A review by macaronoui
The Master Jeweler: A Novel by Weina Dai Randel

medium-paced

4.25

I thoroughly enjoyed this historical fiction novel. We meet Anyu, born in 1909 at the time when she is 15 and just became an orphan. She runs into Isaac Mandelburg and that chance encounter brings her to Shanghai. The books bops around from the 1920-1950.
The Mandelburgs have a small jewelry shop that support their family, and Anyu learns to be a jeweler.
I’ve read many historical fiction books set in Shanghai, but hadn’t heard about Jews in that time. It is a beautiful slice of life in a tumultuous time in Shanghai.
Anyu is at times naive, but has a lot of tenacity. She is a great protagonist. 
I flew through this eARC and would definitely read more books by Dai Randel. 
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. 
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