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imabrunette23's review against another edition
2.0
It was OK. Not great, didn't blow me away, but not a complete waste of time.
boogiewoogiesheep's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.25
linzbassett's review
4.0
I found this book to be charming and delightful. It's a great read about determination and saving those you love and their home. It is a short read, but it feels so much longer (in a good way). Agnes is determined and wise beyond here years. Nei-Nei was probably my favorite character due to her sass. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who loves historical fiction.
happycupcake666's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
molacher's review against another edition
3.0
It was a short and sweet book but could have gone so much deeper. I wanted to hear more about how her grandparents got together as they were such a mixed group of races and religions. I loved that they all got along so well and that was never an issue.
beckylej's review against another edition
4.0
Agnes has lived all her life in the crumbling ruins of the Kampong Glam palace. The last descendant of the Sultan of Singapore, her history is inextricably tied to that of the island. Agnes and her few remaining relatives - her Uncle Chachi (who is actually her great uncle), British Grandfather, and his wife Nei-Nei Down - rely on the family stipend (which continues due to some accounting error) and British Grandfather's pension from the military, along with income from boarders, to keep themselves afloat. But it's not enough. Agnes is old enough now to help, and that is what she vows to do, all the while hoping that she can save their Moonlight Palace.
I was pleasantly surprised by The Moonlight Palace and Agnes in particular. From the start, her voice rings loud and true, drawing the reader into a story that is rich with both history and emotion. Much of the focus of the story is her coming of age, but I found it to be a rather well-rounded tale as a whole. Though it is a rather short read, Rosenberg did a great job weaving in the history, setting the scene quite nicely for both Singapore in the 1920s and of the raggedy palace. And though Agnes herself is a force, the rest of the characters that surround her are quite nicely developed as well.
Singapore's history is not something I know a terribly lot about but I find it to be utterly fascinating. And while I didn't necessarily plan to follow up one Singapore read with another (this read comes somewhat on the tail of the latest Ovidia Yu in my TBR) I did love going back to it as a setting.
I was pleasantly surprised by The Moonlight Palace and Agnes in particular. From the start, her voice rings loud and true, drawing the reader into a story that is rich with both history and emotion. Much of the focus of the story is her coming of age, but I found it to be a rather well-rounded tale as a whole. Though it is a rather short read, Rosenberg did a great job weaving in the history, setting the scene quite nicely for both Singapore in the 1920s and of the raggedy palace. And though Agnes herself is a force, the rest of the characters that surround her are quite nicely developed as well.
Singapore's history is not something I know a terribly lot about but I find it to be utterly fascinating. And while I didn't necessarily plan to follow up one Singapore read with another (this read comes somewhat on the tail of the latest Ovidia Yu in my TBR) I did love going back to it as a setting.
linzbassett's review against another edition
4.0
I found this book to be charming and delightful. It's a great read about determination and saving those you love and their home. It is a short read, but it feels so much longer (in a good way). Agnes is determined and wise beyond here years. Nei-Nei was probably my favorite character due to her sass. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who loves historical fiction.
rntylr22's review against another edition
3.0
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a lovely book. I have never read a novel set in the 1920's much less Singapore. I was enchanted by the period and the exotic (if shabby) palace. I wish there had been more depth and care taken to show the reader the beauty of this time, and the mystery of Singapore.
I felt Agnes voice was strong, as a main character should be. She did come off a little young, she is supposed to be 17, going on 18 whereas I found her more in the 15-16 range. It seemed strange to me for her to speak of men and begin courting at first.
The story is beautiful and unique. Agnes' home is falling apart, the palace that is her birthright handed down from Sultan Hussein. Being a woman however, she cannot inherit the palace and the responsibility falls to her aged war hero British Grandfather. He is married to a Chinese woman, Nei-Nei who I think is the most developed character in the story. She's fierce and head strong, a true wife of royalty. Amongst them are individuals we wouldn't think go together, but they form this strange loveable group. There Bridget, Anges' Irish best friend, Mr. Kahani a blind Jewish jewellery store owner, Uncle Chachi who is exuberant with random mood swings and little Danai, a beggar girl they take in even though they can't afford help.
I found the writing style dreamy, it wasn't full of action or suspense although it does contain scenes of mystery. It focuses more on the characters than the plot. You want to know what the future holds for the Kampong Glam Palace but more time is invested in the daily lives of the characters. While this book is historical fiction, from the point of view of Agnes is was a bit more like a YA novel. I wanted more history, more Singapore.
Agnes coming of age story falls a little flat, but overall I fell in love with the Moonlight Palace. The ending was halting and a bit too much like a fairytale after all the struggling and hardship the family was able to face together but I would recommend it to others as its a novella that takes you to a new magical time and place.
This was a lovely book. I have never read a novel set in the 1920's much less Singapore. I was enchanted by the period and the exotic (if shabby) palace. I wish there had been more depth and care taken to show the reader the beauty of this time, and the mystery of Singapore.
I felt Agnes voice was strong, as a main character should be. She did come off a little young, she is supposed to be 17, going on 18 whereas I found her more in the 15-16 range. It seemed strange to me for her to speak of men and begin courting at first.
The story is beautiful and unique. Agnes' home is falling apart, the palace that is her birthright handed down from Sultan Hussein. Being a woman however, she cannot inherit the palace and the responsibility falls to her aged war hero British Grandfather. He is married to a Chinese woman, Nei-Nei who I think is the most developed character in the story. She's fierce and head strong, a true wife of royalty. Amongst them are individuals we wouldn't think go together, but they form this strange loveable group. There Bridget, Anges' Irish best friend, Mr. Kahani a blind Jewish jewellery store owner, Uncle Chachi who is exuberant with random mood swings and little Danai, a beggar girl they take in even though they can't afford help.
I found the writing style dreamy, it wasn't full of action or suspense although it does contain scenes of mystery. It focuses more on the characters than the plot. You want to know what the future holds for the Kampong Glam Palace but more time is invested in the daily lives of the characters. While this book is historical fiction, from the point of view of Agnes is was a bit more like a YA novel. I wanted more history, more Singapore.
Agnes coming of age story falls a little flat, but overall I fell in love with the Moonlight Palace. The ending was halting and a bit too much like a fairytale after all the struggling and hardship the family was able to face together but I would recommend it to others as its a novella that takes you to a new magical time and place.