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Adler Family #2
Rising Sun, Falling Shadow
Return to World War II Shanghai in Dan Kalla's thrilling historical novel Rising Sun, Falling Shadow, the sequel to The Far Side of the Sky
It’s 1943 and the Japanese juggernaut has swallowed Shanghai and the rest of eastern China, snaring droves of American and British along with thousands of “stateless” German Jewish refugees. Despite the hostile environs, newlyweds Dr. Franz Adler and his wife, Sunny, adjust to life running the city’s only hospital for refugee Jews.
Bowing to Nazi pressure, the Japanese force twenty thousand Jewish refugees, including the Adlers, to relocate to a one-square-kilometer “Shanghai Ghetto.” Heat, hunger, and tropical diseases are constant threats. But the ghetto also breeds miraculous resilience. Music, theater, sports, and Jewish culture thrive despite what are at times subhuman conditions.
Navigating subversion and espionage, Nazi treachery and ever-worsening conditions while living under the heel of the Japanese military, the Adlers struggle to keep the hospital open and their family safe and united.
It’s 1943 and the Japanese juggernaut has swallowed Shanghai and the rest of eastern China, snaring droves of American and British along with thousands of “stateless” German Jewish refugees. Despite the hostile environs, newlyweds Dr. Franz Adler and his wife, Sunny, adjust to life running the city’s only hospital for refugee Jews.
Bowing to Nazi pressure, the Japanese force twenty thousand Jewish refugees, including the Adlers, to relocate to a one-square-kilometer “Shanghai Ghetto.” Heat, hunger, and tropical diseases are constant threats. But the ghetto also breeds miraculous resilience. Music, theater, sports, and Jewish culture thrive despite what are at times subhuman conditions.
Navigating subversion and espionage, Nazi treachery and ever-worsening conditions while living under the heel of the Japanese military, the Adlers struggle to keep the hospital open and their family safe and united.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published September 10, 2013
25 people are currently reading
1079 people want to read
About the author
Daniel Kalla
19 books560 followersBorn, raised, and still residing in Vancouver, Daniel has worked as an ER Physician for the past twenty years. He is also the author of fifteen published novels, which have been translated into thirteen languages.
In his latest novel, THE DEEPEST FAKE, a tech CEO and AI pioneer’s carefully curated life is unraveling—his wife is cheating, someone is defrauding his company, and he’s just been handed a fatal diagnosis. He’d end it all, if only he could trust his own reality. As deepfakes and deception blur the lines between truth and illusion, the novel explores the challenges and pitfalls of safeguarding reality in an age when it can be fabricated.
Daniel received his B.Sc. and MD from the University of British Columbia, where he is now a clinical associate professor. He is the proud father of two girls and a poorly behaved but lovable mutt, Milo.
In his latest novel, THE DEEPEST FAKE, a tech CEO and AI pioneer’s carefully curated life is unraveling—his wife is cheating, someone is defrauding his company, and he’s just been handed a fatal diagnosis. He’d end it all, if only he could trust his own reality. As deepfakes and deception blur the lines between truth and illusion, the novel explores the challenges and pitfalls of safeguarding reality in an age when it can be fabricated.
Daniel received his B.Sc. and MD from the University of British Columbia, where he is now a clinical associate professor. He is the proud father of two girls and a poorly behaved but lovable mutt, Milo.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
February 12, 2015
"Rising Sun, Falling Shadows" takes up from where The Far Side of the Sky left off. It is January 1943. Shanghai and its inhabitants, firmly in Japan's vise-like grip, continue to struggle against the brutality and savagery of a war that seemingly has no end. Both the city's Jewish refugees and Allied civilians become subject to greater scrutiny on the part of the Japanese. The former group, by order of the military governor of Shanghai, is compelled to sell their homes and personal belongings by May 18th and are relocated into "a narrow area within Hongkew, one of the most crowded boroughs in the city." This is exactly what a small contingent of Nazis residing in the German section of Shanghai desire. For having been frustrated the previous year --- by their Japanese allies --- in their efforts to have Shanghai's Jews exterminated, the Germans (as represented by Von Puttkamer, who on the surface comes across as suave, urbane and a fellow-well-met, yet underneath it all, is a rabid Nazi) become fixated on destroying the Jewish 'ghetto' in Shanghai with/without the sanction of the Japanese authorities. As for the latter group (i.e., Allied civilians), they are forced by the Japanese to live in an internment camp under their direct control.
All the while, Soon Yi (better known as "Sunny") and her beloved husband Franz Adler are hard pressed to keep the Jewish hospital open in which they both work as physicians. Furthermore, the Adler Family and many of their close friends and associates in Shanghai find themselves throughout 1943 under threat from several quarters. The drama and tension are so skillfully rendered by the author that I soon found myself thoroughly immersed in the lives of the main characters. Indeed, “Rising Sun, Falling Shadows” is a story that the general reader will find him/herself deeply immersed in its flow, intensity, and the reality it conveys of a wartime city that has been scarred and battered almost beyond recognition. (VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.)
All the while, Soon Yi (better known as "Sunny") and her beloved husband Franz Adler are hard pressed to keep the Jewish hospital open in which they both work as physicians. Furthermore, the Adler Family and many of their close friends and associates in Shanghai find themselves throughout 1943 under threat from several quarters. The drama and tension are so skillfully rendered by the author that I soon found myself thoroughly immersed in the lives of the main characters. Indeed, “Rising Sun, Falling Shadows” is a story that the general reader will find him/herself deeply immersed in its flow, intensity, and the reality it conveys of a wartime city that has been scarred and battered almost beyond recognition. (VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.)
November 13, 2013
Rising Sun, Falling Shadow, by Daniel Kalla, is a sequel to The Far Side of the Sky. The setting is 1943 in occupied Shanghai during World War II. Thousands of German Jews escaped to China during the war, and the story opens with the Japanese relocating the Jewish refugees into the "Shanghai Ghetto."
The story revolves around two main characters: Dr. Franz Adler and his Eurasian wife Sunny. Together the Alders manage to operate a small hospital against all odds for the Jewish refugees. The Alders, their family, and friends endure great hardships, terror, and cruel beatings at the hands of both the Japanese and the German Nazis. Regardless of their endless struggles, the Alders, their family, and friends remain persistently optimistic that they will survive.
The characters in the story are well developed and Kalla artfully captures the angst they endure on a daily basis. I found it to be both suspenseful and heart-warming -- an amazing story of survival. Even though it is a sequel, it isn't necessary to have first read The Far Side of the Sky to fully appreciate Rising Sun, Falling Shadow. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to readers who enjoy historical fiction, and particularly coverage of World War II.
The story revolves around two main characters: Dr. Franz Adler and his Eurasian wife Sunny. Together the Alders manage to operate a small hospital against all odds for the Jewish refugees. The Alders, their family, and friends endure great hardships, terror, and cruel beatings at the hands of both the Japanese and the German Nazis. Regardless of their endless struggles, the Alders, their family, and friends remain persistently optimistic that they will survive.
The characters in the story are well developed and Kalla artfully captures the angst they endure on a daily basis. I found it to be both suspenseful and heart-warming -- an amazing story of survival. Even though it is a sequel, it isn't necessary to have first read The Far Side of the Sky to fully appreciate Rising Sun, Falling Shadow. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to readers who enjoy historical fiction, and particularly coverage of World War II.
December 13, 2013
This review was first published by the Historical Novel Society. I received a free copy of the book.
This novel is the sequel to The Far Side of the Sky and is set in Shanghai in 1943. Things are looking bad for the Jews who have taken refuge in Shanghai; the Japanese occupying forces have interned the British and Americans and, urged on by their Nazi allies, have forced the Jews into what is effectively a ghetto. Dr. Franz Adler and his Eurasian wife, Sunny, cope with an escaped internee, the Chinese Resistance, shortages in the hospital they run, and increasing threats from both the Japanese and Germans.
Not having read the initial novel, I felt rather overwhelmed by the multiple plot lines and the large cast of characters at first. Once I had sorted them all out, though, the occasional forays into backstory felt intrusive in a novel that could have stood up well by itself. The Shanghai setting added a new dimension to the sadly familiar story of the Jewish people struggling to survive against terrible odds, and I appreciated how the very nature of Shanghai, a polyglot, cosmopolitan city before the war, lent itself to the introduction of a number of different tensions and opposing interests. Having a large number of characters allowed for a balanced, nuanced portrait of a society where each character acted out of his or her own background and allegiances rather than falling onto one side or another along predictable, nationalistic lines.
A slightly impersonal perspective in Kalla’s writing meant that I was not always fully engaged in the emotions of the situation. But on the whole I found this novel to be an interesting insight into an aspect of World War II and the Jewish experience that is not often found in fiction.
This novel is the sequel to The Far Side of the Sky and is set in Shanghai in 1943. Things are looking bad for the Jews who have taken refuge in Shanghai; the Japanese occupying forces have interned the British and Americans and, urged on by their Nazi allies, have forced the Jews into what is effectively a ghetto. Dr. Franz Adler and his Eurasian wife, Sunny, cope with an escaped internee, the Chinese Resistance, shortages in the hospital they run, and increasing threats from both the Japanese and Germans.
Not having read the initial novel, I felt rather overwhelmed by the multiple plot lines and the large cast of characters at first. Once I had sorted them all out, though, the occasional forays into backstory felt intrusive in a novel that could have stood up well by itself. The Shanghai setting added a new dimension to the sadly familiar story of the Jewish people struggling to survive against terrible odds, and I appreciated how the very nature of Shanghai, a polyglot, cosmopolitan city before the war, lent itself to the introduction of a number of different tensions and opposing interests. Having a large number of characters allowed for a balanced, nuanced portrait of a society where each character acted out of his or her own background and allegiances rather than falling onto one side or another along predictable, nationalistic lines.
A slightly impersonal perspective in Kalla’s writing meant that I was not always fully engaged in the emotions of the situation. But on the whole I found this novel to be an interesting insight into an aspect of World War II and the Jewish experience that is not often found in fiction.
August 10, 2019
This book is a continuation of the first book, “Far Side of The Sky”, by Daniel Kalla. He has again written this book with attention to detail of the period in time. You fall in love or hate the characters because he pulls you in with so much emotion. Despite the harsh subject matter this was a great book to read!
August 13, 2019
This book is interesting as it is a WWII story from a different perspective - Shanghai. The story was fast and easy to read, and I enjoyed reading about the occupation of Shanghai and how different ethnic and religious groups were treated.
I did find that the story ended quite abruptly - it left me hanging.
I did find that the story ended quite abruptly - it left me hanging.
May 13, 2019
I found this book lying around my house when I was cleaning my bookshelf. Read the plot, and decided it was worth a read.
I was pleasantly surprised!
I started reading this not knowing it was the second book of the series and only found out around the middle. It was pretty easy to understand though, and get a good idea of the characters. My favourite character is definitely Franz. Smart, witty, and overall like an ideal husband and DID WHAT HE HAD TO DO.
Only downside was that it was slow at times. Really enjoyed this book overall.
I was pleasantly surprised!
I started reading this not knowing it was the second book of the series and only found out around the middle. It was pretty easy to understand though, and get a good idea of the characters. My favourite character is definitely Franz. Smart, witty, and overall like an ideal husband and DID WHAT HE HAD TO DO.
Only downside was that it was slow at times. Really enjoyed this book overall.
January 15, 2016
I've had this book on my "to-read" shelf for a really long time. I enjoyed the first book well enough, but couldn't seem to get into the right mood to read this one. Ultimately, I'm glad I did, and I will certainly read the next one, but I do feel that this book didn't live up to The Far Side of the Sky.
In a lot of ways, its appeal is similar; Shanghai during World War II is a unique, exotic setting, and it's a perspective you don't see a lot of. That appeal is still here, but without the novelty, it loses some of its power. Also, I found that the characters fall flat a lot of the time. For people with so much tragedy going on around them, it's odd how one-dimensional they can be. There's a lot of telling rather than showing that goes on, and that hurt my investment in the characters.
Anyway, it's a compelling series, one that I'll certainly read to its conclusion, but the sequel doesn't quite match the original in terms of quality.
In a lot of ways, its appeal is similar; Shanghai during World War II is a unique, exotic setting, and it's a perspective you don't see a lot of. That appeal is still here, but without the novelty, it loses some of its power. Also, I found that the characters fall flat a lot of the time. For people with so much tragedy going on around them, it's odd how one-dimensional they can be. There's a lot of telling rather than showing that goes on, and that hurt my investment in the characters.
Anyway, it's a compelling series, one that I'll certainly read to its conclusion, but the sequel doesn't quite match the original in terms of quality.
December 19, 2013
This is what a book should be. Entertaining, while teaching you something at the same time. Excellent continuation of the story started in The Far Side of the Sky. I simply can't wait to read the final installment of the trilogy. I love Daniel Kalla's writing style and I was totally immersed in the story. AWESOME
November 21, 2013
I have this book three stars because it was fast and easy to read but really I feel that it only deserves 2 stars. There is a lot of action in the book but not that much character development. I enjoyed the first book more.
October 13, 2020
I did not realize there was a prequel to this book when I read it, so I guess my review will be a more stand-alone evaluation than a comparison to whether it held up to its predecessor. All the WWII / Nazi Germany-related literature I have read so far (a limited amount) has been set in Europe, so this setting of a Jewish colony in Shangahi is a very different and interesting perspective for me.
Also different from my previous war reads is the tone of the book – there is a lot of typical wartime violence, loss and subversion occurring around the main family, but somehow the book still manages to project a comforting, wholesome family atmosphere rather than a dark traumatizing tragedy. Like Little House on the Prairie but instead of the prairie it’s occupied wartime Shanghai?? Obviously this was odd and put the characters in danger of seeming a bit shallow. But I think the author made it work. Worked out for me too, since when I picked up this book I was not in the mood to tackle a heavy book at all – I was in fact waiting on a YA fantasy book from the library and decided to read this in the meantime. (Don't get me wrong, there are still heavy themes here.) The pace of the story is also pretty fast, and has some of the energy of an action thriller.
Also different from my previous war reads is the tone of the book – there is a lot of typical wartime violence, loss and subversion occurring around the main family, but somehow the book still manages to project a comforting, wholesome family atmosphere rather than a dark traumatizing tragedy. Like Little House on the Prairie but instead of the prairie it’s occupied wartime Shanghai?? Obviously this was odd and put the characters in danger of seeming a bit shallow. But I think the author made it work. Worked out for me too, since when I picked up this book I was not in the mood to tackle a heavy book at all – I was in fact waiting on a YA fantasy book from the library and decided to read this in the meantime. (Don't get me wrong, there are still heavy themes here.) The pace of the story is also pretty fast, and has some of the energy of an action thriller.
June 14, 2015
Daniel Kalla’s RISING SUN, FALLING SHADOW is the highly anticipated sequel to THE FAR SIDE OF THE SKY. If you’re worried about spoilers, you won’t find any major ones preventing you from enjoying RISING SUN. Kalla provides enough back-story and allows a reader to delve right in without being lost.
The year is 1943 and bowing to Nazi pressure, the Japanese force thousands of Jewish refugees in Shanghai to relocate. Newlyweds Franz and Sunny Adler endure the move to the ghetto and continue to operate the only hospital for Jewish refugees amid difficult conditions. While Franz is willing to make the best of the situation, Sunny wants revenge for the death of her father. She joins a resistance group, believing in their cause while Franz’s daughter, Hannah is lured into a smuggling ring. The threat of Nazi interference lingers in the background while a power hungry representative of the Bureau of Stateless Refugee Affairs begins to make life difficult for those in the ghetto.
Kalla’s RISING SUN, FALLING SHADOW has it all: love, intrigue, and betrayal. We have good character development and although this is the second book in a series, I don’t feel as if Kalla stopped developing his characters. We get to know each one as if it were our first introduction. Franz Adler is a Jewish surgeon who is noble and isn’t afraid to stop an injustice. He also is cautious and would do anything to protect his family. His wife Sunny is courageous and caring. While his daughter, Hannah, struggles to be seen as a teenager. She’s aware of her surroundings and doesn’t like to be treated as a child. We have a wide cast of secondary characters who are friends of the Adler’s who become ours as well. Kalla also introduces us to historical figures including Baron Jesco von Puttkamer who was a German aristocrat in charge of organizing a German propaganda office. Although never proven, it has been suggested that Von Puttkamer was present during a Japanese / German meeting where the Germans tried to convince the Japanese to put all Jewish refugees in a concentration camp or kill them. Von Puttkamer plays a vital role in RISING SUN alongside the sadistic Kano Ghoya who would later become the ex-vice chief of the Bureau of Stateless Refugee Affairs.
The writing is engaging and heartfelt. Kalla has a talent for bringing wartime Shanghai to life. We have a few subplots running alongside and at times it felt disjointed, but it’s needed. Without them, we have an incomplete story and in many ways, each character has their own plot which is important in a historical fiction novel. Can I take a moment to discuss the emotions Kalla evokes? I could sense Jia-Li’s optimism the moment she spots American planes in the sky and was smiling because I knew she was happy to see them. I could feel Sunny’s anxiousness when she realizes the Underground isn’t exactly what she thought they were. When Hannah is involved in a smuggling scheme and she’s about to cross out of the restricted zone or even into it, her hesitation and fear is felt. Kalla makes us care about the daily lives of these characters, even the ones we should hate. He also makes us question what the characters are doing. For example, Franz struggles with a difficult decision that goes against the Hippocratic Oath and one of the Ten Commandments. I won’t go into detail because I don’t want to give a spoiler, but as a reader, you understand Franz’s thought process. You put yourself into his shoes and begin to question what you would do. Another doctor, Max, begins to question God and goes as far as to say they aren’t his chosen people but rather cursed. If you’re religious, your heart begins to break when you begin to think of your own relationship to religion or God.
One of the reasons people shy away from historical fiction is because they are afraid of drowning in historical facts or find history boring. While Kalla does give us a history lesson, he does it in a subtle format. He takes us through 1943 and the events in Shanghai; Jewish refugees are moved to the Hongkou District where a little over 20,000 refugees lived in an area of approximately one square mile. We see Franz call himself stateless and here Kalla explains how and what the Japanese have done to them. Kalla delves deeper into history by writing about the refugees that are often ignored by history. We often read about European Jews and how many fled to allied countries, but how many of us actually knew of Jewish refugees in China or the German support of the Japanese? I can only imagine the level of research Kalla conducted. He does a superb job transporting the reader to 1943 and making us feel as if we are there.
What I really enjoyed about Kalla’s RISING SUN, FALLING SHADOW is the message throughout the novel: hope. Through the despair of war and when things look bleak, Kalla reminds us, through our darkest moments there is always a glimpse of light. I’m pretty sure the title wasn’t intentional, but if we take a moment to think about the Second World War: it ends in 1945 with the Japanese finally surrendering in September. Kalla’s RISING SUN ends at the start of 1944. While these characters still have a little over a year and half to go, the shadow of war is beginning to fall and at the end of it, is light.
And as for the ending, I wouldn’t call it a cliffhanger. Kalla provides enough closure and it’s easy to imagine the final year of the war and the fate of our friends. There are a few unanswered questions that I hope get addressed in the final installment and I can’t wait to see how the series concludes.
If you’re a fan of historical fiction or are interested in the Second War World, I highly recommend Daniel Kalla’s RISING SUN, FALLING SHADOW. I can’t wait to go back and read THE FAR SIDE OF THE SKY.
This review and more are can be found at Literary, etc.
The year is 1943 and bowing to Nazi pressure, the Japanese force thousands of Jewish refugees in Shanghai to relocate. Newlyweds Franz and Sunny Adler endure the move to the ghetto and continue to operate the only hospital for Jewish refugees amid difficult conditions. While Franz is willing to make the best of the situation, Sunny wants revenge for the death of her father. She joins a resistance group, believing in their cause while Franz’s daughter, Hannah is lured into a smuggling ring. The threat of Nazi interference lingers in the background while a power hungry representative of the Bureau of Stateless Refugee Affairs begins to make life difficult for those in the ghetto.
Kalla’s RISING SUN, FALLING SHADOW has it all: love, intrigue, and betrayal. We have good character development and although this is the second book in a series, I don’t feel as if Kalla stopped developing his characters. We get to know each one as if it were our first introduction. Franz Adler is a Jewish surgeon who is noble and isn’t afraid to stop an injustice. He also is cautious and would do anything to protect his family. His wife Sunny is courageous and caring. While his daughter, Hannah, struggles to be seen as a teenager. She’s aware of her surroundings and doesn’t like to be treated as a child. We have a wide cast of secondary characters who are friends of the Adler’s who become ours as well. Kalla also introduces us to historical figures including Baron Jesco von Puttkamer who was a German aristocrat in charge of organizing a German propaganda office. Although never proven, it has been suggested that Von Puttkamer was present during a Japanese / German meeting where the Germans tried to convince the Japanese to put all Jewish refugees in a concentration camp or kill them. Von Puttkamer plays a vital role in RISING SUN alongside the sadistic Kano Ghoya who would later become the ex-vice chief of the Bureau of Stateless Refugee Affairs.
The writing is engaging and heartfelt. Kalla has a talent for bringing wartime Shanghai to life. We have a few subplots running alongside and at times it felt disjointed, but it’s needed. Without them, we have an incomplete story and in many ways, each character has their own plot which is important in a historical fiction novel. Can I take a moment to discuss the emotions Kalla evokes? I could sense Jia-Li’s optimism the moment she spots American planes in the sky and was smiling because I knew she was happy to see them. I could feel Sunny’s anxiousness when she realizes the Underground isn’t exactly what she thought they were. When Hannah is involved in a smuggling scheme and she’s about to cross out of the restricted zone or even into it, her hesitation and fear is felt. Kalla makes us care about the daily lives of these characters, even the ones we should hate. He also makes us question what the characters are doing. For example, Franz struggles with a difficult decision that goes against the Hippocratic Oath and one of the Ten Commandments. I won’t go into detail because I don’t want to give a spoiler, but as a reader, you understand Franz’s thought process. You put yourself into his shoes and begin to question what you would do. Another doctor, Max, begins to question God and goes as far as to say they aren’t his chosen people but rather cursed. If you’re religious, your heart begins to break when you begin to think of your own relationship to religion or God.
One of the reasons people shy away from historical fiction is because they are afraid of drowning in historical facts or find history boring. While Kalla does give us a history lesson, he does it in a subtle format. He takes us through 1943 and the events in Shanghai; Jewish refugees are moved to the Hongkou District where a little over 20,000 refugees lived in an area of approximately one square mile. We see Franz call himself stateless and here Kalla explains how and what the Japanese have done to them. Kalla delves deeper into history by writing about the refugees that are often ignored by history. We often read about European Jews and how many fled to allied countries, but how many of us actually knew of Jewish refugees in China or the German support of the Japanese? I can only imagine the level of research Kalla conducted. He does a superb job transporting the reader to 1943 and making us feel as if we are there.
What I really enjoyed about Kalla’s RISING SUN, FALLING SHADOW is the message throughout the novel: hope. Through the despair of war and when things look bleak, Kalla reminds us, through our darkest moments there is always a glimpse of light. I’m pretty sure the title wasn’t intentional, but if we take a moment to think about the Second World War: it ends in 1945 with the Japanese finally surrendering in September. Kalla’s RISING SUN ends at the start of 1944. While these characters still have a little over a year and half to go, the shadow of war is beginning to fall and at the end of it, is light.
And as for the ending, I wouldn’t call it a cliffhanger. Kalla provides enough closure and it’s easy to imagine the final year of the war and the fate of our friends. There are a few unanswered questions that I hope get addressed in the final installment and I can’t wait to see how the series concludes.
If you’re a fan of historical fiction or are interested in the Second War World, I highly recommend Daniel Kalla’s RISING SUN, FALLING SHADOW. I can’t wait to go back and read THE FAR SIDE OF THE SKY.
This review and more are can be found at Literary, etc.
June 27, 2017
This story is historical fiction taking place in the 1940's in Shanghai. At that time, Shanghai had a mix of people, including Jews. But the Nazis (and the Japanese who were pressured by the Nazis) forced the Jews into a small, roped in, ghetto area to keep track of them. The Jews could not leave their area, without checking in and out. The Jews were hungry, poor, and many were sick. The main characters of the story were a doctor and his wife who ran a hospital for Jewish refugees. They gave their lives to helping the Jews both medically and morally. The upside of this story is the strength, love, and patriotism the doctor and his wife had. The downside is learning about hatred due to religion. I know this is fiction... but I'm glad I was not alive at this time in history.
March 10, 2023
This continues the story of the Adler family in Shanghai in much the same vein as the 1st book- the difficulties of the Jewish community squeezed between the harsh treatment by the Japanese & the plans by the Shanghai Nazi Germans to wipe out the Jews, the efforts of the Chinese Underground to fight the Japanese invaders, and the persistent struggle of the refugee hospital to manage in the face of chronic shortages of necessary supplies & personnel, with Franz & Sunny at the center of it all & the cast of associated characters( Esther(Franz's sister-in-law), Simon(her husband), their baby, a growing Hannah(Franz's daughter-mature beyond her years). Again I found the story melodramatic & at times manipulative of the reader. Hopefully Adler family#3 will be better inthat regard.
April 1, 2020
The sad part of a trilogy is that the author often runs out of steam after the first book. As much as I enjoyed the first book (The Far Side of the Sky), I did not care for this second book.
It took effort for me to turn the pages as I read about Franz and Sunny’s daily struggles. It sort of became a same-struggle-different-day scenario. They’re still in Shanghai, still dealing with the Japanese, the Chinese, and the Germans as all three try to wipe out the Jewish refugees.
I suppose all of their problems will be wrapped up in book three of this trilogy. Unfortunately, I won’t find out because I will not be reading Nightfall Over Shanghai.
It took effort for me to turn the pages as I read about Franz and Sunny’s daily struggles. It sort of became a same-struggle-different-day scenario. They’re still in Shanghai, still dealing with the Japanese, the Chinese, and the Germans as all three try to wipe out the Jewish refugees.
I suppose all of their problems will be wrapped up in book three of this trilogy. Unfortunately, I won’t find out because I will not be reading Nightfall Over Shanghai.
July 26, 2025
A very ponderous start to the book, with a feeling that it was more inclined to become merely an interlude in which to reestablish and strengthen the main characters as part of a foundation laying for a third novel. The second half of the book, however, returned to the punchiness of the first novel, providing readers with a graphic description of the atrocities committed during this very real era of history. It certainly concludes with an induced yearning to read the next sequel, to follow in the footsteps of those who walked this heinous epoch of history.
January 13, 2018
I was waffling between 3 and 4 stars for this book, and I think it was the bits of surprise intrigue that put this book into the 4 star category for me. I'm not sure what exactly it was about the writing, but it just didn't fully capture my interest like I had hoped. Maybe it was a bit plain and mildly choppy for my liking. That being said, this was a good piece of historical fiction based on a part of World War II we don't really see or hear much about, so that was interesting.
May 30, 2019
Historical Fiction series - the Adler family continues to try and survive in Shanghai during the Second World War. The background is the Jewish hospital they run despite persecution, bombings and supply shortages. Well done and tragic to see how hard people have to work in terrible times to live.
No pharmacy references - despite being set in a hospital.
Canadian reference - brief mention of Canadian nationals stranded in Shanghai
No pharmacy references - despite being set in a hospital.
Canadian reference - brief mention of Canadian nationals stranded in Shanghai
January 19, 2024
Life is not going well for the Adler family. They escaped Nazi Germany for the safety of Shanghai, but Jews are now being persecuted and forced into a ghetto, it's out of the frying pan and into the fire! Need book 3 in the series pronto, hoping for a happyish ending.
July 26, 2017
Book was OK , fairly interesting characters
October 25, 2017
Very enjoyable read. Looking forward to read the last book in the trilogy.
March 23, 2018
I have loved all three of the books in this trilogy. The characters were so real. The situation so desperate.
May 13, 2018
I didn't read the first book, but have enjoyed this second book. Will be looking forward to reading more about the Adler family.
August 21, 2019
Liked it! Not a WOW!
January 4, 2020
Highly recommend!! Love the writers style, love the story line. This trilogy is fantastic!!
March 5, 2020
Excellent continuation of the struggles of Franz and Sunny in the ghetto Jewish community in Shanghai.
August 6, 2020
Book 2 of the Japanese and German occupation of Shanghai. Dr. Franz Adler's family is caught in the middle of the Japanese and German hated of the Jews and the hospital that Dr. Adler runs.
August 26, 2020
Jewish Refugees in Shanghai. Trilogy.
June 21, 2021
Aug 2018
August 6, 2021
The second book of the series about life and love in the Shanghai ghetto during later 1930's and early 1940's.
March 9, 2023
good but too schmaltzy.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews