An electrifying epic, based on the incredible true story of a Chinese princess turned spy. Peking, 1914. When the eight-year-old pri...
read full description
reviews
Sep 15, 2011
drey
rated it: 
I requested this book based on the cover--I didn't know who Eastern Jewel was, which makes me wonder if I should somehow be ashamed to not know the history of my own race? Anyway. I asked for it, received it, and read it.
I have to admit, it took me a while to finish. Not because I didn't enjoy the book, but because the subject's life--while it must have been entertaining and adventurous to her--made me feel sad that she was as exploited as she was, and how willingly she participated in More...
I have to admit, it took me a while to finish. Not because I didn't enjoy the book, but because the subject's life--while it must have been entertaining and adventurous to her--made me feel sad that she was as exploited as she was, and how willingly she participated in More...
Sep 29, 2009
S.
rated it: 
I won this from FirstReads!
I was hesitant to start reading this book but the minute I did, I was engrossed until about half way through. It's a dark tale of a Chinese Princess, Eastern Jewel, sent to Japan at a young age. She grows up to live an untraditional life. She's not very likeable. What redeems her are some of her good thoughts and feelings towards people but she doesn't act on them. The sex is hollow and graphic, slightly disturbing. The dream descriptions are distrac
I was hesitant to start reading this book but the minute I did, I was engrossed until about half way through. It's a dark tale of a Chinese Princess, Eastern Jewel, sent to Japan at a young age. She grows up to live an untraditional life. She's not very likeable. What redeems her are some of her good thoughts and feelings towards people but she doesn't act on them. The sex is hollow and graphic, slightly disturbing. The dream descriptions are distrac
0 comments
like
(2 people liked it)
Jan 23, 2010
Bruce
rated it: 
[This review originally appeared in Historical Novels Review:]
“In 1914, at the age of eight years, I was caught spying on my father Prince Su as he made love to a fourteen-year-old girl.” This is the opening sentence of a remarkable novel: the fictionalized account of a real life Chinese princess who became a Japanese spy in the 1930s and 40s and finally died by the sword in a Chinese prison camp.
Banished to Japan for her childish indiscretion, she finds herself trapped in t More...
“In 1914, at the age of eight years, I was caught spying on my father Prince Su as he made love to a fourteen-year-old girl.” This is the opening sentence of a remarkable novel: the fictionalized account of a real life Chinese princess who became a Japanese spy in the 1930s and 40s and finally died by the sword in a Chinese prison camp.
Banished to Japan for her childish indiscretion, she finds herself trapped in t More...
Dec 16, 2009
Deirdre
rated it: 
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
Not-so-historical fiction, September 8, 2009
First, I wish this book had been billed as pure fiction, rather than 'based on a true story'. I'm not sure how much truth Lindley managed to include in her story - I'm not sure that very much truth is actually known about Eastern Jewel. While her life and story would be riveting to explore, this novel seems taken entirely from Lindley's imagination and relies f More...
Not-so-historical fiction, September 8, 2009
First, I wish this book had been billed as pure fiction, rather than 'based on a true story'. I'm not sure how much truth Lindley managed to include in her story - I'm not sure that very much truth is actually known about Eastern Jewel. While her life and story would be riveting to explore, this novel seems taken entirely from Lindley's imagination and relies f More...
0 comments
like
(2 people liked it)
Nov 12, 2009
Kate
rated it:
This novel combines some of my favorite elements: historical fiction and Asian themes. There are many aspects of this novel that surprised me. While I did not mind the first person point of view, I really wish that I had gotten to know the main character better. The reader is given only glimpses into her and her personality. And unfortunately, many details were left untold or unexplored. The pacing of the novel, overall, was decent. Lindley took her time to explain why certain situations were th
More...
Oct 29, 2009
Colleen
rated it:
This book is a hard one to review as I suspect I would have reacted more favorably had it been billed as a straight novel rather than a work of historical fiction based on true events. I actually enjoy a well-imagined work of historical fiction, but this book relied too much on sexual exploits as the motivating factor for every plot twist to be even close to believable. Though it seems the true motivations for Eastern Jewel's actions remain clouded by history, it is hard to accept Lindley's vers
More...
Sep 24, 2009
Kellyreaderofbooks
rated it:
Manchu princess Eastern Jewel is only eight years old when her father banishes her from his home for spying on him. Eastern Jewel has been in trouble since she was a young child, and most of her family is glad to be rid of her. She is sent to live with another family in Japan, and soon comes to think of herself as more Japanese than Chinese. As the years go on, her ties to Japan become stronger as she takes one lover after another (most involved in the military), and eventually begins to spy for
More...
Sep 23, 2009
Chocolate & Croissants
rated it:
I received my copy of the novel from Bloomsbury USA and Walker Books. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about a Manchua princess who turned her back on her ethnicity and spied for the Japanese during the early 30's.
Spying appears to have been in the blood of Eastern Jewel. The Private Papers of Easter Jewel by Maureen Lindley is a fascinating story about the life of Eastern Jewel a Manchu princess who as an 8 year old child is betrayed by her father after she is caught spying on him and More...
Spying appears to have been in the blood of Eastern Jewel. The Private Papers of Easter Jewel by Maureen Lindley is a fascinating story about the life of Eastern Jewel a Manchu princess who as an 8 year old child is betrayed by her father after she is caught spying on him and More...
Sep 21, 2009
Maltaise
rated it:
Eastern Jewel was a Chinese Princess who was betrayed by her father and banished to her uncle's home in Japan. As she leaves her mother behind, Eastern Jewel is told "You must be brave, little daughter, and remember that the stronger the wind, the stronger the tree needs to be. Adopting her new country she betrays her Chinese roots, spying for Japan until her imprisonment and execution, although she believes that while In her heart she is Japanese but Chinese in her stomach.
Wh More...
Wh More...
Sep 21, 2009
Aimee
rated it:
The Private Papers of Eastern Jewel is a novel written in flowing report/ journal style and details the life of a Chinese Princess who turned her back on her native country to serve its rival, Japan, as a spy. Based on the real-life story of Yoshiko Kawashima, Private Papers dishes up an interesting twist on traditional Asian historical fiction.
The book reads like a strange formula: Eastern Jewel is full of wit and dare, Eastern Jewel wants to seduce Boy, Eastern Je More...
The book reads like a strange formula: Eastern Jewel is full of wit and dare, Eastern Jewel wants to seduce Boy, Eastern Je More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Sep 20, 2009
Tara
rated it:
This was entertaining.. I felt sorry for Eastern Jewel despite my disgust with her lifestyle choices. The author showed us many possible sides to this controversial woman. The book is written like a memoir starting with Eastern Jewel as a child who is shunned from her home, family, and country of China for spying on her father while he has relations with a concubine. All through her childhood, EJ or Yoshiko as she becomes tries hard to make people love her, but to no avail. Seems everybody has a
More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Sep 10, 2009
Elizabeth
rated it:
I was excited when I heard about this book. I always like to read historical fiction that attempts to show an alternate take on an event that may not have been explored before. Especially when the attempt is to bring to light a womans perspective on how and why things happened as they did and give her version of the events.
I can not say I was pleased with this attempt. The premis for the novel was fascinating but the story was not. I can deal with not liking a main character but in the cas More...
I can not say I was pleased with this attempt. The premis for the novel was fascinating but the story was not. I can deal with not liking a main character but in the cas More...
Jan 09, 2010
MAP
rated it: 
I spent most of this book just wanting it to be over so I could read the next one.
This book is given one star, not because it's the monstrosity seen in some of my other one star reviews, but because of the incredible disappointment it is, and because the author very clearly states in her forward what she wanted from this book, and because she failed so utterly at it.
Lindley says in her forward that she came across the story of Eastern Jewel, and felt that the consistent p More...
This book is given one star, not because it's the monstrosity seen in some of my other one star reviews, but because of the incredible disappointment it is, and because the author very clearly states in her forward what she wanted from this book, and because she failed so utterly at it.
Lindley says in her forward that she came across the story of Eastern Jewel, and felt that the consistent p More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Sep 11, 2009
Ronald
rated it:
From little known historical facts, the author creates a character to whom we are drawn with the allure of exotic locations, cultures, sex and international intrigue. A young Chinese princess, in the early twentieth century turmoil between China and Japan, is thrust from her home to the not so welcoming arms of a well to do family in Japan. Here she is educated in Japanese tradition and culture. Feeling abandoned by her Chinese family; sexually used by the men of her Japanese family; she finds s
More...
Sep 01, 2011
Elise
rated it:
This book was written as if Eastern Jewel was writing a memoir. At the end, I wondered why I didn't have a feel for who Eastern Jewel was as a person. I didn't know her motivations, her abandonment issues, her attachment to Japan, or disgust for China. After reading a person's journal for 300 pages, I expect to know a little more! Why didn't Eastern Jewel get more upset about being sterilized after the abortion? Wasn't she scared of the abuse of her stepfather and stepgrandfather? She didn
More...
Apr 10, 2011
Sheila
rated it:
Sent at the age of 8 to Japan after watching her father with one of his concubines, Princess Eastern Jewel of China is raised then adopted into a Japanese household. She is very curious and does not follow the traditional route that girls should so she is always in trouble. She is sexually abused by her step-grandfather then her adopted father. She learns that her beauty and sex will get her money and material goods but not the love she craves. She is married off to a Mongolian prince but ru
More...
Jan 26, 2012
Karen
rated it:
The Private Papers of Eastern Jewel is the fictional account of a Chinese princess who becomes a spy for Japan. I enjoyed the writer's style and her descriptions both of China and Japan, their landscapes and cultural milieus.
I was less thrilled with the development of the main character. Eastern Jewel professed the need to be a free and independent woman. However, it seemed she mostly craved the freedom to be sexually active with many lovers. Some of her exploits were engaged in to eli More...
I was less thrilled with the development of the main character. Eastern Jewel professed the need to be a free and independent woman. However, it seemed she mostly craved the freedom to be sexually active with many lovers. Some of her exploits were engaged in to eli More...
Mar 26, 2011
Lori
rated it:
Very interesting historical fiction story of Eastern Jewel who never had a chance as a child, but who followed her instincts to become an officer serving the Japan she loved. Her life spanned an incredibly interesting period between 1906 and 1948 and while she knew little of the world beyond her own, world events continuously changed her life. She had so few people who actually cared for her that in the end she chose the country she believed cared for her over the people who actually loved her
More...
Feb 06, 2011
Erin
rated it:
This book tells the story of a Chinese princess who rejects her traditional role and becomes a notorious figure in pre-WWII Japan. Based on a true story, the premise of this tale is really interesting. Eastern Jewel's rebellious spirit leads her to flee her arranged marriage and become a Japanese spy. However, the writer fails to make Eastern Jewel a sufficiently sympathetic protagonist, and the story falls flat.
I never felt as though I understood Eastern Jewel's motivations and de More...
I never felt as though I understood Eastern Jewel's motivations and de More...
Aug 30, 2009
FicusFan
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Sep 07, 2009
Marti
rated it:
The Private Papers of Eastern Jewel tells the story of a strong woman stuck in the wrong time. It shows that faith in a country is powerful, but not as much as faith in friends and lovers.
Eastern Jewel was born with a warrior's heart in a woman's body. She was born in China as Eastern Jewel and adopted in Japan as Yoshika. She did not fit into the society or culture she was born and later adopted into and after a fashion did not care to adjust to those mores. She took control of More...
Eastern Jewel was born with a warrior's heart in a woman's body. She was born in China as Eastern Jewel and adopted in Japan as Yoshika. She did not fit into the society or culture she was born and later adopted into and after a fashion did not care to adjust to those mores. She took control of More...
Sep 06, 2009
Denise
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Sep 07, 2009
Nancy
rated it:
Found this in my mailbox when we returned from Seattle this weekend and immediately began reading it--another first reads win! Am so pleased--this looks like a good one.
How disappointing! Too much sex and not enough emphasis on the 'spy' part of her story. I'm giving it three stars for the parts of the book I found interesting before it started to get just plain boring.
From the age of 14, Chinese princess Eastern Jewel uses her body and sexual favors as a way of survival. More...
How disappointing! Too much sex and not enough emphasis on the 'spy' part of her story. I'm giving it three stars for the parts of the book I found interesting before it started to get just plain boring.
From the age of 14, Chinese princess Eastern Jewel uses her body and sexual favors as a way of survival. More...
Jul 05, 2009
Sharon
rated it:
Maureen Lindley's "The Private Papers of Eastern Jewel" is a novel based on the life of Eastern Jewel, a cousin of China's last emperor (Pu Yi). She is sent to live in Japan by her father and eventually becomes a spy for the Japanese army during that country's occupation of China.
Eastern Jewel is what Victorian novelists sometimes called an adventuress, stepping outside of the traditional, accepted roles for women in her culture. She cuts her hair short, wears trousers an More...
Eastern Jewel is what Victorian novelists sometimes called an adventuress, stepping outside of the traditional, accepted roles for women in her culture. She cuts her hair short, wears trousers an More...
Feb 22, 2010
Iejones
rated it:
By now everyone should know I LOVE HISTORY. I also love Asian culture - Japan during the feudal era - however, as a literary feminist - I could not resister the story about Eastern Jewel - even though she was Chinese. This story based on the papers/diary of Eastern Jewel traces the life of a native Chinese princess whose life takes her to Japan, Mongolian and back to China. Impetuous, curious and rebellious Eastern Jewel daughter of a concubine, learns the price for freedom and free thinking. An
More...
Feb 24, 2010
Joanne
rated it:
Before reading this book I must admit that I really had no knowledge of Eastern Jewel and what her significance was to both Chinese and Japanese history. Although it is a fictional novel, it was based on facts and contained an ample amount of historical information. I always enjoy historical fiction and for some reason I find myself drawn to fiction with an Asian element even more.
The book opens in 1914 with Eastern Jewel as a Chinese princess living a life of luxury in her father More...
The book opens in 1914 with Eastern Jewel as a Chinese princess living a life of luxury in her father More...
Jul 05, 2009
Shannon
rated it:
Ugh - I had so much trouble getting through this book. I made it about halfway through my advanced copy. The descriptions are beautifully done and the book is well-written. However, the character is just simply unlikeable. At first I had sympathy for her but it became painful to read. Every few pages contains a graphic sex scene, most of which involved rough, aggressive sex bordering on BDSM. This is not something I'd choose to read (to each his/her own, no judgement, but not my thing)...bu
More...
0 comments
like
(4 people liked it)
Nov 11, 2011
Amydebolt
rated it:
I was intrigued by the premise of this book: a Chinese princess who becomes a Japanese spy. The writing, however, left a lot to be desired. There was--dare I say it--too much sex. I normally like a spicy book, but sex shouldn't replace plot. And it does in this book. The other big flaw is that there are so many other characters introduced and dropped in the novel, that everyone seems very one-dimensional. This includes the main character because you can never really understand or feel for
More...
Apr 01, 2010
Christine
rated it:
As a character I did not like Eastern Jewel which was odd because I through I would. As a woman who stepped out of the rigid confines of her society I was expecting more than a party girl who escaped responsibility for her actions and never realized she was being used by the country she loved. The writing was fine and the story moved forward relatively quickly which was a positive. The choose your own ending apsect felt a bit like an unsucessful attempt at redemption which I did not like. I w
More...
Oct 01, 2009
Lisse
rated it:
The Private Papers...was not exactly what I was expecting. If you are comfortable reading about a lot of sex, this book will be enjoyable - if you are very conservative in that area, I would shy away from reading the book. Whether it is true or not, the book makes Eastern Jewel into a sex feind. It seems to be the one thing always on her mind and is often her way of getting what she wants and climbing up the social ladder. The book starts out with her as an 8 year old girl spying on her dad
More...
