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booksforall93's review
4.0
I've had this book for ages and it's taken me so long to get around to picking it up, but I'm so glad that I waited and I picked it up now.
I really enjoyed reading this epic adventure story taking place between 1899 and 1900 China, where the British have come on missionary trips to try and convert Chinese people to Christianity. But this hasn't gone down well. There is conflict between the two sides not understanding each other's cultures or religion. And I mean to be fair, who asked the British to come and try to convert the Chinese people to Christianity?
But I digress! In this book we follow a few different people over about a year as the tensions between the sides increases until the Boxers start attacking villages, they attack both Chinese people and British/foreigners alike, mainly they are attacking Christians. But at the centre of everyone is the brother the Palace of Heavenly Pleasure run by Mother Liu and her vicious son Ren Ren.
Some parts of this book are incredibly difficult to read because of the details that Williams went into so I had to put it down for a while after I read those passages. But I can see how those parts of the book are important to the overall story.
When Helen Frances arrives in China visiting her father, she seems to be the catalyst for a lot of the events that happen, her unwavering curiosity finds her attracted to Henry Manners who has questionable morals and an excellent understanding of people. The connection between these two is undeniable and with Helen Frances curiosity she wants to know more about this curious and secretive Henry Manners.
This is an adventure story, interspersed with a love story. I could honestly go on and on about this book because there are so many characters and stories to follow along with, but I don't want to give anything away.
I really enjoyed reading this epic adventure story taking place between 1899 and 1900 China, where the British have come on missionary trips to try and convert Chinese people to Christianity. But this hasn't gone down well. There is conflict between the two sides not understanding each other's cultures or religion. And I mean to be fair, who asked the British to come and try to convert the Chinese people to Christianity?
But I digress! In this book we follow a few different people over about a year as the tensions between the sides increases until the Boxers start attacking villages, they attack both Chinese people and British/foreigners alike, mainly they are attacking Christians. But at the centre of everyone is the brother the Palace of Heavenly Pleasure run by Mother Liu and her vicious son Ren Ren.
Some parts of this book are incredibly difficult to read because of the details that Williams went into so I had to put it down for a while after I read those passages. But I can see how those parts of the book are important to the overall story.
When Helen Frances arrives in China visiting her father, she seems to be the catalyst for a lot of the events that happen, her unwavering curiosity finds her attracted to Henry Manners who has questionable morals and an excellent understanding of people. The connection between these two is undeniable and with Helen Frances curiosity she wants to know more about this curious and secretive Henry Manners.
This is an adventure story, interspersed with a love story. I could honestly go on and on about this book because there are so many characters and stories to follow along with, but I don't want to give anything away.
adrienner's review
5.0
Wow! I really enjoyed this book.
It took me about a week to read even though I had not had lots of reading time available at the time. This book is a little ... well, quite massive. It made it harder to get it started since the size was so daunting. And honestly, the first chapter is dull. However, by Chapter 2 I was interested.
This is quite the romance/action/adventure/historical fiction novel. I would say of all the historical fiction I have ever read, I liked this one best. The writing is well done. There is a rolling, meandering way to it. The bit with letters broke up the writing. I see why he included it for story-telling and also because he wanted to borrow from his friend's family, but I think it should have been written another way. Or letters should have been included from the beginning.
It took me about a week to read even though I had not had lots of reading time available at the time. This book is a little ... well, quite massive. It made it harder to get it started since the size was so daunting. And honestly, the first chapter is dull. However, by Chapter 2 I was interested.
This is quite the romance/action/adventure/historical fiction novel. I would say of all the historical fiction I have ever read, I liked this one best. The writing is well done. There is a rolling, meandering way to it. The bit with letters broke up the writing. I see why he included it for story-telling and also because he wanted to borrow from his friend's family, but I think it should have been written another way. Or letters should have been included from the beginning.
canadianbookworm's review
4.0
http://cdnbookworm.blogspot.ca/2017/02/the-palace-of-heavenly-pleasures.html
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