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The Moonlight Palace
Agnes Hussein, descendant of the last sultan of Singapore and the last surviving member of her immediate family, has grown up among her eccentric relatives in the crumbling Kampong Glam palace, a once-opulent relic given to her family in exchange for handing over Singapore to the British.
Now Agnes is seventeen and her family has fallen into genteel poverty, surviving on her grandfather’s pension and the meager income they receive from a varied cast of boarders. As outside forces conspire to steal the palace out from under them, Agnes struggles to save her family and finds bravery, love, and loyalty in the most unexpected places. The Moonlight Palace is a coming-of-age tale rich with historical detail and unforgettable characters set against the backdrop of dazzling 1920s Singapore.
176 pages, ebook
First published October 1, 2014
446 people are currently reading
4045 people want to read
About the author
Liz Rosenberg
55 books185 followersLiz Rosenberg is an American poet, novelist, children's book author, and book reviewer. She is currently a professor of English at Binghamton University.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 486 reviews
September 15, 2014
It wasn't bad. It was just totally unmemorable. The characters lacked depth and the narrative was not particularly compelling. I wonder if perhaps this book has been marketed incorrectly. It might work better as a YA novel than a straight up historical novel.
There was a lot of potential, but the execution fell short. Part of the problem was in choosing to tell the story in the first person from the perspective of a naive 17 year old girl. More detailed stories of the grandparents and the great-uncle would have been nice.
Also, I'm not particularly knowledgeable about the Chinese uprising and how it affected neighboring countries, and this story did those events a huge disservice by casually glancing on it as it did. Again, more detail would have been nice in addition to far more depth to the character in question - his history, his family's history, his ambitions, motivations, how did his actions impact his friends and family back home?
Honestly, the more I think about The Moonlight Palace, the more irritated I get at how little it actually told me.
There was a lot of potential, but the execution fell short. Part of the problem was in choosing to tell the story in the first person from the perspective of a naive 17 year old girl. More detailed stories of the grandparents and the great-uncle would have been nice.
Also, I'm not particularly knowledgeable about the Chinese uprising and how it affected neighboring countries, and this story did those events a huge disservice by casually glancing on it as it did. Again, more detail would have been nice in addition to far more depth to the character in question - his history, his family's history, his ambitions, motivations, how did his actions impact his friends and family back home?
Honestly, the more I think about The Moonlight Palace, the more irritated I get at how little it actually told me.
July 19, 2014
This is a lovely novel. The voice of the narrator is not only strong but makes you feel compassionate from an early point in the book. Those qualities, mixed with the exotic setting and torrid family history (although somewhat imagined--see chapter two) made this a very interesting book.
This was a story that I was sorry to see end. The main character is such fun and her observations about life and her family are often times hilarious. I felt like I was walking alongside a friend during this book and that made it special.
I loved the strong sense of family and culture in this novel. I never knew quite what to expect next as the story takes unexpected turns in places that I wouldn't have imagined.
If you enjoy stories that come from true storytellers, this is a perfect example. The author has a gift for making you see pictures through her chosen words. I will happily read another book by this author and recommend that you check this out.
Really enjoyed it.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
This was a story that I was sorry to see end. The main character is such fun and her observations about life and her family are often times hilarious. I felt like I was walking alongside a friend during this book and that made it special.
I loved the strong sense of family and culture in this novel. I never knew quite what to expect next as the story takes unexpected turns in places that I wouldn't have imagined.
If you enjoy stories that come from true storytellers, this is a perfect example. The author has a gift for making you see pictures through her chosen words. I will happily read another book by this author and recommend that you check this out.
Really enjoyed it.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
September 16, 2014
A lighthearted, short and easy novel. I found myself wishing that the characters would have been fleshed out a little more, as I was curious and eager to learn more about them. I know nothing of Singapore, but after reading this book honestly feel like I would like to visit, if only because it was presented as a very diverse country that is welcoming to foreigners and embraces different cultures. The fact that the narrator, Aggie was half Chinese, a quarter British, and a quarter Muslim was interesting in itself. The mixed, multigenerational family living at the palace was also fascinating but because the book was so short, the characters remained superficial and in the end I was left with curiosity . Although the plot seem to have come to a satisfying end, I had far too many questions to feel truly satisfied when I finished reading the book. It was a free through amazon, and I do not think I would buy this book if I had to pay for it, but it was a decent read.
September 1, 2014
From the author of The Laws of Gravity, Home Repair, and other works of fiction non-fiction comes a historical coming-of-age novel set in Singapore during the 1920s. The Moonlight Palace by Liz Rosenberg is the story of Agnes Hussein, a seventeen-year-old, who lives with her grandfather’s youngest brother in a crumbling palace which stands as a symbol of their rich heritage. Uncle Chachi, as he is fondly called, is the last surviving male heir in the family. Her grandparents are deceased, and her parents and older brother along with several other family members died in the flu pandemic of 1918.
The Kampong Glam Palace in which Agnes lives was a big one with many rooms. Some of the rooms were occupied by relatives who do not pay anything but there were several other boarders who pay to stay in the rooms. It forms an essential part of income for the maintenance and upkeep of the palace. These paying guests come and go, none staying for too long but when three young men stayed in the palace one November, and as unscrupulous people conspire to take away the palace, it will forever change the lives of Agnes and her family.
Author and poet Liz Rosenberg crafted an amazing story with a young but strong female protagonist whom you’d instantly admire and empathize with. There is a tinge of sadness in the story as Agnes’ situation is far removed from the good old times when her ancestors were the Sultans. Yet, the novel sparkles with optimism, and Agnes has qualities that you can only admire though she is still very young. Meticulously researched, the story is well-written and there are unexpected twists and turns which will keep you absorbed to the very end.
The Kampong Glam Palace in which Agnes lives was a big one with many rooms. Some of the rooms were occupied by relatives who do not pay anything but there were several other boarders who pay to stay in the rooms. It forms an essential part of income for the maintenance and upkeep of the palace. These paying guests come and go, none staying for too long but when three young men stayed in the palace one November, and as unscrupulous people conspire to take away the palace, it will forever change the lives of Agnes and her family.
Author and poet Liz Rosenberg crafted an amazing story with a young but strong female protagonist whom you’d instantly admire and empathize with. There is a tinge of sadness in the story as Agnes’ situation is far removed from the good old times when her ancestors were the Sultans. Yet, the novel sparkles with optimism, and Agnes has qualities that you can only admire though she is still very young. Meticulously researched, the story is well-written and there are unexpected twists and turns which will keep you absorbed to the very end.
March 9, 2017
I'm glad I took a chance and read this.
This is Aggie’s story: "Once upon a time, I lived in a palace like a poor princess in a fairy tale and thought I had everything I wanted or needed— the turrets and winding staircases, the gleaming marble floors, the wooden parquet and the gardens. I even believed I had found a prince to rescue me. Now it was all in pieces, like a nest that had been kicked to bits." Agnes Hussein, the last surviving member of the Singapore Royal family from her generation, tells a coming of age story beautifully blended with the story of the waning royal family and the near loss and destruction of a historical landmark.
This book is not my typical reading fare. I like Historical Fiction, however, I do not usually read "princess stories". I like to step out of my boundaries every now and then to broaden my knowledge. So, I chose to read this story because I wanted to learn more about Singapore. Singapore is a fascinating country, barely the size of an American city, but it is one of the world's largest world economic trade centers and I wanted to know more about its history and culture. This book really delivers. Aggie’s story takes us on a journey through many aspects of Singapore geography, history, and culture while telling the story of the famous Istana Kampong Glam Palace.
This book was a pleasant surprise for me and I highly recommend this compelling, educational, interesting story to anyone looking for a diversion from their standard reading menu.
This is Aggie’s story: "Once upon a time, I lived in a palace like a poor princess in a fairy tale and thought I had everything I wanted or needed— the turrets and winding staircases, the gleaming marble floors, the wooden parquet and the gardens. I even believed I had found a prince to rescue me. Now it was all in pieces, like a nest that had been kicked to bits." Agnes Hussein, the last surviving member of the Singapore Royal family from her generation, tells a coming of age story beautifully blended with the story of the waning royal family and the near loss and destruction of a historical landmark.
This book is not my typical reading fare. I like Historical Fiction, however, I do not usually read "princess stories". I like to step out of my boundaries every now and then to broaden my knowledge. So, I chose to read this story because I wanted to learn more about Singapore. Singapore is a fascinating country, barely the size of an American city, but it is one of the world's largest world economic trade centers and I wanted to know more about its history and culture. This book really delivers. Aggie’s story takes us on a journey through many aspects of Singapore geography, history, and culture while telling the story of the famous Istana Kampong Glam Palace.
This book was a pleasant surprise for me and I highly recommend this compelling, educational, interesting story to anyone looking for a diversion from their standard reading menu.
September 5, 2014
Really, really lovely. Aggie, being raised by grandparents and a great uncle in a crumbling Singapore palace, is such a clear and sympathetic character, she made it easy to get sucked right into this brief novel. I felt so connected to Uncle Chachi, Nei-Nei Down, British Grandfather, Dawid and all the odd but loving inhabitants of the palace, the people who kept the orphaned Aggie's life together and for whom she had to quickly find maturity and strength over the course of this novel. I have never even really thought about Singapore, much less in the 1920s, and yet now I have this clear picture of the buildings and street life and families. So glad I selected this.
October 23, 2014
The synopsis of this book really intrigued me; I read a fair amount of historical fiction but I don’t read a lot that takes place in this part of the world. Any time I find a book that intrigues me and it’s removed from my usual European milieu I jump all over it. Singapore was pretty much an unknown for me and I’d hoped to learn something while being entertained.
Agnes Hussein is the last of the line from the final Sultan of Singapore. Due to an agreement with the British government the family can remain in their palace as long as there is a male descendant still alive. Agnes has an uncle still living but he is getting older and there is just no money for upkeep.
The book is a story of family, history and the ties that bind. It shows how sometimes a family’s history can do more harm to their future than they realize.
Agnes is young, just 17, and she lives in a state of blissful ignorance about the true state of the family’s finances. She knows they are poor but it’s how it’s always been and she only wants to continue to live in the palace no matter what. When circumstances arise to perhaps cause them to lose the palace the adults try to protect her but she thinks she can solve all the problems. The arrogance of youth.
There was so much potential in this book and it just didn’t live up to it for me. I think it needed to be a bit longer. The background needed some further development and the characters were also somewhat one note. I kept waiting for something to happen and yet it just rolled along at one emotional level.
Agnes Hussein is the last of the line from the final Sultan of Singapore. Due to an agreement with the British government the family can remain in their palace as long as there is a male descendant still alive. Agnes has an uncle still living but he is getting older and there is just no money for upkeep.
The book is a story of family, history and the ties that bind. It shows how sometimes a family’s history can do more harm to their future than they realize.
Agnes is young, just 17, and she lives in a state of blissful ignorance about the true state of the family’s finances. She knows they are poor but it’s how it’s always been and she only wants to continue to live in the palace no matter what. When circumstances arise to perhaps cause them to lose the palace the adults try to protect her but she thinks she can solve all the problems. The arrogance of youth.
There was so much potential in this book and it just didn’t live up to it for me. I think it needed to be a bit longer. The background needed some further development and the characters were also somewhat one note. I kept waiting for something to happen and yet it just rolled along at one emotional level.
June 16, 2016
There’s a lot of romance in these pages: certainly romance and love and affection for the eccentric extended family who inhabit the eponymous palace, but also romance and love and affection for Singapore itself – even if it’s a version of Singapore that has long gone.
It would be hard to read this tale of a once grand family in a once grand house struggling with good humour against the changing world and not by affected by its charm, to not get pleasure from it. This is a book which goes out of its way to be both charming and pleasurable. But – and it’s a big but – there’s also a superficiality and a sterility to it. The narrative seems content to just skate across the surface and avoid depth (witness the cardboard cut-out suiters who enter our young heroine’s life) and because it’s determined not to get its fingers dirty, it’s ultimately quite passionless and antiseptic. This book really needs to entwine the rough with the smooth, but all we’re really getting here is the smooth.
There’s a lot to like in ‘The Moonlight Place’, it’s a nice book to pass the time with. However, I only ever use the word ‘nice’ to damn with faint praise, as despite its qualities this is a book I found hard to love and – if I’m honest – I’ll probably struggle to remember it past a fortnight Tuesday.
It would be hard to read this tale of a once grand family in a once grand house struggling with good humour against the changing world and not by affected by its charm, to not get pleasure from it. This is a book which goes out of its way to be both charming and pleasurable. But – and it’s a big but – there’s also a superficiality and a sterility to it. The narrative seems content to just skate across the surface and avoid depth (witness the cardboard cut-out suiters who enter our young heroine’s life) and because it’s determined not to get its fingers dirty, it’s ultimately quite passionless and antiseptic. This book really needs to entwine the rough with the smooth, but all we’re really getting here is the smooth.
There’s a lot to like in ‘The Moonlight Place’, it’s a nice book to pass the time with. However, I only ever use the word ‘nice’ to damn with faint praise, as despite its qualities this is a book I found hard to love and – if I’m honest – I’ll probably struggle to remember it past a fortnight Tuesday.
April 13, 2015
17-year old Aggie lives with her aging relatives and a series of boarders in a crumbling palace during 1920's Singapore. They family's claim to the castle is tenuous, and they struggle to maintain their very modest standard of living with a small pension and money from Aggie's job.
This book was utterly forgettable. The characters lack depth (I found myself going back and forwards in the book trying to remember who was who because many characters weren't distinctive). Aside from stating that the book takes place in the 1920's, nothing in the story gives insight into any specific time period, and I didn't get the feel of 1920's Singapore.
The book lacks build-up, conflict, and denoument. Plot tension appears out of nowhere and disappears just as quickly.
This is probably one to skip.
This book was utterly forgettable. The characters lack depth (I found myself going back and forwards in the book trying to remember who was who because many characters weren't distinctive). Aside from stating that the book takes place in the 1920's, nothing in the story gives insight into any specific time period, and I didn't get the feel of 1920's Singapore.
The book lacks build-up, conflict, and denoument. Plot tension appears out of nowhere and disappears just as quickly.
This is probably one to skip.
September 16, 2014
This is a small book, but by no means slight. It's exotic, moving and a bit suspenseful. "The Moonlight Palace" is a coming-of-age story set in 1920s Singapore. Liz Rosenberg's heroine, Agnes, is a descendant of the last sultan of Singapore and one of the few remaining protectors of a once-glamorous palace. Agnes, age 17, is curious, stubborn, daring and naive. She's also entirely likable. You'll enjoy finding out what happens as she flirts with suitors, looks for a job and faces the possibility of losing the only home she has ever known.
October 15, 2014
I adored this book. Singapore in the 1920's. A palace and family that has fallen into ruin and a daughter trying to keep them both from crumbling.
The exotic setting had just the right amount of detail to carry me away. And the multi-cultural, multi-generational household was a tiny stage on which to explore the tensions of a changing country.
If you love young female characters who refuse to accept societal strictures when there are much bigger problems do deal with, then you'll probably enjoy this story as I did.
The exotic setting had just the right amount of detail to carry me away. And the multi-cultural, multi-generational household was a tiny stage on which to explore the tensions of a changing country.
If you love young female characters who refuse to accept societal strictures when there are much bigger problems do deal with, then you'll probably enjoy this story as I did.
January 5, 2015
Lovely and simple
The story has a simple flow that keeps you interested but not anxious for the story to end. I felt like a voyeur in the lives of these beautiful characters.
The story has a simple flow that keeps you interested but not anxious for the story to end. I felt like a voyeur in the lives of these beautiful characters.
April 25, 2021
The synopsis of this book attracted my interest and the fact that it was set in Singapore. It tells the story of a family that has slipped into genteel poverty and are trying to salvage their home, former palace of the last sultan of Singapore. The main character, Agnes, is a 17 year old girl and the story is told from her point of view. Although the book was interesting, it lacked depth.
December 3, 2020
Light and lovely, this story narrated by a 17-year old girl is mostly a historical novel set in Singapore in the 1920’s when so much was changing. Old Singapore was gradually going “modern” and nowhere faster than in the thoughts of young women eager to try new fashions like short skirts, bobbed hair, and personal independence. Agnes Hussein is a likely symbol for Singapore itself.
“Aggie” is of mixed race, much like the population. She is half Chinese, one-quarter Indian (Hindu), and one-quarter British. Like the real Singapore, it is the British portion that dominates. Her “British Grandfather” was a great soldier, well known for his record of service , bravery, connections, etc., and it is upon his pension that the family relies, although they have taken in 3 boarders to help meet expenses.
Kampong Glam Palace was given to her Grandfather for his part in assisting Britain to take over Singapore. Agnes loves her grandfather dearly, as do all the other members of the family and household, as he loves them, and he is the family leader who solves problems, keeps all hopes and spirits up, and provides solidity.
Agnes is the last heir of the late Sultan, but more important than that is her uncle, the last Male heir. If either he or British Grandfather die, the family may be required to leave the Palace, with nowhere to go and no income. The “Glam Palace” is slowly crumbling, needing major repairs. Despite the decay, Agnes loves it and feels it is her mission to save it. She says, “We have gone from nobility to genteel poverty to desperation in a few generations.”
Agnes announces that she will take a job "for her own spending money,"so after school she goes to work as a secretary and sales girl at an elite jewelry store. Later, she begins to work at a newspaper also. Her column “Singapore Style” becomes popular. Meanwhile, a good-looking man (British) begins to court her and her family, with a great interest in the Glam Palace and its acres of trees, flowering bushes, birds, and other beautiful things.
A bit of politics enters the story, having to do with police, Communism, Mao, and competing ideas of the day. Crowds gather, protests against British happen, and there is violence. In the year of this narrative, Agnes observes ugly sides of human beings.
The best parts of this book to me were the descriptions of culture: decorated streets for the Deepavali festival, the landscape, the cuisine, family customs, and the way she talked about the happy, gentle Singaporean people that her Grandfather (and others) fell in love with, and which she wants to keep alive in herself.
Agnes receives 3 marriage proposals in these 194 pages… there is a death, but there is also hope and happiness about the future of everyone including the Glam Palace itself.
A quote I enjoyed: “If you think you’ve come to an unhappy ending, it is not the true ending. Keep going awhile.” (p. 26) Three and a half stars rounded up.
“Aggie” is of mixed race, much like the population. She is half Chinese, one-quarter Indian (Hindu), and one-quarter British. Like the real Singapore, it is the British portion that dominates. Her “British Grandfather” was a great soldier, well known for his record of service , bravery, connections, etc., and it is upon his pension that the family relies, although they have taken in 3 boarders to help meet expenses.
Kampong Glam Palace was given to her Grandfather for his part in assisting Britain to take over Singapore. Agnes loves her grandfather dearly, as do all the other members of the family and household, as he loves them, and he is the family leader who solves problems, keeps all hopes and spirits up, and provides solidity.
Agnes is the last heir of the late Sultan, but more important than that is her uncle, the last Male heir. If either he or British Grandfather die, the family may be required to leave the Palace, with nowhere to go and no income. The “Glam Palace” is slowly crumbling, needing major repairs. Despite the decay, Agnes loves it and feels it is her mission to save it. She says, “We have gone from nobility to genteel poverty to desperation in a few generations.”
Agnes announces that she will take a job "for her own spending money,"so after school she goes to work as a secretary and sales girl at an elite jewelry store. Later, she begins to work at a newspaper also. Her column “Singapore Style” becomes popular. Meanwhile, a good-looking man (British) begins to court her and her family, with a great interest in the Glam Palace and its acres of trees, flowering bushes, birds, and other beautiful things.
A bit of politics enters the story, having to do with police, Communism, Mao, and competing ideas of the day. Crowds gather, protests against British happen, and there is violence. In the year of this narrative, Agnes observes ugly sides of human beings.
The best parts of this book to me were the descriptions of culture: decorated streets for the Deepavali festival, the landscape, the cuisine, family customs, and the way she talked about the happy, gentle Singaporean people that her Grandfather (and others) fell in love with, and which she wants to keep alive in herself.
Agnes receives 3 marriage proposals in these 194 pages… there is a death, but there is also hope and happiness about the future of everyone including the Glam Palace itself.
A quote I enjoyed: “If you think you’ve come to an unhappy ending, it is not the true ending. Keep going awhile.” (p. 26) Three and a half stars rounded up.
February 26, 2017
I really liked this book, set in Singapore, because it has great characters and a great setting. The plot is somewhat nostalgic, yet has a smart and strong heroine who doesn't let herself be duped when she finds out the truth about a man she thought of as a possible love interest. The strength of family also comes through in this story.
November 20, 2014
The Moonlight Palace, by Liz Rosenberg
"Let's agree right here at the outset that memory is made up of one part perception, one part intuition, and one part true invention." So begins Agnes Hussein, the unreliable narrator of The Moonlight Palace. The last descendant of the last sultan of Singapore, she is a curious teenage girl in early 20th century Singapore. Her family, once rich and important, still lives in the palace that once ruled Singapore but is now a crumbling ruin. Getting by on rent from boarders and her grandfather's military pension, the family is all but watching the clock run out. Agnes, the youngest member, has to find her way in a new world, one which is delightfully brought to life in the book. Singapore in the 1920s was a crossroads of worlds (European colonialists, Asian natives, Muslim immigrants) and times (the past and modernity), and the changes are integrated into the plot seamlessly. (My last fictional view into Singapore was a little more blatant about describing the setting.) Agnes's family finds herself at the center of the crossroads, as the power struggles to shape the future of Singapore play themselves out over the ownership of her family home. The larger ideas of what a country is ("For true progress to be made, a generation must be sacrificed.") are reflected in the battle over the sultan's palace.
In this time of change, Agnes is looking at the world as an adult for the first time. She gets her first job (from a Jew!) and develops her first crush (on an Englishman!), while her family's boarders (a Chinese student and a devout Muslim) make news, too. Agnes has to grow up in the process of dealing with her family's last throes of relevance in a rapidly changing world, and it's that world that makes you care about the story. I can't say enough about how interwoven the setting is with the story; after reading a chapter just to see what happens you realize you got to see a whole new world without having it take you out of the story. It's probably the most difficult accomplishment of historical fiction, and it's done here to near perfection.
The prose is efficient and not spectacular, though it contains a few gems:
"We were still in the honeymoon phase, when you don't tell the other person everything you are thinking."
"People fight ferociously to keep their dreams intact. ... Nations...flags...religions..."
The real accomplishment here was creating a universe and reflecting it in a microcosm of a story. Recommended.
"Let's agree right here at the outset that memory is made up of one part perception, one part intuition, and one part true invention." So begins Agnes Hussein, the unreliable narrator of The Moonlight Palace. The last descendant of the last sultan of Singapore, she is a curious teenage girl in early 20th century Singapore. Her family, once rich and important, still lives in the palace that once ruled Singapore but is now a crumbling ruin. Getting by on rent from boarders and her grandfather's military pension, the family is all but watching the clock run out. Agnes, the youngest member, has to find her way in a new world, one which is delightfully brought to life in the book. Singapore in the 1920s was a crossroads of worlds (European colonialists, Asian natives, Muslim immigrants) and times (the past and modernity), and the changes are integrated into the plot seamlessly. (My last fictional view into Singapore was a little more blatant about describing the setting.) Agnes's family finds herself at the center of the crossroads, as the power struggles to shape the future of Singapore play themselves out over the ownership of her family home. The larger ideas of what a country is ("For true progress to be made, a generation must be sacrificed.") are reflected in the battle over the sultan's palace.
In this time of change, Agnes is looking at the world as an adult for the first time. She gets her first job (from a Jew!) and develops her first crush (on an Englishman!), while her family's boarders (a Chinese student and a devout Muslim) make news, too. Agnes has to grow up in the process of dealing with her family's last throes of relevance in a rapidly changing world, and it's that world that makes you care about the story. I can't say enough about how interwoven the setting is with the story; after reading a chapter just to see what happens you realize you got to see a whole new world without having it take you out of the story. It's probably the most difficult accomplishment of historical fiction, and it's done here to near perfection.
The prose is efficient and not spectacular, though it contains a few gems:
"We were still in the honeymoon phase, when you don't tell the other person everything you are thinking."
"People fight ferociously to keep their dreams intact. ... Nations...flags...religions..."
The real accomplishment here was creating a universe and reflecting it in a microcosm of a story. Recommended.
September 19, 2014
The Moonlight Palace (click book or see below for description)
By Liz Rosenberg
Releases 10/1/14
Downloaded free through Kindle First Program – September 2014
Rating:4 bones
Finish Time: 5-6 nights. I was excited to see a historical fiction read on the Kindle Firstlist for September and this month has (you still have time to get one Prime members!) some pretty good selections compared to some past ones. Upon my highly technical Google search, I learned that this was actually a true historical fiction in that the Kampong Glam Palace (pictured below in present day) does exist and was under control of Sultan Hussein. This story follows Agnes Hussein, a direct descendant of said Sultan, who appears to be fictional.
Malay Heritage Centre, Istana Kampong Glam 3, Dec 05.JPG
17-year-old Agnes “Aggie” and random family members reside in the now crumbling Kampong Glam Palace in Singapore in the 1920’s. At first appearing naive, then coming into her own as the story proceeds, she makes it her mission to save her family’s home. The story contains a vibrant cast of characters ranging from her Uncle Chachi, to Nei-Nei Up and Nei-Nei down. Throw in a British Grandfather, some palace employees and boarders, along with a few outsiders, this story was full of drama from start to finish.
I really had a vivid picture of this crumbling palace around them (not at all like the picture above!) Almost everyone seemed to accept their situation, but Aggie knew there was something more and was determined to save her family. A bit of mystery was thrown in at the end and left me wanting so much more when it was over.
Sequel? I hope so, I felt like it ended well, yet left so much to be desired. Thanks Amazon for a great September selection!
http://mydogearedpurpose.com/2014/09/...
By Liz Rosenberg
Releases 10/1/14
Downloaded free through Kindle First Program – September 2014
Rating:4 bones
Finish Time: 5-6 nights. I was excited to see a historical fiction read on the Kindle Firstlist for September and this month has (you still have time to get one Prime members!) some pretty good selections compared to some past ones. Upon my highly technical Google search, I learned that this was actually a true historical fiction in that the Kampong Glam Palace (pictured below in present day) does exist and was under control of Sultan Hussein. This story follows Agnes Hussein, a direct descendant of said Sultan, who appears to be fictional.
Malay Heritage Centre, Istana Kampong Glam 3, Dec 05.JPG
17-year-old Agnes “Aggie” and random family members reside in the now crumbling Kampong Glam Palace in Singapore in the 1920’s. At first appearing naive, then coming into her own as the story proceeds, she makes it her mission to save her family’s home. The story contains a vibrant cast of characters ranging from her Uncle Chachi, to Nei-Nei Up and Nei-Nei down. Throw in a British Grandfather, some palace employees and boarders, along with a few outsiders, this story was full of drama from start to finish.
I really had a vivid picture of this crumbling palace around them (not at all like the picture above!) Almost everyone seemed to accept their situation, but Aggie knew there was something more and was determined to save her family. A bit of mystery was thrown in at the end and left me wanting so much more when it was over.
Sequel? I hope so, I felt like it ended well, yet left so much to be desired. Thanks Amazon for a great September selection!
http://mydogearedpurpose.com/2014/09/...
December 31, 2014
The Moonlight Palace is narrated by a teenager by the name of Agnes "Aggie" Hussein. Aggie lives in Singapore in the 1920's in a dilapidated palace called the Kampong Glam. The Hussein family was once a kind of royalty and the palace was once an opulent relic handed to her family in exchange for the family handing Singapore over to the British. Now the family lives in poverty, the palace is in ruins, and Aggie is facing the very real possibility that she may lose her family home; a home that is ingrained in her blood. (To read my full review: http://bit.ly/1wAX619)
The palace is full of eccentric characters spanning a wide gambit of nationalities ranging from her Uncle Chachi, to Nei-Nei down (who is Chinese) and British Grandfather. Aggie's family comes to like with Rosenberg's ability to make them all quirky and memorable. To make ends meet the family scrapes by on British Grandfather's military pension and the pay from boarders. The palace itself is a character and most of the story centers around the outside forces that threaten to separate the family from their home. Rosenberg describes the palace in such stunning detail that I could see all of the leaking ceilings and broken chairs, and yet I could also still see the underlying beauty.
The narrative wanders a bit, and I feel like this is characteristic of a young adult narrator, however, there were times that Aggie felt more like a witness rather than a character. As a narrator she tells a great story, but there are entire sections where she is just focusing on other characters and happenings and I never feel like she is rooted in the scene. The other issue I had was with the story's place in history. Yes, there were time appropriate indicators, but it never felt like a story that took place in the 1920's. I did feel the Singapore culture, but the historical relevance felt a little thin.
The palace is full of eccentric characters spanning a wide gambit of nationalities ranging from her Uncle Chachi, to Nei-Nei down (who is Chinese) and British Grandfather. Aggie's family comes to like with Rosenberg's ability to make them all quirky and memorable. To make ends meet the family scrapes by on British Grandfather's military pension and the pay from boarders. The palace itself is a character and most of the story centers around the outside forces that threaten to separate the family from their home. Rosenberg describes the palace in such stunning detail that I could see all of the leaking ceilings and broken chairs, and yet I could also still see the underlying beauty.
The narrative wanders a bit, and I feel like this is characteristic of a young adult narrator, however, there were times that Aggie felt more like a witness rather than a character. As a narrator she tells a great story, but there are entire sections where she is just focusing on other characters and happenings and I never feel like she is rooted in the scene. The other issue I had was with the story's place in history. Yes, there were time appropriate indicators, but it never felt like a story that took place in the 1920's. I did feel the Singapore culture, but the historical relevance felt a little thin.
October 6, 2014
"The Moonlight Palace" is a historical fiction and coming-of-age story that surrounds Agnes, a seventeen year old girl who is coping with her family's slide into a lower status. Her family used to rule Singapore but that is no longer the case. It's the 1920s, when everything was changing all over the world very rapidly. Singapore was also changing quite rapidly. The story focuses on Agnes' family and I really enjoyed the quirky characters and the rich setting.
The setting of this book was great. Singapore is always a very interesting place for me to read about and the 1920s are definitely one of my favorite decades to read about so I really enjoyed these aspects of the story. Although this is not a particularly long book, the author infuses a lot of historical detail about the setting that will keep my fellow historical fiction lovers reading with vigor.
While the setting was great, the characters are really what makes up the book for me. Agnes herself is a very interesting character because she is not only growing up and coming into her own but learning to come to terms with the change in her family status. Her family is filled with some pretty eccentric characters, which made for some very great reading. All of the characters play along a backdrop of crumbly castle, which makes a fantastic setting all of the action.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and believe that those who are looking for a historical fiction book with a blood of really interesting characters will enjoy this one.
The setting of this book was great. Singapore is always a very interesting place for me to read about and the 1920s are definitely one of my favorite decades to read about so I really enjoyed these aspects of the story. Although this is not a particularly long book, the author infuses a lot of historical detail about the setting that will keep my fellow historical fiction lovers reading with vigor.
While the setting was great, the characters are really what makes up the book for me. Agnes herself is a very interesting character because she is not only growing up and coming into her own but learning to come to terms with the change in her family status. Her family is filled with some pretty eccentric characters, which made for some very great reading. All of the characters play along a backdrop of crumbly castle, which makes a fantastic setting all of the action.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and believe that those who are looking for a historical fiction book with a blood of really interesting characters will enjoy this one.
April 3, 2015
When I first learned to read, really read, what I loved was being transported to a place I had never been and would otherwise have never experienced. This happens when the writer takes the time to weave in the same small details we pay attention to when we are somewhere we have not been before. Some refer to this as stopping to smell the roses.
Liz Rosenberg presents us with gardens, and with dusty old broken places where the cracks are as well known to those who live there as the lines in the face of a grandmother to her grandchildren. There is a time for paying close attention, and those little things we notice are what lets our minds grab ahold and recognize where we are, and what we are about.
After I read this book, I made congee with leftover chicken, picked some cilantro from the garden, and served it with peanuts, remembering breakfasts stolen with friends who were generous enough to share their food heritage with me. I may never go to Singapore, but I have been there now.
Liz Rosenberg presents us with gardens, and with dusty old broken places where the cracks are as well known to those who live there as the lines in the face of a grandmother to her grandchildren. There is a time for paying close attention, and those little things we notice are what lets our minds grab ahold and recognize where we are, and what we are about.
After I read this book, I made congee with leftover chicken, picked some cilantro from the garden, and served it with peanuts, remembering breakfasts stolen with friends who were generous enough to share their food heritage with me. I may never go to Singapore, but I have been there now.
September 19, 2015
Thank you Liz Rosenberg for taking me on a magical journey back in time to 1920 Singapore. With exquisite details and rich history, Moonlight Palace, is a delightful tale of a time and place that readers will enjoy.
Agnes Hussen, lives with her grandparents,great uncle,an eclectic group of borders and an old dedicated servant in the crumbling majestic Kampong Glam Palace, their ancestral home. Agnes loves the palace as it is her connection to her past and parents. When an unforeseen event occurs leading to the lost of her beloved home, Agnes works to discover a solution that will keep the palace in her family's hands. Both a coming of age story and a tale of family, Moonlight Palace is a vivid historical fiction novel. Agnes,the narrator, is witty and entertaining, allowing for a really fun and engaging read!
I received Moonlight Palace as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Agnes Hussen, lives with her grandparents,great uncle,an eclectic group of borders and an old dedicated servant in the crumbling majestic Kampong Glam Palace, their ancestral home. Agnes loves the palace as it is her connection to her past and parents. When an unforeseen event occurs leading to the lost of her beloved home, Agnes works to discover a solution that will keep the palace in her family's hands. Both a coming of age story and a tale of family, Moonlight Palace is a vivid historical fiction novel. Agnes,the narrator, is witty and entertaining, allowing for a really fun and engaging read!
I received Moonlight Palace as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 30, 2014
Short, readable novel that presents a coming of age story for the narrator and primary character, Agnes Hussein. Agnes is the descendant of a royal family in Singapore, living in a dilapidated palace that has seen much better days. The brevity of the novel makes some of the less primary characters, all Agnes's family, not as fully developed that one may like (particularly because they are all fascinating), but Agnes makes a good character to follow - as a reader you root for her, and feel her pain and sorrow. In many ways, the book deals with difficult topics - death, deceit, loss of heritage - but watching Agnes grow from beginning to end gives the book a transformative quality, even hopeful.
Quick read, not too deep, fun characters - another enjoyable book.
Quick read, not too deep, fun characters - another enjoyable book.
September 11, 2014
This is a sweet story about Agnes (Aggie), a 17-year-old girl (and one of the last descendents of the last Sultan) living in a crumbling old palace in Singapore in the 20s. Her parents & brother died so she lives with her Uncle Chachi, Nei Nei Down, and British Grandfather along with her created family of the devoted Dawid, an orphan street-girl, an aged housekeeper, and a couple of boarders. The members of the household and the colorful characters at her jobs are fantastic. This story is about the beauty of family, "real" and created, and all the many ways that people show love for each other.
December 12, 2014
The Moonlight Palace by Liz Rosenberg
Really enjoyed this book, it was about nothing and everything! It's like a painting, either you get or you don't. Anyone who has every loved their home, even the holes in the roof and the worn out carpet, you realise it's more then a house, it's part of who you are. I could actually imagine the smells of Singapore, the incense, spicy noodle soup, the different people of that amazing city! Found myself highlighting several passages from this book, the cranky old relatives stuck in a time long ago raising a young girl worried about her future! This is a easy book to read and ended too soon!
Really enjoyed this book, it was about nothing and everything! It's like a painting, either you get or you don't. Anyone who has every loved their home, even the holes in the roof and the worn out carpet, you realise it's more then a house, it's part of who you are. I could actually imagine the smells of Singapore, the incense, spicy noodle soup, the different people of that amazing city! Found myself highlighting several passages from this book, the cranky old relatives stuck in a time long ago raising a young girl worried about her future! This is a easy book to read and ended too soon!
November 13, 2014
I won this book in a contest at goodreads.com.....thanks.
I loved "The Moonlight Palace" because it was a tender and sweet story. The story revolves around 17 year old Agnes, her wonderful family, and the crumbling Kampong Glam Palace in the 1920's Singapore. It is another page turning novel filled with ups and downs and familial love and loyalty. It is beautifully written by Liz Rosenberg and I will be reading more of her novels If you want to read a novel that you will get lost in then this terrific book is for you.
I loved "The Moonlight Palace" because it was a tender and sweet story. The story revolves around 17 year old Agnes, her wonderful family, and the crumbling Kampong Glam Palace in the 1920's Singapore. It is another page turning novel filled with ups and downs and familial love and loyalty. It is beautifully written by Liz Rosenberg and I will be reading more of her novels If you want to read a novel that you will get lost in then this terrific book is for you.
September 6, 2014
I love this book. I don't usually give 5 stars, and I know this book is not the most deep and meaningful work of literature, but I just love it as a matter of personal taste. Sometimes I like it when the style of writing isn't strongly styled, dramatic, poetic, or unique. It is a more subtle writer's skill, I think, but incredibly powerful when plain, simple words fade from your consciousness, leaving you with the story itself, which comes alive with visual imagery of people and places and events that make you feel for them. This sweet story did that for me.
September 30, 2018
This was a short but very interesting novel. This book has a great atmosphere. Before reading this book, I knew very little about Singapore's culture and history. It was fun to learn more about the impact that so many different countries had on Singapore. This books examines the effects of colonialism, progress, and tradition. Plus, I found the characters interesting and enjoyable and I liked watching the different characters interact with each other. This book was a pretty light read, but I genuinely enjoyed it.
April 21, 2015
I liked the novel. When I first began to read, the protagonist's age made me wonder if I'd accidentally picked up a YA novel (nothing against 'em, but I was looking for a little higher-quality prose in general). Rosenberg does a fine job presenting a story of a family struggling to change with the times as the narrator learns to grow into the responsibilities of young adulthood in her world. There's no overuse of the words "protect" or "trust" like in many current, pop novels. Even the love interests are practical. I liked it, and I'd read more by this author.
September 4, 2014
I loved this book. I was given it, free, from Amazon Reads this month and am happy to have had the opportunity to read it. It takes place in a run-down palace in 1920's Singapore and follows the lives of a young woman, who is orphaned, that is being raised by her grandparents and eccentric great uncle in this crumbling palace.The young lady, Aggie, must do what she can to save the palace and keep it in the family. The story is a quick and beautifully descriptive read.
November 17, 2014
Historical period fiction 1920 Singapore
Reads like a journal in a first person narrative of a young lady in early 1900's in Singapore. Aggie is mixed race heritage, living in the decaying family palace with a wide generation of relations and boarders, going to high school, working, and generally trying to survive. Well done peak into this era with great characterization and story line. Recommend to readers 12 and older.
Reads like a journal in a first person narrative of a young lady in early 1900's in Singapore. Aggie is mixed race heritage, living in the decaying family palace with a wide generation of relations and boarders, going to high school, working, and generally trying to survive. Well done peak into this era with great characterization and story line. Recommend to readers 12 and older.
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