(1/18/2015)
The backdrop is affecting, riddled with tension as the future of China hangs in the balance as well as its people. A dual love story taking place in Shanghai 1936 during the Japanese invasion. Mones crafts a riveting story of forbidden love filled with passion, agony, sacrifice during war along with its carnage.
The characters are well developed, each offering a vital role in the narrative, their uniqueness along with their individual circumstances adds drama. A patchwork cast meshing.
The plot in intriguing and engaging. The pace is smooth and gains momentum slowly enabling the reader to absorb the narrative, feel the impending threat of war, the characters emotions, concerns, all palpable. Your senses fully engaged. The music, lyrics, the jazz aspect amplifies narrative with color and scope.
Mones cites factual events with the perfect blend of fiction. Well researched, her knowledge of China obvious. The strain between Communists and Nationalists, Green Gang, Jews relocating to Shanghai, Japanese recruitment of Chinese to defect, the devastation of war, the loss of life, delivered with such force as it is vividly detailed from the adroit hand of Mones.
The ending is memorable, guaranteed to resonate for quite some time.
A well written book encompassing much precursory to WWII, rich in historical events as well as the agony and ecstasy of love.