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Empress Orchid #1
Empress Orchid
To rescue her family from poverty and avoid marrying her slope-shouldered cousin, seventeen-year-old Orchid competes to be one of the Emperor's wives. When she is chosen as a lower-ranking concubine she enters the erotically charged and ritualised Forbidden City. But beneath its immaculate façade lie whispers of murders and ghosts, and the thousands of concubines will stoop to any lengths to bear the Emperor's son.
Orchid trains herself in the art of pleasuring a man, bribes her way into the royal bed, and seduces the monarch, drawing the attention of dangerous foes. Little does she know that China will collapse around her, and that she will be its last Empress.
Orchid trains herself in the art of pleasuring a man, bribes her way into the royal bed, and seduces the monarch, drawing the attention of dangerous foes. Little does she know that China will collapse around her, and that she will be its last Empress.
368 pages, Paperback
First published December 15, 2003
About the author
Anchee Min
12 books855 followersAnchee Min was born in Shanghai in 1957. At seventeen she was sent to a labor collective, where a talent scout for Madame Mao's Shanghai Film Studio recruited her to work as a movie actress. She moved to the United States in 1984. Her first memoir, Red Azalea, was an international bestseller, published in twenty countries. She has since published six novels, including Pearl of China and the forthcoming memoir The Cooked Seed (Bloomsbury, May 7 2013).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,546 reviews
March 23, 2024
I am disappointed. This needed a lot of patience. The pace dragged on tediously and it was unbearable at some point. If not for the notably inconsistent pacing, it had the potential to effectively deliver a strong, thought-provoking message. I think this book just isn't for me.
January 3, 2018
“A man who does not like power will suffer from its cruelty.”
----Shan Sa
Anchee Min, a Chinese author, has penned an enlightening tale about the last empress of China in her book called, Empress Orchid that revolves around a young concubine of the last emperor of the forbidden city where the young lady is caught in the race against an heir to the king in order to rise above her mistress status, but once she becomes the empress, she gets tangled up in the war of jealously, rage, ugly politics, scandals against the kingdom which she wants to desperately save it from the English invaders but the problem is the kingdom doesn't want to be saved, thereby becoming the sole reason for the downfall of the forbidden city.
Synopsis:
The setting is China's Forbidden City in the last days of its imperial glory, a vast complex of palaces and gardens run by thousands of eunuchs and encircled by a wall in the center of Peking. In this highly ordered place -- tradition-bound, ruled by strict etiquette, rife with political and erotic tension -- the Emperor, "the Son of Heaven," performs two duties: he must rule the court and conceive an heir. To achieve the latter, tradition provides a stupendous hierarchy of hundreds of wives and concubines. It is as a minor concubine that the beautiful Tzu Hsi, known as Orchid as a girl, enters the Forbidden City at the age of seventeen. It is not a good time to enter the city. The Ch'ing Dynasty in 1852 has lost its vitality, and the court has become an insular, xenophobic place. A few short decades earlier, China lost the Opium Wars, and it has done little since to strengthen its defenses or improve diplomatic ties. Instead, the inner circle has turned further inward, naively confident that its troubles are past and the glory of China will keep the "barbarians" -- the outsiders -- at bay. Within the walls of the Forbidden City the consequences of a misstep are deadly. As one of hundreds of women vying for the attention of the Emperor, Orchid soon discovers that she must take matters into her own hands. After training herself in the art of pleasing a man, she bribes her way into the royal bedchamber and seduces the monarch. A grand love affair ensues; the Emperor is a troubled man, but their love is passionate and genuine. Orchid has the great good fortune to bear him a son. Elevated to the rank of Empress, she still must struggle to maintain her position and the right to raise her own child. With the death of the Emperor comes a palace coup that ultimately thrusts Orchid into power, although only as regent until her son's maturity. Now she must rule China as its walls tumble around her, and she alone seems capable of holding the country together. This is an epic story firmly in the mold of Anchee Min's Becoming Madame Mao. Like that best-selling historical novel, the heroine of Empress Orchid comes down to us with a diabolical reputation -- a woman who seized power through sexual seduction, murder, and endless intrigue. But reality tells a different story. Based on copious research, this is a vivid portrait of a flawed yet utterly compelling woman who survived in a male world, a woman whose main struggle was not to hold on to power but to her own humanity. Richly detailed and completely gripping, Empress Orchid is a novel of high drama and lyricism and the first volume of a trilogy about the life of one of the most important women in history.
Orchid, a young and whose beauty is compared to that of the orchid flower, finds herself caught up in the Imperial and royal court of the forbidden city, when a royal decree announces that the Emperor is looking for mistresses of pure blood, and since Orchid belonged from the Manchu community but with a mediocre background, she luckily gets chosen by the royal court and hereby commences her life in the palace, where mistresses plot against one another to win the trust of the Emperor by bearing him an heir. And Orchid must join this race against fertility to make the king happy and to help herself in the royal court filled with jealousy, rage, rivalry and enmity both by the insiders as well as the by the outsiders. Once again, luck plays in favor of Orchid, when she bears the Emperor a son, but sadly the Emperor's failing health takes a toll on him and takes him away too soon from his dear ones as well as from his Empire. So to save the Forbidden city as well as her 5-year old son, who is not of age to rule a kingdom, Empress Orchid takes over the throne, and like they have forever criticized that she became the reason of downfall of the Chinese kingdom in the hands of the European invaders and rulers, this book tells the truth behind her downfall.
I've always been a fan of Oriental historical fiction, since they are so much rich with beauty, so many elements and oriental flavor that is riveting to read about. Although Min's book about the last empress of China, which is a fictional story yet based on the real life account of the Empress, is really well layered with custom, culture and culture of the 19th century China, yet somewhere the central character, Empress Orchid, on whim this book is based on, is not at all well developed, rather, she lacks depth. As for me, I failed to connect with the Imperial queen who became the sole reason for the downfall of the Forbidden city.
The writing style of the author is really articulate and laced with enough emotions that will move the readers deeply. The prose is often lyrical and with a fairly fast pace, the story reads like some intriguing and mystifying fairy tale, only this fairy tale has no happy ending. The dialogues are enchanting and realistic enough to let the readers relate t the characters' voices and plights. There are lot of layers and multi elements that will keep the readers engaged till the very last page.
The backdrop of the Forbidden City is vividly painted with bright hues of colors, rich culture, superstitious customs, servants' whispers, oriental flowers and ponds, everything easily comes alive right before the eyes of the readers. The author's research is spot on, since the story delves deeper with accurate details about that era's feel.
Sadly the characters took a back seat in this story. The story might be very rich, but the characters are extremely dull unlike their bright background. The main character, Orchid, is a compelling protagonist, but both her back story as well as her journey fails drastically to give the readers a clear impression about her personality. Her journey is enduring, but she is the one who fails to connect the readers with her heart breaking journey. The rest of the supporting characters mar the charm of this story.
In a nutshell, the story is extremely absorbing to read about but sadly the characters steal away the limelight and make it look tremendously dull and boring.
Verdict: Could have been a great book!
----Shan Sa
Anchee Min, a Chinese author, has penned an enlightening tale about the last empress of China in her book called, Empress Orchid that revolves around a young concubine of the last emperor of the forbidden city where the young lady is caught in the race against an heir to the king in order to rise above her mistress status, but once she becomes the empress, she gets tangled up in the war of jealously, rage, ugly politics, scandals against the kingdom which she wants to desperately save it from the English invaders but the problem is the kingdom doesn't want to be saved, thereby becoming the sole reason for the downfall of the forbidden city.
Synopsis:
The setting is China's Forbidden City in the last days of its imperial glory, a vast complex of palaces and gardens run by thousands of eunuchs and encircled by a wall in the center of Peking. In this highly ordered place -- tradition-bound, ruled by strict etiquette, rife with political and erotic tension -- the Emperor, "the Son of Heaven," performs two duties: he must rule the court and conceive an heir. To achieve the latter, tradition provides a stupendous hierarchy of hundreds of wives and concubines. It is as a minor concubine that the beautiful Tzu Hsi, known as Orchid as a girl, enters the Forbidden City at the age of seventeen. It is not a good time to enter the city. The Ch'ing Dynasty in 1852 has lost its vitality, and the court has become an insular, xenophobic place. A few short decades earlier, China lost the Opium Wars, and it has done little since to strengthen its defenses or improve diplomatic ties. Instead, the inner circle has turned further inward, naively confident that its troubles are past and the glory of China will keep the "barbarians" -- the outsiders -- at bay. Within the walls of the Forbidden City the consequences of a misstep are deadly. As one of hundreds of women vying for the attention of the Emperor, Orchid soon discovers that she must take matters into her own hands. After training herself in the art of pleasing a man, she bribes her way into the royal bedchamber and seduces the monarch. A grand love affair ensues; the Emperor is a troubled man, but their love is passionate and genuine. Orchid has the great good fortune to bear him a son. Elevated to the rank of Empress, she still must struggle to maintain her position and the right to raise her own child. With the death of the Emperor comes a palace coup that ultimately thrusts Orchid into power, although only as regent until her son's maturity. Now she must rule China as its walls tumble around her, and she alone seems capable of holding the country together. This is an epic story firmly in the mold of Anchee Min's Becoming Madame Mao. Like that best-selling historical novel, the heroine of Empress Orchid comes down to us with a diabolical reputation -- a woman who seized power through sexual seduction, murder, and endless intrigue. But reality tells a different story. Based on copious research, this is a vivid portrait of a flawed yet utterly compelling woman who survived in a male world, a woman whose main struggle was not to hold on to power but to her own humanity. Richly detailed and completely gripping, Empress Orchid is a novel of high drama and lyricism and the first volume of a trilogy about the life of one of the most important women in history.
Orchid, a young and whose beauty is compared to that of the orchid flower, finds herself caught up in the Imperial and royal court of the forbidden city, when a royal decree announces that the Emperor is looking for mistresses of pure blood, and since Orchid belonged from the Manchu community but with a mediocre background, she luckily gets chosen by the royal court and hereby commences her life in the palace, where mistresses plot against one another to win the trust of the Emperor by bearing him an heir. And Orchid must join this race against fertility to make the king happy and to help herself in the royal court filled with jealousy, rage, rivalry and enmity both by the insiders as well as the by the outsiders. Once again, luck plays in favor of Orchid, when she bears the Emperor a son, but sadly the Emperor's failing health takes a toll on him and takes him away too soon from his dear ones as well as from his Empire. So to save the Forbidden city as well as her 5-year old son, who is not of age to rule a kingdom, Empress Orchid takes over the throne, and like they have forever criticized that she became the reason of downfall of the Chinese kingdom in the hands of the European invaders and rulers, this book tells the truth behind her downfall.
I've always been a fan of Oriental historical fiction, since they are so much rich with beauty, so many elements and oriental flavor that is riveting to read about. Although Min's book about the last empress of China, which is a fictional story yet based on the real life account of the Empress, is really well layered with custom, culture and culture of the 19th century China, yet somewhere the central character, Empress Orchid, on whim this book is based on, is not at all well developed, rather, she lacks depth. As for me, I failed to connect with the Imperial queen who became the sole reason for the downfall of the Forbidden city.
The writing style of the author is really articulate and laced with enough emotions that will move the readers deeply. The prose is often lyrical and with a fairly fast pace, the story reads like some intriguing and mystifying fairy tale, only this fairy tale has no happy ending. The dialogues are enchanting and realistic enough to let the readers relate t the characters' voices and plights. There are lot of layers and multi elements that will keep the readers engaged till the very last page.
The backdrop of the Forbidden City is vividly painted with bright hues of colors, rich culture, superstitious customs, servants' whispers, oriental flowers and ponds, everything easily comes alive right before the eyes of the readers. The author's research is spot on, since the story delves deeper with accurate details about that era's feel.
Sadly the characters took a back seat in this story. The story might be very rich, but the characters are extremely dull unlike their bright background. The main character, Orchid, is a compelling protagonist, but both her back story as well as her journey fails drastically to give the readers a clear impression about her personality. Her journey is enduring, but she is the one who fails to connect the readers with her heart breaking journey. The rest of the supporting characters mar the charm of this story.
In a nutshell, the story is extremely absorbing to read about but sadly the characters steal away the limelight and make it look tremendously dull and boring.
Verdict: Could have been a great book!
August 30, 2022
This was a perfect holiday book for me (I listened to the audiobook) as it's consistently interesting without being heavy or difficult. Although generally better written, it's a bit like Philippa Gregory's novels set in the Tudor court, though here we're in the Forbidden City in mid-nineteenth century Peking.
Orchid (based on the last empress Cixi) is struggling from the downfall of her father and so, on a whim, applies to be a concubine at the palace and - would you credit it? - is soon bribing her way into the bed of the emperor and on her path to power.
If I were to be critical I'd say that Orchid has all the appeal of a modern feisty young woman: she takes herself off to learn from prostitutes how to be super-hot in bed (that fan dance!), she somehow seems to have picked up all kinds of education, political and diplomatic skills so that she can advise the emperor on his internal and foreign policy better than all his advisors, she can write edicts as well as the best lawyers... but, then, in order not to be too irritating, she suffers from imposter syndrome to bring herself down to earth. I don't know anything about the real Cixi but as represented in this relatively short book, it's a pretty miraculous performance. Of course, she also manages to make friends with the emperor's wife and bear him a son before fighting off an attempted coup to emerge as empress and regent on her son's behalf. Oh, and fall into forbidden love with an up-and-coming general.
I can understand that Min wants to overturn the conventional male-authored? narrative of Cixi as an evil, power-hungry, manipulative woman but perhaps this recuperation goes too far in the nicey-nice direction? I don't know - but found this utterly gripping anyway, if not to be taken too seriously (it is, after all, a Richard & Judy book!) And there's a sequel: The Last Empress to carry on Orchid's story - can't wait!
Orchid (based on the last empress Cixi) is struggling from the downfall of her father and so, on a whim, applies to be a concubine at the palace and - would you credit it? - is soon bribing her way into the bed of the emperor and on her path to power.
If I were to be critical I'd say that Orchid has all the appeal of a modern feisty young woman: she takes herself off to learn from prostitutes how to be super-hot in bed (that fan dance!), she somehow seems to have picked up all kinds of education, political and diplomatic skills so that she can advise the emperor on his internal and foreign policy better than all his advisors, she can write edicts as well as the best lawyers... but, then, in order not to be too irritating, she suffers from imposter syndrome to bring herself down to earth. I don't know anything about the real Cixi but as represented in this relatively short book, it's a pretty miraculous performance. Of course, she also manages to make friends with the emperor's wife and bear him a son before fighting off an attempted coup to emerge as empress and regent on her son's behalf. Oh, and fall into forbidden love with an up-and-coming general.
I can understand that Min wants to overturn the conventional male-authored? narrative of Cixi as an evil, power-hungry, manipulative woman but perhaps this recuperation goes too far in the nicey-nice direction? I don't know - but found this utterly gripping anyway, if not to be taken too seriously (it is, after all, a Richard & Judy book!) And there's a sequel: The Last Empress to carry on Orchid's story - can't wait!
July 29, 2007
I can't say exactly whether this book is a work of fiction or a biography. It tells the story of Ci Xi, China's Last Empress (the one who arranged the ascend of China's Last Emperor, Pu Yi) in her own voice. Ci Xi has always been portrayed as a ruthless, evil woman with insatiable thirst for power and, in this book, she's described as a simple and sensuous woman who wants the best for her husband, a mother who wants her son to have what's rightfully his, and a I-don't-know-what who wants the best for China.
The book starts off well: funny and engaging. I couldn't put it down. However to wards the end, it gets rather dishonest: this poor, uneducated girl has blossomed into a modern ruler who understands the need for foreign diplomacy and statesmanship (she authorized voting, for God's sake). OK, perhaps I'm not being fair here but the images toward the end of the book are closer to Hillary Clinton among books and state documents rather than Imperial China where the Emperor has the absolute power. All these are true accounts actually, it's just the portrayal that I think is exaggerated.
Unfortunately, the story ends when the son becomes the Emperor. The years following that, actually, are the most important ones which establishes her reputation as a powerful, ambitious, and intelligent Empress.
Writing style, it's nice and simple. Words and phrases flow well. Everything can be summarized in the following excerpt from Julia Lovell's review for the Guardian:
"Considering Anchee Min grew up in China and, according to her author biography, learned her English from Sesame Street, the language is generally pretty competent, and sometimes even engaging: bamboo rafts drift down a river "like a giant loose necklace". At other, less assured points, unfortunately, the tone swings queasily between fortune cookie wisdom ("A dead camel is bigger than a live horse"), Mills & Boon ("Take me," the empress gasps at Yung Lu when they find themselves alone together in the emperor's tomb) and the downright eccentric ("My body fermented like a steamed bun"). "
An easy read, for sure. Can get quite funny in the beginning. And the historical events, accurate or not, are quite harmless.
PS: expect a few erotically charged scenes in this book. Who says Asians are prudes?
The book starts off well: funny and engaging. I couldn't put it down. However to wards the end, it gets rather dishonest: this poor, uneducated girl has blossomed into a modern ruler who understands the need for foreign diplomacy and statesmanship (she authorized voting, for God's sake). OK, perhaps I'm not being fair here but the images toward the end of the book are closer to Hillary Clinton among books and state documents rather than Imperial China where the Emperor has the absolute power. All these are true accounts actually, it's just the portrayal that I think is exaggerated.
Unfortunately, the story ends when the son becomes the Emperor. The years following that, actually, are the most important ones which establishes her reputation as a powerful, ambitious, and intelligent Empress.
Writing style, it's nice and simple. Words and phrases flow well. Everything can be summarized in the following excerpt from Julia Lovell's review for the Guardian:
"Considering Anchee Min grew up in China and, according to her author biography, learned her English from Sesame Street, the language is generally pretty competent, and sometimes even engaging: bamboo rafts drift down a river "like a giant loose necklace". At other, less assured points, unfortunately, the tone swings queasily between fortune cookie wisdom ("A dead camel is bigger than a live horse"), Mills & Boon ("Take me," the empress gasps at Yung Lu when they find themselves alone together in the emperor's tomb) and the downright eccentric ("My body fermented like a steamed bun"). "
An easy read, for sure. Can get quite funny in the beginning. And the historical events, accurate or not, are quite harmless.
PS: expect a few erotically charged scenes in this book. Who says Asians are prudes?
October 6, 2009
After my negative review of The Twentieth Wife A Novel, Mintzi recommended The Last Empress as a superior alternative and I thought I might as well read the prequel first.
"Empress Orchid" started off pretty strong -- Orchid, like Mehrunissa from "The Twentieth Wife," is a poor girl who miraculously rises to be the emperor's wife but unlike Mehrunissa, is not a goody-goody Mary Sue heroine. Chosen from among thousands of young women as the emperor's fourth concubine, Orchid discovers that palace life is oppressively dull. She remains unnoticed by the emperor but her responsibility notwithstanding to be on call for him 24/7 precludes any other activity which might serve as a source of stimulation or assuage her loneliness. Desperate to change her circumstances, she bribes her way into the emperor's bed and learns all sorts of tricks to satisfy him, so that she manages to stay on his radar screen long enough to get pregnant with -- luckily -- his only son.
At this point, the book took a turn for the worse. Dialogue and narrative became increasingly pedantic as the novel's focus shifted from Orchid's personal struggles to the wars plaguing China at the time and Orchid's increasingly active role in assisting the emperor. I don't know enough about Chinese history to tell you whether this aspect of the story was accurate or realistic, but I can tell you this -- it bored me. And it didn't have to. The political intrigue could have been interesting, had it been a little less dry and impersonally written.
Toward the end, the book depicted Orchid's lack of control in the decisions surrounding her son. As the fourth concubine outranked by the official empress, Orchid was compelled to defer to the empress who overindulged her son rather than building his character. Orchid, who wished her son to be disciplined so as to become an effective ruler, naturally lost influence with him as she tried to take a harder line. It's a complex conflict, but despite this, Anchee Min had completely lost my interest at that point and I was skimming the book rapidly (and not missing much, I suspect).
Anchee Min recreates 1850s China with great detail which starts out fascinating but eventually gets tiresome as it weighs down the story. Similarly, I started out liking and empathizing with Orchid but eventually grew disenchanted with her as the story became less about her and more about China and her character became increasingly flat. By the end of the book, I couldn't bring myself to care all that much about her or her story, and am not sure whether I will end up picking up the sequel.
"Empress Orchid" started off pretty strong -- Orchid, like Mehrunissa from "The Twentieth Wife," is a poor girl who miraculously rises to be the emperor's wife but unlike Mehrunissa, is not a goody-goody Mary Sue heroine. Chosen from among thousands of young women as the emperor's fourth concubine, Orchid discovers that palace life is oppressively dull. She remains unnoticed by the emperor but her responsibility notwithstanding to be on call for him 24/7 precludes any other activity which might serve as a source of stimulation or assuage her loneliness. Desperate to change her circumstances, she bribes her way into the emperor's bed and learns all sorts of tricks to satisfy him, so that she manages to stay on his radar screen long enough to get pregnant with -- luckily -- his only son.
At this point, the book took a turn for the worse. Dialogue and narrative became increasingly pedantic as the novel's focus shifted from Orchid's personal struggles to the wars plaguing China at the time and Orchid's increasingly active role in assisting the emperor. I don't know enough about Chinese history to tell you whether this aspect of the story was accurate or realistic, but I can tell you this -- it bored me. And it didn't have to. The political intrigue could have been interesting, had it been a little less dry and impersonally written.
Toward the end, the book depicted Orchid's lack of control in the decisions surrounding her son. As the fourth concubine outranked by the official empress, Orchid was compelled to defer to the empress who overindulged her son rather than building his character. Orchid, who wished her son to be disciplined so as to become an effective ruler, naturally lost influence with him as she tried to take a harder line. It's a complex conflict, but despite this, Anchee Min had completely lost my interest at that point and I was skimming the book rapidly (and not missing much, I suspect).
Anchee Min recreates 1850s China with great detail which starts out fascinating but eventually gets tiresome as it weighs down the story. Similarly, I started out liking and empathizing with Orchid but eventually grew disenchanted with her as the story became less about her and more about China and her character became increasingly flat. By the end of the book, I couldn't bring myself to care all that much about her or her story, and am not sure whether I will end up picking up the sequel.
November 7, 2013
Bullet Review:
This was a lot of fun to read. I'm always interested in new cultures and new time periods, so this was perfect for me. I loved Orchid; she's the independent, strong-willed female protagonist we're always promised and never get. There were some dry sections, along with a lot of narration and not so much action, but I still enjoyed this heartily.
Full review:
Orchid is a young woman who moved from Wuhu with her family and father's body to Peking. Living in destitution, her best chance for a good life is to compete against hundreds of other young Manchu ladies to be one of Emperor Hsien's concubines - and maybe one of the lucky 7 to be his wife.
Through her persistence and cunning, Orchid rises from her humble beginnings to be one of the Emperor's wives, to give birth his only male child, and to stay alive amongst the back-stabbing Inner Court.
I feel rather ashamed; I enjoyed this book heartily, devouring the last 50 - 100 pages eagerly, and yet I really had almost no desire to review it. It's taken me a week to the day since I finished it to get back to reviewing it, so please excuse me if my memory is incomplete or this review is what I'm afraid it will be: incredibly boring.
But let me start off with an OFF-TOPIC story: when I was a child, I went to a private school in Hawaii. Out of a class of 30 students (or so), I was one of three Caucasian children. Most of the rest were Hawaiian, Japanese, or Chinese. I sincerely believe my early interactions with so many varied cultures and races is what kept me from being too much of a bigot and a racist (being raised in a fundamentalist evangelical culture tends to make a person that way).
Ever since that early childhood, I have been fascinated with the Chinese and Japanese cultures. I constantly checked out non-fiction books on the subject - but always was disappointed at how little information those children's non-fiction books had. (I would have read adult non-fiction, but the word "adult" at the time scared me into thinking that it was "dirty" and "inappropriate" - ah the life of a fundamentalist evangelical!!) I tried at various points to teach myself the language (nope, didn't work) or to read books by Chinese and Japanese authors. When it was time to select a country to do a report on, I chose China and spent an inordinate amount of time and effort into my China report when I was in 7th grade. I loved that report to be honest; I made this binder for it that was painted in beautiful white, red, and pink cherry blossom flowers.
This love of the people and cultures has continued into my adult life. I wanted so badly to take Japanese in college, but practicality and fear held me back. I resorted to reading "Memoirs of a Geisha" and watching the movie to feed this desire to learn more about these wonderful people.
More recently, a friend sent me a copy of this book to Buddy Read. Normally, I would not bother to read anything set in the mid-19th century. I have been pummeled with that period from my three years of taking American History and how even World History seems more focused on America and Western Europe than any other part of the Globe. But I trust my friend's taste of books, and, like I spent several paragraphs above saying, I love learning more about China and Japan, so a couple of weeks ago, I began my journey into 19th century China.
There are many things I could use this review space to say about the book. I could talk about the fascinating characters, from Orchid, a woman who is actually time-period appropriate and yet every bit the independent "spunky" woman nearly every Historical Fiction novel promises, to An-Te-Hai, her eununch, to Tung Chih, her son. I could talk about the writing style, which was beautiful without bogging down the narrative in silly faux-Asian metaphors. I could mention how gripping it was, watching Orchid fight tooth and nail to make sure her son was appointed Emperor and how she had to use her wits to get pregnant in the first place. There are many, MANY things I could say about the book, and all would be relevant.
But sometimes we want the irrelevant, the OFF-TOPIC responses when we are reading a review. If I wanted a strict list of characters and plot, I could go to Wikipedia, the cover blurb, Publisher's Weekly, a professional review, etc. No, sometimes I want to read about a person's gut reaction to a book, how it made him or her feel. How she was drawn to the characters and couldn't put the book down. How she felt a connection to the events. How she came to get the book and how her OFF-TOPIC backstory made her interested in the book and love it.
And so, that is my review of this book. It's meandering and OFF-TOPIC, but it is not one of the Mad Libs reviews you can find in a bajillion places. It is from my heart. I loved this book - sure, it was slow in places and sometimes I got lost in the writing, but I enjoyed the hell out of it and felt like I learned a lot (as I'm no historian, I have no clue how accurate to the time period it really is, but it at least FELT real). And when I'm looking for a book to read, perusing my friends' reviews, what I want is HEART not just another manufactured, soulless review.
This was a lot of fun to read. I'm always interested in new cultures and new time periods, so this was perfect for me. I loved Orchid; she's the independent, strong-willed female protagonist we're always promised and never get. There were some dry sections, along with a lot of narration and not so much action, but I still enjoyed this heartily.
Full review:
Orchid is a young woman who moved from Wuhu with her family and father's body to Peking. Living in destitution, her best chance for a good life is to compete against hundreds of other young Manchu ladies to be one of Emperor Hsien's concubines - and maybe one of the lucky 7 to be his wife.
Through her persistence and cunning, Orchid rises from her humble beginnings to be one of the Emperor's wives, to give birth his only male child, and to stay alive amongst the back-stabbing Inner Court.
I feel rather ashamed; I enjoyed this book heartily, devouring the last 50 - 100 pages eagerly, and yet I really had almost no desire to review it. It's taken me a week to the day since I finished it to get back to reviewing it, so please excuse me if my memory is incomplete or this review is what I'm afraid it will be: incredibly boring.
But let me start off with an OFF-TOPIC story: when I was a child, I went to a private school in Hawaii. Out of a class of 30 students (or so), I was one of three Caucasian children. Most of the rest were Hawaiian, Japanese, or Chinese. I sincerely believe my early interactions with so many varied cultures and races is what kept me from being too much of a bigot and a racist (being raised in a fundamentalist evangelical culture tends to make a person that way).
Ever since that early childhood, I have been fascinated with the Chinese and Japanese cultures. I constantly checked out non-fiction books on the subject - but always was disappointed at how little information those children's non-fiction books had. (I would have read adult non-fiction, but the word "adult" at the time scared me into thinking that it was "dirty" and "inappropriate" - ah the life of a fundamentalist evangelical!!) I tried at various points to teach myself the language (nope, didn't work) or to read books by Chinese and Japanese authors. When it was time to select a country to do a report on, I chose China and spent an inordinate amount of time and effort into my China report when I was in 7th grade. I loved that report to be honest; I made this binder for it that was painted in beautiful white, red, and pink cherry blossom flowers.
This love of the people and cultures has continued into my adult life. I wanted so badly to take Japanese in college, but practicality and fear held me back. I resorted to reading "Memoirs of a Geisha" and watching the movie to feed this desire to learn more about these wonderful people.
More recently, a friend sent me a copy of this book to Buddy Read. Normally, I would not bother to read anything set in the mid-19th century. I have been pummeled with that period from my three years of taking American History and how even World History seems more focused on America and Western Europe than any other part of the Globe. But I trust my friend's taste of books, and, like I spent several paragraphs above saying, I love learning more about China and Japan, so a couple of weeks ago, I began my journey into 19th century China.
There are many things I could use this review space to say about the book. I could talk about the fascinating characters, from Orchid, a woman who is actually time-period appropriate and yet every bit the independent "spunky" woman nearly every Historical Fiction novel promises, to An-Te-Hai, her eununch, to Tung Chih, her son. I could talk about the writing style, which was beautiful without bogging down the narrative in silly faux-Asian metaphors. I could mention how gripping it was, watching Orchid fight tooth and nail to make sure her son was appointed Emperor and how she had to use her wits to get pregnant in the first place. There are many, MANY things I could say about the book, and all would be relevant.
But sometimes we want the irrelevant, the OFF-TOPIC responses when we are reading a review. If I wanted a strict list of characters and plot, I could go to Wikipedia, the cover blurb, Publisher's Weekly, a professional review, etc. No, sometimes I want to read about a person's gut reaction to a book, how it made him or her feel. How she was drawn to the characters and couldn't put the book down. How she felt a connection to the events. How she came to get the book and how her OFF-TOPIC backstory made her interested in the book and love it.
And so, that is my review of this book. It's meandering and OFF-TOPIC, but it is not one of the Mad Libs reviews you can find in a bajillion places. It is from my heart. I loved this book - sure, it was slow in places and sometimes I got lost in the writing, but I enjoyed the hell out of it and felt like I learned a lot (as I'm no historian, I have no clue how accurate to the time period it really is, but it at least FELT real). And when I'm looking for a book to read, perusing my friends' reviews, what I want is HEART not just another manufactured, soulless review.
Shelved as 'wishlist'
May 15, 2022These bodice-rippery Asian lit-fiction books were pretty popular in the aughts. I have a couple physical copies, as well as some on my Kindle, that I plan to read this month.
October 20, 2013
I read this book several years ago, and I thought it was about time for a re-read, especially since I remembered it as being a good read. What I found interesting was the differences from how I remembered it. It was shorter than I recalled, and more brutal and heart-wrenching.
What I enjoy the most about Empress Orchid, and Anchee Min’s writing in general, is her skill at description. She knows how to turn a phrase in an interesting and quirky way that grabs the attention and at the same time feeds the reader information, and it’s all done through show not tell, without info-dumping. Min’s writing style has been described as “eccentric” and awkward, but I disagree. It has a wonderful deft touch and flow to it that makes it feel natural and thoughtful.
The driving force that carries the story is, of course, Orchid herself. Min writes Orchid’s character with incredible humanity. Orchid’s story begins with hardship, which Orchid uses her wits and extraordinary luck to escape. But over time her regrets pile up, and Min portrays this with great poignancy. Yet, her feelings are ones we can all identify and empathise with. Orchid is practical, frustrated, forthright, smart, and imperfect – and I identified with her as a reader because of that. Don’t we all dwell on our own imperfections, regret the choices we’ve made, and imagine others’ lives to be perfect? She’s definitely a character I rooted for. Life in the Forbidden City felt insular and Min succeeded in creating a real sense of cabin fever that really came through to me.
I have to admit, my knowledge of East Asian history is minimal, so I can’t testify to the accuracy of Min’s portrayal. I applaud the way she weaves relevant historical details into the narrative without making it clumsy or plonking it down in laborious chunks. What little I know of Cixi (Orchid) suggests she was a formidable and ruthless character, and not a terribly likable person. However, Min creates a character who is very sympathetic. Due to my lack of knowledge, I’m left wondering whether the accepted idea of Cixi is real, or whether Min’s portrait, which implies that Cixi’s reputation was exaggerated and blackened by her enemies, is a more realistic vision.
9 out of 10
November 12, 2019
BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN BUT SADLY UNDERWHELMING
✨ Popsugar Reading Challenge 2019✨
✨✨A book written by an author from Asia, Africa, or South America✨✨
This was by no means a bad book. It just wasn't a book I am going to remember either. Which is really a shame, because I really enjoyed some of Anchee Min's other books, such as Red Azalea. This, however, missed the mark for me, personally.
👍 THE THINGS I LIKED 👍
Writing: The prose of this book was so beautiful, flowery and lyrical, it just flowed off the page and into my imagination.
👎 WHAT I DISLIKED 👎
Characters: I need to be able to feel the characters of a book to connect with them and enjoy the story unfolding before me. I could not feel these characters. I could not like them. Especially the main character, Orchid, was strange and closed off. She was a spectre.
Repeat?: Reading this, I felt like I had already read it. It seems to me, that any time anyone writes about a royal woman in China the story follows the same construct - Woman marries emperor, has to stand out from a crowd to gain his affections, overcomes the odds stacked against her. The same of the case here and I almost felt like I didn't have to finish it because I had already read this story...
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✨ Popsugar Reading Challenge 2019✨
✨✨A book written by an author from Asia, Africa, or South America✨✨
This was by no means a bad book. It just wasn't a book I am going to remember either. Which is really a shame, because I really enjoyed some of Anchee Min's other books, such as Red Azalea. This, however, missed the mark for me, personally.
👍 THE THINGS I LIKED 👍
Writing: The prose of this book was so beautiful, flowery and lyrical, it just flowed off the page and into my imagination.
👎 WHAT I DISLIKED 👎
Characters: I need to be able to feel the characters of a book to connect with them and enjoy the story unfolding before me. I could not feel these characters. I could not like them. Especially the main character, Orchid, was strange and closed off. She was a spectre.
Repeat?: Reading this, I felt like I had already read it. It seems to me, that any time anyone writes about a royal woman in China the story follows the same construct - Woman marries emperor, has to stand out from a crowd to gain his affections, overcomes the odds stacked against her. The same of the case here and I almost felt like I didn't have to finish it because I had already read this story...
Follow me for more book goodness: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
July 15, 2008
The story of the Dowager Empress of China. It is mostly on her first few years as a concubine, with very little about the final years of the empire (but that's covered in The Last Empress). Nevertheless, very good at capturing the atmosphere and political intrigue. The story continues in The Last Empress (http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...).
November 9, 2021
I'm so glad I read this book! Growing up in China, I've heard so many brutal tales about Cixi that I was almost ready to resist her even before I started reading. But how amazing it is to see Anchee Min tell the story. She got me on page one. The narrative is subtle, the historical details rich, and I also like the way she injects the older Cixi's retrospection in the story.
October 2, 2019
This book is based on a true story of China’s last Empress.
Orchid comes from Anhwei, the poorest province in China. She is the oldest child and even though to her father’s disappointment that the first child isn’t a boy, he still teaches her to read. She has no formal schooling.
After the death of her father, they travel to the Forbidden City, where her father was from, to bring his body back there.
In the city, she searches for a job. In a shop where she gets a job, she also enjoys hearing stories about the royal families.
One day, she learns about the Emperor Hsien Feng looking for future mates. She passes the rigorous selection and becomes one of the seven concubines.
There are some parts which are interesting, but most of the story is very-dry. It reads like an encyclopedia.
@FB/BestHistoricalFiction
Orchid comes from Anhwei, the poorest province in China. She is the oldest child and even though to her father’s disappointment that the first child isn’t a boy, he still teaches her to read. She has no formal schooling.
After the death of her father, they travel to the Forbidden City, where her father was from, to bring his body back there.
In the city, she searches for a job. In a shop where she gets a job, she also enjoys hearing stories about the royal families.
One day, she learns about the Emperor Hsien Feng looking for future mates. She passes the rigorous selection and becomes one of the seven concubines.
There are some parts which are interesting, but most of the story is very-dry. It reads like an encyclopedia.
@FB/BestHistoricalFiction
September 2, 2016
Odlična, odlična, odlična knjiga!
Stroga pravila i običaji carske Kine i jedna žena koja se od siromaštva do carice probila isključivo pomoću svoje pameti i dosjetljivosti.
Spletke, ubojstva, enusi, carske priležnice i slom carske Kine, sve ispričano kroz oči carice Orhideje. Njezini strahovi, ljubav i osjećaji i razmišljanja opisani su jednako sjajno i istančano kao i velike carske povorke ili detalji na noktima ili haljinama.
Stroga pravila i običaji carske Kine i jedna žena koja se od siromaštva do carice probila isključivo pomoću svoje pameti i dosjetljivosti.
Spletke, ubojstva, enusi, carske priležnice i slom carske Kine, sve ispričano kroz oči carice Orhideje. Njezini strahovi, ljubav i osjećaji i razmišljanja opisani su jednako sjajno i istančano kao i velike carske povorke ili detalji na noktima ili haljinama.
October 7, 2015
I enjoyed this story. It's the first time I've read author, Anchee Min, and I think she crafted an interesting look at China in the mid 1800's. The Forbidden City where the Emperor and his wives, concubines and eunuchs lived has always been of interest to me. I like stories about palace intrigues and this was a good one. I will read the sequel and other books I can find by the author. I picked it up on a whim as I was looking for a different book on the shelves of my library and my intuition was spot on that I would like it.
Read
August 20, 2008I really wanted to love this book. I loved the author's autobiography (RED AZELEA) and her novel (KATHERINE)about a foreign English teacher in China, so I expected EMPRESS ORCHID to bring together her amazing talent for prose narrative in English, enhanced with her first-hand research of Chinese sources, to bring to life the mis-judged history of Empress Dowager Tz'u Hsi. [return][return]I anticipated some embellishments, but the total re-creation of Tzu Hsi as "Orchid", into a kind of modern woman-warrior, was too much for me. To ask the reader to believe that an uneducated female was able to "pick up" enough formal literary Chinese to be able to read court documents is stretching history way too far. Wouldn't it have made a more fascinating story to construe how Orchid was able to hold onto power so long in spite of being illiterate? [return][return]The first third of the book is a masterful depiction of the sights, smells, sounds, social structure, of late 19th Century China, and would have gained 5 stars, but the rest devolved into conjecture after conjecture which mix like sour notes in an otherwise brilliant composition. It's a novel, but it's not a historical novel. Moreover, I $en$ed that the whole $tory was being pitched to the $maller mind$ of Hollywood in hope of a movie deal. I felt like the author let down her loyal fans while trying to ride her own popularity to chase the $$. [return][return]The best part of Empress Orchid is the list of 5 tone-setting quotations from other sources in the facing page prior to the map (unnumbered pages). One of these quotes is from Sterling Seagrave from his book DRAGON LADY: THE LIFE AND LEGEND OF THE LAST EMPRESS OF CHINA, which refers to the fact that in 1974 most of the previously trusted scholarship on Tzu Hsi had been revealed as counterfeit. This led me to buy Seagrave's book, which explores the falsehoods of these earlier works, and turns into a fluid and fascinating narrative that is truly Biographical History. [return][return]In short, you can choose to spend your precious time on 336 pages of a fictional romance novel (Empress Orchid), or 463 pages of intelligent, delicious historical biography (followed by 135 pages of fascinating notes and complete index). As a student of Chinese language, literature, and history, I recommend reading Seagrave's book first.
June 19, 2018
Note to self: You have read this book. Twice. Do not forget again.
Mainly because of all the books I own, I'm kinda pissed I read this one twice. I never reread. Mainly as I have so many books to read. There are some I will reread, probably in a few years time as like a 20th anniversary since first read hurrah or something. But this one wouldn't make the list.
Look. It was fine. It was a story of a poor girl fallen from high background who managed to wiggle her way into the Forbidden City as a chosen Empress wife to the Emperor coz she was pretty and had spunk. And then this is how she used her spunk and prettiness to become a favourite of the Emperor. And then I get bored and there is half a book to go.
Yes, people are out to get her. Yes, men don't like women having influence in politics or life in general. All valid storylines, but I would read another version of it. If you want to read a book of pretty girl does good and gets rich, troubled Prince into bed, but in the Forbidden City instead of generic Europe, then give it a go. But just don't read it twice.
Mainly because of all the books I own, I'm kinda pissed I read this one twice. I never reread. Mainly as I have so many books to read. There are some I will reread, probably in a few years time as like a 20th anniversary since first read hurrah or something. But this one wouldn't make the list.
Look. It was fine. It was a story of a poor girl fallen from high background who managed to wiggle her way into the Forbidden City as a chosen Empress wife to the Emperor coz she was pretty and had spunk. And then this is how she used her spunk and prettiness to become a favourite of the Emperor. And then I get bored and there is half a book to go.
Yes, people are out to get her. Yes, men don't like women having influence in politics or life in general. All valid storylines, but I would read another version of it. If you want to read a book of pretty girl does good and gets rich, troubled Prince into bed, but in the Forbidden City instead of generic Europe, then give it a go. But just don't read it twice.
August 13, 2021
I adored this book, there were moments in-between that were duller - the raising of Tung Chih for example - but this is a fascinating portrait of a poor woman who rose to power through intelligence and beauty.
Empress Orchid is a sumptuous, turbulent character and as we see her adapt to the horrors and wonders of the forbidden city (beheadings, children being taken away, lack of agency, hordes of castrated male slaves, corruption and lust) we fall further in awe of her resilience. I understand she is a controversial figure but here she is spectacular, she spins her pain into power and loves ceaselessly. Anchee Min is a wonderful writer, and her unusual turns of phrase are piquant.
Empress Orchid is a sumptuous, turbulent character and as we see her adapt to the horrors and wonders of the forbidden city (beheadings, children being taken away, lack of agency, hordes of castrated male slaves, corruption and lust) we fall further in awe of her resilience. I understand she is a controversial figure but here she is spectacular, she spins her pain into power and loves ceaselessly. Anchee Min is a wonderful writer, and her unusual turns of phrase are piquant.
November 17, 2016
La vida novelada de la Emperatriz Orquídea, que pasó de simple concubina a convertirse en la cuarta esposa del emperador de la decadente dinastía Qing, que está viviendo sus últimas años de esplendor. Será la madre del famoso “último emperador” de China, y con ella recorreremos los corredores y vericuetos de La Ciudad Prohibida a finales del siglo XIX.
Lo que más me sorprendió de la novela es que en el famoso recinto las corruptelas y traiciones entre las mencionadas concubinas eran moneda de uso común, llegando incluso a recurrir al asesinato para conseguir sus propósitos. Al final Orquídea se lleva el gato al agua y consigue hacerse con el poder.
Aunque dulcificada por la autora, la famosa emperatriz parece que era de armas tomar, y fue largamente denostada durante y después de su reinado, aunque hay muchos historiadores que aseguran que no era tal como la pintan, y que fue una persona bastante capaz y habilidosa.
Las descripciones, aunque a veces algo empalagosas, son bastante eficaces para hacerte una idea del entorno. Al finalizar su lectura me entraron unas ganas enormes de visitar La Ciudad Prohibida, asignatura que aún tengo pendiente. La novela destila bastante tristeza y amargura, y no deja un buen sabor de boca a nivel emocional, pero disfruté mucho leyéndola, y aprendí bastantes cosas que me resultaron interesantes, por lo tanto, recomiendo su lectura a todos los amantes de la novela histórica. Le pongo cuatro estrellas porque a veces las descripciones, como ya he reseñado, se me hicieron algo tediosas.
Esta novela tiene una continuación, “La última emperatriz”, en la que se narran los últimos años de la vida de este fascinante personaje. Dejaré pasar algún tiempo, pero seguro que la leeré.
Lo que más me sorprendió de la novela es que en el famoso recinto las corruptelas y traiciones entre las mencionadas concubinas eran moneda de uso común, llegando incluso a recurrir al asesinato para conseguir sus propósitos. Al final Orquídea se lleva el gato al agua y consigue hacerse con el poder.
Aunque dulcificada por la autora, la famosa emperatriz parece que era de armas tomar, y fue largamente denostada durante y después de su reinado, aunque hay muchos historiadores que aseguran que no era tal como la pintan, y que fue una persona bastante capaz y habilidosa.
Las descripciones, aunque a veces algo empalagosas, son bastante eficaces para hacerte una idea del entorno. Al finalizar su lectura me entraron unas ganas enormes de visitar La Ciudad Prohibida, asignatura que aún tengo pendiente. La novela destila bastante tristeza y amargura, y no deja un buen sabor de boca a nivel emocional, pero disfruté mucho leyéndola, y aprendí bastantes cosas que me resultaron interesantes, por lo tanto, recomiendo su lectura a todos los amantes de la novela histórica. Le pongo cuatro estrellas porque a veces las descripciones, como ya he reseñado, se me hicieron algo tediosas.
Esta novela tiene una continuación, “La última emperatriz”, en la que se narran los últimos años de la vida de este fascinante personaje. Dejaré pasar algún tiempo, pero seguro que la leeré.
November 30, 2018
The story is extremely well written; the characters were compelling, the historical references are well introduced into the story and never weigh the plot down, and the storyline was exciting - I couldn’t put it down. You will appreciate Orchid’s agonies, triumphs, tragedies, and heartaches. These characters will touch your heart, and you will think of them long after the book has ended.
October 9, 2010
The first grown-up movie (a movie with subtitles, adult themes, and not based on a comic book or video game) I ever saw was The Last Emperor. I saw it pre-high school. I can't remember why I wanted to see it. I can remember really wanting to see it and loving it. I still love it. So it should be no surprise that the first Anchee Min book I pick up is this one.
At this point, I should let you know that I know very little about Chinese history so I cannot judge this book on its historical accuracy (though I have a biography of the women in question waiting in TBR stack). Most of what I know about Chinese history is from the following sources: general history books, the Chinese pavillion at Epoct Center, the History Channel, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Vol. 1 and other various Chinese folklore, legend, and poetry I've read. So I basically know next to nothing. Min, at least for me, brings to life the Forbidden City. It becomes suffocating real.
In general, there are two types of historical fiction (once you disregard trashy romance novels. No, I don't want to read a trashy romance novel about the love affair between Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. I know what happens afterwards. Kinda ruins the romance just a bit). Both types of historical fiction have several things in common and are, for lack of a better term, revisionist. In many cases, the writer will set out to rescue a maligned figure from history. If not this, the writer will use a horrible, tragic event to illustrate a greater human theme (love, forgiveness, surival). Macbeth, Mary Queen of Scots, Cleopatra, and Gengsis Khan have all been subjected to this treatment. Sometimes revisionist historical fiction wants to add a romance where there wasn't one or to make more of a romance then what it really was, a virgin to a non-virgin.
But that is where the similarities end. The first type is the good type of historical fiction. If the novel is about a tragic event, the overwhelming scope is impossible to ignore and the reader leaves the book thinking. Really thinking, adding those wrinkles to that brain. If the novel is about a maligned figure from history, the character is presented flaws and all. This too gets the reader to think and even gets the reader to read actual history.
The second type of historical fiction doesn't function this way. In fact, for me, in general, this type of historical fiction doesn't usually work at all. It takes the maligned character and makes her (such characters in this second type are pre-dominately females) a saintly figure. Forget about being more sinned against than sinning, in these novels the character is a saint surronded by madmen, sexist pigs, vampy women, and stupid, cruel people. In this type, the central malgined figure is really a good guy or tragic woman who got the bum rap. The historical good figure who wrote the history books is the devil incarnate. This type of historical fiction is like candy corn. Addicting but lacking in substance.
Min, thankfully for her and this review, writers the first kind, the better, historical fiction. After reading the Reader's Group Guide for the book, the reader would be convinced that Min was drawn to the character of Orchid because her intriging character and, perhaps, to a similiarity to Madame Mao. Min also seems to want to move beyond the evil woman syndrome. While she doesn't use the phrase "resuce her reputation from history", it does seem to a degree that Min is trying to do so.
Yet, this book is not re-telling of a saintly figure surroned by people who do bad things while transfering the blame for such behavior on her, despite Orchid's seemingly desire to make her story do so.
For that is the key to this book's success. Min presents a real figure, a narrator who reveals more about herself than the action of the tale.
Orchid starts her story with the death of her father moving quickly to her marriage to the Emperor of China. After her marriage, she is sequestered (or imprisioned) in the Forbidden City and is caught up in marriage politics (she is one of many wives), power politics, and the fall of China to those darn heathen forgieners.
Orchid has to survie not only the jealously of her fellow wives, her weak willed husband, but also the power struggle among the men of the court, men who see her as nothing more than a womb.
Min lets Orchid have control of her own story. This means that Orchid says one thing but something else may be going on. A jealous wife may be an evil witch or maybe not. Is the Emperor really that weak and Orchid that strong? This stops Orchid from becoming a milk sop or a door mat. She takes control of her own story and doesn't care if the reader likes her. Or at least, she will not admit that she cares or wants the reader's goodwill.
At this point, I should let you know that I know very little about Chinese history so I cannot judge this book on its historical accuracy (though I have a biography of the women in question waiting in TBR stack). Most of what I know about Chinese history is from the following sources: general history books, the Chinese pavillion at Epoct Center, the History Channel, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Vol. 1 and other various Chinese folklore, legend, and poetry I've read. So I basically know next to nothing. Min, at least for me, brings to life the Forbidden City. It becomes suffocating real.
In general, there are two types of historical fiction (once you disregard trashy romance novels. No, I don't want to read a trashy romance novel about the love affair between Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. I know what happens afterwards. Kinda ruins the romance just a bit). Both types of historical fiction have several things in common and are, for lack of a better term, revisionist. In many cases, the writer will set out to rescue a maligned figure from history. If not this, the writer will use a horrible, tragic event to illustrate a greater human theme (love, forgiveness, surival). Macbeth, Mary Queen of Scots, Cleopatra, and Gengsis Khan have all been subjected to this treatment. Sometimes revisionist historical fiction wants to add a romance where there wasn't one or to make more of a romance then what it really was, a virgin to a non-virgin.
But that is where the similarities end. The first type is the good type of historical fiction. If the novel is about a tragic event, the overwhelming scope is impossible to ignore and the reader leaves the book thinking. Really thinking, adding those wrinkles to that brain. If the novel is about a maligned figure from history, the character is presented flaws and all. This too gets the reader to think and even gets the reader to read actual history.
The second type of historical fiction doesn't function this way. In fact, for me, in general, this type of historical fiction doesn't usually work at all. It takes the maligned character and makes her (such characters in this second type are pre-dominately females) a saintly figure. Forget about being more sinned against than sinning, in these novels the character is a saint surronded by madmen, sexist pigs, vampy women, and stupid, cruel people. In this type, the central malgined figure is really a good guy or tragic woman who got the bum rap. The historical good figure who wrote the history books is the devil incarnate. This type of historical fiction is like candy corn. Addicting but lacking in substance.
Min, thankfully for her and this review, writers the first kind, the better, historical fiction. After reading the Reader's Group Guide for the book, the reader would be convinced that Min was drawn to the character of Orchid because her intriging character and, perhaps, to a similiarity to Madame Mao. Min also seems to want to move beyond the evil woman syndrome. While she doesn't use the phrase "resuce her reputation from history", it does seem to a degree that Min is trying to do so.
Yet, this book is not re-telling of a saintly figure surroned by people who do bad things while transfering the blame for such behavior on her, despite Orchid's seemingly desire to make her story do so.
For that is the key to this book's success. Min presents a real figure, a narrator who reveals more about herself than the action of the tale.
Orchid starts her story with the death of her father moving quickly to her marriage to the Emperor of China. After her marriage, she is sequestered (or imprisioned) in the Forbidden City and is caught up in marriage politics (she is one of many wives), power politics, and the fall of China to those darn heathen forgieners.
Orchid has to survie not only the jealously of her fellow wives, her weak willed husband, but also the power struggle among the men of the court, men who see her as nothing more than a womb.
Min lets Orchid have control of her own story. This means that Orchid says one thing but something else may be going on. A jealous wife may be an evil witch or maybe not. Is the Emperor really that weak and Orchid that strong? This stops Orchid from becoming a milk sop or a door mat. She takes control of her own story and doesn't care if the reader likes her. Or at least, she will not admit that she cares or wants the reader's goodwill.
July 17, 2009
The book follows the story of Tzu Hsi (known as Orchid) who enters the Forbidden City as one of the Emperors concubines at the age of seventeen. Over time she seduces the Emperor and bears his son, which means an immediate rise in rank to 2nd Empress (1st Empress is Nuharoo). We see her struggle to keep the Emperor's interest whilst battling with Nuharoo to be allowed to raise her child herself (normal custom is for the first Empress to take over). When the Emperor dies, and names Orchid's son as heir, the two Empresses take over as regents, and a battle for power ensues with Su Shun - the Emperor's right-hand man. The two Empresses struggle to hold up the country under increasing pressure from foreign armies.
This is a wonderfully gripping story. Its exotic setting and fascinating subject matter makes it compelling reading. The book is also very well researched, and as such I believe it is part biography, part fiction.
It's based on the story of Ci Xi - China's last Empress. Whilst in History, she's portrayed as ruthless and power hungry, in this book we see her as a (relatively) normal women, struggling with the customs of the Forbidden City. A woman who just wants the best for the people and country she loves.
I was fascinated (and sometimes horrified!) to read about the laws and the customs inside the Forbidden City, for instance I had never realised that the Emperor's wives were not allowed to do anything for themselves or on their own (even going to the toilet, they were accompanied). I'm not sure I could have lived like that! Also the punishments were very severe - in some cases for the most trivial of things!
My feelings towards the characters changed somewhat throughout the book. From the beginning I had a real empathy for Orchid, and this remained throughout, however whilst I quite liked Nuharoo at the beginning, I found myself more and more frustrated with the way she was acting, to the point where I found myself becoming angry with her. This softened slightly towards the end, but I still didn't like her much. The Emperor really annoyed me at the beginning of the book, but as the story progressed and we saw a different side to him, I actually started to quite like him!
It took me a while to read, as I found the subject matter required more concentration than other books I'd read, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I'll definitely be picking up the sequel.
This is a wonderfully gripping story. Its exotic setting and fascinating subject matter makes it compelling reading. The book is also very well researched, and as such I believe it is part biography, part fiction.
It's based on the story of Ci Xi - China's last Empress. Whilst in History, she's portrayed as ruthless and power hungry, in this book we see her as a (relatively) normal women, struggling with the customs of the Forbidden City. A woman who just wants the best for the people and country she loves.
I was fascinated (and sometimes horrified!) to read about the laws and the customs inside the Forbidden City, for instance I had never realised that the Emperor's wives were not allowed to do anything for themselves or on their own (even going to the toilet, they were accompanied). I'm not sure I could have lived like that! Also the punishments were very severe - in some cases for the most trivial of things!
My feelings towards the characters changed somewhat throughout the book. From the beginning I had a real empathy for Orchid, and this remained throughout, however whilst I quite liked Nuharoo at the beginning, I found myself more and more frustrated with the way she was acting, to the point where I found myself becoming angry with her. This softened slightly towards the end, but I still didn't like her much. The Emperor really annoyed me at the beginning of the book, but as the story progressed and we saw a different side to him, I actually started to quite like him!
It took me a while to read, as I found the subject matter required more concentration than other books I'd read, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I'll definitely be picking up the sequel.
March 24, 2015
Empress Orchid was one of those books which left me in the state of oblivion. To put it simply, the book wasn't impactful at all and simply forgettable.
This book tells the beginnings of Ci Xi, known here affectionately as Orchid. Because Orchid is the protagonist, Empress Orchid does boarder on being too one sided and opinionated.
For example, Orchid's 'rival', Nuharoo, is often depicted as childlike and less intelligent. She is, by Orchid's account a woman of leisure who is petty and resorts to dirty tactics in a fit of jealousy. The point is, Nuharoo is silver to Orchid's gold.
The comparison goes on and on and on, until the author is as whiny as her protagonist, Orchid.
I can't decide if I actually like Orchid, but since there is an accompanying book, The Last Empress, I'll give it a try before I decide!
3.5 stars
This book tells the beginnings of Ci Xi, known here affectionately as Orchid. Because Orchid is the protagonist, Empress Orchid does boarder on being too one sided and opinionated.
For example, Orchid's 'rival', Nuharoo, is often depicted as childlike and less intelligent. She is, by Orchid's account a woman of leisure who is petty and resorts to dirty tactics in a fit of jealousy. The point is, Nuharoo is silver to Orchid's gold.
Nuharoo covered her ears. “Stop it! There is nothing I can do about this.” She grabbed my hands. “Leave these matters to men, please!”
“She was the kind who would lose sleep over the smallest flaw in her embroidery, but not if we lost an important term in a treaty.”
“Nuharoo didn’t want to bother. “A wise lady ought to spend her life appreciating the beauty of nature, preserving her yin element and pursuing her longevity.”
The comparison goes on and on and on, until the author is as whiny as her protagonist, Orchid.
I can't decide if I actually like Orchid, but since there is an accompanying book, The Last Empress, I'll give it a try before I decide!
3.5 stars
February 3, 2016
Ši knyga pilna lygiagrečių istorijų ir emocijų,manau autorė atliko puikų darbą taip sustiprindama pagrindinės veikėjos piešiamą paveikslą. Kas man iš karto patiko: nors imperatorius turėjo daug žmonų ir sugulovių,Orchidėja nusprendė palikti pėdsaką istorijoje ir negyventi eilinio, pilko ir nežymaus imperatoriaus sugulovės gyvenimo. Knyga pilna svarbių detalių, kurios padeda susidaryti aiškų ir neapsakomą vaizdą į to meto gyvenimo būdą, Uždraustojo miesto aplinką. Įdomiai ir pritraukiančiai aprašomos įvairios tradicijos,meninis Kinijos gyvenimas ir šventės. Kartais puslapiai buvo persmelkti liūdesio,nes Orchidėja stengiasi nepasiduoti užmarščiai ir nežinomybei dėl tolimesnio likimo, kovoti su liūdnu ir vienatvės pilnu sugulovės likimu. Beskaitydama šią knygą tikrai susižavėjau Orchidėja, jos protu, išradingumu. Tam kad pasiektų savo vietą po saule (ir tiesiogine ir netiesiogine prasme) ji padarė tai ką sugebėjo geriausia ir dar daugiau. Vienas iš netikėtų momentų kai ji slapčia nuvyko į viešnamį kad išmoktų meilės meno, nors buvo griežtai saugoma. Sužavėjo tai kad nepaisant aukštos padėties ji sugebėjo išlikti tokia pati ir neprarado savojo "aš", nebuvo praryta visa apimančio Uždraustojo miesto šešėlio. Man labai patiko kad ji norėjo padaryti viską kas įmanoma dėl savo sūnaus, padaryti jį tikru imperatoriumi, kuris supranta savo tautą, jos kultūrą, istoriją ir tai puoselėja. Ji - labai drąsi ir protinga asmenybė.
March 5, 2014
This book intrigued me because of the summary I read on the inside flap, how this person seduced the emperor. It was even more appealing that this was basically a documentary of a person’s life. It provided a nice reprieve from the modern Chinese novels that I had been reading recently.
I liked learning about the imperial court life by learning about the culture and the politics. It made me appreciate it more, and realize what a great loss the country suffered when Communism eventually made its way around (which would happen much later). It also put the whole sphere of influence into a different perspective and how China must have felt, knowing that they were at the start of civilization, and for all of it’s inventions and pomp and circumstance, still was defenseless against any person that opposed their standard beliefs. (Though, the Manchus had done that to the Chinese). I also liked the emphasis on Manchu vs Chinese, because that is rarely hi-lighted and I hadn't even heard of it before.
I liked learning about the imperial court life by learning about the culture and the politics. It made me appreciate it more, and realize what a great loss the country suffered when Communism eventually made its way around (which would happen much later). It also put the whole sphere of influence into a different perspective and how China must have felt, knowing that they were at the start of civilization, and for all of it’s inventions and pomp and circumstance, still was defenseless against any person that opposed their standard beliefs. (Though, the Manchus had done that to the Chinese). I also liked the emphasis on Manchu vs Chinese, because that is rarely hi-lighted and I hadn't even heard of it before.
July 25, 2015
Well, this was kind of fun, except that I don't really believe in this version of Cixi. Why is that the authors of historical fiction are afraid to show their heroes as scheming, cunning, ruthless people they were, and end up excusing and sanitizing them? I doubt Cixi was this goody-goody girl in her youth; I don't want to say she must have been evil or anything of the sort, but she must have been cleverer and more entertaining than that.
I liked the details of the court life, and the relationship of the mother and son was well done. But surely the story of the concubine in the jar doesn't belong there? I know that empresses Lü and Wu were guilty of this kind of thing, but that was about one thousand years earlier than Cixi's times. Anyone know anything?
I liked the details of the court life, and the relationship of the mother and son was well done. But surely the story of the concubine in the jar doesn't belong there? I know that empresses Lü and Wu were guilty of this kind of thing, but that was about one thousand years earlier than Cixi's times. Anyone know anything?
September 16, 2008
I didn't enjoy this book as much as "Becoming Madame Mao" and "Red Azalea," and would be more apt to award it 3 and a half stars if that rating were available.
Regardless, the book depicts a fascinating time in Chinese history. Imperial China, deeply rooted in ritual and tradition, comes alive in Min's novel about the last Empress of China, Tzu Hsi. I enjoy rags to riches stories, but this one comes at a cost. Imperial life is lavish, yet stifling. The Forbidden City is a place of danger and intrigue, and Min works to build tension and suspense in Orchid's early life as one of seven wives to the Emperor. She doesn't achieve this as efficiently as she does in "Madame Mao," or "Red Azalea," whose danger feels more immediate and developed. This may be due to the author's distance from the material, as she is a survivor of the Cultural Revolution and obviously more in tune with the trials of that time. Nevertheless, "Empress Orchid" has great moments.
Min writes Orchid well. I think she captures an essence of Orchid that only a Chinese woman can. I really enjoyed the slow transformation Orchid makes from naive nobody to Empress. Min creates a conflicted and charged character without twisting her to Western ideals or subjecting her to a 21st century makeover. Some say that Orchid is flat, or wished to see more emotion from her, criticizing Min's talent for character development, but I think Orchid's careful reflection and suppressed emotion are more appropriate for a girl/woman from her time and culture. Passion, at least its expression, seems to be a western privilege and ideal, and Orchid's world consists of much more calculation and precision. I find Min portrays this, and am thankful for it, although it may make for less steamy, page-turning reading.
As Orchid moves up in the Emperor's favor, Min takes the opportunity to splice in historical anecdotes, including references to the Opium Wars and their aftermath/implications for China. In a twist, the Emperor refers to the Western invaders (Britain, France, US, Russia) as "barbarians," and this gives Western readers a chance to reflect on their own history books which depict that same history, but in a Western "voice." These historical/political digressions and Min's heavy description on Imperial art and everyday life do slow down the novel's otherwise engrossing story about manipulation, power, and (at times) seduction, but perhaps this makes the story more rounded? I'm not sure these parts flow seamlessly, as if Min is not sure which type of book she'd like to write, but I did appreciate each part on its own.
Min's research has been called in to question with "Empress Orchid," but the fact remains that little is known about Tzu Hsi, yet she stands as a notorious and unloved figure in both Chinese and Western history. I appreciate Min's spin on the Empress as an alternative, or supplement, to history, but do not forget, as a reader, that this is a fictional account and should never be interpreted in place of history. After I finish "The Last Empress," Min's sequel to this book depicting the majority of Tzu Hsi's reign, I may feel more in a position to criticize Min's historical fiction on this period.
Regardless, the book depicts a fascinating time in Chinese history. Imperial China, deeply rooted in ritual and tradition, comes alive in Min's novel about the last Empress of China, Tzu Hsi. I enjoy rags to riches stories, but this one comes at a cost. Imperial life is lavish, yet stifling. The Forbidden City is a place of danger and intrigue, and Min works to build tension and suspense in Orchid's early life as one of seven wives to the Emperor. She doesn't achieve this as efficiently as she does in "Madame Mao," or "Red Azalea," whose danger feels more immediate and developed. This may be due to the author's distance from the material, as she is a survivor of the Cultural Revolution and obviously more in tune with the trials of that time. Nevertheless, "Empress Orchid" has great moments.
Min writes Orchid well. I think she captures an essence of Orchid that only a Chinese woman can. I really enjoyed the slow transformation Orchid makes from naive nobody to Empress. Min creates a conflicted and charged character without twisting her to Western ideals or subjecting her to a 21st century makeover. Some say that Orchid is flat, or wished to see more emotion from her, criticizing Min's talent for character development, but I think Orchid's careful reflection and suppressed emotion are more appropriate for a girl/woman from her time and culture. Passion, at least its expression, seems to be a western privilege and ideal, and Orchid's world consists of much more calculation and precision. I find Min portrays this, and am thankful for it, although it may make for less steamy, page-turning reading.
As Orchid moves up in the Emperor's favor, Min takes the opportunity to splice in historical anecdotes, including references to the Opium Wars and their aftermath/implications for China. In a twist, the Emperor refers to the Western invaders (Britain, France, US, Russia) as "barbarians," and this gives Western readers a chance to reflect on their own history books which depict that same history, but in a Western "voice." These historical/political digressions and Min's heavy description on Imperial art and everyday life do slow down the novel's otherwise engrossing story about manipulation, power, and (at times) seduction, but perhaps this makes the story more rounded? I'm not sure these parts flow seamlessly, as if Min is not sure which type of book she'd like to write, but I did appreciate each part on its own.
Min's research has been called in to question with "Empress Orchid," but the fact remains that little is known about Tzu Hsi, yet she stands as a notorious and unloved figure in both Chinese and Western history. I appreciate Min's spin on the Empress as an alternative, or supplement, to history, but do not forget, as a reader, that this is a fictional account and should never be interpreted in place of history. After I finish "The Last Empress," Min's sequel to this book depicting the majority of Tzu Hsi's reign, I may feel more in a position to criticize Min's historical fiction on this period.
June 20, 2017
Orchid has lived much of her life in poverty, but at seventeen, she is chosen to be one of the Emperor’s seven wives/3000 concubines, and is swept into a life or luxury, power and intrigue she never could have imagined. Being a concubine is not quite what she would have thought. And Orchid (a.k.a. Tzu Hsi) is not your usual 19th century Chinese woman.
This was really good. I don’t know very much Chinese history, so all this was new to me. She seems to be such an interesting, strong woman. This was fiction, though, so I don’t know for sure what details happened, but it is a great story. I believe there is a sequel, which I do hope to read as well.
This was really good. I don’t know very much Chinese history, so all this was new to me. She seems to be such an interesting, strong woman. This was fiction, though, so I don’t know for sure what details happened, but it is a great story. I believe there is a sequel, which I do hope to read as well.
January 27, 2011
Just arrived from Greece.
This book is based on the true story of the last empress of China who is chosen to be become a concubine of the emperor and spent her life in the Forbidden City. The plot is very well written keeping reader's full attention.
This book is based on the true story of the last empress of China who is chosen to be become a concubine of the emperor and spent her life in the Forbidden City. The plot is very well written keeping reader's full attention.
May 14, 2020
Amintind de Luna din palat de Weina dai Randel și Imparateasa de Shan Sa, patrundem din nou în lumea vietii la curtea imparatului Chinei și a concubinelor sale. Orhideea vede intrarea în Orasul Interzis ca pe o sansa de a-si ajuta familia dupa moartea tatalui dar și de a scapa de căsătoria cu un var retardat. Pare o viata ca in povesti, sugerata de felul în care sunt alese fetele, de cadourile primite și de bogăția și fastul ceremoniilor. Orhideea își va aminti cum a pătruns plină de speranta in Orasul Interzis, dornică de iubire, își va aminti primele momente cu împăratul, care, la fel ca ea, consideră exagerate și plictisitoare ritualurile. Impresioneaza primele momente alaturi de imparat, cand, aleasa fiind, el glumeste cu ea, strambandu-se si facand-o sa zambeasca, in cadrul ritualului de ales cele 7 sotii.
Efortul Orhideei de a ajunge in dormitorul imparatului pare o incercare ca in povesti. Impresioneaza lunga asteptare, in care Orhideea, dupa ce ii facusera plecaciuni inclusiv membrii familiei, si fusese imbracata in rochii bogate si bijuterii pretioase, nu pare ca ar avea sanse de a se intalni vreodata cu imparatul. O va ajuta eunucul An-te-hai cu sfaturi, eunucul sef caruia ii ofera cadoul ei de nunta de la imparat, precum si Fan Sora cea Mare, pentru care lucrase inainte de a fi aleasa, si care cunoscuse pe mama împăratului , pentru a o invata ce sa faca pentru a-l cuceri in dormitor. E ajutată in viata de la curte de eunucul An-te-hai, cel caruia i-a cerut apă la intrarea în gradinile Orasului Interzis înainte de a se afla printre alesele imparatului.
Totul e însă trecător, e scurt timpul cat se afla printre favorite, apoi împăratul moare tânăr, ea și imparateasa Nuharoo vazandu-si sicriele cu numele lor la înmormântare. Orhideea se indragosteste de alt bărbat de la curte, insa regulile sunt stricte și nu i se dau șanse la o nouă poveste de iubire. Însă ea va fi ajutorul împăratului la conducerea Chinei și va continua să conduca și dupa moartea împăratului.
Efortul Orhideei de a ajunge in dormitorul imparatului pare o incercare ca in povesti. Impresioneaza lunga asteptare, in care Orhideea, dupa ce ii facusera plecaciuni inclusiv membrii familiei, si fusese imbracata in rochii bogate si bijuterii pretioase, nu pare ca ar avea sanse de a se intalni vreodata cu imparatul. O va ajuta eunucul An-te-hai cu sfaturi, eunucul sef caruia ii ofera cadoul ei de nunta de la imparat, precum si Fan Sora cea Mare, pentru care lucrase inainte de a fi aleasa, si care cunoscuse pe mama împăratului , pentru a o invata ce sa faca pentru a-l cuceri in dormitor. E ajutată in viata de la curte de eunucul An-te-hai, cel caruia i-a cerut apă la intrarea în gradinile Orasului Interzis înainte de a se afla printre alesele imparatului.
Totul e însă trecător, e scurt timpul cat se afla printre favorite, apoi împăratul moare tânăr, ea și imparateasa Nuharoo vazandu-si sicriele cu numele lor la înmormântare. Orhideea se indragosteste de alt bărbat de la curte, insa regulile sunt stricte și nu i se dau șanse la o nouă poveste de iubire. Însă ea va fi ajutorul împăratului la conducerea Chinei și va continua să conduca și dupa moartea împăratului.
August 18, 2017
Vrlo detaljna prica o djelicu kineske povijesti, obicajima i politickim previranjima.
Knjiga je vrlo dobro pisana, malo predetaljna mozda. Zapravo mi se nije svidjela kineska kultura i obicaji jer su zene stavljane u zadnji red (zapravo koja je razlika u to doba bila u drugim kulturama?), a ono sto je najvaznije nisu mi se svidjeli obicaji kolji su toliko praznovjerni i ponizavajuci da je strasno. Kakvo je to klanjanje caru da se celom udara u pod dok se ne raskrvari, mozda dobije i potres mozga (tko zna), vjerovanja u prorocanstva, astrologiju itd. te se prema tome oblikuje buducnost i svaki korak u zivotu.
Prica prvenstveno govori o kineskom caru koji je slabic a kao takav i umire te snazi jedne od njegovih zena, Orhideji, koja preuzima stvari u svoje ruke i pokusava dici carstvo na noge nakon njegove smrti. Pred nju su stavljene mnoge prepreke ali svojom upornoscu ih uspije zaobici kako bi popravila situaciju u kojoj se Kina nasla, te ostavila stabilnost u naslijede svome sinu (za kojega vec sad pretpostavlja da ce biti los car kao i njegov otac). Strasno me zivcirala pasivnost cara, nezainteresiranost i opcenito nacin na koji je zivio svoj zivot. Zivot zena u Zabranjenom gradu je strasna, ne samo zato sto su podredene vec zato sto im nije ostavljena mogucnost da barem donekle zive normalnim zivotom. Konstantno suparnistvo drzi ih budnima i opreznima, strasno je sto su jedna drugoj kadre uciniti.
Nisam bila sigurna koju ocjenu dati, 3.5 mi se mozda cini najpravednijom jer su me malo umarali dosadni detaljni detalji iz polotickog i carskog zivota. Cijela prica je jako dobra i zanimljiva, ali da je mozda malo skratila...
Nekako pretpostavljam da ce nastavak ove knjige biti zanimljiviji zbog nacina na koji je djelo zavrseno.
Knjiga je vrlo dobro pisana, malo predetaljna mozda. Zapravo mi se nije svidjela kineska kultura i obicaji jer su zene stavljane u zadnji red (zapravo koja je razlika u to doba bila u drugim kulturama?), a ono sto je najvaznije nisu mi se svidjeli obicaji kolji su toliko praznovjerni i ponizavajuci da je strasno. Kakvo je to klanjanje caru da se celom udara u pod dok se ne raskrvari, mozda dobije i potres mozga (tko zna), vjerovanja u prorocanstva, astrologiju itd. te se prema tome oblikuje buducnost i svaki korak u zivotu.
Prica prvenstveno govori o kineskom caru koji je slabic a kao takav i umire te snazi jedne od njegovih zena, Orhideji, koja preuzima stvari u svoje ruke i pokusava dici carstvo na noge nakon njegove smrti. Pred nju su stavljene mnoge prepreke ali svojom upornoscu ih uspije zaobici kako bi popravila situaciju u kojoj se Kina nasla, te ostavila stabilnost u naslijede svome sinu (za kojega vec sad pretpostavlja da ce biti los car kao i njegov otac). Strasno me zivcirala pasivnost cara, nezainteresiranost i opcenito nacin na koji je zivio svoj zivot. Zivot zena u Zabranjenom gradu je strasna, ne samo zato sto su podredene vec zato sto im nije ostavljena mogucnost da barem donekle zive normalnim zivotom. Konstantno suparnistvo drzi ih budnima i opreznima, strasno je sto su jedna drugoj kadre uciniti.
Nisam bila sigurna koju ocjenu dati, 3.5 mi se mozda cini najpravednijom jer su me malo umarali dosadni detaljni detalji iz polotickog i carskog zivota. Cijela prica je jako dobra i zanimljiva, ali da je mozda malo skratila...
Nekako pretpostavljam da ce nastavak ove knjige biti zanimljiviji zbog nacina na koji je djelo zavrseno.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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