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The Nine Fold Heaven
In this mesmerizing new novel, Mingmei Yip draws readers deeper into the exotic world of 1930s Shanghai first explored in Skeleton Women, and into the lives of the unforgettable Camilla, Shadow, and Rainbow Chang.
When Shadow, a gifted, ambitious magician, competed with the beautiful Camilla for the affections of organized crime leader Master Lung, she almost lost everything. Hiding out in Hong Kong, performing in a run-down circus, Shadow has no idea that Camilla, too, is on the run with her lover, Jinying--Lung's son.
Yet while Camilla and Shadow were once enemies, now their only hope of freedom lies in joining forces to eliminate the ruthless Big Brother Wang. Despite the danger, Shadow, Camilla, and Jinying return to Shanghai. Camilla also has her own secret agenda--she has heard a rumor that her son is alive. And in a city teeming with spies and rivals--including the vengeful Rainbow Chang--each battles for a future in a country on the verge of monumental change.
When Shadow, a gifted, ambitious magician, competed with the beautiful Camilla for the affections of organized crime leader Master Lung, she almost lost everything. Hiding out in Hong Kong, performing in a run-down circus, Shadow has no idea that Camilla, too, is on the run with her lover, Jinying--Lung's son.
Yet while Camilla and Shadow were once enemies, now their only hope of freedom lies in joining forces to eliminate the ruthless Big Brother Wang. Despite the danger, Shadow, Camilla, and Jinying return to Shanghai. Camilla also has her own secret agenda--she has heard a rumor that her son is alive. And in a city teeming with spies and rivals--including the vengeful Rainbow Chang--each battles for a future in a country on the verge of monumental change.
326 pages, Paperback
First published June 25, 2013
27 people are currently reading
608 people want to read
About the author
Mingmei Yip
15 books158 followersMingmei Yip was born in China, received her Ph.D. from the University of Paris, Sorbonne, and held faculty appointments at the Chinese University and Baptist University in Hong Kong. She's published five books in Chinese, written several columns for seven major Hong Kong newspapers, and has appeared on over forty TV and radio programs in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Mainland China, and the U.S. She immigrated to the United States in 1992, where she now lives in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
July 12, 2013
I received a free copy of this book in return for an honest review.
The era of this novel is pre-revolutionary China; the action switches between Hong Kong, where Camilla is hiding out, and her former home, Shanghai. In a world ruled by rich, ruthless mobsters, women have little value and Camilla has learned to be heartless to survive. I think that has to be the key to Camilla, whom I had a bit of trouble liking as she appears unable to remain faithful to one man at a time. There is an element of romance in the story--Camilla is desperate to recover her lover Jinying and their son Jinjin, both of whom may be dead--but as a counterpoint to the great love of her life she also leads on American ambassador Edward Miller and re-involves herself with the gangster Gao, who was her lover in Skeleton Women.
I haven't read Skeleton Women but I can quite easily accept that the involvement with Gao predated or was simultaneous with the relationship with Jinying, while Camilla's seduction of Edward, a newly introduced character, is a matter of expediency. But the expediency angle is one of my problems with Camilla, who has a tendency just to let things happen to her as she wanders between Shanghai and Hong Kong with what is supposed to be the tenacious aim of finding out whether her baby and his father are alive and recovering them if they are. If Yip is exploring whether a woman can love three men at the same time (really two, because Edward simply disappears from the scene after a while) I would have liked to have seen more conflict around this point; otherwise, what precisely is the role of the extraneous men other than to push the plot along? Or are they simply part of the cast of secondary characters, in which case why do they all have to fall for Camilla?
On the other hand, I found myself thinking, Camilla's seemingly aimless encounters could have something to do with the Buddhist version of karma, a theme that pervades the novel. The tone is set when Camilla visits a temple in Hong Kong at the beginning of the book and consults a fortune-teller about her forthcoming search for her lover and son. He tells her "Let the wind steer your boat, move forward, have no fear" and that's pretty much what she does.
One of the more entertaining aspects of this novel is the superstitious nature of the Chinese. Camilla both participates in this superstitious behavior and manipulates it, often showing a wary detachment in her attitude toward superstition that may, I suspect, mirror the feelings of an author who is comfortable in both the Asian and the Western worlds.
In other respects, this is a very Chinese book. Even the writing style and punctuation often seem to come more from the Chinese language than English. This can be both fascinating and distracting, depending on where you stand as a reader. The plot's dependence on coincidence is also a novelistic device rarely used in the West these days but again, consistent with the novel's themes of karma and luck.
If you're looking for a fast-moving story that immerses the reader in an exotic setting, you'll be happy. The Nine Fold Heaven certainly led me into a deeper understanding of the lives of women in a place and time where women only have two weapons: their beauty--while it lasts--and their respectability--if they are able to use their beauty to attain the status of a married woman. I suspect that Camilla's struggle to find her faithful lover and her son have as much to do with clawing herself up to a higher status in society as with devoted love, although she does not seem to have that insight about herself.
I spotted a couple of anachronisms: plastic cars in the hands of a child and a portable radio do not belong to the 1930s. There was not a great deal of specific detail to tie me into the 1930s, but I did enjoy the sense of a chaotic, decadent underworld where the struggle to survive and thrive is a game of chance played by powerful men and devious women, life has little value but reincarnation is forever, and superstition and luck can make or break the players.
The era of this novel is pre-revolutionary China; the action switches between Hong Kong, where Camilla is hiding out, and her former home, Shanghai. In a world ruled by rich, ruthless mobsters, women have little value and Camilla has learned to be heartless to survive. I think that has to be the key to Camilla, whom I had a bit of trouble liking as she appears unable to remain faithful to one man at a time. There is an element of romance in the story--Camilla is desperate to recover her lover Jinying and their son Jinjin, both of whom may be dead--but as a counterpoint to the great love of her life she also leads on American ambassador Edward Miller and re-involves herself with the gangster Gao, who was her lover in Skeleton Women.
I haven't read Skeleton Women but I can quite easily accept that the involvement with Gao predated or was simultaneous with the relationship with Jinying, while Camilla's seduction of Edward, a newly introduced character, is a matter of expediency. But the expediency angle is one of my problems with Camilla, who has a tendency just to let things happen to her as she wanders between Shanghai and Hong Kong with what is supposed to be the tenacious aim of finding out whether her baby and his father are alive and recovering them if they are. If Yip is exploring whether a woman can love three men at the same time (really two, because Edward simply disappears from the scene after a while) I would have liked to have seen more conflict around this point; otherwise, what precisely is the role of the extraneous men other than to push the plot along? Or are they simply part of the cast of secondary characters, in which case why do they all have to fall for Camilla?
On the other hand, I found myself thinking, Camilla's seemingly aimless encounters could have something to do with the Buddhist version of karma, a theme that pervades the novel. The tone is set when Camilla visits a temple in Hong Kong at the beginning of the book and consults a fortune-teller about her forthcoming search for her lover and son. He tells her "Let the wind steer your boat, move forward, have no fear" and that's pretty much what she does.
One of the more entertaining aspects of this novel is the superstitious nature of the Chinese. Camilla both participates in this superstitious behavior and manipulates it, often showing a wary detachment in her attitude toward superstition that may, I suspect, mirror the feelings of an author who is comfortable in both the Asian and the Western worlds.
In other respects, this is a very Chinese book. Even the writing style and punctuation often seem to come more from the Chinese language than English. This can be both fascinating and distracting, depending on where you stand as a reader. The plot's dependence on coincidence is also a novelistic device rarely used in the West these days but again, consistent with the novel's themes of karma and luck.
If you're looking for a fast-moving story that immerses the reader in an exotic setting, you'll be happy. The Nine Fold Heaven certainly led me into a deeper understanding of the lives of women in a place and time where women only have two weapons: their beauty--while it lasts--and their respectability--if they are able to use their beauty to attain the status of a married woman. I suspect that Camilla's struggle to find her faithful lover and her son have as much to do with clawing herself up to a higher status in society as with devoted love, although she does not seem to have that insight about herself.
I spotted a couple of anachronisms: plastic cars in the hands of a child and a portable radio do not belong to the 1930s. There was not a great deal of specific detail to tie me into the 1930s, but I did enjoy the sense of a chaotic, decadent underworld where the struggle to survive and thrive is a game of chance played by powerful men and devious women, life has little value but reincarnation is forever, and superstition and luck can make or break the players.
September 3, 2013
The Nine Fold Heaven is a continuation of the novel Skeleton Women. In this next book, Camilla, Shadow, Rainbow, and even Jinying and the notorious gang leaders return. Camilla is left in the aftermath of the downfall of Master Lung, in a pool of uncertainty and speculation- Is Master Lung alive, and what of his son? To further tempt Camilla, she has heard rumors that even her own son may still be alive. Though once bitter rivals eager to claim the coveted spotlight in 1930s Shanghai, Camilla and the mysterious magician Shadow must now work together to free themselves from the seedy underbelly of the lives they lead, and nothing- not gangsters, superstition, or even the law- will stop Camilla from achieving her agendas, both hidden and in plain sight.
----
I was ecstatic when Mingmei Yip contacted me to review The Nine Fold Heaven, since Skeleton Women was one of my favorite reads of last year. I have to say that I definitely was not left disappointed.
The author's gift for narration and prose is one that I rarely come across while reading, a cool and refreshing change from my normal books. It wraps around the reader's thoughts and demands attention in its beauty and detail. There is a melodic, dark tone to the entire novel that I cannot quite explain, leaving the writing with a vibe somewhere in a mixture of a song, a meditation, and a story. This work is also sprinkled with quotes from books and poems, as well as Chinese sayings and proverbs, that help give this book a tone of unique mysticism that sets it apart from others. And then there are the elaborate details that whip up vivid images of Chinese life. Whether in a five star restaurant or a slum of Hong Kong, I was easily able to lose myself in the world that Camilla lives in.
As an English speaking reader, I also greatly appreciated that non-English words were italicized. I was easily enough able to learn their meaning based on the context, but it was a simpler process because my attention was drawn to them.
The plot of this book takes many twists and turns, and often times I found myself utterly unknowing where it was going to lead me next. When Camilla is self-reflective or plotting, the writing appropriately slowed to a more leisurely, tranquil pace. But when gangsters, masterminds, and murder take their place in the story, the pace quickens to one full of action and suspense that left me quickly turning the page to find out what happened next. More often than I'd care to admit, I was pleasantly taken aback by a change in story development.
Like Skeleton Women, The Nine Fold Heaven is full of strong female characters, and I don't read nearly enough books where this is the case. Whether it is the meticulously trained Camilla, the cunning and elusive Shadow, or even the little orphan Peiling, each are headstrong and smart in their own ways. My personal favorite is the journalist, Rainbow, due in large part to her "army" of Pink Skeleton women, who obtain her information from the four corners of Shanghai and beyond.
Emotions run strong throughout the course of this book, and there are a lot of them. The love of a mother. The desire or romance of a lover. The desperation of one fallen on hard times. Even the wistful memories of love and memories long past. I felt so many things while reading this, sometimes more than I could name and definitely more than I could even comprehend at times.
Another aspect of this story that I thoroughly appreciate is that there is no cut and dry good versus evil. Everyone is a little bit of both. There are "bad" people who unexpectedly do good things, and there are "good" people that are forced to do bad things do to dire situations. Because there is no clear villain, this story has an added layer of realism and grit that give the story more depth.
Though this is a continuation, and I recommend reading Skeleton Women first, it is not required. Back story is provided throughout enough that this can work as a stand alone. For anyone interested in gangsters, strong female leads, Chinese history, or beautifully woven narration, The Nine Fold Heaven is a must read. This is adult fiction, and does contain brief profanity and adult situations. This is the second book I have read of Yip's, and it definitely will not be the last.
Thank you to Mimgmei Yip who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This review can also be found on my blog, Bitches n Prose.
----
I was ecstatic when Mingmei Yip contacted me to review The Nine Fold Heaven, since Skeleton Women was one of my favorite reads of last year. I have to say that I definitely was not left disappointed.
The author's gift for narration and prose is one that I rarely come across while reading, a cool and refreshing change from my normal books. It wraps around the reader's thoughts and demands attention in its beauty and detail. There is a melodic, dark tone to the entire novel that I cannot quite explain, leaving the writing with a vibe somewhere in a mixture of a song, a meditation, and a story. This work is also sprinkled with quotes from books and poems, as well as Chinese sayings and proverbs, that help give this book a tone of unique mysticism that sets it apart from others. And then there are the elaborate details that whip up vivid images of Chinese life. Whether in a five star restaurant or a slum of Hong Kong, I was easily able to lose myself in the world that Camilla lives in.
As an English speaking reader, I also greatly appreciated that non-English words were italicized. I was easily enough able to learn their meaning based on the context, but it was a simpler process because my attention was drawn to them.
The plot of this book takes many twists and turns, and often times I found myself utterly unknowing where it was going to lead me next. When Camilla is self-reflective or plotting, the writing appropriately slowed to a more leisurely, tranquil pace. But when gangsters, masterminds, and murder take their place in the story, the pace quickens to one full of action and suspense that left me quickly turning the page to find out what happened next. More often than I'd care to admit, I was pleasantly taken aback by a change in story development.
Like Skeleton Women, The Nine Fold Heaven is full of strong female characters, and I don't read nearly enough books where this is the case. Whether it is the meticulously trained Camilla, the cunning and elusive Shadow, or even the little orphan Peiling, each are headstrong and smart in their own ways. My personal favorite is the journalist, Rainbow, due in large part to her "army" of Pink Skeleton women, who obtain her information from the four corners of Shanghai and beyond.
Emotions run strong throughout the course of this book, and there are a lot of them. The love of a mother. The desire or romance of a lover. The desperation of one fallen on hard times. Even the wistful memories of love and memories long past. I felt so many things while reading this, sometimes more than I could name and definitely more than I could even comprehend at times.
Another aspect of this story that I thoroughly appreciate is that there is no cut and dry good versus evil. Everyone is a little bit of both. There are "bad" people who unexpectedly do good things, and there are "good" people that are forced to do bad things do to dire situations. Because there is no clear villain, this story has an added layer of realism and grit that give the story more depth.
Though this is a continuation, and I recommend reading Skeleton Women first, it is not required. Back story is provided throughout enough that this can work as a stand alone. For anyone interested in gangsters, strong female leads, Chinese history, or beautifully woven narration, The Nine Fold Heaven is a must read. This is adult fiction, and does contain brief profanity and adult situations. This is the second book I have read of Yip's, and it definitely will not be the last.
Thank you to Mimgmei Yip who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This review can also be found on my blog, Bitches n Prose.
October 3, 2013
The Nine Folds Heaven is the sequel to Skeleton Women, but that doesn't mean this can't be read as a stand alone novel. This story is told from Camilla's point of view. It is a story of how she reclaimed her life and those she loved from the underworld of Shanghai. It picks up where Skeleton Women left off.
Camilla was a spy working between rival gangs (kind of like the mob). She often describes herself as a bad woman, but though she's done some pretty nasty things, she does have some goodness in her and as the novel progresses you see that goodness grow. She becomes less of a cold hearted spy and more a compassionate woman that cares about people.
The novel starts with Camilla hiding out in Hong Kong but soon, her desire to find her baby Jinjin and possibly even his father Jinying.
Yip brings 1930s Shanghai to life and she's created a wonderfully intriguing character in Camilla. She's a strong woman, but then again, to spy on these gangs, she'd have to be. There's really no weakness in her, except when it comes to her child.
She feels he's still alive because he comes to her in her dreams.
In her quest to find her child she seeks production from the Consul General Edward Miller. She sings at a garden party and as a result there are some cracks in her facade as Jasmine Chen, thanks to the gossip writer Rainbow Cheng and her Skeleton Girls.
She also comes across Shadow, the magician. Together they fight back again the one gang leader and then find freedom.
I would have liked to have seen more of Shadow in this book. Her character was so intriguing, especially as I hadn't read Skeleton Women.
I also loved the little blind girl that Camilla befriended from the orphanage, where she was looking for her child.
This was a wonderful fast paced read. I started this novel in the morning and had finished it by the end of the day. I had to find out what happened to everyone.
Camilla was a spy working between rival gangs (kind of like the mob). She often describes herself as a bad woman, but though she's done some pretty nasty things, she does have some goodness in her and as the novel progresses you see that goodness grow. She becomes less of a cold hearted spy and more a compassionate woman that cares about people.
The novel starts with Camilla hiding out in Hong Kong but soon, her desire to find her baby Jinjin and possibly even his father Jinying.
Yip brings 1930s Shanghai to life and she's created a wonderfully intriguing character in Camilla. She's a strong woman, but then again, to spy on these gangs, she'd have to be. There's really no weakness in her, except when it comes to her child.
She feels he's still alive because he comes to her in her dreams.
In her quest to find her child she seeks production from the Consul General Edward Miller. She sings at a garden party and as a result there are some cracks in her facade as Jasmine Chen, thanks to the gossip writer Rainbow Cheng and her Skeleton Girls.
She also comes across Shadow, the magician. Together they fight back again the one gang leader and then find freedom.
I would have liked to have seen more of Shadow in this book. Her character was so intriguing, especially as I hadn't read Skeleton Women.
I also loved the little blind girl that Camilla befriended from the orphanage, where she was looking for her child.
This was a wonderful fast paced read. I started this novel in the morning and had finished it by the end of the day. I had to find out what happened to everyone.
September 2, 2013
From Goodreads:
In this mesmerizing new novel, Mingmei Yip draws readers deeper into the exotic world of 1930s Shanghai first explored in Skeleton Women, and into the lives of the unforgettable Camilla, Shadow, and Rainbow Chang.
When Shadow, a gifted, ambitious magician, competed with the beautiful Camilla for the affections of organized crime leader Master Lung, she almost lost everything. Hiding out in Hong Kong, performing in a run-down circus, Shadow has no idea that Camilla, too, is on the run with her lover, Jinying–Lung’s son.
Yet while Camilla and Shadow were once enemies, now their only hope of freedom lies in joining forces to eliminate the ruthless Big Brother Wang. Despite the danger, Shadow, Camilla, and Jinying return to Shanghai. Camilla also has her own secret agenda–she has heard a rumor that her son is alive. And in a city teeming with spies and rivals–including the vengeful Rainbow Chang–each battles for a future in a country on the verge of monumental change.
My Thoughts:
I didn’t realize when I started this book that it was the sequel to Skeleton Women. I must have overlooked that when I originally read the description. I was pleasantly surprised to be able to spend some more time with Camilla. I liked Skeleton Women, but I loved The Nine Fold Heaven.
Camilla picks up where she left off in Skeleton Women, starting over after a brutal and vicious battle between gangs. But there’s a lot that is left undone. She has a feeling her young son may not be dead as she was told, and she can’t help but wonder the fate of her love, Jinying. It’s an incredible journey through the 1930s in Shanghai, a time and place I’d never thought I’d be interested in reading about, but Yip has got me hooked.
I love that Shadow and Rainbow Chang and Gao make appearances in this book. They were all characters that I became fond of in Skeleton Women and I couldn’t help but wonder what happened to them. And we have a couple of new characters, including a young nearly blind girl who absolutely stole my heart.
The Nine Fold Heaven is magical, but also takes us to the darkest parts of Shanghai in the 1930s. It’s a time and place that has the highest highs and the lowest lows. You experience the violence of the gangs, the magic of the performers, the superstitions of the Chinese culture. It is all so intoxicating.
Yip has some wonderful words of wisdom in this book. There are several memorable and wise sayings.
It’s better to be silently seen than loudly talked about.
After one look at the loftiest mountain, all the other hills look flat.
Absolutely love those!
Yip really knocked it out of the park with the follow up to Skeleton Women. I give The Nine Fold Heaven 5 out of 5 bookmarks.
In this mesmerizing new novel, Mingmei Yip draws readers deeper into the exotic world of 1930s Shanghai first explored in Skeleton Women, and into the lives of the unforgettable Camilla, Shadow, and Rainbow Chang.
When Shadow, a gifted, ambitious magician, competed with the beautiful Camilla for the affections of organized crime leader Master Lung, she almost lost everything. Hiding out in Hong Kong, performing in a run-down circus, Shadow has no idea that Camilla, too, is on the run with her lover, Jinying–Lung’s son.
Yet while Camilla and Shadow were once enemies, now their only hope of freedom lies in joining forces to eliminate the ruthless Big Brother Wang. Despite the danger, Shadow, Camilla, and Jinying return to Shanghai. Camilla also has her own secret agenda–she has heard a rumor that her son is alive. And in a city teeming with spies and rivals–including the vengeful Rainbow Chang–each battles for a future in a country on the verge of monumental change.
My Thoughts:
I didn’t realize when I started this book that it was the sequel to Skeleton Women. I must have overlooked that when I originally read the description. I was pleasantly surprised to be able to spend some more time with Camilla. I liked Skeleton Women, but I loved The Nine Fold Heaven.
Camilla picks up where she left off in Skeleton Women, starting over after a brutal and vicious battle between gangs. But there’s a lot that is left undone. She has a feeling her young son may not be dead as she was told, and she can’t help but wonder the fate of her love, Jinying. It’s an incredible journey through the 1930s in Shanghai, a time and place I’d never thought I’d be interested in reading about, but Yip has got me hooked.
I love that Shadow and Rainbow Chang and Gao make appearances in this book. They were all characters that I became fond of in Skeleton Women and I couldn’t help but wonder what happened to them. And we have a couple of new characters, including a young nearly blind girl who absolutely stole my heart.
The Nine Fold Heaven is magical, but also takes us to the darkest parts of Shanghai in the 1930s. It’s a time and place that has the highest highs and the lowest lows. You experience the violence of the gangs, the magic of the performers, the superstitions of the Chinese culture. It is all so intoxicating.
Yip has some wonderful words of wisdom in this book. There are several memorable and wise sayings.
It’s better to be silently seen than loudly talked about.
After one look at the loftiest mountain, all the other hills look flat.
Absolutely love those!
Yip really knocked it out of the park with the follow up to Skeleton Women. I give The Nine Fold Heaven 5 out of 5 bookmarks.
June 29, 2013
I reviewed the first book in this two book series, Skeleton Women, last year and the savvy, deceptive and cynical main character, Camilla was definitely the reason I enjoyed the book so much. With her ending from the previous book, there were a few things left unresolved, and I was so glad to read her continuing story in The Nine Fold Heaven. While Camilla still has to practice the deceptions she was trained in as a skeleton woman, she has been changed by what happened in the previous book and is now trying to put her life back together. As she plans things mostly on the fly, her cleverness and resourcefulness shines through and I continue to admire her as a character.
The prose and the description of the setting lends an authenticity to the story that made it feel like a real history to me. I was intrigued by the comparisons between Chinese culture and American culture (although this was in the 30s) and there are both positives and negatives to both in my opinion. The clashes between opposing viewpoints in politics and religion gave more dimension to the characters and created a thought-provoking larger conflict than just what Camilla was going through. But the most important thing, especially in historical fiction, is for the setting to feel realistic and I felt like the streets of Thirties Hong Kong and Shanghai were brought to life in this book.
The romance between Camilla and Jinying continued to feel a little bland and stilted for me, though I admit Gao had me more in his corner! The relationship between Camilla and Shadow is very intriguing, and I liked the way it played out in the story. They are rivals and friends, and their relationship was necessarily complicated. There were multiple plot threads in this story; some that didn't seem to fit, but ended up fitting in the end which made this a very interesting and immersive read.
While I enjoyed reading Skeleton Women and The Nine Fold Heaven together, The Nine Fold Heaven does read very well on it's own. Even if historical fiction or the time period is not for you, if you like wry and astute main characters you should really enjoy this novel!
(I received this book from the publisher or author for a fair and honest review. I was not compensated for this review.)
The prose and the description of the setting lends an authenticity to the story that made it feel like a real history to me. I was intrigued by the comparisons between Chinese culture and American culture (although this was in the 30s) and there are both positives and negatives to both in my opinion. The clashes between opposing viewpoints in politics and religion gave more dimension to the characters and created a thought-provoking larger conflict than just what Camilla was going through. But the most important thing, especially in historical fiction, is for the setting to feel realistic and I felt like the streets of Thirties Hong Kong and Shanghai were brought to life in this book.
The romance between Camilla and Jinying continued to feel a little bland and stilted for me, though I admit Gao had me more in his corner! The relationship between Camilla and Shadow is very intriguing, and I liked the way it played out in the story. They are rivals and friends, and their relationship was necessarily complicated. There were multiple plot threads in this story; some that didn't seem to fit, but ended up fitting in the end which made this a very interesting and immersive read.
While I enjoyed reading Skeleton Women and The Nine Fold Heaven together, The Nine Fold Heaven does read very well on it's own. Even if historical fiction or the time period is not for you, if you like wry and astute main characters you should really enjoy this novel!
(I received this book from the publisher or author for a fair and honest review. I was not compensated for this review.)
September 17, 2013
Find this and other reviews at: http://flashlightcommentary.blogspot....
I'll be the first to admit I was a little intimidated by Mingmei Yip's The Nine Fold Heaven. I'm not overly familiar with the 1930s nor Chinese culture, so I wasn't sure how I would feel about a story set in pre-revolutionary Shanghai.
Ultimately though, my concern was ill-placed. Yip does a wonderful job explaining the dark and dangerous world Camilla inhabits so her readers don't really need a lot of background information to enjoy her story. Personally I might have liked more detail with regards to the time period, but beyond that I have few complaints about the time I spent with this book.
In particular, I liked the ethnic details worked into the story. The novel opens with Camilla visiting a temple in her effort to build a degree of positive karma before trying to find her son. They aren't always as noticeable, but these kind of details appear throughout the book and give it a very authentic feel without overwhelming Western readers who may be less familiar with life in the Far East.
That being said, not every aspect of the book is as easy to accept. Camilla, for instance, is a difficult character to like. It took me a while to understand her, but in the end I realized this story wouldn't have worked if she were overly empathetic. She needed to be cold and detached on one hand and emotionally vulnerable on the other. Yip understood this and created a really nice contrast and balance between Camilla's background and personal motivations. Again, not easy for the readers, but essential for the story.
Though written as a standalone I feel this book is best appreciated as a companion to Skeleton Women. It is not essential to read both, but there were times I felt at a disadvantage for not having read Yip's earlier work.
I'll be the first to admit I was a little intimidated by Mingmei Yip's The Nine Fold Heaven. I'm not overly familiar with the 1930s nor Chinese culture, so I wasn't sure how I would feel about a story set in pre-revolutionary Shanghai.
Ultimately though, my concern was ill-placed. Yip does a wonderful job explaining the dark and dangerous world Camilla inhabits so her readers don't really need a lot of background information to enjoy her story. Personally I might have liked more detail with regards to the time period, but beyond that I have few complaints about the time I spent with this book.
In particular, I liked the ethnic details worked into the story. The novel opens with Camilla visiting a temple in her effort to build a degree of positive karma before trying to find her son. They aren't always as noticeable, but these kind of details appear throughout the book and give it a very authentic feel without overwhelming Western readers who may be less familiar with life in the Far East.
That being said, not every aspect of the book is as easy to accept. Camilla, for instance, is a difficult character to like. It took me a while to understand her, but in the end I realized this story wouldn't have worked if she were overly empathetic. She needed to be cold and detached on one hand and emotionally vulnerable on the other. Yip understood this and created a really nice contrast and balance between Camilla's background and personal motivations. Again, not easy for the readers, but essential for the story.
Though written as a standalone I feel this book is best appreciated as a companion to Skeleton Women. It is not essential to read both, but there were times I felt at a disadvantage for not having read Yip's earlier work.
July 11, 2013
The story takes place in 1930s Hong Kong and Shanghai. Camilla is a famous nightclub singer trained by one Shanghai gang boss (Big Brother Wang) to seduce and kill a rival boss (Master Lung). In the midst of carrying out her duties, she falls in love with Lung’s Harvard-educated son and has a child with him. If that sounds chaotic, worse is to come. Camilla’s newborn son goes missing moments after the delivery. And the father of her child and the two gang bosses disappear, too.
Camilla hides out in Hong Kong, which is outside Shanghai’s jurisdiction. She needs to keep a low profile because besides failing to kill her target, she also steals his money, which doesn’t go over well with her boss, Big Brother Wang.
Once in Hong Kong, Camilla seeks the advice of a fortune teller at a temple in Diamond Hill. He gives her hope, but warns that the end will come sooner than she thinks. This and her dreams (of her baby son) convince her to return to Shanghai–in disguise–to find her baby and his father.
Back in Shanghai, she starts a relationship with the US Consul General under the disguised name of Jasmine Chen. But Camilla can’t remain incognito forever. She has too many admirers and enemies to escape detection.
Mingmei Yip has a masterful way of keeping the reader engaged and eager to learn more. Not once during this book or any of her other novels did I guess what would happen at the end. She effortlessly portrays the decadent 1930s Shanghai nightlife scene as well as the day-to-day struggles of underserved populations like orphans and prostitutes.
Camilla hides out in Hong Kong, which is outside Shanghai’s jurisdiction. She needs to keep a low profile because besides failing to kill her target, she also steals his money, which doesn’t go over well with her boss, Big Brother Wang.
Once in Hong Kong, Camilla seeks the advice of a fortune teller at a temple in Diamond Hill. He gives her hope, but warns that the end will come sooner than she thinks. This and her dreams (of her baby son) convince her to return to Shanghai–in disguise–to find her baby and his father.
Back in Shanghai, she starts a relationship with the US Consul General under the disguised name of Jasmine Chen. But Camilla can’t remain incognito forever. She has too many admirers and enemies to escape detection.
Mingmei Yip has a masterful way of keeping the reader engaged and eager to learn more. Not once during this book or any of her other novels did I guess what would happen at the end. She effortlessly portrays the decadent 1930s Shanghai nightlife scene as well as the day-to-day struggles of underserved populations like orphans and prostitutes.
September 20, 2013
Can't believe I made it through this book.
September 20, 2013
Taking place in 1930s Shanghai, The Nine Fold Heaven (Kensington) is a literary journey that transforms the reader into another time and place within Chinese life and holds them captive with atmospheric detail, tone, and imagery. This book is the follow-up to Yip’s Skeleton Women, which featured the life of the narrator, Camilla, in her life as a singer/entertainer and covert spy. Though you would probably want to read The Nine Fold Heaven if you’ve read Skeleton Woman in order to continue on with the story, you don’t necessarily have to read the former to just pick-up The Nine Fold Heaven as a stand-alone. I read only the latter myself, but I’m now anxious to return to the first book and see where it all began for Camilla. The Nine Fold Heaven does start off with information to catch you up to speed on Camilla’s life.
Shanghai is lawless during this time period and run by gangs vying for position and money (made through drugs, gambling, and sex). Camilla is caught in the middle of it as for protection she works for an organized crime gang leader. By the start of The Nine Fold Heaven, Camilla has returned to Shanghai after fleeing to Hong Kong for safety. Under cover of secret disguises and careful intelligence, she begins the search for her missing baby, Jinjin, and lover, Jinying (who happens to be the son of Master Lung, the gang boss she worked for).
Told her baby was dead previously, she doesn’t believe that as she hears him speaking to her in her head. This propels her to take every lead and trail to find him, yet within the constrictions of her needing to not be seen as she is a very popular entertainer and escort, a “songbird” known as the best in the clubs and a household name. She’s appeared in many a tabloid column of Rainbow Chang, who is quite the investigative reporter. Rainvow and her Pink Skeleton crew might even expose her again!
The Nine Fold Heaven is told in first person narration, which is hard for almost any author to pull off correctly. Yip does this splendidly; she absorbed me into the covert life of Camilla so that I was lost on the busy streets, riding the rickshaw, or attending a function, all through Camilla’s eyes. I understood the chaos of Shanghai from Yip and could picture the dark and dank streets lined with poverty and drug use that lead to murder and mayhem. Many women were left to fend for themselves any way they could, by selling themselves (it always makes me sad about that and how even within this there are always tiers, from entertainers and seductresses who sleep with the wealthy, to women who just sell themselves on the street).
There were so many orphans and orphanages and the plight of these children played a large role in this novel for Yip, as she strived to help us understand how these various city vices and crime has such severe consequences. She did a wonderful job showcasing the struggle between the wealthy and the impoverished. My heart-strings were fine-tuned for the life of these young children living in orphanages. She also gives readers a glimpse into the harsh life of women, who are generally discarded when widowed, poor, or just happen to be a child who is a girl.
I loved Camilla’s voice in the novel, both jaded, controlled, methodical, and focused, while also strong, determined, and motivated. These traits kept her on track of her mission and, of course, were also learned in order for her to survive. Though I didn’t feel a large emotional attachment to Camilla, I did feel so much respect for her and admire her persistence in her life and in her pursuit to find her loved ones. I think feeling that might have been even better for me than having an attachment to her. Camilla isn’t the kind of woman who really allows you to have an attachment to her, so my characterization doesn’t mean that Yip hasn’t developed her well. In fact, it means she has fully developed her as the woman she is. We feel her detachment from people because that is how she must be in order to perform the acts she does and the tasks she is told to do. Plus, she has a shell from all those that have used her over the years.
Due to her personality being such it was then so much more endearing when you felt her incessant desire to find her son again and her need to find her lover, who is the only one she has opened her true heart too. Through dangerous situations she keeps investigating their existence, with some unlikely foes turned friends. This made for some other interesting female characters in the book like Rainbow, as well as her magician friend from the Skeleton Women, named Shadow.
By the last half of the book, many characters come together (I don’t want to spoil by naming!) in order to fight against the crime boss and finally be free from their possessive chains. The ending is so sweet and makes you feel like through it all, Camilla survived and found happiness. Then, it makes you think that through trial, triumphs are attainable. Camilla finds her good fortune, but the fact that she has a son, which would be good fortune in Chinese culture, also wasn’t lost on me. I felt happy that she also forms a relationship with an orphan girl, ultimately also caring for her.
I really liked all the poetry and excerpts from letters and tabloid articles that Yip used throughout the novel. She ultimately shows us so much of Yin and Yang, as she explores the reality that everyone and everyone has ups and downs, positives and negatives, and each action a reaction or consequence. That is the struggle with good versus evil and Yip incorporates Chinese culture and beliefs heavily into her prose. Her sprinkling by Camilla of Chinese lore, sayings, and proverbs throughout the book really have had me thinking and I realize how much they apply to anyone’s life, no matter what time period or situation.
As with most Asian fictional literature, the book reads as if translated to English. Chinese people who speak English still have a way about their sentences that doesn’t always follow our grammar rules. Yip is so good otherwise with her depth and imagery that I feel that it adds to the ambiance of this book taking place in Shanghai, especially since it is in first person and we are in the head of a Chinese person. It seemed to add some authenticity to her strong story telling. However, her style means sometime there is awkward conversation or simple sentences, but that seems normal in Asian writing. They write how they speak. I just want to prepare readers so they go into the book will an idea of fully integrating into its entire aura. Her style is enchanting and absorbing and I did not want to put the book down, so I didn’t! I read through it as quickly as possible as Camilla pulled me along with her, compelling me to finish.
Now, I want to read Yip’s backlist as she’s proven herself a leader in Asian historical fiction. She has shown me with The Nine Fold Heaven that her imagination weaved with writing to preserve history we can learn from, and her window to social issues of the day, make her a writer that gives your mind an arm-chair escape, yet you will also end up finding your mind pondering life and human nature long after you close the page.
Shanghai is lawless during this time period and run by gangs vying for position and money (made through drugs, gambling, and sex). Camilla is caught in the middle of it as for protection she works for an organized crime gang leader. By the start of The Nine Fold Heaven, Camilla has returned to Shanghai after fleeing to Hong Kong for safety. Under cover of secret disguises and careful intelligence, she begins the search for her missing baby, Jinjin, and lover, Jinying (who happens to be the son of Master Lung, the gang boss she worked for).
Told her baby was dead previously, she doesn’t believe that as she hears him speaking to her in her head. This propels her to take every lead and trail to find him, yet within the constrictions of her needing to not be seen as she is a very popular entertainer and escort, a “songbird” known as the best in the clubs and a household name. She’s appeared in many a tabloid column of Rainbow Chang, who is quite the investigative reporter. Rainvow and her Pink Skeleton crew might even expose her again!
The Nine Fold Heaven is told in first person narration, which is hard for almost any author to pull off correctly. Yip does this splendidly; she absorbed me into the covert life of Camilla so that I was lost on the busy streets, riding the rickshaw, or attending a function, all through Camilla’s eyes. I understood the chaos of Shanghai from Yip and could picture the dark and dank streets lined with poverty and drug use that lead to murder and mayhem. Many women were left to fend for themselves any way they could, by selling themselves (it always makes me sad about that and how even within this there are always tiers, from entertainers and seductresses who sleep with the wealthy, to women who just sell themselves on the street).
There were so many orphans and orphanages and the plight of these children played a large role in this novel for Yip, as she strived to help us understand how these various city vices and crime has such severe consequences. She did a wonderful job showcasing the struggle between the wealthy and the impoverished. My heart-strings were fine-tuned for the life of these young children living in orphanages. She also gives readers a glimpse into the harsh life of women, who are generally discarded when widowed, poor, or just happen to be a child who is a girl.
I loved Camilla’s voice in the novel, both jaded, controlled, methodical, and focused, while also strong, determined, and motivated. These traits kept her on track of her mission and, of course, were also learned in order for her to survive. Though I didn’t feel a large emotional attachment to Camilla, I did feel so much respect for her and admire her persistence in her life and in her pursuit to find her loved ones. I think feeling that might have been even better for me than having an attachment to her. Camilla isn’t the kind of woman who really allows you to have an attachment to her, so my characterization doesn’t mean that Yip hasn’t developed her well. In fact, it means she has fully developed her as the woman she is. We feel her detachment from people because that is how she must be in order to perform the acts she does and the tasks she is told to do. Plus, she has a shell from all those that have used her over the years.
Due to her personality being such it was then so much more endearing when you felt her incessant desire to find her son again and her need to find her lover, who is the only one she has opened her true heart too. Through dangerous situations she keeps investigating their existence, with some unlikely foes turned friends. This made for some other interesting female characters in the book like Rainbow, as well as her magician friend from the Skeleton Women, named Shadow.
By the last half of the book, many characters come together (I don’t want to spoil by naming!) in order to fight against the crime boss and finally be free from their possessive chains. The ending is so sweet and makes you feel like through it all, Camilla survived and found happiness. Then, it makes you think that through trial, triumphs are attainable. Camilla finds her good fortune, but the fact that she has a son, which would be good fortune in Chinese culture, also wasn’t lost on me. I felt happy that she also forms a relationship with an orphan girl, ultimately also caring for her.
I really liked all the poetry and excerpts from letters and tabloid articles that Yip used throughout the novel. She ultimately shows us so much of Yin and Yang, as she explores the reality that everyone and everyone has ups and downs, positives and negatives, and each action a reaction or consequence. That is the struggle with good versus evil and Yip incorporates Chinese culture and beliefs heavily into her prose. Her sprinkling by Camilla of Chinese lore, sayings, and proverbs throughout the book really have had me thinking and I realize how much they apply to anyone’s life, no matter what time period or situation.
As with most Asian fictional literature, the book reads as if translated to English. Chinese people who speak English still have a way about their sentences that doesn’t always follow our grammar rules. Yip is so good otherwise with her depth and imagery that I feel that it adds to the ambiance of this book taking place in Shanghai, especially since it is in first person and we are in the head of a Chinese person. It seemed to add some authenticity to her strong story telling. However, her style means sometime there is awkward conversation or simple sentences, but that seems normal in Asian writing. They write how they speak. I just want to prepare readers so they go into the book will an idea of fully integrating into its entire aura. Her style is enchanting and absorbing and I did not want to put the book down, so I didn’t! I read through it as quickly as possible as Camilla pulled me along with her, compelling me to finish.
Now, I want to read Yip’s backlist as she’s proven herself a leader in Asian historical fiction. She has shown me with The Nine Fold Heaven that her imagination weaved with writing to preserve history we can learn from, and her window to social issues of the day, make her a writer that gives your mind an arm-chair escape, yet you will also end up finding your mind pondering life and human nature long after you close the page.
June 4, 2019
Recommended: not really
If you really loved Camilla in the first story and want to see more about what happens with her, her baby, and her baby daddy, then take a look at this one. Avoid if you, too, thought it would feature more from Shadow.
I did something extremely rare for me and bought this book at the same time as the first book, having read no more than the blurbs on each when I did so. I had really high hopes, and thought this one would be from Shadow's perspective, or at least see more than a few lines of her in a few chapters. Honestly, I only read this for Shadow and we don't get much, and it's not very satisfying what we do get.
I kind of dragged my way through this, primarily because it's about Camilla missing her baby (something I cannot relate to AT ALL) and longing for her lover, Jinying, whom I hated in the first place and didn't want to hear any more about. It also felt a lot more predictable this time. I didn't like the way events with Gao were handled, particularly because I liked him way better as a potential lead man. Ah, well - I'm not the one writing the book, am I?
See more reviews and bookish thoughts here -> https://baileysbooks.home.blog
If you really loved Camilla in the first story and want to see more about what happens with her, her baby, and her baby daddy, then take a look at this one. Avoid if you, too, thought it would feature more from Shadow.
I did something extremely rare for me and bought this book at the same time as the first book, having read no more than the blurbs on each when I did so. I had really high hopes, and thought this one would be from Shadow's perspective, or at least see more than a few lines of her in a few chapters. Honestly, I only read this for Shadow and we don't get much, and it's not very satisfying what we do get.
I kind of dragged my way through this, primarily because it's about Camilla missing her baby (something I cannot relate to AT ALL) and longing for her lover, Jinying, whom I hated in the first place and didn't want to hear any more about. It also felt a lot more predictable this time. I didn't like the way events with Gao were handled, particularly because I liked him way better as a potential lead man. Ah, well - I'm not the one writing the book, am I?
See more reviews and bookish thoughts here -> https://baileysbooks.home.blog
August 23, 2018
Mingmei is absolutely a great writer. Another great read.
July 24, 2020
Preposterous plot, stereotypical characters, moments of interest. Some way in, I realized it was evidently a sequel, which the Goodreads page confirms. I don't want to read any more.
November 18, 2021
Somewhat predictable but this is beautifully written. So reading it was quite an enjoyable journey.
March 31, 2022
I really enjoyed reading this book about a famous Shanghai singer, Camilla. It’s very well written with good character development. Although a predictable storyline, it’s still a pleasure to read.
December 29, 2022
Just ok
January 18, 2014
I received a free copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Just a few things to point out before I begin the review:
1. This book is part of a series and I have not read the other books, therefore i am judging this book as a single work.
2. I don't really read books like this, so I read it with as much of an objective eye as possible.
3. On the book I got, it says "ADVANCE UNCORRECTED PROOF: Please do not quote for publication without checking against the finishing book". Therefore I won't quote from the book nor will I assume that the book I've read is 100% the finished version.
Honestly I wasn't sure what to make of this book when I first started it. However, overtime I was drawn in with curiosity, in particular the tidbits of Chinese culture throughout the text, with lines from poems, parables and sayings that flavor this book in a culture I haven't read much about. The book is set in the underworld of Shanghai and Hong Kong, and even though there's not much description of this world beyond character description, it does add a nice flavor of danger to the story.
The story itself works, the protagonist is essentially trying to redeem herself and regain her family. There's a character arc here that works well, in the beginning she is a lot (I assume) like herself in the previous novel, but throughout the book she begins to change as the events conspire.
The book also works well as a standalone, with references to the events prior to the book littered throughout to keep you in the loop. I am surprised there's not a "Sequel to the novel...." anywhere on the book, either. The ending is satisfying, so if you end up taking this journey and read this book I don't think anyone will be disappointed by what they discover.
One thing that bothered me was that the main villain, Wang, came across as so cheesy that it really ruined that element of the book for me. This was a bad guy fresh out of comic books, laughing with every line he says and contradicting himself with his "I taught you to have no compassion! Yet I'm glad it didn't work!" nonsense.
Overall, I did end up enjoying this book and i hope that this book finds more readers. I read from one review that the book was like "a Chinese/romance/gangster/B movie", and I think that's an apt description, but a Chinese Romance gangster B movie" that I think works well or is at least enjoyable.
Just a few things to point out before I begin the review:
1. This book is part of a series and I have not read the other books, therefore i am judging this book as a single work.
2. I don't really read books like this, so I read it with as much of an objective eye as possible.
3. On the book I got, it says "ADVANCE UNCORRECTED PROOF: Please do not quote for publication without checking against the finishing book". Therefore I won't quote from the book nor will I assume that the book I've read is 100% the finished version.
Honestly I wasn't sure what to make of this book when I first started it. However, overtime I was drawn in with curiosity, in particular the tidbits of Chinese culture throughout the text, with lines from poems, parables and sayings that flavor this book in a culture I haven't read much about. The book is set in the underworld of Shanghai and Hong Kong, and even though there's not much description of this world beyond character description, it does add a nice flavor of danger to the story.
The story itself works, the protagonist is essentially trying to redeem herself and regain her family. There's a character arc here that works well, in the beginning she is a lot (I assume) like herself in the previous novel, but throughout the book she begins to change as the events conspire.
The book also works well as a standalone, with references to the events prior to the book littered throughout to keep you in the loop. I am surprised there's not a "Sequel to the novel...." anywhere on the book, either. The ending is satisfying, so if you end up taking this journey and read this book I don't think anyone will be disappointed by what they discover.
One thing that bothered me was that the main villain, Wang, came across as so cheesy that it really ruined that element of the book for me. This was a bad guy fresh out of comic books, laughing with every line he says and contradicting himself with his "I taught you to have no compassion! Yet I'm glad it didn't work!" nonsense.
Overall, I did end up enjoying this book and i hope that this book finds more readers. I read from one review that the book was like "a Chinese/romance/gangster/B movie", and I think that's an apt description, but a Chinese Romance gangster B movie" that I think works well or is at least enjoyable.
September 15, 2013
"The Nine Fold Heaven" is a historical fiction novel that takes place in exotic 1930s Shanghai. This book is a follow on to Yip's "Skeleton Women," which I have not had a chance to read. For the most part, "The Nine Fold Heaven" can be read as a stand-alone novel. It did make me want to go back and read "Skeleton Women" though to get a little more insight into the backgrounds of the characters, especially Camilla, who narrates this story. You do get enough detail in "The Nine Fold Heaven" to understand what's going on in the story though so reading "Skeleton Women" is only a nice-to-have and not a necessary.
Oh, I really enjoyed this book. In this book, Camilla has run away from Shanghai only to return to find the son that she gave up. It's dangerous for her to be in the city since all of the city seems to be under the extremely watchful (and dangerous) eyes of Rainbow, the gossip columnist. I really liked Camilla. She's an incredibly strong character. She also has a really good heart. I loved following her adventure in this book. Because this book is the second installment of her story, there wasn't a lot of build up of her character, which left me wanting more.
I loved, loved, loved the setting of the book. I love armchair traveling and I thought that the author gave you a really good sense of what Shanghai must have been like in the 1930s with its dark underbelly filled with gangsters and gamblers. It was absolutely fascinating. I love when books take me to some place that I'm not familiar with. This setting also made me want to go back and read "Skeleton Women" so I could get more of this place. Also, in general, I've found it more difficult to find historical fiction set in Asia than in places like Europe so I'm always very excited when I do find something!
The writing of this book was great. I loved that the story was told from Camilla's point of view. So much of what she is thinking or feeling throughout the book is so important in the story. Yip did a great job of really making Camilla come to life for me in this book. The writing made me want to go back and not only read "Skeleton Women" but to also go back and read some of Yip's other books.
Overall, exotic locales and interesting characters make this book a great hist-fic pick!
Oh, I really enjoyed this book. In this book, Camilla has run away from Shanghai only to return to find the son that she gave up. It's dangerous for her to be in the city since all of the city seems to be under the extremely watchful (and dangerous) eyes of Rainbow, the gossip columnist. I really liked Camilla. She's an incredibly strong character. She also has a really good heart. I loved following her adventure in this book. Because this book is the second installment of her story, there wasn't a lot of build up of her character, which left me wanting more.
I loved, loved, loved the setting of the book. I love armchair traveling and I thought that the author gave you a really good sense of what Shanghai must have been like in the 1930s with its dark underbelly filled with gangsters and gamblers. It was absolutely fascinating. I love when books take me to some place that I'm not familiar with. This setting also made me want to go back and read "Skeleton Women" so I could get more of this place. Also, in general, I've found it more difficult to find historical fiction set in Asia than in places like Europe so I'm always very excited when I do find something!
The writing of this book was great. I loved that the story was told from Camilla's point of view. So much of what she is thinking or feeling throughout the book is so important in the story. Yip did a great job of really making Camilla come to life for me in this book. The writing made me want to go back and not only read "Skeleton Women" but to also go back and read some of Yip's other books.
Overall, exotic locales and interesting characters make this book a great hist-fic pick!
October 7, 2013
THE BOOKISH DAME REVIEWS :
Shanghai is an exotic place to me even today, so imagine how intrigued I was to be reading a book about the lawless days of the 1930's in that locale. Beautiful women: a singer/spy, a magician, courtesans and simply the crafty; this is a book filled with the most captivating and reckless of characters. I was held happily spellbound for hours.
I hadn't read anything by Mingmei Yip up to this time, though I do have one of her other books, which I'll be in a rush to get to now that I've read this one. It's called, "Song of the Silk Road." After having investigated, I find I'm literally/literately ignorant since she is a well-received and prolific author who specializes in "provocative and poignant" stories of women in Chinese culture.
This book was quite descriptive, the women particularly being visually available, as well as psychologically fascinating. I found "Camilla," the primary character simply irresistible. She was one of those who immediately brings you into the storyline, winds you into her life-images and takes you with her on a journey you can't be torn from.
One of the best features of this book is the many references to Chinese lore or "proverbs." I was often smiling and nodding my head to the ones having to do with instructions about seduction and love. It seems Camilla was a wealth of knowledge and application of them. It just added to the joy of reading the novel.
The element of organized crime in the book is an added point of interest. I imagine much of this is gleaned from actual truth of the 1930's gangs. I got a kick out of this particular segment of the story. Some of the gang members were hilarious.
While all of the above made this a good read, I found the writing style a bit naïve or a least very different from the books I've been reading this year. I asked my husband, who is an author, what he thought about it as I read passages to him. He decided it was because of the translation factor. It may be so.
Nevertheless, this is a book I believe everyone will enjoy who loves historical fiction in an unusual setting; particularly in the Orient.
I was happy to be introduced to this new author. I'll be reading more of her books.
4 stars Deborah/TheBookishDame
Shanghai is an exotic place to me even today, so imagine how intrigued I was to be reading a book about the lawless days of the 1930's in that locale. Beautiful women: a singer/spy, a magician, courtesans and simply the crafty; this is a book filled with the most captivating and reckless of characters. I was held happily spellbound for hours.
I hadn't read anything by Mingmei Yip up to this time, though I do have one of her other books, which I'll be in a rush to get to now that I've read this one. It's called, "Song of the Silk Road." After having investigated, I find I'm literally/literately ignorant since she is a well-received and prolific author who specializes in "provocative and poignant" stories of women in Chinese culture.
This book was quite descriptive, the women particularly being visually available, as well as psychologically fascinating. I found "Camilla," the primary character simply irresistible. She was one of those who immediately brings you into the storyline, winds you into her life-images and takes you with her on a journey you can't be torn from.
One of the best features of this book is the many references to Chinese lore or "proverbs." I was often smiling and nodding my head to the ones having to do with instructions about seduction and love. It seems Camilla was a wealth of knowledge and application of them. It just added to the joy of reading the novel.
The element of organized crime in the book is an added point of interest. I imagine much of this is gleaned from actual truth of the 1930's gangs. I got a kick out of this particular segment of the story. Some of the gang members were hilarious.
While all of the above made this a good read, I found the writing style a bit naïve or a least very different from the books I've been reading this year. I asked my husband, who is an author, what he thought about it as I read passages to him. He decided it was because of the translation factor. It may be so.
Nevertheless, this is a book I believe everyone will enjoy who loves historical fiction in an unusual setting; particularly in the Orient.
I was happy to be introduced to this new author. I'll be reading more of her books.
4 stars Deborah/TheBookishDame
June 25, 2013
The latest book from author Mingmei Yip takes the reader on an epic journey — both emotional and geographically. The Nine Fold Heaven is the story of a young Chinese woman, Camilla who is taken from an orphanage at the age of four, and forced to work for one of the worst gangs in Shanghai. Not that she has a bad life with them. In exchange for her various “services” to the gang, from sexual favors to singing entertainment to assassinations, she is well taken care of, as least in material objects. Her emotional life however, has been completely deprived and suffocated.
Camilla’s emotions refused to be suppressed, and love finds a way through the darkness. After taking a lover she gives birth to a son, and the small seed of emotion, feelings and love that had sprouted were now in full bloom. She escapes her “gilded cage” only to return and fight for her child.
The journey she takes will leave the reader breathless, in tears, and cheering her on. Camilla will do whatever is necessary to free her child from the world she escaped, even forming an alliance with the enemy.
The Nine Fold Heaven will also take the reader to some of the darkest areas in the Asian world. Unlocking places foreigners never see or even know exist. The Nine Fold Heaven is written from Chinese perspective, giving non-Asian readers an entirely new experience as to how they are perceived by the ancient Chinese culture.
Told in first-person it allows the reader to delve deeper in the character, deeper into the dark world most of us miss. A thoroughly intriguing and provoking read.
Camilla’s emotions refused to be suppressed, and love finds a way through the darkness. After taking a lover she gives birth to a son, and the small seed of emotion, feelings and love that had sprouted were now in full bloom. She escapes her “gilded cage” only to return and fight for her child.
The journey she takes will leave the reader breathless, in tears, and cheering her on. Camilla will do whatever is necessary to free her child from the world she escaped, even forming an alliance with the enemy.
The Nine Fold Heaven will also take the reader to some of the darkest areas in the Asian world. Unlocking places foreigners never see or even know exist. The Nine Fold Heaven is written from Chinese perspective, giving non-Asian readers an entirely new experience as to how they are perceived by the ancient Chinese culture.
Told in first-person it allows the reader to delve deeper in the character, deeper into the dark world most of us miss. A thoroughly intriguing and provoking read.
September 11, 2013
If you enjoy intrigue, adventure, and a walk through someone's life that includes a bit of espionage, you won't want to miss THE NINE FOLD HEAVEN.
The main character, Camilla, definitely led a captivating, dangerous life. The book walks you through the pain of her losing her only child, walks you through her quest to find her child, and also walks you through her methods of trying to steer clear of the gang she once was a forced part of.
THE NINE FOLD HEAVEN is narrated by Camilla and will keep you totally absorbed in her story. She is involved in some pretty harrowing situations. Her character is very deep and thoughtful as well as chilling. She would kill you as fast as she would love you.
THE NINE FOLD HEAVEN will pull you in, will sit you down, and will sail you away on an Oriental adventure filled with love, hatred, cunning deals, an abundance of Oriental thoughts, superstitions, and sayings filled with words of luck and/or doom.
I enjoyed THE NINE FOLD HEAVEN. The story flowed nicely, with the added bonus of vicariously living Camilla's life. All of this was masterfully carried out. It felt as though you were in her shoes or her disguises feeling the fear of the situation or the warmth of her love for those closest to her.
I have never read a book by Ms. Yip, but her writing style is enjoyable, smooth, detailed, and absorbing. This is a sequel to SKELETON WOMEN, but I had no trouble reading it as a stand alone. 5/5
I received this book free of charge and without compensation from the publisher in return for an honest review.
The main character, Camilla, definitely led a captivating, dangerous life. The book walks you through the pain of her losing her only child, walks you through her quest to find her child, and also walks you through her methods of trying to steer clear of the gang she once was a forced part of.
THE NINE FOLD HEAVEN is narrated by Camilla and will keep you totally absorbed in her story. She is involved in some pretty harrowing situations. Her character is very deep and thoughtful as well as chilling. She would kill you as fast as she would love you.
THE NINE FOLD HEAVEN will pull you in, will sit you down, and will sail you away on an Oriental adventure filled with love, hatred, cunning deals, an abundance of Oriental thoughts, superstitions, and sayings filled with words of luck and/or doom.
I enjoyed THE NINE FOLD HEAVEN. The story flowed nicely, with the added bonus of vicariously living Camilla's life. All of this was masterfully carried out. It felt as though you were in her shoes or her disguises feeling the fear of the situation or the warmth of her love for those closest to her.
I have never read a book by Ms. Yip, but her writing style is enjoyable, smooth, detailed, and absorbing. This is a sequel to SKELETON WOMEN, but I had no trouble reading it as a stand alone. 5/5
I received this book free of charge and without compensation from the publisher in return for an honest review.
June 25, 2013
I first hesitated accepting to review this book, as I was not sure how I would react to the world of gangs. But there was the historical element, and the fact that this is about China and Hong-Kong, and I like traveling through books, so I said yes, and I am sure happy I did.
I really knew nothing about the world of gangs in Shanghai in the 1930s, neither about their lesbians and circus people, so it was quite a discovery.
Camilla was “rescued” at a very young age from an orphanage by the head of one of Shanghai’s major gangs, only to be trained to kill his enemy, the head of the other major gang! One of the problems is that Camilla fell in love with the son of the guy she was supposed to kill, and had a baby with him. Well, had she? We don’t know for sure, and she does not know for sure, as the baby was taken from her when just delivered and declared still born.
But she wonders about that, and the readers wonder a long time with her, as she faces lots of dangers, and dares going back to that very dangerous world, disguised as a man, to try to find her lover and possibly their child, if he is still alive.
There’s a lot of action in this book, that should please readers liking...
my full review is here:
http://wordsandpeace.com/2013/07/03/b...
I really knew nothing about the world of gangs in Shanghai in the 1930s, neither about their lesbians and circus people, so it was quite a discovery.
Camilla was “rescued” at a very young age from an orphanage by the head of one of Shanghai’s major gangs, only to be trained to kill his enemy, the head of the other major gang! One of the problems is that Camilla fell in love with the son of the guy she was supposed to kill, and had a baby with him. Well, had she? We don’t know for sure, and she does not know for sure, as the baby was taken from her when just delivered and declared still born.
But she wonders about that, and the readers wonder a long time with her, as she faces lots of dangers, and dares going back to that very dangerous world, disguised as a man, to try to find her lover and possibly their child, if he is still alive.
There’s a lot of action in this book, that should please readers liking...
my full review is here:
http://wordsandpeace.com/2013/07/03/b...
June 24, 2013
The Songbird/spy Camilla’s escaped to Hong Kong after successfully fulfilling her lifelong mission for her gangland boss. She’s left behind her son, JinJin, who she was told was stillborn but who’s visits to her dreams tell her otherwise and her son’s father, JinYing, whom she loves the best. She has no choice but to return to Shanghai to try to solve the mysteries of her son and lover but to do this she’ll need to resort to her “Skeleton Woman” spy ways of manipulation and exploitation to get the information she needs. She also must be wary of her enemies who still search for her and even those she now befriends must be watched for they could turn on her at any moment.
Mingmei brings us the sequel to her novel Skeleton Women about the unscrupulous yet loveable spy Camilla. Camilla is a noir heroine who readers will love to hate or hate to love. The author makes it clear she’s a product of her environment and never apologizes for her behavior which she shouldn’t. The narrative is colorful and an exotic mix of cultures and traditions and will bring the sounds and flavors of a troubled lawless past society to life. For ultimate understanding and enjoyment the two books should be read in order.
Mingmei brings us the sequel to her novel Skeleton Women about the unscrupulous yet loveable spy Camilla. Camilla is a noir heroine who readers will love to hate or hate to love. The author makes it clear she’s a product of her environment and never apologizes for her behavior which she shouldn’t. The narrative is colorful and an exotic mix of cultures and traditions and will bring the sounds and flavors of a troubled lawless past society to life. For ultimate understanding and enjoyment the two books should be read in order.
August 23, 2013
Skeleton Women‘s Heavenly Songbird Camilla returns in The Nine Fold Heaven by Mingmei Yip after a quick exit from Shanghai in the 1930s into Hong Kong. She’s hiding out away from the gangsters she betrayed, but this once emotionless spy now must endure guilt and longing. She does not know the fate of her love Jinying, nor of her lover Gao, but more importantly, she knows that her baby, Jinjin, is alive but not where he is. Yip has a firm grasp of the atmosphere during this period in Shanghai, a time when gangs ran the government, businesses, and held everyone else at gunpoint. The corruption, backroom deals, and fear permeate this novel, and Camilla is forced to return to Shanghai even though her life is clearly going to be in danger there. Using her skills as a trained skeleton woman — which include seduction — she is able to disguise herself and create plausible stories on the spot, but the trick now is not to let her emotions rule her, which in some instances they do, leading to trouble.
Read the full review: http://savvyverseandwit.com/2013/07/t...
Read the full review: http://savvyverseandwit.com/2013/07/t...
October 7, 2013
"The Nine Fold Heaven" is a fascinating journey into the heart of 1930s Shanghai, China and the dangerous underworld of gangland violence that was rampant during this time period.
Author Mingmei Yip does a masterful job of storytelling as she weaves this intriguing and suspenseful tale, told through the voice of the main character, Camilla, the "Heavenly Songbird." As Camilla struggles to find her beloved and their son, she must scramble to avoid the gangland bosses who are after her, as well as the police. This story is a on-the-edge-of-your-seat thriller and will keep readers entranced to the very end.
"The Nine Fold Heaven" is a sequel to Yip's bestselling novel, "Skeleton Women," but first time readers will easily pick up on the back story and be able to enjoy this story as a stand-alone novel.
I highly enjoyed this book and recommend it to those who enjoy historical fiction with a mysterious twist!
October 16, 2013
I received an Advance Reader's Copy of this book.
This book is a sequel to Skeleton Women, which I have not read. This is a stand-alone novel, however. Set in 1930s Shanghai and Hong Kong, this story is about Camilla, a beautiful songstress/spy. Camilla is looking for her baby son Jinjin and Jinjin's father Jinying in the big city of Shanghai. The story is convoluted, with many characters, and it isn't clear to me why the author chose to include some of the subplots. The writing is simple, perhaps to mimic the English written and spoken by a native Chinese. I plodded through and consequently learned a lot about pre-Revolution Chinese society and culture in the 1930s.
This book is a sequel to Skeleton Women, which I have not read. This is a stand-alone novel, however. Set in 1930s Shanghai and Hong Kong, this story is about Camilla, a beautiful songstress/spy. Camilla is looking for her baby son Jinjin and Jinjin's father Jinying in the big city of Shanghai. The story is convoluted, with many characters, and it isn't clear to me why the author chose to include some of the subplots. The writing is simple, perhaps to mimic the English written and spoken by a native Chinese. I plodded through and consequently learned a lot about pre-Revolution Chinese society and culture in the 1930s.
July 18, 2013
The unemotional Skeleton Woman of Yip's previous novel, trained to be an assassin, slowly becomes a more compassionate woman in this novel as she searches for her child and the its father, risking death by returning to gang-ridden Shanghai from her safe haven in Hong Kong.
This book is a worthy follow-up and ending in the story of the three Skeleton women who survive the odds in Shanghai of the 1930s. I enjoyed the pithy Chinese sayings that the author weaves through her story to illustrate the truths of life.
Well written and entertaining, I recommend both books!
This book is a worthy follow-up and ending in the story of the three Skeleton women who survive the odds in Shanghai of the 1930s. I enjoyed the pithy Chinese sayings that the author weaves through her story to illustrate the truths of life.
Well written and entertaining, I recommend both books!
July 13, 2013
I found this book, captivating. Be it fiction or based on someones personal memoir, it brought me in like a great movie.
I found that every time I would get "itchy" for the main characters to move forward, they progressed to a different level. I remained enthralled until the very end.
I have read alot of books. I enjoyed reading a book whose plot and plan was not easily guessed. I had no idea which way it would turn in the next paragraph. The story line ran smoothly from one scene to another.
I hope to read more from this author very soon.
I found that every time I would get "itchy" for the main characters to move forward, they progressed to a different level. I remained enthralled until the very end.
I have read alot of books. I enjoyed reading a book whose plot and plan was not easily guessed. I had no idea which way it would turn in the next paragraph. The story line ran smoothly from one scene to another.
I hope to read more from this author very soon.
January 12, 2014
it was a fun easy read, and the book contains lots of sayings and proverbs.
Could this book be fluff?
Merriam-Webster defines fluff as: something inconsequential
Is this book inconsequential?
No it definitely is not.
Could this book be fluff?
Merriam-Webster defines fluff as: something inconsequential
Is this book inconsequential?
No it definitely is not.
February 10, 2014
I loved, loved, loved Skeleton Women and this was just an average sequel. The writing seemed elementary and the story not quite as exotic or complex n
June 26, 2013
See my review at the following link: http://paperbackdolls.com/?p=13960
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