas, implausible storylines and over the top drama this book is for you.

donnaadouglas's review against another edition

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4.0

OK, anyone reading this review before reading this book take note: get past the first 100 pages!

At the beginning of this book I was very unsure of how this would turn out. The central character seemed a spoiled, unlikeable girl with an equally unlikeable alcoholic mother. We are then introduced to several more characters, the only likeable one being a man named Theo who is defying convention of the time by being with a Chinese woman. Just watch as the plot unfolds, everything flip-reverses and throws you off-guard - just as you are nearing the point of saying, alright enough is enough, and putting the book down.

What really interested me the most was the character development. Whilst I felt the author held back a little too much in the beginning, she chooses to reveal each character's backstory little by little, slowly changing your view of the character. Those you hated in the beginning, you'll like in the end, and vice versa. And most importantly, you feel that the central character grows up as you are reading - she learns from her mistakes, develops a backbone, learns valuable morals and becomes likeable.

The last 100 pages - wow! I couldn't put it down - excitement, excitement, excitement! I can't wait to read book two.

taylor1997's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Content Warnings

retiredbookaholic's review against another edition

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2.0

Took me forever to get through this book. I had read the first 8 chapters and was stuck. Just didn't want to pick it up. I finally assigned myself 50 pages a night, so I could finish it. I called it my homework assignments. When my kids did their homework, I read 50 pages. The reason I wanted to finish this book is, besides numerous reading challenges I gave myself, it is my book club book. The book had been recommended me to by a few friends, and they all said it was "really good". I guess our definitions of "really good" vary. The book takes place in China between the two world wars and I was hoping for more history. It skimmed the historical aspects. The book was a romance. I skimmed most of the second half and I do believe I still got the gist of the book. The prologue starts off great. Lydia (main character) and her family are shepherded off a train leaving Russian during the Russian Revolution. Chapter 1, Lydia and her mother are in China as refugees. Where is the father from the prologue? Turns out this book is the middle book of a three book series. So tells me a friend. Great! I hate that! No wonder I felt disconnected. Anyway, the book wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be, yet it wasn't as good as I had hoped.

I give it 2.5 stars.

Recommendation: Beach Read

vikingwolf's review against another edition

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I must admit I was warned how bad this book was before I read it but as it was already on my shelf I thought I better try it. Oh dear. Long-winded, over descriptive, boring, soul-sucking, characters who had as much life in them as a plank of wood without termites and a plot that just had me falling asleep from the very start. I swear I did try to grimace my way through a few chapters but when the Chinese guy was doing his Matrix impersonation I just lost the will to live and threw it in the bag for the charity shop!

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