Reviews tagging 'Racism'

The Last Rose of Shanghai by Weina Dai Randel

6 reviews

imchoosingfiction's review

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emotional reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

Time of Death - January 23, 2024 - I have been trying to get through this for about 2 years, (didn't even realize) after making it to the 26% mark, I began skimming and read through to the (kinda predictable) end.  Although this historical setting is unique, WWII in China following a German Jew, Ernest, and a Chinese woman, Aiyi, it still managed to feel like a West Side Story re-telling. I won't be counting it toward my reading goal this year.
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thesapphiccelticbookworm's review against another edition

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

4.0

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sammie_snk's review

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adventurous emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Very well written and compelling read. Due to it's setting in wartime (WWII), there's a lot of challenging content regarding violence and prejudice. However it's not gratuitous, just adds emotional context to living in this time period & place. A rollercoaster of emotions throughout along with the ups & downs of the characters' luck. Tragic at times but worth the read.
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bella_01's review

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dark emotional sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

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kimberlyallen011's review

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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annegoodreads's review

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adventurous emotional informative sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The Last Rose is about the Japanese occupation of Shanghai in WWII.  The story starts with an American filmmaker in a hotel in Shanghai in 1980 Shanghai, China meeting the millionaire businesswoman Aiyi Shao.  Aiyi then tells the filmmaker the story of Shanghai housing many Jewish refugees who fled from German-occupied Europe during WWII.  Before the occupation, Aiyi is a wealthy heiress running a jazz club.  Then she meets Ernest Reismann who is one of the penniless Jewish refugees.  He’s a piano player and connects with Aiyi through music.  Aiyi makes multiple complex decisions that have consequences for a lot of different people.  She has wealth, loses it all, and then gains it again.  She’s quite the character!  The ending had a twist which was good closure.  There’s nothing rosy about the story, but the writing is incredible.  There were so many characters I didn’t like and I felt like I was in the story which says a lot about the storytelling.  I already requested her earlier book, The Empress of Bright Moon.  I can’t wait to enjoy more of the colorful, emotional writing.  
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