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Crimson China
"He glances over at her. Her shoulder length brown hair is matted with wet against the sides of her face, and there are dark circles under her eyes. He is uncertain of her age. Not young, he decides. Thirty? Forty? He finds it impossible to judge with foreigners. Her clothes are ordinary jeans, a long-sleeved t-shirt, and a dark green pullover that now smells of wet wool. The enormous coat she was wearing lies in a sodden ball on the floor of the back seat. It was the coat he noticed first when she dragged him from the made of heavy black wool, it stretched down below her knees and was buttoned up to the neck. No one in their right mind would attempt to rescue a drowning man in such a coat..." On a freezing night in February, a woman wades into the waters of Morecambe Bay in a drunken bid to commit suicide. Braced for death, she finds herself instead saving a man's life - a young Chinese cockle picker, one of the only survivors of a tragic mass drowning. For Wen - now missing, presumed dead - Angie provides an unexpected sanctuary. They share neither language nor experience, but she agrees to let him stay with her and 'disappear'. Within a short time their unlikely pairing blossoms into something darkly passionate. But Wen's past soon catches up with him. He is still in debt to the snakeheads who brought him out of China. And when his sister, Lili, travels to Britain in search of his memory, she unwittingly seals his fate.
375 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2010
13 people are currently reading
228 people want to read
About the author
Betsy Tobin
12 books42 followersBetsy Tobin was born in the U.S. and moved to England in 1989, where she now lives with her husband and children. Her first novel, Bone House, was short-listed for the Commonwealth Prize, and won the Herodotus Prize in the United States. Her other novels include The Bounce, Ice Land, and Crimson China. Crimson China was Radio 4 Book At Bedtime in the UK, and was short-listed for Epic Romantic Novel of the Year.
Her latest book, THINGS WE COULDN'T EXPLAIN, is available for pre-order now on Amazon in the UK. (Digital ebook available in August. Paperback coming in November 2014!)
Watch the trailer at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zA_TX...
Her latest book, THINGS WE COULDN'T EXPLAIN, is available for pre-order now on Amazon in the UK. (Digital ebook available in August. Paperback coming in November 2014!)
Watch the trailer at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zA_TX...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
August 3, 2011
This book was an impulsive Kindle purchase, but a very successful one. The central characters are twin brother and sister who were orphaned by the 1976 Tangshan earthquake in China's Hebei province. When she hears that her brother was one of the cockle-pickers killed in Morecambe Bay in 2004, Zhang Lili travels to England to find out more about how he came to be caught up in that tragedy.
This book was of particular interest to me having grown up in the Northwest of England and currently living in Shanghai in China, but I would recommend it anyone. It's a compassionate and well-researched insight into the life of illegal economic Chinese migrants in Britain. The split timeline of the narrative is compelling as the two threads get closer together as the story unfolds. A rather abrupt ending was a slight disappointment but that is a minor criticism of an excellent novel. Feichang hao!
This book was of particular interest to me having grown up in the Northwest of England and currently living in Shanghai in China, but I would recommend it anyone. It's a compassionate and well-researched insight into the life of illegal economic Chinese migrants in Britain. The split timeline of the narrative is compelling as the two threads get closer together as the story unfolds. A rather abrupt ending was a slight disappointment but that is a minor criticism of an excellent novel. Feichang hao!
April 22, 2021
A nice light easy read.
September 2, 2014
Absolutely loved this tale of Angie, a lonely and angry woman who, drawn to the seashore one stormy night, ends up rescuing Wen, a Chinese cockle-picker, from the sea. Taking him back to her house she does not know what to do about him in the aftermath of a disaster in which 18 of Wen's compatriots have drowned in the rising tide. Initially uncomfortable with each other, the two grow closer and Wen soon finds himself settling down to life with Angie. However, Wen still owes a lot of money to the gangmaster who smuggled him to England from China and the gangsters are on the lookout for him. Meanwhile, six months after the drownings, Wen's twin sister Lili, thinking Wen has died, comes to England herself searching for some closure. Living in London and working as a language teacher, Lili tries to adapt to life in a foreign environment. She is staying with Jin, who she knew back in China, and soon suspects that Jin and Wen had some sort of a relationship. The book alternates between events featuring Wen (starting in February 2004) and those featuring Lili (starting in September 2004) but these timelines gradually converge as Wen and Lili draw closer together. Great read - nearly 5 stars for me but not quite - 9/10.
September 11, 2011
Well intentioned story about a survivor of the 2004 Morecombe Bay tragedy. Wen Zhang is rescued from the surging waters by Angie - a depressed, alcoholic with her own story of displacement and anomie to tell. Meanwhile a twin sister is in the background in China - the redoubtable Lili, who ups stakes to travel to the UK in the belief that she might be able to set her brother's ghost at rest.
Their respective stories provide the frame for thumbnail sketches of the lives of 'illegal' migrant workers and the alienation of life in strange cultures. The Snakeheads spice things up a bit, with their relentless pursuit of the survivor, and Lili's affair with Johnny, and the hint of allure for Adam - father of the adopted Chinese girl May - with whom see lives as an au pair - is there for the human interest.
But all-in-all I found this a poor book. The characters are developed in shallow cliches... "It was Wen who understood Lili suffered not just the tragedy of her own history, but of her people." "Angie had never been afraid of death; it was life she found terrifying." etc, etc.
So, not a great hit with me... but then I've been spoiled by reading Austerlitz.....
Their respective stories provide the frame for thumbnail sketches of the lives of 'illegal' migrant workers and the alienation of life in strange cultures. The Snakeheads spice things up a bit, with their relentless pursuit of the survivor, and Lili's affair with Johnny, and the hint of allure for Adam - father of the adopted Chinese girl May - with whom see lives as an au pair - is there for the human interest.
But all-in-all I found this a poor book. The characters are developed in shallow cliches... "It was Wen who understood Lili suffered not just the tragedy of her own history, but of her people." "Angie had never been afraid of death; it was life she found terrifying." etc, etc.
So, not a great hit with me... but then I've been spoiled by reading Austerlitz.....
June 23, 2012
An interesting book that I have read in one session, although it has sat in my reading pile for months. I would give it 4.5 stars, well as a good read it gave me lots of food for thought regarding immigration and the need that drives many to illegal entry here.
It certainly opened my eyes to the existance of parallel worlds here in the Uk and probably elsewhere.
Invisible, unless a disaster brings the illegal immigrants into focus. What lives they must lead, with no recourse to medical care, education and all else that we take for granted.
Reading about Wen Zang and his twin sister Lili and how they managed to live and finally integrate themselves into the western world was engrossing reading.
It certainly opened my eyes to the existance of parallel worlds here in the Uk and probably elsewhere.
Invisible, unless a disaster brings the illegal immigrants into focus. What lives they must lead, with no recourse to medical care, education and all else that we take for granted.
Reading about Wen Zang and his twin sister Lili and how they managed to live and finally integrate themselves into the western world was engrossing reading.
November 14, 2011
Was an easy read and made you think about how hard life can befor illegal immigrants in the UK.
I wasnt convinced by certainparts of thebook, but still found it very enjoyable.
I wasnt convinced by certainparts of thebook, but still found it very enjoyable.
March 29, 2023
This was one of those unexpected books. I picked it up and wasn’t at all sure if I was going to enjoy it. I found it totally absorbing. The story of Chinese immigrants with its starting point being the Morcambe Bay disaster where multiple Chinese cockle pickers drowned.
This is the story of a fictional male survivor of the incident and his twin sister. It’s a real character exploration. Both Wen and Lili are beautifully described and nothing is spared for the supporting cast, all of whom bring the story together. Each and every one of them is flawed, some more deeply than others, and it is often hard to want a positive outcome for any of them. But you can’t help but be drawn into the story.
This is the story of a fictional male survivor of the incident and his twin sister. It’s a real character exploration. Both Wen and Lili are beautifully described and nothing is spared for the supporting cast, all of whom bring the story together. Each and every one of them is flawed, some more deeply than others, and it is often hard to want a positive outcome for any of them. But you can’t help but be drawn into the story.
July 22, 2022
Not what I was expecting as I remember this terrible tragedy, however her take is interesting.
It is a good enough summer read so long as you can suspend reality at certain parts of the plot.
I suppose I would have liked something a bit more gritty, but this is a reasonably well intertwined story.
It is a good enough summer read so long as you can suspend reality at certain parts of the plot.
I suppose I would have liked something a bit more gritty, but this is a reasonably well intertwined story.
May 15, 2018
Not the sort of book I would usually read but found I couldn't put it down. Thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
February 12, 2019
A compelling page-turner. Unputdownable.
A must-read.
A must-read.
June 18, 2020
More of a 3.5 stars but didn’t warrant 4. Enjoyed it -easy to read.
April 8, 2021
A fascinating view of the shadowy life led by Chinese workers in this country. Well drawn characters and a fast-paced plot.
July 9, 2022
A sympathetic rendering of the Morecombe Bay tragedy, but a cou5of annoying editing errors.
March 3, 2024
Based on the tragedy of the Morcambe Bay Cocklers. An excellent read.
May 24, 2024
I was left with questions at the end of the…..
May 25, 2024
Virkelig smuk fortælling om et søskendepar, men bare ikke min kop te <3
May 20, 2021
On a freezing night in February 2004 twenty-three illegal Chinese migrants perished whilst picking cockles in the deadly waters of Morecambe Bay. Only twenty-one bodies were recovered. At a memorial service for the victims, a member of the local community offered the hope that one or both of those not found had somehow managed to survive. This is fact. The rest of the story is based around what Tobin imagined might have happened to one of the survivors.
The novel begins with a drunken Angie wading into Morecambe Bay expecting to confront the spirit of her dead mother who drove her car onto the treacherous quicksand and successfully committed suicide. Angie wants to die too, instead she sees the head of Wen bobbing up and down in the dark water and rescues him. In doing so two worlds collide, East and West, both desperate and despairing, hopeless and hopeful.
This is a story about the buoyancy of the human spirit and the powerful undertow of love. The novel also sheds light on a hidden dangerous world that runs parallel to our own.
I enjoyed it, it’s a nice story. Good characters, good writing and a happy ending!
The novel begins with a drunken Angie wading into Morecambe Bay expecting to confront the spirit of her dead mother who drove her car onto the treacherous quicksand and successfully committed suicide. Angie wants to die too, instead she sees the head of Wen bobbing up and down in the dark water and rescues him. In doing so two worlds collide, East and West, both desperate and despairing, hopeless and hopeful.
This is a story about the buoyancy of the human spirit and the powerful undertow of love. The novel also sheds light on a hidden dangerous world that runs parallel to our own.
I enjoyed it, it’s a nice story. Good characters, good writing and a happy ending!
April 1, 2011
Crimson China starts out at the deep end of the drama pool. A woman, drunk, sets out to drown herself but ends up saving the life of a young man instead. The man is Wen, an illegal Chinese immigrant. He was almost drowned while working as a cockle-picker in Morecambe Bay, England. (Cockles are small saltwater clams.) The tide came in too quickly and he got trapped. Angie, Wen's savior, takes him home and tries to nurse him back to health but it isn't long before their relationship changes from platonic to passionate. They are two unhappy, damaged people can they heal each other? Angie aborted her suicide to help Wen but is she replacing her alcoholism with another addiction? Wen's grief and shame at surviving when so many others were drowned, his fear of the law and the gang that smuggled him into England all shadow his recovery.
When Wen is assumed to be one of the missing dead from the disaster his sister Lili decides to come to England to lay his ghost to rest. They have each already used up one life in China. They were brought up by step parents after being found alive in the earthquake rubble that killed their parents. Lili doesn't know what debts Wen incurred to get to England or how ruthless the gangland collectors will be if they find he's alive.
Tobin used a real life tragedy as the starting point for this novel, the Morecambe Bay Cockling Disaster. Cockles are harvested by raking through the sand at low tide. In 2004, twenty-three illegal Chinese laborers were drowned when they were cut off from the shore by the incoming tide. At the subsequent trial one man, a Chinese gang-master, was convicted of multiple counts of manslaughter for callous behavior motivated by money.
The coupling of Wen's story of survival, grief, life as an illegal alien and Angie's alcoholism could have been turned by Tobin into movie of the week melodrama but instead the author has written this gratifying novel with restraint and sensitivity. She alternates the point of view in Crimson China but always brings us back to the largely invisible world that both Wen and Angie inhabit. It's a world made up of desperate circumstances and isolation. Despite one or two awkward plotting problems, Crimson China is an involving and well written novel.
I do have a little bit of bad news. Crimson China is not out in the U.S. yet. I haven't found a release date. Tobin has had two other novels published here: Bone House and Ice Land (enjoyed them both very much), so here's hoping...
When Wen is assumed to be one of the missing dead from the disaster his sister Lili decides to come to England to lay his ghost to rest. They have each already used up one life in China. They were brought up by step parents after being found alive in the earthquake rubble that killed their parents. Lili doesn't know what debts Wen incurred to get to England or how ruthless the gangland collectors will be if they find he's alive.
Tobin used a real life tragedy as the starting point for this novel, the Morecambe Bay Cockling Disaster. Cockles are harvested by raking through the sand at low tide. In 2004, twenty-three illegal Chinese laborers were drowned when they were cut off from the shore by the incoming tide. At the subsequent trial one man, a Chinese gang-master, was convicted of multiple counts of manslaughter for callous behavior motivated by money.
The coupling of Wen's story of survival, grief, life as an illegal alien and Angie's alcoholism could have been turned by Tobin into movie of the week melodrama but instead the author has written this gratifying novel with restraint and sensitivity. She alternates the point of view in Crimson China but always brings us back to the largely invisible world that both Wen and Angie inhabit. It's a world made up of desperate circumstances and isolation. Despite one or two awkward plotting problems, Crimson China is an involving and well written novel.
I do have a little bit of bad news. Crimson China is not out in the U.S. yet. I haven't found a release date. Tobin has had two other novels published here: Bone House and Ice Land (enjoyed them both very much), so here's hoping...
March 6, 2014
blurb - By Betsy Tobin. On a freezing night in February, a woman wades into the waters of Morecambe Bay in a drunken bid to commit suicide. Braced for death, she finds herself instead saving a man's life-a young Chinese cockle picker, one of the only survivors of a tragic mass drowning.
For Wen- now missing, presumed dead-Angie provides an unexpected sanctuary. They share neither language nor experience, but she agrees to let him stay with her and 'disappear'. Within a short time their unlikely pairing blossoms into something darkly passionate.
But Wen's past soon catches up with him. He is still in debt to the snakeheads who brought him out of China. And when his sister, Lili, travels to Britain in search of his memory, she unwittingly seals his fate.
Crimson China is a novel that traps the reader and listener at the outset, shining a light on a tragic, hidden world that runs in parallel to our own. It is a story of identity and culture, of the irrepressibility of the human spirit, and the powerful undertow of love.
Betsy Tobin was born in the American Midwest and moved to England in 1989. She is the author of three other novels, Bone House, Ice Land & The Bounce.
Abridged by Eileen Horne Read by Penny Downie and Elizabeth Tan
Produced by Clive Brill A Pacificus Production for BBC Radio 4.
For Wen- now missing, presumed dead-Angie provides an unexpected sanctuary. They share neither language nor experience, but she agrees to let him stay with her and 'disappear'. Within a short time their unlikely pairing blossoms into something darkly passionate.
But Wen's past soon catches up with him. He is still in debt to the snakeheads who brought him out of China. And when his sister, Lili, travels to Britain in search of his memory, she unwittingly seals his fate.
Crimson China is a novel that traps the reader and listener at the outset, shining a light on a tragic, hidden world that runs in parallel to our own. It is a story of identity and culture, of the irrepressibility of the human spirit, and the powerful undertow of love.
Betsy Tobin was born in the American Midwest and moved to England in 1989. She is the author of three other novels, Bone House, Ice Land & The Bounce.
Abridged by Eileen Horne Read by Penny Downie and Elizabeth Tan
Produced by Clive Brill A Pacificus Production for BBC Radio 4.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 25, 2012
Angie is about to chuck herself into Morecomb Bay, a year after her mother's suicide. There's a raging storm and the strong tides will do the trick but as she wades into the water, she finds she's not alone and there's a young Chinese man struggling. He is Wen, an illegal immigrant who was with a team of cockle-harvesters, all of whom were drowned by the tides in the storm. Angie rescues him and takes him home. He can barely speak a few words of English and she's broken inside, soothing her anger and grief with booze. Meanwhile, his sister, Lili, thinking he is dead, is going to make her way to England from China to be close to his spirit.
The story goes back and forth from February when the accident happens to the fall when Lili arrives in London and we are brought forward through Wen's and Lili's stories until they converge.
I liked this book. It gave me a bit of insight into the Chinese culture in the 21st century and the plight of the immigrants trying to make money to pay off "snakeheads" (loan sharks) where they've got their money to move away and find a new life.
The story goes back and forth from February when the accident happens to the fall when Lili arrives in London and we are brought forward through Wen's and Lili's stories until they converge.
I liked this book. It gave me a bit of insight into the Chinese culture in the 21st century and the plight of the immigrants trying to make money to pay off "snakeheads" (loan sharks) where they've got their money to move away and find a new life.
April 16, 2016
Easy to read tale based on the true life events of the cockle pickers disaster in Morecambe Bay where several immigrants drowned.
It gave an insight into the underground world of illegal work in the UK in a sympathetic tone and was non-judgemental. Didn't really feel attached to any of the characters though, I think there could be a better approach of intertwining fiction with this tragic real life event that would be neater.
There were too many loose ends (which I see someone else mentions in the reviews on Amazon) - what did Angie do for a job, what happened to Jin and without wanting to be a spoiler, how did Lili end up.
Characters seemed to appear to serve a purpose at the time but then you never heard of them again (eg the lady Wen does the gardening for). Another bit annoyed me when in the first chapter the cottage where Angie lived was described and it was then described again in the next chapter. There were some unnecessary and rather flat sounding descriptions of people and things that seemed almost childish at times.
It gave an insight into the underground world of illegal work in the UK in a sympathetic tone and was non-judgemental. Didn't really feel attached to any of the characters though, I think there could be a better approach of intertwining fiction with this tragic real life event that would be neater.
There were too many loose ends (which I see someone else mentions in the reviews on Amazon) - what did Angie do for a job, what happened to Jin and without wanting to be a spoiler, how did Lili end up.
Characters seemed to appear to serve a purpose at the time but then you never heard of them again (eg the lady Wen does the gardening for). Another bit annoyed me when in the first chapter the cottage where Angie lived was described and it was then described again in the next chapter. There were some unnecessary and rather flat sounding descriptions of people and things that seemed almost childish at times.
June 2, 2011
When the tragedy of the Morecambe Bay cockle pickers hit the headlines in 2004, it caused a media furore. This account imagines what might have happened to a survivor of that horrific incident. Cockle picker Wen, is found washed up on Morecambe beach. His unlikely rescuer is alcoholic Angie, who is besieged by her own demons. Together, this unlikely couple begin to put each other back together again.
Wen's sister Lili believes him to be dead, but arrives in London in order to come to terms with his death. and thus begins a catalogue of events that will have catastrophic consequences.
Told in a sympathetic manner, this story explores what it feels like to be a misplaced person, and how the overwhelming need for survival prevails, and that the power of love, however unlikely, will overcome all things.
I enjoyed this story and thought that Betsy Tobin captured the spirit perfectly, and brought some fascinating characters to life.
http://jaffareadstoo.blogspot.com/
Wen's sister Lili believes him to be dead, but arrives in London in order to come to terms with his death. and thus begins a catalogue of events that will have catastrophic consequences.
Told in a sympathetic manner, this story explores what it feels like to be a misplaced person, and how the overwhelming need for survival prevails, and that the power of love, however unlikely, will overcome all things.
I enjoyed this story and thought that Betsy Tobin captured the spirit perfectly, and brought some fascinating characters to life.
http://jaffareadstoo.blogspot.com/
March 1, 2012
The characters in this fourth novel are convincing and the style reminded me of one of Amy Tan’s books, full of myths and Chinese rituals and superstitions. Tobin’s language is descriptive and I found the story melancholic and uplifting at the same time. I can definitely recommend this book.
Tobin has managed to write a beautiful love story. She succeeds in describing life in an illegal community as in a parallel world, where immigrants live as shadows in hiding from the snakeheads and police. Chapters are alternating between Wen and his twin sister Lili, who travels to Britain to honour her brother and to see if she can find something of his soul and make sense of what happened, as she does not know that he has survived.
Tobin has managed to write a beautiful love story. She succeeds in describing life in an illegal community as in a parallel world, where immigrants live as shadows in hiding from the snakeheads and police. Chapters are alternating between Wen and his twin sister Lili, who travels to Britain to honour her brother and to see if she can find something of his soul and make sense of what happened, as she does not know that he has survived.
August 14, 2016
Did not expect this book to be half as good as it was!
The pace of the novel is what had me read it within 4 hours and I was drawn to each narrative. The chapters alternate between Wen an illegal Chinese immigrant who gets saved on the night of the tragic Morecambe Bay accident, by an English woman who is going through a severe case of depression. She takes him into her home and from there one side of the story unfolds. The other chapter is based on Wen's twin sister who comes over to the UK in search of her brother's ghost - little does she know he is alive and hiding many secrets.
Loved each of the character this novel focuses on and would highly recommend to anyone that is interested in cultural reading.
The pace of the novel is what had me read it within 4 hours and I was drawn to each narrative. The chapters alternate between Wen an illegal Chinese immigrant who gets saved on the night of the tragic Morecambe Bay accident, by an English woman who is going through a severe case of depression. She takes him into her home and from there one side of the story unfolds. The other chapter is based on Wen's twin sister who comes over to the UK in search of her brother's ghost - little does she know he is alive and hiding many secrets.
Loved each of the character this novel focuses on and would highly recommend to anyone that is interested in cultural reading.
December 1, 2016
Yet again by reading one of our bookclub choices I have learnt about another culture. This time China. The book starts with a scenario based on the terrible tragedy of the Chinese cockle pickers in Morecombe bay. It is about one that is rescued by a sad lonely woman and the story goes on to explore their relationship and how he came to be a cockle picker. The characters are well written and the various threads developed through the book come together satisfactorily on the whole. My only disappointment was that the story of his sister that is cleverly woven into the book was left unfinished but perhaps there is another book to come that would focus more on her. On the whole I found it an enjoyable easy read and one that I was happy to immerse myself in for a few days
June 5, 2011
I chose to read this book because I live in the Morecambe Bay area & vividly remember the tragedy of the drowned cockle-pickers & all the news reports that followed. I just thought it would be interesting to read & I didn't expect the story to take hold of me so strongly, but it was a nice surprise. I don't often give 5 stars but I honestly can't fault this book. It explores many themes including, love, loss, fate, identity, cultural differences, humanity.
Apart from all this it was a good believable story, well written with genuine characters.
I will be going off to find more books by Betsy Tobin!
Apart from all this it was a good believable story, well written with genuine characters.
I will be going off to find more books by Betsy Tobin!
June 7, 2011
I thought the story was not bad, though lost its way towards the end.
As I read it on a Kindle, I was able to do a word search on expressions that were repetitive.
''steaming'' as in tea, food, bathwater used 14 times.....so a bit of repetition.
'' raised an eyebrow''..all characters apparently were able to raise one eyebrow, and this ecpression was used 70....yes SEVENTY times throughout the book.....really excessive repetition.
The Kindle is going to expose poor writing like never before and we won't be seduced by the cover, the writing itself will have to stand alone for appraisal....and this book was on the poor side.
As I read it on a Kindle, I was able to do a word search on expressions that were repetitive.
''steaming'' as in tea, food, bathwater used 14 times.....so a bit of repetition.
'' raised an eyebrow''..all characters apparently were able to raise one eyebrow, and this ecpression was used 70....yes SEVENTY times throughout the book.....really excessive repetition.
The Kindle is going to expose poor writing like never before and we won't be seduced by the cover, the writing itself will have to stand alone for appraisal....and this book was on the poor side.
October 5, 2017
This was a good book that I wanted to keep reading, but it wasn't overly exciting. I enjoyed the idea of the story & Lili's chapters were really interesting. I've learnt things about the lives of illegals in this country; I had no idea these kind of things went on here & I feel a little ashamed of myself for it.
Overall Crimson China was an interesting read, but it's not a book I wish I owned, nor is it one I will read again - it was a nice break from all the fantasy books I've been reading recently but nothing more.
Extended Review: https://writingwolves.wordpress.com/2...
Overall Crimson China was an interesting read, but it's not a book I wish I owned, nor is it one I will read again - it was a nice break from all the fantasy books I've been reading recently but nothing more.
Extended Review: https://writingwolves.wordpress.com/2...
October 30, 2012
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It addressed the terrible incident that took place in Morecambe Bay in 2004 with the Chinese collecting cockles. Many Chinese people died and two people were never found. The author bases the plot for this book around a survivor but the author created this character and developed around his life after the accident. Wen is not a real person.
I loved the author's writing style. Easy to read, it captured my imagination and was a book I found hard to put down.
I loved the author's writing style. Easy to read, it captured my imagination and was a book I found hard to put down.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 2, 2016
I thoroughly enjoyed this and wish I'd read it sooner rather than leaving on the tbr for so long. This held my attention from page one and kept me reading wanting to find out more. A good 4.5 from me and will be seeking out the authors back catalogue. I would like to have found out a little more of what life held for Lilli though.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews