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A review by overlookingcovers
The Last Concubine by Lesley Downer
4.0
TW: Arranged Marriage, a non descriptive scene of rape (While she went willingly, she was forced into the marriage and obeyed due to duty), imprisonment, loss of a parent.
The Last Concubine was a second hand find that was free, so I didn’t spend too much time trying to decide if I’d enjoy it. At that moment, I just wanted to make my bookshelf in my small flat away from home look less naked. With that said, I had taken me about two years to even touch this book, and I only did so to decide if I’d donate back before I moved back home.
I’m keeping it.
This book interested be from the beginning. I don’t know much about Japan’s history in general and I have no idea where a “good place to start” would be, but if I had to guess, seeing a preview of the Edo period alongside the war was a pretty good place to start.
While I wouldn’t say I cared for any characters, I did enjoy their storylines. This book is sort of advertised as a romance book. I’d beg to differ. If anything, this book is a non fiction book made fiction. Dower wants to talk about this period, but her strength is certainly in fiction writing. Hence, the writing is very fact based and Shachi is but a mode of transportation for those facts.
I also felt that the writing was mediocre at best, but the fact that I was immersed in this world and piece of history that I knew nothing about made the writing better. If you’re familiar with the Edo period, then this may not be the best book for you because Downer does draw out and explain this period and what is going on. As a new reader to this period, I found it helpful while I am certain those more knowledgeable would hate it!
If you’re looking to dive more into Japan’s history and don’t know where to start, then I do recommend giving this book a try!
The Last Concubine was a second hand find that was free, so I didn’t spend too much time trying to decide if I’d enjoy it. At that moment, I just wanted to make my bookshelf in my small flat away from home look less naked. With that said, I had taken me about two years to even touch this book, and I only did so to decide if I’d donate back before I moved back home.
I’m keeping it.
This book interested be from the beginning. I don’t know much about Japan’s history in general and I have no idea where a “good place to start” would be, but if I had to guess, seeing a preview of the Edo period alongside the war was a pretty good place to start.
While I wouldn’t say I cared for any characters, I did enjoy their storylines. This book is sort of advertised as a romance book. I’d beg to differ. If anything, this book is a non fiction book made fiction. Dower wants to talk about this period, but her strength is certainly in fiction writing. Hence, the writing is very fact based and Shachi is but a mode of transportation for those facts.
I also felt that the writing was mediocre at best, but the fact that I was immersed in this world and piece of history that I knew nothing about made the writing better. If you’re familiar with the Edo period, then this may not be the best book for you because Downer does draw out and explain this period and what is going on. As a new reader to this period, I found it helpful while I am certain those more knowledgeable would hate it!
If you’re looking to dive more into Japan’s history and don’t know where to start, then I do recommend giving this book a try!