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cemoses's review against another edition
3.0
The part about Hong Kong before and during the war was somewhat interesting. I saw no point in the second story which takes place in the nineteen fifties.
kkrier1's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
wintermute9's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
shirleytupperfreeman's review against another edition
Takes place in Hong Kong during and after WWII. Good story. War and hardship seems to bring out both the best of some people and the worst of others. Impressive first novel. Sometimes it was hard to keep the sequence of events straight.
jenmooremo's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting read. I little slow starting out and then just enough all along to string you along to know the whole truth in the end...although I'm not sure you learn the whole truth, just enough, but then again why should we know more than the character's actually do?
emmadkreads's review against another edition
4.0
The narrative was split into Hong Kong during WWII and the post-war city 10 years later. The characters in this novel were very interesting. You could see how they were changed by the choices they had to make during the war and how they chose to cope with what had happened in their city. This book was the first I've read about WWII that is set in Asia--very interesting.
darastar's review against another edition
3.0
I didn't really like this that much, and I really wanted to. There was an intriguing storyline, but the characters were just unlikable, and were played against such stereotypical traits that it was hard to see the serious story as much beyond farce.
Which seems harsh, because it was very interesting and evocative of Hong Kong, but the entire thing felt too small for the grandness it wanted to convey.
Which seems harsh, because it was very interesting and evocative of Hong Kong, but the entire thing felt too small for the grandness it wanted to convey.
areidbarnes's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely adored this book. I was expecting it to be a much slower read but I found myself breezing through it. It had come highly recommended by my favourite teacher in high school but I have only just now gotten to it and all I can say is that I love it!
stephand2449's review against another edition
4.0
3.8/5 Stars
I have sincere mixed feelings on this book. The first 2/3rds of the book were so slow moving that I almost put it down. But then, suddenly all the action hit, the revelations began, and I found myself staying up late to finish it because I wanted to know how it ended. I just wish the first half (at least) of the boom hadn’t been so slow. All in all, it was a decent read with a unique historical fiction take on WW2 from Asia.
I have sincere mixed feelings on this book. The first 2/3rds of the book were so slow moving that I almost put it down. But then, suddenly all the action hit, the revelations began, and I found myself staying up late to finish it because I wanted to know how it ended. I just wish the first half (at least) of the boom hadn’t been so slow. All in all, it was a decent read with a unique historical fiction take on WW2 from Asia.