All The Flowers In Shanghai (2011) - Plot & Excerpts
Не ми хареса особено. Според мен не изпълни идеята си - да е книга за майка, съжаляваща за направения избор да изостави дъщеря си. Просто не го усетих. Беше просто мемоар на отчаяна наивна жена, търсеща на кого да разкаже историята си - излишно изпълнена с драматизъм. Може би щеше да е по-интересно, ако беше филм. Четях я мудно и въпреки десетките заврантулени изрази е книгата с най-малко отметки (само две) от всички книги, които съм чела тази година. Хм... Duncan Jepson's beautiful, debut novel is a marvelous journey, set in pre-war, 1930s Shanghai to the cultural revolution of the 1960s, seen through the eyes of Xiao Feng. The seventeen year old Feng lives a carefree life, spending her time in the back alleys with the "untouchables" and the garden with her grandfather, learning the Latin names of flowers.Feng's glamorous, older sister has been matched to marry the son of a wealthy Shanghai businessman. However, her plans are thwarted when she becomes ill with cancer. Feng's mother is undeterred. She decides Feng will marry the piggish son to save "face" and gain entrance into priviledged, upper class world of the Sang family, regardless of Feng's opposition to the union and unforeseeable sad consequences.Thus begins the Feng's transition from an innocent, simple girl to a cruel, calculating First-Wife of the Sang family dynasty. Jepson formidable prose reveals strong themes of motherhood, rigid class structures, and a significant historical time in China that wrought change at a price of tremendous suffering.Jepson's book is rated 3.56 stars on Goodreads. The novel is much better than the rating. I look forward to more of Jepson's elegant prose.
What do You think about All The Flowers In Shanghai (2011)?
Excellent book - I highly recommend reading it.
—Alyssa
