Fragrant Harbour is the story of four people whose intertwined lives span Asia’s last 70 years. Tom Stewart leaves England just before...
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reviews
Jan 12, 2009
Barbara
rated it: 
I bought this when I was in Hong Kong this summer because I was looking for a novel that would give me an overview of the city's history and tell a compelling story as well. I did learn a great deal about Hong Kong from the 1930s through the 1990's, but the story was certainly not compelling though much of it was interesting. The tale is told through the voices of four different characters- a young woman from England who's climbing hand over fist up the career ladder, a Chinese businessman on
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Apr 01, 2011
Katie
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The book tries to offer insights into historical and modern day (as it was in 2002 anyway) Hong Kong but I can't help thinking some of these are a little facile. And in doing so it packs in quite a lot of stories between the four narrators, and I was frustrated that the more interesting narrative strands (particularly the invasion of Hong Kong by the Japaneses during WWII) were glossed over extremely speedily.
Jul 28, 2011
A pleasant book although sometimes implausible, sometimes carachters are not really realistic, but I found charming this epic novel on Hong Kong as I knew so little of its history.
I particularly enjoyed the chapters on the war and the Japanese invasion, while I really couldn't get through the story of Dawn Stone, which I found incredibly stereotyped.
I particularly enjoyed the chapters on the war and the Japanese invasion, while I really couldn't get through the story of Dawn Stone, which I found incredibly stereotyped.
Jan 29, 2012
Kitty-Wu
rated it:
Me ha gustado conocer la historia y evolución de Hong Kong, pero las tres historias entrelazadas me han parecido un poco metidas con calzador. La historia central es muy interesante, pero se me empezó a hacer larga al final, y en cambio, me habría gustado saber más sobre Dawn Stone. La tercera parte, la de los astronautas-hombres de negocio, me ha dejado fría, me la habría ahorrado gustosa.
El estilo de Lanchester aún así, es impecable. Usa muy bien los argumentos narrativos: buen ritmo More...
El estilo de Lanchester aún así, es impecable. Usa muy bien los argumentos narrativos: buen ritmo More...
Jul 27, 2008
Ed
rated it: 
I'm not sure exactly why I enjoyed this book so much. Was it because it takes place in Hong Kong, my home for the last 16 years? Was it the description of pre-war colonial Hong Kong? Was it the insightful comments about the nature of both Hong Kong people and mainland Chinese? Was it the interesting juxtaposition of four separate stories? Was it the ending which left me creating my own version of "what happened next"? I guess it was all of those things.
The plot is not More...
The plot is not More...
Jun 08, 2010
Grace
rated it:
Readable - the only thing to say about some books (I'm sure it has been my review on here before, maybe several times). Like many novels with several narrators, there was only one that I thought engaging but fortunately that one took up the bulk of the book.
Jul 08, 2010
itpdx
rated it:
A delightful read. An interesting story set against modern Hong Kong history. Through a few inter-related characters, Lanchester takes you through Hong Kong as a British colonial outpost, the Japanese capture, the Chinese communist revolution, to the handover.
Oct 05, 2009
Saturday's
rated it:
This was recommended by several people I work with and I am glad that I took their advice and read it. It is a story that stays with you long after you have closed the book for the last time.
Sep 18, 2011
Kate
rated it: 
An excellent telling of the story of Hong Kong in the 70 years coming up to its passing back to China. Written from the viewpoint of 4 people whose lives intertwine. Difficult to put down.
Nov 17, 2010
Ilya
rated it:
Really smart, perceptive book....that petered out a bit at the end. But enjoyable throughout.
Jul 23, 2007
Emma
rated it: 
I don’t understand how this book won a “Best Fiction” award. It read like a bad action adventure novel. Filled with insignificant details and a unsatisfying storyline, it was a pain to read. In fact towards the end I found myself skimming chapters just to get to the conclusion of the story. I felt cheated at the end of this story. In retrospect, however, I feel I learned a bit about the history of Hong Kong and how it was impacted by the turmoil occurring in China.
Jan 29, 2012
Eric
rated it:
I don't want to give away the details, so I'll generically say that this enjoyable novel offers a panoramic perspective on Hong Kong's 20th Century history through several interlocking narratives. Lanchester gets many of the details of the city right, and the book is unlikely to disappoint anyone interested in Hong Kong or China in general.
Dec 16, 2009
Anthony
rated it:
A multigenerational look at life in Hong Kong from the vantage point of unrelated British expatriates who soon enough find themselves entwined in a network of crime, passion, and intrigue they unknowingly created.
Dec 16, 2009
Louise
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I was living in Hong Kong when I read this book and it gave me a great intro to the history of Hong Kong and a glimpse of colonial live. Thoroughly enjoyed this one!
Jan 29, 2008
Kevin
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Reading this historical fiction is an interesting way to feel the sweep of time in HK. I have loaned my copy to friends who also enjoyed it.
Aug 06, 2008
Pam
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This is one of my favorite books...historical fiction with elegant prose and interesting insights to humanity.
Jan 29, 2012
Martinxo
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I enjoyed this book, the first half more than the second, which dragged a little.
Apr 22, 2008
Shui
rated it:
Interesting story line and history of Hong Kong's rise to financial greatness.
Feb 17, 2008
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Feb 08, 2012
Jan 29, 2012
