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Southern Swallow #1
The Academician
"A bigger fool the world has never known than I - a coarse fellow with no business to clutch a brush and scribble. I only know the scrawl, because my master took pleasure in teaching me between my chores. Not many men are so cursed . . ." Thus begins the tale of Li K'ai-men as told by his faithful, but mischievous servant, K'u Ko-ling - a tale of 12th Century China, where state service meant a life long journey across a landscape of turmoil and bliss. A tale of sacrifice, love, war and duty - a fragile balance between rituals and passions. Here begins the legacy of the Jade Owl and its custodian as he holds true to his warrants. The Academician is the first of four books in the Southern Swallow series, capturing the turbulence of the Sung Dynasty in transition. Spanning the silvery days under the Emperor Hui to the disasters that followed, The Academician is a slice of world events that should never have been forgotten.
402 pages, Paperback
First published March 3, 2009
About the author
Edward C. Patterson
60 books36 followersEdward C. Patterson has been writing novels, short fiction, poetry and drama his entire life, always seeking the emotional core of any story he tells. With his eighth novel, The Jade Owl, he combines an imaginative touch with his life long devotion to China and its history. He has earned an MA in Chinese History from Brooklyn College with further post graduate work at Columbia University. A native of Brooklyn, NY, he has spent four decades as a soldier in the corporate world gaining insight into the human condition. He won the 1999 New Jersey Minority Achievement Award for his work in corporate diversity. Blending world travel experiences with a passion for story telling, his adventures continue as he works to permeate his reader's souls from an indelible wellspring.
Published Novels by Edward C. Patterson include No Irish Need Apply, Bobby's Trace, Cutting the Cheese, Surviving an American Gulag and Turning Idolater. Poetry includes The Closet Clandestine: a queer steps out and Come, Wewoka - and - Diary of Medicine Flower.
From my mind to your imagination . . .
Published Novels by Edward C. Patterson include No Irish Need Apply, Bobby's Trace, Cutting the Cheese, Surviving an American Gulag and Turning Idolater. Poetry includes The Closet Clandestine: a queer steps out and Come, Wewoka - and - Diary of Medicine Flower.
From my mind to your imagination . . .
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 8, 2013
4+
The turbulent 12th century. Bandit armies, barbarian armies. Misgovernment, corruption, starvation. I found this to be an often hard-hitting portrait of those times, full of moral complexity.
Our young main enters the civil service and moves up to the court. He has an arranged marriage and a cut-sleeve affair. Cut-sleeve is old Chinese for gay. These relationships were told of very much within their setting.
One thing that wasn’t within the setting I thought a shame: that’s a connection to the author’s contemporary, supernatural novels. Because my interests are historical, this was an intrusion.
Exquisitely researched, finely told.
The turbulent 12th century. Bandit armies, barbarian armies. Misgovernment, corruption, starvation. I found this to be an often hard-hitting portrait of those times, full of moral complexity.
Our young main enters the civil service and moves up to the court. He has an arranged marriage and a cut-sleeve affair. Cut-sleeve is old Chinese for gay. These relationships were told of very much within their setting.
One thing that wasn’t within the setting I thought a shame: that’s a connection to the author’s contemporary, supernatural novels. Because my interests are historical, this was an intrusion.
Exquisitely researched, finely told.
June 13, 2009
12th Century China – Graduating with the highest honor at the academy, Li K’ai-men is charged by his great teacher and master Han Lin with carrying out a number of warrants both public and secret. Designated as the new superintendent of Su-chou, Li K’ai-men restores order and beauty to this chronically neglected area and proves he is more than an academic. However, Li is not perfect and his errors in judgment only serve to build his character; soon his talents are recognized by the Emperor and K’ai-men finds himself tutor to a royal prince. But political unrest and war soon come and China quickly finds itself turmoil. Not only must Li K’ai-men protect his prince, but also the secret warrants associated with the Jade Owl relics.
In The Academician, Edward C. Patterson takes the reader into the heart of 12th century China and the historical events that unfold. Patterson masterfully weaves in the fictional fantastic elements of the Jade Owl and the character of Li K’ai-men during the sweeping changes in China’s dynasties centering around the great painter but ineffective Emperor Hui and his family. Fans of Patterson will once again find a story strong in character development and steeped in ancient Chinese culture and events of the day with hints of the fantastical elements that are sure to build in later installments.
Told from the perspective of K’u Ko-ling - Li K’ai-men’s faithful though occasionally acerbic servant - each chapter begins with a 1st person account of events detailed in the remainder of the chapter. In this way, Patterson is able to avoid too much exposition while still conveying the richness of the history woven into the story.
Reminiscent of James Clavell’s work but injected with even stronger character development with the addition of the fantastical elements, Patterson creates an engaging and enlightening read.
Fans of the Jade Owl Legacy will find the beginnings of this relic and its associates. Much like the back-story extras on a good collector’s addition of a DVD, the Academician provides that detailed background into what would later drive Rowden Grey and Nick Battle into the quest of a lifetime. I’m looking forward to the next offering in the Southern Swallow series.
In The Academician, Edward C. Patterson takes the reader into the heart of 12th century China and the historical events that unfold. Patterson masterfully weaves in the fictional fantastic elements of the Jade Owl and the character of Li K’ai-men during the sweeping changes in China’s dynasties centering around the great painter but ineffective Emperor Hui and his family. Fans of Patterson will once again find a story strong in character development and steeped in ancient Chinese culture and events of the day with hints of the fantastical elements that are sure to build in later installments.
Told from the perspective of K’u Ko-ling - Li K’ai-men’s faithful though occasionally acerbic servant - each chapter begins with a 1st person account of events detailed in the remainder of the chapter. In this way, Patterson is able to avoid too much exposition while still conveying the richness of the history woven into the story.
Reminiscent of James Clavell’s work but injected with even stronger character development with the addition of the fantastical elements, Patterson creates an engaging and enlightening read.
Fans of the Jade Owl Legacy will find the beginnings of this relic and its associates. Much like the back-story extras on a good collector’s addition of a DVD, the Academician provides that detailed background into what would later drive Rowden Grey and Nick Battle into the quest of a lifetime. I’m looking forward to the next offering in the Southern Swallow series.
November 11, 2011
Original review at: http://goodbookalert.blogspot.com/201...
The Academician (Southern Swallow, Book 1)
Author: Edward C. Patterson (http://www.dancaster.com/)
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 4.5 Stars
The Academician successfully transports the modern reader back in both mindset and experience to a exquisitely, but not overwhelmingly, rendered 12th-century China.
Summary:
Theory and study are not the same as practice. In the 12th-century Song Dynasty, Scholar-bureaucrat Li K'ai-men and his servant K'u Ko-ling are forced to confront this truth as Li K'ai-men's career takes him from the harsh realities of rural administration to the political viper's nest of the capital at a time when enemies threaten the borders of the country.
Review:
A good work of historical fiction is a time machine. A bad work of historical fiction is a dry encyclopedia merely pretending to be a story or a just a modern story where people are wearing funny costumes. The Academician is a very good time machine, indeed. Whether you're already well-versed in Chinese history or know nothing about it, this novel will likely teach you something new.
The story is infused with details, both major and subtle, throughout that completely draw the reader into the nature of life in the 12th-century Song Dynasty. All the while, these details only serve to enhance the story and don't come off as unnecessary embellishments. Given the nature and scope of the plot, the author skillfully explores not just general trappings of setting but also the very fundamental beliefs that motivated people in the story's place and time.
For thousands of years, all cultures have debated the fundamental questions of ethics and morality. What does it mean to live a righteous life? What responsibility does the government play in people's lives? What sort of sacrifices are permissible for the greater good?
The Academician, first and foremost is the story of a man and his younger servant experiencing the gulf between the ideal and the reality, but in doing so it explores some of the above questions in a Confucian (and to a lesser extent Taoist and Buddhist) context in a way that's interesting without being drearily didactic. Li K'ai-men, though sometimes distanced from the reader because of a framing device that often has his story being told through his servant's POV, is a well-developed character. The reader is also treated to the development of the aforementioned servant, K'u Ko-ling, who starts out as a wide-eyed awestruck boy and matures into a sharp-witted, if somewhat cynical, adult.
The plot is actually divided into two relatively discrete halves: the first covers Li K'ai-men's first real experience with administration and the second his time as an Imperial tutor. They are intriguing in that they explore the character growth of the protagonists while also providing thorough thematic explorations of the benefits and disadvantages of the complex, centrally-controlled bureaucratic government that defined the era. What's particularly fascinating is that the author manages to present us with a realistic and idealistic protagonist, the embodiment of the Confucian scholar-bureaucrat ideal, who lives and works in a land and time where corruption had seeped thoroughly into the system. This is not a story about one man turning back the tide of history, but rather a story about the ways one idealistic man can successfully live a half-way decent life despite the wretched stench of that same tide.
With bandits inside and hostile powers threatening the country from without, this was not a time and place free from violence. Justice itself was often brutal as well. Accordingly, there are a small number of scenes featuring some rather severe violence. These are not gratuitous and are actually vital for understanding the character development of the protagonist.
Those who've had some training in any of the Chinese dialects will recognize that the author actually uses multiple romanization systems throughout. The intent, apparently, was to make the names more easily comprehensible to readers with absolutely no background in Chinese. Overall, despite being rather personally partisan on the issue of Chinese romanization, I found this mixing of systems didn't distract from my reading at all.
Though there's a bit more of a military focus in the second half, overall, this is not a story that places a tremendous amount of emphasis on such elements. The general lack of action, combined with a general sedate plot progression, may not appeal to all readers, but patient readers with an interest in either Imperial Chinese history or just complex urbanized societies will likely enjoy this.
4.5 Stars
The Academician (Southern Swallow, Book 1)
Author: Edward C. Patterson (http://www.dancaster.com/)
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 4.5 Stars
The Academician successfully transports the modern reader back in both mindset and experience to a exquisitely, but not overwhelmingly, rendered 12th-century China.
Summary:
Theory and study are not the same as practice. In the 12th-century Song Dynasty, Scholar-bureaucrat Li K'ai-men and his servant K'u Ko-ling are forced to confront this truth as Li K'ai-men's career takes him from the harsh realities of rural administration to the political viper's nest of the capital at a time when enemies threaten the borders of the country.
Review:
A good work of historical fiction is a time machine. A bad work of historical fiction is a dry encyclopedia merely pretending to be a story or a just a modern story where people are wearing funny costumes. The Academician is a very good time machine, indeed. Whether you're already well-versed in Chinese history or know nothing about it, this novel will likely teach you something new.
The story is infused with details, both major and subtle, throughout that completely draw the reader into the nature of life in the 12th-century Song Dynasty. All the while, these details only serve to enhance the story and don't come off as unnecessary embellishments. Given the nature and scope of the plot, the author skillfully explores not just general trappings of setting but also the very fundamental beliefs that motivated people in the story's place and time.
For thousands of years, all cultures have debated the fundamental questions of ethics and morality. What does it mean to live a righteous life? What responsibility does the government play in people's lives? What sort of sacrifices are permissible for the greater good?
The Academician, first and foremost is the story of a man and his younger servant experiencing the gulf between the ideal and the reality, but in doing so it explores some of the above questions in a Confucian (and to a lesser extent Taoist and Buddhist) context in a way that's interesting without being drearily didactic. Li K'ai-men, though sometimes distanced from the reader because of a framing device that often has his story being told through his servant's POV, is a well-developed character. The reader is also treated to the development of the aforementioned servant, K'u Ko-ling, who starts out as a wide-eyed awestruck boy and matures into a sharp-witted, if somewhat cynical, adult.
The plot is actually divided into two relatively discrete halves: the first covers Li K'ai-men's first real experience with administration and the second his time as an Imperial tutor. They are intriguing in that they explore the character growth of the protagonists while also providing thorough thematic explorations of the benefits and disadvantages of the complex, centrally-controlled bureaucratic government that defined the era. What's particularly fascinating is that the author manages to present us with a realistic and idealistic protagonist, the embodiment of the Confucian scholar-bureaucrat ideal, who lives and works in a land and time where corruption had seeped thoroughly into the system. This is not a story about one man turning back the tide of history, but rather a story about the ways one idealistic man can successfully live a half-way decent life despite the wretched stench of that same tide.
With bandits inside and hostile powers threatening the country from without, this was not a time and place free from violence. Justice itself was often brutal as well. Accordingly, there are a small number of scenes featuring some rather severe violence. These are not gratuitous and are actually vital for understanding the character development of the protagonist.
Those who've had some training in any of the Chinese dialects will recognize that the author actually uses multiple romanization systems throughout. The intent, apparently, was to make the names more easily comprehensible to readers with absolutely no background in Chinese. Overall, despite being rather personally partisan on the issue of Chinese romanization, I found this mixing of systems didn't distract from my reading at all.
Though there's a bit more of a military focus in the second half, overall, this is not a story that places a tremendous amount of emphasis on such elements. The general lack of action, combined with a general sedate plot progression, may not appeal to all readers, but patient readers with an interest in either Imperial Chinese history or just complex urbanized societies will likely enjoy this.
4.5 Stars
February 16, 2026
I like Chinese history and character studies, so the dry, almost textbook like prose didn't bother me, but while the book hints at fantasy elements, nothing fantasy actually ends up happening.
April 21, 2013
I suppose one can label this work a gay historical at a stretch – but unlike many other such titles in the gay genre fiction ranks, this is not set in some Anglo-European country. Instead, the author takes us back almost a thousand years to the Sung Dynasty of 12th century ancient China where the Emperor is revered as a the son of heaven (i.e. a god incarnate) whose whims and fancies affect the lives and effect the demise of millions of subjects.
Given the academic credentials of the author Patterson, I was thoroughly impressed with his many detailed and in-depth descriptions of actual historical events as well the social mores and values of the ancient Chinese (the Han people), court proceedings and protocols, political intrigue, assassinations etc. The times of indeed perilous – ruthless local bandit armies rampage through the countryside decimating the peasants for food and supplies, the very real and impending invasion from the north by the barbaric Jurchen horsemen tribes.
Our hero scholar Li K'ai-men gets inducted into the rural politics of administrating a major regional city before being promoted to Grand Tutor to the ninth son of the current Sung emperor. Accompanying Li K'ai-men on his unfolding adventures and trials is his faithful attendant servant boy – Ko Ling, whose wry comments and observations book-end each chapter as a sort of retrospective ‘Greek chorus’ on what life-lessons are gleaned through the pains, joys, triumphs and horrific tragedies be-falling them. The gay aspect of the tale can be found in Li K'ai-men’s passionate and devoted love for another male scholar (despite following expected cultural traditions by marrying and siring a child) – how the members of his ménage-a-trio negotiate their living arrangements proved quite fascinating for me.
The author does not pull back from describing horrific torture and pillaging scenarios. The Jurchen invasion and decimation of the northern capital K'ai-feng was amply and well-drawn, but some balance is provided by humorous anecdotes and wry observations by the servant-boy Ko Ling as he goes about his master’s business.
Despite being a historical work on the whole, Patterson throws in some mystical / fantasy elements in the form of some sacred rites, objects and system of beliefs passed down from his mentor to Li K'ai-men. Passages allude to a portal briefly established between the then historical time and the modern day … which may forge links to another the prolific author’s many series of books (Jade Owl Legacy series).
To be honest, I’m not sure what instigated me to get this title. I was a little afraid that the historical elements would overwhelm the tale and get too staid / dry for my tastes. I was fortunately proven wrong and Patterson writes his characters and scenes so well that I've moved onto and read the two subsequent titles to this Southern Swallow series; I'm highly anticipating books 4 and 5 whenever they come available. I think this is an enjoyable way to learn more of my own racial and cultural history – although the many-part character names took some getting used to initially.
Given the academic credentials of the author Patterson, I was thoroughly impressed with his many detailed and in-depth descriptions of actual historical events as well the social mores and values of the ancient Chinese (the Han people), court proceedings and protocols, political intrigue, assassinations etc. The times of indeed perilous – ruthless local bandit armies rampage through the countryside decimating the peasants for food and supplies, the very real and impending invasion from the north by the barbaric Jurchen horsemen tribes.
Our hero scholar Li K'ai-men gets inducted into the rural politics of administrating a major regional city before being promoted to Grand Tutor to the ninth son of the current Sung emperor. Accompanying Li K'ai-men on his unfolding adventures and trials is his faithful attendant servant boy – Ko Ling, whose wry comments and observations book-end each chapter as a sort of retrospective ‘Greek chorus’ on what life-lessons are gleaned through the pains, joys, triumphs and horrific tragedies be-falling them. The gay aspect of the tale can be found in Li K'ai-men’s passionate and devoted love for another male scholar (despite following expected cultural traditions by marrying and siring a child) – how the members of his ménage-a-trio negotiate their living arrangements proved quite fascinating for me.
The author does not pull back from describing horrific torture and pillaging scenarios. The Jurchen invasion and decimation of the northern capital K'ai-feng was amply and well-drawn, but some balance is provided by humorous anecdotes and wry observations by the servant-boy Ko Ling as he goes about his master’s business.
Despite being a historical work on the whole, Patterson throws in some mystical / fantasy elements in the form of some sacred rites, objects and system of beliefs passed down from his mentor to Li K'ai-men. Passages allude to a portal briefly established between the then historical time and the modern day … which may forge links to another the prolific author’s many series of books (Jade Owl Legacy series).
To be honest, I’m not sure what instigated me to get this title. I was a little afraid that the historical elements would overwhelm the tale and get too staid / dry for my tastes. I was fortunately proven wrong and Patterson writes his characters and scenes so well that I've moved onto and read the two subsequent titles to this Southern Swallow series; I'm highly anticipating books 4 and 5 whenever they come available. I think this is an enjoyable way to learn more of my own racial and cultural history – although the many-part character names took some getting used to initially.
June 27, 2010
Edward C. Patterson, one of the most prolific indie authors I’ve encountered, has published (by my rough count) somewhere between 15 and 17 books and has another 6 or 7 on the way. Some of these are on Kindle, some in paperback, some available through both. The point is, this guy can generate some words. And he’s been writing long enough to have developed a confident command of the language. His books are rich in detail, and filled with minutiae. Patterson seems not to labor over every detail, but to naturally sprinkle these convincing spices into his work morsel by morsel, whimsically and flippantly, but always with little effort. He makes it look easy and these colorful details build a world, populate his environment, and become the essence of his writing.
The Academician, the first of four books in Patterson’s Southern Swallow series, takes us on an epic journey through 12th Century China. A government servant (think of him as a middle manager for the Hui Dynasty) Li K-ai-men and his servant K’u Ko-ling travel through the country together and, shall we say, bond with each other. The story is rich in history and filled with meticulous detail, descriptions of the food, clothing, and customs are expertly concocted with historical precision. The execution of brigand Ch’ien Mu by blade (literally a death by 1,000 slices) is gripping in its violence.
The relationship between master and servant, though not entirely inappropriate, does cause complications for Li K-ai-men, who knows his lover can be “neither concubine for inheritor,” but continues the affair, losing his wife’s trust.
This is heavy reading. It was difficult to read in large chunks and I kept taking breaks to devour something quick and easy before picking it up again to chew through another 100 pages. The writing is excellent and feels like Patterson went back in time to the 12th Century, lived there for years, and came back to write this book. Or perhaps he’s actually from the 12th Century? The research is that strong.
This should be a 4-star book, but I’m deducting half a star for the cover. I’ve stressed again and again the importance of a strong cover but this one is blurry and difficult to interpret. It looks like a low-resolution jpeg was expanded by Microsoft Paint and then shrunk, expanded, shrunk and expanded again. Make sure your cover is designed by a pro.
All in all, a good book backed by very strong writing and expert knowledge of the setting.
The Academician, the first of four books in Patterson’s Southern Swallow series, takes us on an epic journey through 12th Century China. A government servant (think of him as a middle manager for the Hui Dynasty) Li K-ai-men and his servant K’u Ko-ling travel through the country together and, shall we say, bond with each other. The story is rich in history and filled with meticulous detail, descriptions of the food, clothing, and customs are expertly concocted with historical precision. The execution of brigand Ch’ien Mu by blade (literally a death by 1,000 slices) is gripping in its violence.
The relationship between master and servant, though not entirely inappropriate, does cause complications for Li K-ai-men, who knows his lover can be “neither concubine for inheritor,” but continues the affair, losing his wife’s trust.
This is heavy reading. It was difficult to read in large chunks and I kept taking breaks to devour something quick and easy before picking it up again to chew through another 100 pages. The writing is excellent and feels like Patterson went back in time to the 12th Century, lived there for years, and came back to write this book. Or perhaps he’s actually from the 12th Century? The research is that strong.
This should be a 4-star book, but I’m deducting half a star for the cover. I’ve stressed again and again the importance of a strong cover but this one is blurry and difficult to interpret. It looks like a low-resolution jpeg was expanded by Microsoft Paint and then shrunk, expanded, shrunk and expanded again. Make sure your cover is designed by a pro.
All in all, a good book backed by very strong writing and expert knowledge of the setting.
October 3, 2013
The Academician - by Edward C. Patterson
Ever since I read some of James Clavell’s Asian Saga stories in the 70’s, I have loved Asian epics. So when The Acedemician came into view, my interest was immediately piqued.
The book did not disappoint. Patterson has written a story of the rise of a young scholar in 12th century China, who by his top marks in examinations for office is appointed to a post far exceeding the low rank of a fisherman’s son. His mentor has taught him well the adage `form over function`, and that becomes his mantra. Told in first person by his dedicated servant, who has a unique, wryly sharp voice and an eye for detail, the journey is long, hard and riveting.
The moral and mystical elements are just enough to keep the book captivating and of value. The characters are well drawn and engaging, the writing beautiful for the most part.
There were a few niggles which made the writing uneven. Some of the coarse words seemed more suited to later period Anglo merchant seamen than the setting of the book would suggest and could have been (and often were) done more creatively and believably; and sprinkled in were a few other words that felt out of time and place. There were several dropped letters at ends of words, mostly plural or tense related, and these seemed to increase as the book went on, but I read the book on Kindle and chalked it up to the fickleness of ebook publishing. And there were enough times when ‘passed’ was used instead of ‘past’ that it became distracting. I mention these niggles because the story, lyrical writing, setting and characters were so alluring that with a bit of good editing this book could have been (indeed still could be) right up there with the best of the books of this nature. It`s that good.
I intend to read more in this series and indeed may go looking for other books from this author...
Ever since I read some of James Clavell’s Asian Saga stories in the 70’s, I have loved Asian epics. So when The Acedemician came into view, my interest was immediately piqued.
The book did not disappoint. Patterson has written a story of the rise of a young scholar in 12th century China, who by his top marks in examinations for office is appointed to a post far exceeding the low rank of a fisherman’s son. His mentor has taught him well the adage `form over function`, and that becomes his mantra. Told in first person by his dedicated servant, who has a unique, wryly sharp voice and an eye for detail, the journey is long, hard and riveting.
The moral and mystical elements are just enough to keep the book captivating and of value. The characters are well drawn and engaging, the writing beautiful for the most part.
There were a few niggles which made the writing uneven. Some of the coarse words seemed more suited to later period Anglo merchant seamen than the setting of the book would suggest and could have been (and often were) done more creatively and believably; and sprinkled in were a few other words that felt out of time and place. There were several dropped letters at ends of words, mostly plural or tense related, and these seemed to increase as the book went on, but I read the book on Kindle and chalked it up to the fickleness of ebook publishing. And there were enough times when ‘passed’ was used instead of ‘past’ that it became distracting. I mention these niggles because the story, lyrical writing, setting and characters were so alluring that with a bit of good editing this book could have been (indeed still could be) right up there with the best of the books of this nature. It`s that good.
I intend to read more in this series and indeed may go looking for other books from this author...
July 4, 2016
Chinese Historical Novel
This writer knows his history &crafts his story within it. It's a good story that one hopes will turn into one of those great epic tales. Mr Patterson obviously has talent.
I had to suspend my belief that a wife would want to share her body with a homosexual lover, but that was no more difficult than suspending my belief that a wife would choose her husbands 2nd wife or concubine in any other of the multitudes of stories by other authors
If anything it seems like a missed opportunity to develop a real character; who feels pain, anger, or fury at her servitude. However, women in books like these are often portrayed as lack luster dolls whose beauty & kindness are all that is needed to explain them. It would have been more believable if she at least had a goal; practiced some scheming. If not for herself, then at least for her child.
In fact, the only strong woman in this story is the mean, ol evil, Dowager Empress. There is a small storyline that could explain her bitterness toward her previous husband but not a lot to explain her motives for hiding behind a screen in the Emperor's throne room or caring for an unrelated woman whose son becomes the heir to the dynasty.
I also felt he ending was not reality an ending. More like an arbitrary cut down the middle of the book, just to end somewhere & publish another book.
Novels need editing & these are small things that we must give over to our story teller who takes the stage to tell us a grand story set back in a time & culture that most western writers could not venture into. Well done.
This writer knows his history &crafts his story within it. It's a good story that one hopes will turn into one of those great epic tales. Mr Patterson obviously has talent.
I had to suspend my belief that a wife would want to share her body with a homosexual lover, but that was no more difficult than suspending my belief that a wife would choose her husbands 2nd wife or concubine in any other of the multitudes of stories by other authors
If anything it seems like a missed opportunity to develop a real character; who feels pain, anger, or fury at her servitude. However, women in books like these are often portrayed as lack luster dolls whose beauty & kindness are all that is needed to explain them. It would have been more believable if she at least had a goal; practiced some scheming. If not for herself, then at least for her child.
In fact, the only strong woman in this story is the mean, ol evil, Dowager Empress. There is a small storyline that could explain her bitterness toward her previous husband but not a lot to explain her motives for hiding behind a screen in the Emperor's throne room or caring for an unrelated woman whose son becomes the heir to the dynasty.
I also felt he ending was not reality an ending. More like an arbitrary cut down the middle of the book, just to end somewhere & publish another book.
Novels need editing & these are small things that we must give over to our story teller who takes the stage to tell us a grand story set back in a time & culture that most western writers could not venture into. Well done.
January 15, 2019
I don't know a lot about Chinese history, but it seems the author does and has incorporated that knowledge into this grand adventure. The book is well written and a bit of the goings on are not for the faint hearted reader. Despite that fact, I thin k readers are going to find themselves lost in ancient China and in the lives of those who lived through a different time.
September 23, 2013
The first half was kind of slow, but the next half had a national crisis that spiced things up.
Read
June 26, 2017This is a case of it's not you it's me.
I tried to read something outside of my comfort zone (i.e. Romance, mystery, and graphic novels) and picked this because it had queer characters. But I've been reading for months and am only creeping forward in increments of one of two percent.
I've no doubt the author knows his subject and he writes well but I'm not engaged with either the characters or the subject matter.
I'm afraid it's time to give up because there are too many books that I *want* to read.
I tried to read something outside of my comfort zone (i.e. Romance, mystery, and graphic novels) and picked this because it had queer characters. But I've been reading for months and am only creeping forward in increments of one of two percent.
I've no doubt the author knows his subject and he writes well but I'm not engaged with either the characters or the subject matter.
I'm afraid it's time to give up because there are too many books that I *want* to read.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews