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The Seventh Moon
From the international bestselling author of THE MASK OF TIME and THE SEVENTH MOON.
From the international bestselling author of THE MASK OF TIME and THE ORIGINAL SIN.
As World War II rages, Francine Lawrence and her small daughter, Ruth, wait in the fading splendor of Raffles Hotel in Singapore for Francine's British husband. But when he is delayed, Francine, half-Chinese and unwelcome there, is forced to begin a terrifying journey. Seeking to escape a world exploding in nightmare, Francine ultimately makes a gut-wrenching decision: to entrust Ruth to strangers in order to save the child's life. But when the war ends, all traces of Ruth have vanished; years of searching bring only heartbreak.
Three decades later Francine is a formidable businesswoman, pouring all her energies into her companies. Then one day a soft-spoken young woman walks into her New York office on the Festival of the Hungry Ghosts. Her name is Sakura, and she hints that she may be Francine's daughter. What Francine does not know is that beneath Sakura's calm surface lives the heart of a warrior. Francine cannot begin to imagine the places Sakura has been, the horrors she has endured--or the secret that gives her the strongest motive in the world to lie...
From the international bestselling author of THE MASK OF TIME and THE ORIGINAL SIN.
As World War II rages, Francine Lawrence and her small daughter, Ruth, wait in the fading splendor of Raffles Hotel in Singapore for Francine's British husband. But when he is delayed, Francine, half-Chinese and unwelcome there, is forced to begin a terrifying journey. Seeking to escape a world exploding in nightmare, Francine ultimately makes a gut-wrenching decision: to entrust Ruth to strangers in order to save the child's life. But when the war ends, all traces of Ruth have vanished; years of searching bring only heartbreak.
Three decades later Francine is a formidable businesswoman, pouring all her energies into her companies. Then one day a soft-spoken young woman walks into her New York office on the Festival of the Hungry Ghosts. Her name is Sakura, and she hints that she may be Francine's daughter. What Francine does not know is that beneath Sakura's calm surface lives the heart of a warrior. Francine cannot begin to imagine the places Sakura has been, the horrors she has endured--or the secret that gives her the strongest motive in the world to lie...
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
545 people are currently reading
933 people want to read
About the author
Marius Gabriel
41 books559 followersMarius Gabriel is an international thriller and mystery writer.
Under the pseudonym Madeleine Ker, he wrote over 30 romance novels in the 1980s.
As Marius Gabriel he has written several mystery best-sellers, some of them historical novels.
He has three grown-up children and currently lives in Cairo and London. He is 59.
Under the pseudonym Madeleine Ker, he wrote over 30 romance novels in the 1980s.
As Marius Gabriel he has written several mystery best-sellers, some of them historical novels.
He has three grown-up children and currently lives in Cairo and London. He is 59.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 141 reviews
January 11, 2021
4.4⭐
Втората световна война в Азия е не по-малко ожесточена , японските жестокости из региона не пощадяват дори децата.
30 години по-късно една жена отдавна изгубила надежда да види детето си отново получава странно обаждане .
Габриел отново чудесен както в " Плът и кръв " създава много живи образи , динамика и много екзотичен вкус с този свои "азиатски трилър ".
Втората световна война в Азия е не по-малко ожесточена , японските жестокости из региона не пощадяват дори децата.
30 години по-късно една жена отдавна изгубила надежда да види детето си отново получава странно обаждане .
Габриел отново чудесен както в " Плът и кръв " създава много живи образи , динамика и много екзотичен вкус с този свои "азиатски трилър ".
January 17, 2022
Чудесен разказвач е Мариус Габриел, просто чудесен! Увлича с такава лекота, че неусетно препускаш през страниците и попиваш историите.
" Седмата луна" е трогателна книга, изпълнена със силни емоционални преживявания и много перипетии. Историята се разгръща на фона на войната, в която Япония ужесточено напада Китай, Сингапур и
още множество азиатски държави. Франсин е млада евразийка, женена за англичанин. След като започват японските атаки, тя се оказва в ситуация, в която е принудена да остави детето си, за да може да го спаси. От там започва нейната истинска вътрешна борба. Франсин преминава през множество несгоди, полага неистови усилия да намери дъщеря си и да запълни дупката, която войната е оставила в сърцето й. Години по- късно миналото й я връхлита със страшна сила и я оставя пред дилемата да направи важен избор, облягайки се или на разума, или на интуицията на изтлялото й майчино чувство.
Мариус Габриел ни поднася една вихрушка от човешки взаимоотношения и любов, трагедия, загуба, болка и борба за оцеляване.
" Седмата луна" е трогателна книга, изпълнена със силни емоционални преживявания и много перипетии. Историята се разгръща на фона на войната, в която Япония ужесточено напада Китай, Сингапур и
още множество азиатски държави. Франсин е млада евразийка, женена за англичанин. След като започват японските атаки, тя се оказва в ситуация, в която е принудена да остави детето си, за да може да го спаси. От там започва нейната истинска вътрешна борба. Франсин преминава през множество несгоди, полага неистови усилия да намери дъщеря си и да запълни дупката, която войната е оставила в сърцето й. Години по- късно миналото й я връхлита със страшна сила и я оставя пред дилемата да направи важен избор, облягайки се или на разума, или на интуицията на изтлялото й майчино чувство.
Мариус Габриел ни поднася една вихрушка от човешки взаимоотношения и любов, трагедия, загуба, болка и борба за оцеляване.
May 26, 2014
A WELL CRAFTED STORY
To be honest this is not my usual sort of read, but I was gifted a copy by the authors representative in exchange for a review. The story itself spans more than thirty decades, beginning in WWII and the Japanese invasion of Singapore. Francine Lawrence is a Eurasian woman married to an Englishman, a mining engineer. As the threat from the Japanese increases he sends her away with their young daughter Ruth to the famous Raffles hotel, with the promise to join them soon. As the days pass by Francines husband's absence makes her more and more anxious. Soon it becomes clear that he isn't coming. Francine meets another man at the hotel Major Clive Napier he becomes Francine's lover. Eventually it's with Clive's assistance that they attempt to escape. Then through a set of harrowing circumstances Francine is forced to leave Ruth with strangers, hoping to be reunited with her later.
Thirty years later a young woman walks into Francine's New York office, her name is Sakura Ueda. But is she Francine's long lost daughter or a complete fraudster looking for a handout, as Francine is now a very wealthy business woman. As the story unfolds the truth will be told.
I think I will have to describe this book an unputdownable. It's very well written, fast moving with plenty of drama and twists to the plot. I liked the characters each of them had real depth. I particularly liked Clive he was loyal and loving, even though Francine didn't always treat him very well. Sakura was a very complex character with many hidden depths and secrets. As for Francine she had been through a lot, but at times she was a little too harsh, but I did get that. This is a great read from an author I have not read before, but I'm definitely going to read more of his work.
To be honest this is not my usual sort of read, but I was gifted a copy by the authors representative in exchange for a review. The story itself spans more than thirty decades, beginning in WWII and the Japanese invasion of Singapore. Francine Lawrence is a Eurasian woman married to an Englishman, a mining engineer. As the threat from the Japanese increases he sends her away with their young daughter Ruth to the famous Raffles hotel, with the promise to join them soon. As the days pass by Francines husband's absence makes her more and more anxious. Soon it becomes clear that he isn't coming. Francine meets another man at the hotel Major Clive Napier he becomes Francine's lover. Eventually it's with Clive's assistance that they attempt to escape. Then through a set of harrowing circumstances Francine is forced to leave Ruth with strangers, hoping to be reunited with her later.
Thirty years later a young woman walks into Francine's New York office, her name is Sakura Ueda. But is she Francine's long lost daughter or a complete fraudster looking for a handout, as Francine is now a very wealthy business woman. As the story unfolds the truth will be told.
I think I will have to describe this book an unputdownable. It's very well written, fast moving with plenty of drama and twists to the plot. I liked the characters each of them had real depth. I particularly liked Clive he was loyal and loving, even though Francine didn't always treat him very well. Sakura was a very complex character with many hidden depths and secrets. As for Francine she had been through a lot, but at times she was a little too harsh, but I did get that. This is a great read from an author I have not read before, but I'm definitely going to read more of his work.
April 6, 2014
Title: The Seventh Moon
Author: Marius Gabriel
Genre: Mainstream Fiction
Length: 135,000 words (estimated)
Reviewer: Pearson Moore
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Summary
Francine Lawrence, a woman straddling two cultures and races, is forced to give up her daugther Ruth in war-torn Borneo in early 1942. She and her lover, Clive Napier, spend the next 25 years following every clue in an attempt to find Ruth. But the deprivations and dangers of war force difficult, often unthinkable choices. The world-changing events exercise forces no less powerful on the characters' mindsets, leading to harsh realignments of attitude and spirit.
Review
The Seventh Moon is one of those rare and powerful gems that provides surprising, thought-provoking insights into human reality, the nature of love, and the value and meaning of family and relationship. The novel is gritty, raw, and unflinching in its portrayal of the characters' evolution from innocent, trusting mother, nephew, and daughter into wounded, hardened individuals too familiar with organized brutality. I found a few rough spots, preventing me from awarding a perfect five stars. But I believe most readers will come away from this novel recognizing it for the truly thoughtful, intelligent, and original creation I believe it to be.
The story is engrossing. Early in the first chapter I began to get a sense that the plot was proceeding at multiple levels simultaneously, and then New Year's Eve came. The celebration in the hotel was an epiphany for me as soon as Francine gasped, "Oh, God." As the narration noted, "English voices were raised in a chorus of 'Auld Lang Syne.' Francine shuddered. The sentimental Scottish tune was almost identical to the music played at Chinese funerals." I realized while reading the New Year's Even scene that the historical events of the war were not only paralleling Francine's growing unease about her duty-bound British husband, but Mr. Gabriel was actually weaving character actions, attitudes, and historical events together, creating a tightly-woven tapestry that extended from World War II right into the Vietnam War. Thus it was not surprising that the events and mindsets of 1942 paralleled those of 1967, but the richness of developments was felt equally in the horrors of war and in the cruelty of Francine's inner self.
The philosophical starting point for the novel is Richard Lovelace's poem "To Lucasta, Going to the Wars," quoted by Francine in a fit of bitter disappointment with her work-til-the-last-minute husband: "I could not love thee, Dear, so much, Loved I not Honour more." But that is only the starting point, and the meaning of the Lovelace's line is later twisted and contorted in the main characters' lives. Every character is in her own way fascinating; there are no character templates, and each of the main players is affected by the abuses and tortures of war in different ways. I found in Clive a particularly strong and intriguing philosophical challenge that I believe expresses the thesis of the novel. I won't spoil it for readers by explaining what I feel this is, but I will say Clive's small but important contribution to Gabriel's main idea is probably best summed up in his words to Sakura near the end of the book: "A tiger can hide in a patch of sunlight."
I found the early passages from Sakura's point of view narrative not as well synthesized as other voices. We see her erratic and logic-defying behavior well before learning of the events in childhood and youth that fully explained her on-again/off-again approach to Francine's entreaties. Of course, Francine herself played both cat and mouse in the dance with Sakura, but I had a far better appreciation of Francine's behavior, since her early choices were fully dramatized prior to the later confrontations with Sakura. A more thoughtful (and more intelligent!) reader may appreciate that Sakura's behavior was the natural outcome of someone forced to endure the life of a despised half-breed orphan living in the gutter. I needed a bit more prompting from the author, so I felt let down in the middle part of the book, at least regarding Sakura's motivations.
So much more could be said. Francine came to despise her husband for relegating her and their child to second tier in his hierarchy of values. By tying Frank Lawrence's priorities to the romantic, utterly British sentiments of Richard Lovelace, one might come away believing Gabriel was indicting British values as a whole. However, a more than equal counterpoint is provided in the minor character Brigadier Napier, Clive's uncle, who evinces an uncompromising attitude of racial equality and human worth. No such harmonizing counterpoints are provided for Japanese and American evildoers, and I believe this is intentional, in that war-era Japanese racism and Vietnam-era American imperialism represent the philosophical underside of the author's thesis.
This novel contains harsh language and graphic sexuality and should probably be considered appropriate for adults over the age of 18. The author provided a complementary ebook edition of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
The 4.5 stars I award this novel are more than I have given to all but a small handful of self-published novels. More often than not, I am obliged to award two or at most three stars. I have to turn away about 90 percent of review requests, as the writing is of such juvenile quality as to render the book unreadable. I found just one typographical error in this novel. That's a first for me, in any book. I found not a single grammatical error, and I actively look for them, like a wolf with sharp fangs. I'm not an easy grader, and I'm a very fussy reviewer. Mr. Gabriel's novel is deeper, more engrossing, and more thought provoking than most traditionally published novels and all but a very small percentage of self-published works. I heartily recommend this outstanding book to all mature readers.
4.5 Stars
Author: Marius Gabriel
Genre: Mainstream Fiction
Length: 135,000 words (estimated)
Reviewer: Pearson Moore
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Summary
Francine Lawrence, a woman straddling two cultures and races, is forced to give up her daugther Ruth in war-torn Borneo in early 1942. She and her lover, Clive Napier, spend the next 25 years following every clue in an attempt to find Ruth. But the deprivations and dangers of war force difficult, often unthinkable choices. The world-changing events exercise forces no less powerful on the characters' mindsets, leading to harsh realignments of attitude and spirit.
Review
The Seventh Moon is one of those rare and powerful gems that provides surprising, thought-provoking insights into human reality, the nature of love, and the value and meaning of family and relationship. The novel is gritty, raw, and unflinching in its portrayal of the characters' evolution from innocent, trusting mother, nephew, and daughter into wounded, hardened individuals too familiar with organized brutality. I found a few rough spots, preventing me from awarding a perfect five stars. But I believe most readers will come away from this novel recognizing it for the truly thoughtful, intelligent, and original creation I believe it to be.
The story is engrossing. Early in the first chapter I began to get a sense that the plot was proceeding at multiple levels simultaneously, and then New Year's Eve came. The celebration in the hotel was an epiphany for me as soon as Francine gasped, "Oh, God." As the narration noted, "English voices were raised in a chorus of 'Auld Lang Syne.' Francine shuddered. The sentimental Scottish tune was almost identical to the music played at Chinese funerals." I realized while reading the New Year's Even scene that the historical events of the war were not only paralleling Francine's growing unease about her duty-bound British husband, but Mr. Gabriel was actually weaving character actions, attitudes, and historical events together, creating a tightly-woven tapestry that extended from World War II right into the Vietnam War. Thus it was not surprising that the events and mindsets of 1942 paralleled those of 1967, but the richness of developments was felt equally in the horrors of war and in the cruelty of Francine's inner self.
The philosophical starting point for the novel is Richard Lovelace's poem "To Lucasta, Going to the Wars," quoted by Francine in a fit of bitter disappointment with her work-til-the-last-minute husband: "I could not love thee, Dear, so much, Loved I not Honour more." But that is only the starting point, and the meaning of the Lovelace's line is later twisted and contorted in the main characters' lives. Every character is in her own way fascinating; there are no character templates, and each of the main players is affected by the abuses and tortures of war in different ways. I found in Clive a particularly strong and intriguing philosophical challenge that I believe expresses the thesis of the novel. I won't spoil it for readers by explaining what I feel this is, but I will say Clive's small but important contribution to Gabriel's main idea is probably best summed up in his words to Sakura near the end of the book: "A tiger can hide in a patch of sunlight."
I found the early passages from Sakura's point of view narrative not as well synthesized as other voices. We see her erratic and logic-defying behavior well before learning of the events in childhood and youth that fully explained her on-again/off-again approach to Francine's entreaties. Of course, Francine herself played both cat and mouse in the dance with Sakura, but I had a far better appreciation of Francine's behavior, since her early choices were fully dramatized prior to the later confrontations with Sakura. A more thoughtful (and more intelligent!) reader may appreciate that Sakura's behavior was the natural outcome of someone forced to endure the life of a despised half-breed orphan living in the gutter. I needed a bit more prompting from the author, so I felt let down in the middle part of the book, at least regarding Sakura's motivations.
So much more could be said. Francine came to despise her husband for relegating her and their child to second tier in his hierarchy of values. By tying Frank Lawrence's priorities to the romantic, utterly British sentiments of Richard Lovelace, one might come away believing Gabriel was indicting British values as a whole. However, a more than equal counterpoint is provided in the minor character Brigadier Napier, Clive's uncle, who evinces an uncompromising attitude of racial equality and human worth. No such harmonizing counterpoints are provided for Japanese and American evildoers, and I believe this is intentional, in that war-era Japanese racism and Vietnam-era American imperialism represent the philosophical underside of the author's thesis.
This novel contains harsh language and graphic sexuality and should probably be considered appropriate for adults over the age of 18. The author provided a complementary ebook edition of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
The 4.5 stars I award this novel are more than I have given to all but a small handful of self-published novels. More often than not, I am obliged to award two or at most three stars. I have to turn away about 90 percent of review requests, as the writing is of such juvenile quality as to render the book unreadable. I found just one typographical error in this novel. That's a first for me, in any book. I found not a single grammatical error, and I actively look for them, like a wolf with sharp fangs. I'm not an easy grader, and I'm a very fussy reviewer. Mr. Gabriel's novel is deeper, more engrossing, and more thought provoking than most traditionally published novels and all but a very small percentage of self-published works. I heartily recommend this outstanding book to all mature readers.
4.5 Stars
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April 8, 2013Oh my goodness this book was SO good, I couldn't put it down! Historical fiction, takes place during and after WWII. Many plot twists and a nice ending.
Warning to anyone that this might be important to know: there are some 4 letter words used that might make some people cringe. Not constantly, but they're in there. And there are several sex scenes that might put off some. They didn't detract or add to the plot, in my mind...in fact they could have left them out, but they weren't long and drawn out for the most part either. I didn't mind them, but I cringed a little because I knew I had recommended this book to my mom, LOL! But she's an adult, I'm sure she could handle it! Definitely not appropriate for children/teens, in my mind, though.
Warning to anyone that this might be important to know: there are some 4 letter words used that might make some people cringe. Not constantly, but they're in there. And there are several sex scenes that might put off some. They didn't detract or add to the plot, in my mind...in fact they could have left them out, but they weren't long and drawn out for the most part either. I didn't mind them, but I cringed a little because I knew I had recommended this book to my mom, LOL! But she's an adult, I'm sure she could handle it! Definitely not appropriate for children/teens, in my mind, though.
April 12, 2014
Thanks to Goodreads I had a chance to read The Seventh Moon by Marius Gabriel. It is a vivid portrait of a family torn apart by war and how they survived. Gabriel does a great job developing the characters. I especially liked that while the men are plenty strong, the book really focuses on two female leads. It is a terrific story of hardship and second chances and is not a good read but a great read.
April 9, 2014
I was fortunate to receive a copy of ‘The Seventh Moon’ via Goodreads – ‘First reads’ and the author Marius Gabriel.
Singapore 1942 – The Japanese are attacking. Francine with her daughter Ruth go to stay at the Raffles Hotel waiting for her English husband to arrive. They had left their village for the safety of Singapore – her husband stayed behind to ‘settle up’ the business.
Francine is Eurasian and not truly accepted by ‘the English’ who are prejudiced and bigoted.
As the situation in Singapore deteriorates and her husband does not turn up, Francine is told to leave the hotel as her presence is upsetting the other guests.
When Ruth becomes ill Francine has to make the heartbreaking decision to leave her with strangers in order to save Ruth’s life.
After the war Francine tries to find Ruth without success and manages to rebuild her life becoming a very successful business woman.
Thirty years later a young woman Sakura turns up and suggests that she may be Francine’s long lost daughter…
This is the first novel I have read by this author and I’m sure it won’t be the last. I am more than impressed – I was mesmerised throughout.
After reading a number of books about the 2nd World War, mainly based in Europe, this is the first I’ve read about the war in Far East
Gripping from the beginning; it is expertly crafted, emotive and heart wrenching. Marius tells a story that is both exciting and atmospheric.
Singapore 1942 – The Japanese are attacking. Francine with her daughter Ruth go to stay at the Raffles Hotel waiting for her English husband to arrive. They had left their village for the safety of Singapore – her husband stayed behind to ‘settle up’ the business.
Francine is Eurasian and not truly accepted by ‘the English’ who are prejudiced and bigoted.
As the situation in Singapore deteriorates and her husband does not turn up, Francine is told to leave the hotel as her presence is upsetting the other guests.
When Ruth becomes ill Francine has to make the heartbreaking decision to leave her with strangers in order to save Ruth’s life.
After the war Francine tries to find Ruth without success and manages to rebuild her life becoming a very successful business woman.
Thirty years later a young woman Sakura turns up and suggests that she may be Francine’s long lost daughter…
This is the first novel I have read by this author and I’m sure it won’t be the last. I am more than impressed – I was mesmerised throughout.
After reading a number of books about the 2nd World War, mainly based in Europe, this is the first I’ve read about the war in Far East
Gripping from the beginning; it is expertly crafted, emotive and heart wrenching. Marius tells a story that is both exciting and atmospheric.
July 23, 2016
Another superb tale by Marius Gabriel. Having enjoyed The Original Sin, I was interested in sampling more of his work. Upon initially reading the cover flap, I wasn't sure if I could get into this story of Francine, a woman who survives WWII experiences in southeast Asia but tragically loses her young daughter. I don't have any special interest in war stories or Asia. However, any reservations I had disappeared as I was quickly sucked into the story. It's very unfortunate that many of Marius Gabriel's books are no longer in print.
January 28, 2012
I have added this book to one of my favorite books ever! The story line had many twists and a very interesting plot. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a war settings with a complex story.
February 21, 2014
I have read several novels set in WWII but this is the best one! A superb plot that takes some unexpected turns. A perfect blend or romance and history. Brilliant!
April 15, 2014
This was a great read from start to finish. Would highly recommend.
June 11, 2018
Added June 2018. (Published January 14th 2014 by Thistle Books) (first published 1999)
(I bought the Kindle edition of this book from Amazon for 99 cents!)
I've already read 2 other Kindle books by Marius Gabriel.
They were:
The Designer (got free as a "Kindle First")
and The Ocean Liner (I paid $5.99 for Kindle edition) (also $1.99 for the audio).
This is the 3rd book by Marius Gabriel that I'm reading.
It's holding my interest so far. (It's about a missing daughter.)
So far, it's even taken me to Borneo!
NOTE: There are a lot of "blood and guts" scenes in this book as it describes the wars in the Middle East. I didn't like those scenes. Too much brutality.
The following Goodreads review by Goodreads member, Pearson Moore, is excellent:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
(I bought the Kindle edition of this book from Amazon for 99 cents!)
I've already read 2 other Kindle books by Marius Gabriel.
They were:
The Designer (got free as a "Kindle First")
and The Ocean Liner (I paid $5.99 for Kindle edition) (also $1.99 for the audio).
This is the 3rd book by Marius Gabriel that I'm reading.
It's holding my interest so far. (It's about a missing daughter.)
So far, it's even taken me to Borneo!
NOTE: There are a lot of "blood and guts" scenes in this book as it describes the wars in the Middle East. I didn't like those scenes. Too much brutality.
The following Goodreads review by Goodreads member, Pearson Moore, is excellent:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
April 6, 2014
This book had a grip to my soul. the scenes where so well described that i could see them in my head while i was reading them. almost like living them with the characters.
Her name is Sakura, and she has the heart of a warrior.
this quote is so true.
Francine's character impressed me so much, she is so strong.
In this story happening at the end of WW2 in China, you will see her fight for everything she has, the discrimination she encounters along the way for being an Eurasian, find love after losing her husband and risk her life multiple times to take her child and the new found love away from the war. Then leave her precious daughter behind in the Borneo jungle in the hands of the Iban people to not make her die of dysentery during the travel to safety.
this are her words before knowing she had to leave Ruth (Sakura) behind. words of a survivor. My favorite part of the book.
Francine lay in Clive's arms. But sleep came slowly. Her mind filled of images of what they'd been through. So much that was hideous; and yet, looking back over the past weeks, she was surprised, suddenly, by the terrible beauty of so much she had witnessed. She remembered the armada of Japanese bombers thundering over Mr. Davenport's grave on Monk's hill. she remembered the child born in the air-raid shelter. She remembered making love with Clive for that first time, the power of love in her heart. even the red gout of exploding bombs, burned onto her memory forever, had its own dreadful brilliance. the anger of the sea and sky. the temple gloom of the rain forest. Birth, love, death. The savage beauty of nature, the savage darkness of the human heart.
She will persist and try to find her daughter for years until she loses all her hopes becoming cold and empty, filling the hole with work and money.
Hope is a torturer
Sakura will bring new hope to thew broken heart of Francine but also a few bad news that will threaten to separate them again forever.
I will not tell the final twist of this tale. I can only say "Read this book and find out yourselves."
This book really left a mark on me. The author capacity of telling their story is impeccable.
It will be a beautiful movie if they could capture the emotions that are within this book.
Her name is Sakura, and she has the heart of a warrior.
this quote is so true.
Francine's character impressed me so much, she is so strong.
In this story happening at the end of WW2 in China, you will see her fight for everything she has, the discrimination she encounters along the way for being an Eurasian, find love after losing her husband and risk her life multiple times to take her child and the new found love away from the war. Then leave her precious daughter behind in the Borneo jungle in the hands of the Iban people to not make her die of dysentery during the travel to safety.
this are her words before knowing she had to leave Ruth (Sakura) behind. words of a survivor. My favorite part of the book.
Francine lay in Clive's arms. But sleep came slowly. Her mind filled of images of what they'd been through. So much that was hideous; and yet, looking back over the past weeks, she was surprised, suddenly, by the terrible beauty of so much she had witnessed. She remembered the armada of Japanese bombers thundering over Mr. Davenport's grave on Monk's hill. she remembered the child born in the air-raid shelter. She remembered making love with Clive for that first time, the power of love in her heart. even the red gout of exploding bombs, burned onto her memory forever, had its own dreadful brilliance. the anger of the sea and sky. the temple gloom of the rain forest. Birth, love, death. The savage beauty of nature, the savage darkness of the human heart.
She will persist and try to find her daughter for years until she loses all her hopes becoming cold and empty, filling the hole with work and money.
Hope is a torturer
Sakura will bring new hope to thew broken heart of Francine but also a few bad news that will threaten to separate them again forever.
I will not tell the final twist of this tale. I can only say "Read this book and find out yourselves."
This book really left a mark on me. The author capacity of telling their story is impeccable.
It will be a beautiful movie if they could capture the emotions that are within this book.
July 15, 2020
Very well written, descriptive read. Highly recommend.
October 21, 2011
It is an ancient Chinese belief that in the seventh moon the hungry ghosts of those who have died without proper ceremony come back to haunt the living. In his most mesmerizing novel yet, Marius Gabriel evokes turbulent emotions on every page of this tale of a mother and daughter torn apart by wartime--and of a past never buried.
Early in World War II, as the Japanese overrun Malaysia, Francine Lawrence flees Singapore with her lover and her young daughter, Ruth. But Ruth is too sick to finish the dangerous journey, and Francine is forced to leave her with strangers for her own sake. After the war, Francine returns to find the child, but Ruth has vanished and the tribe she was with has been slaughtered by the Japanese. Thirty years later, the appearance of a young woman who may or may not be Ruth reopens all the old wounds. Sakura Ueda has secrets so dark and horrifying Francine can barely imagine them, and every reason to lie about who she is. Yet in the wasteland that has become Francine's heart, something is touched by the presence of Sakura, and Francine finds herself compelled to make one last, fearful journey in the hope of finding the truth and reclaiming her family.
The dark, bleak tone of The Seventh Moon was relentless, but the engaging plot kept me reading. Unfortunately, the novel's conclusion is abrupt and almost ambiguous. It is a disappointing finale to what is otherwise an exceptional reading experience. THE SEVENTH MOON is a hard-to-put-down novel I would recommend to anyone who is looking for something different.
Early in World War II, as the Japanese overrun Malaysia, Francine Lawrence flees Singapore with her lover and her young daughter, Ruth. But Ruth is too sick to finish the dangerous journey, and Francine is forced to leave her with strangers for her own sake. After the war, Francine returns to find the child, but Ruth has vanished and the tribe she was with has been slaughtered by the Japanese. Thirty years later, the appearance of a young woman who may or may not be Ruth reopens all the old wounds. Sakura Ueda has secrets so dark and horrifying Francine can barely imagine them, and every reason to lie about who she is. Yet in the wasteland that has become Francine's heart, something is touched by the presence of Sakura, and Francine finds herself compelled to make one last, fearful journey in the hope of finding the truth and reclaiming her family.
The dark, bleak tone of The Seventh Moon was relentless, but the engaging plot kept me reading. Unfortunately, the novel's conclusion is abrupt and almost ambiguous. It is a disappointing finale to what is otherwise an exceptional reading experience. THE SEVENTH MOON is a hard-to-put-down novel I would recommend to anyone who is looking for something different.
May 7, 2014
It is written in a way, that I could feel their love and fear. This book is about an Eurasian women, who was unwillingly separated from her child, during the war. It is also a tender love story between Francine and Clive. They were surviving the horrors of WWII, the Japanese attacks and after the war Francine started her own life, making money and drowning all sorrow and pain this way. Separating herself from Clive, not to be reminded. But then, one day everything changed and brought everything back, when a young Eurasian women showed up.
I had wet cheeks, while reading the book. "The seventh moon" is the month of hungry ghosts, which are from the dead, not buried for reasons unknown.
It also had 2 important events in Francines life, during the festival.
It is survival of the Human Spirit, about hope, and love and never to give up.
I had wet cheeks, while reading the book. "The seventh moon" is the month of hungry ghosts, which are from the dead, not buried for reasons unknown.
It also had 2 important events in Francines life, during the festival.
It is survival of the Human Spirit, about hope, and love and never to give up.
December 20, 2011
Marius Gabriel has a way of creating complex, interesting characters without resorting to excessive detail in writing to accomplish that goal. The first book of his that I read was years ago - The Mask of Time - and that story has been in my head ever since. The Seventh Moon was the 3rd Gabriel book I read, and it was compelling from beginning to end. This was more of a drama than anything else - the story of love between mother and child - not so much a mystery/thriller that two of his other books were. But still, it was just as engaging as the other two Gabriel novels I've enjoyed so far. Recommended.
June 1, 2014
I read this book in a little over 24 hours. It is an emotionally draining story, well crafted, with vivid description and outstanding character development. Some very slight issues (given that I read with an author's eyes), but none that will take the reader out of the story and very little that will require suspension of disbelief. The writing is superb, the author a master at his craft. This is an excellent read.
August 4, 2014
There is a moment after reading a book of such quality, that it gives you a shiver of pure delight, and this was one of those extraordinary reads. I'll not comment on the plot, because plenty of other reviewers have. But suffice to say, this is a tale to savour. From page 1 you realise you're in the hands of a master wordsmith, who ratchets up the tension right to the last page. This was my first experience of reading Marius Gabriel's work. What a treat! I will definitely be reading more.
May 7, 2014
Got this via goodreads first reads book entry! (sorry forgot to mention that)
This was an interesting book about a girl and her mother who had to leave her behind due to dysentry in world war 2 or else the daughter would die.
As well as there escape it also details there reunion and how this came about etc!
All in all an enjoyable story, great plot and great characters!
This was an interesting book about a girl and her mother who had to leave her behind due to dysentry in world war 2 or else the daughter would die.
As well as there escape it also details there reunion and how this came about etc!
All in all an enjoyable story, great plot and great characters!
June 2, 2014
I wasn't sure, from the summary, that I would enjoy a book set in WWII but this book is a powerful and dramatic story and Marius Gabriel is an expert in drawing you into the world of his story-telling both from the historical side and, for me, the emotional side.I would really recommend this book.
July 27, 2024
After falling in love with 'Gabon' by Marius Gabriel, I was excited to read The Seventh Moon and was not disappointed. Gabriel is truly gifted at creating complex characters who you can love, hate and feel immense emotion for at the same time. Like Gabon (which I highly recommend), Gabriel covers an area of historical fiction in a dramatised way that I haven't experienced before and although I'm not a fan of war stories, the power of the relationships that develop in the story makes it hard to put down.
The book has enigmatic, strong male characters (I particularly loved the charismatic Clive, who is contrasted to Francine's racist husband), but the two powerful women, Francine and Sakura stand out. Sakura is a complex character that I continued to doubt and not fully trust, even towards the end of the novel. She is an intense and manipulative character but has a big motive which partly explains her actions. Some other reviewers have noted that some scenes felt a little long winded and not necessary for the progression of the story. Sakura's aggression and frequent attempts to escape them didn't always make sense given that she made first contact. But then when you learn about her life, it becomes a little more plausible. The unnecessarily long sex scene between Sakura and another character I won't name to avoid spoiling it wasn't needed. The ending is comforting but given the long build up in reaching it, it could have been developed a bit more to give the reader full closure. There are of lot of events which at times feel improbable, like how can keep avoiding death? But, once you've built a connection with the main characters, you'll just root for them to do the impossible.
The descriptions of war ravaging East Asia was heartbreaking and graphically described. However, I would have liked to know how Francine became so wealthy after fleeing war penniless to have been explained better. Also, I didn't fully understand the motives beyond money of the American military agents in Laos. They seemed a little unrealistic.
Overall, another excellent read by Gabriel and I look forward to checking out his other work. I highly recommend this if you enjoy historical fiction that cover big events in the past from a ethnic minority/marginalised group perspective.
The book has enigmatic, strong male characters (I particularly loved the charismatic Clive, who is contrasted to Francine's racist husband), but the two powerful women, Francine and Sakura stand out. Sakura is a complex character that I continued to doubt and not fully trust, even towards the end of the novel. She is an intense and manipulative character but has a big motive which partly explains her actions. Some other reviewers have noted that some scenes felt a little long winded and not necessary for the progression of the story. Sakura's aggression and frequent attempts to escape them didn't always make sense given that she made first contact. But then when you learn about her life, it becomes a little more plausible. The unnecessarily long sex scene between Sakura and another character I won't name to avoid spoiling it wasn't needed. The ending is comforting but given the long build up in reaching it, it could have been developed a bit more to give the reader full closure. There are of lot of events which at times feel improbable, like how can keep avoiding death? But, once you've built a connection with the main characters, you'll just root for them to do the impossible.
The descriptions of war ravaging East Asia was heartbreaking and graphically described. However, I would have liked to know how Francine became so wealthy after fleeing war penniless to have been explained better. Also, I didn't fully understand the motives beyond money of the American military agents in Laos. They seemed a little unrealistic.
Overall, another excellent read by Gabriel and I look forward to checking out his other work. I highly recommend this if you enjoy historical fiction that cover big events in the past from a ethnic minority/marginalised group perspective.
January 26, 2018
I'm really torn by my sheer enjoyment of this novel and the long periods of boredom.
Francine is confronted by a young woman claiming to be her long lost daughter. The chapters switch between Francine's past in the throws of World War II and her present. The moments from her past in the past were hard to put down but I had a difficult time getting into the present drama of her life and understanding the choices that she made.
Although past and present contained the dramatic situations of war, I felt her World War II experiences were more genuine. As the Japanese invade Southeast Asia, Francine and her four year old daughter, Ruth, must flee to Singapore. She struggles through trials and tribulations, one of which is caring for a teenage girl who is orphaned as her father commits suicide. This girl is not brought up in Francine's present, at all! I would have really liked a conclusion to that aspect of the tale, even a mere mention. As Francine flees the Japanese with her daughter and new found love, Ruth becomes ill. Francine has to make the terrible choice to leave Ruth with a native tribe as she travels to freedom through the jungle. The entertaining section of the novel has ended.
Francine is now a wealthy woman, confronted by Sakura. Sakura is a clearly troubled young woman who might be young Ruth. Sakura has suffered a fate worse than death in the life she lived after Francine left her in the jungle. Sakura has lost her son to drug dealing overlords in Lao and needs hundreds of thousandths of dollars to retrieve him and so has come to Francine.
Francine remains skeptical of Sakura and there is lots of animosity between them from the start. I was confused by their actions and just felt like it was page filler. Francine doesn't want anything to do with Sakura but continues to hunt her down, even though she runs away every time. As for Sakura, after the initial rejection she runs from Francine and puts up quite a fight even after she knows its Francine and not Lao thugs (that excuse only lasted so long). All their interactions just made no sense. Sakura needs the money, Francine just isn't convinced that Sakura is her daughter; so the two just continue to suffer the other?
Francine decides she can't live with herself if she doesn't help Sakura. Sakura remains ungrateful and surly. They head to Lao and as Sakura reveals her depravity and Francine is now shocked by the girl's actions but they continue along. The story just seemed so strange, even Sakura's new lover (who doesn't "give himself" to anyone) is outraged by her behavior and lack of trust but forgives her shortly after. They finally retrieve Sakura's son in war torn Lao and realize that Sakura and Francine are truly mother and daughter in the process.
Marius Gabriel has such a talent for creating characters. The reader can love, hate and respect the depths of these narratives interesting. However I did find the majority of the actions set in the present as confusing. The scenarios just felt unrealistic of human interactions, almost like the behaviors of the unemotional divine. Although both Francine and Sakura had been ravaged by war, they had seemed so charismatic before dealhing with one another in the present.
I was left wanting in this novel to feel some connection to the present story. The greatness of the past was overshadowed. This won't stop my love of Gabriel's historical novels . . . just a little disappointed with his creation of the present.
Francine is confronted by a young woman claiming to be her long lost daughter. The chapters switch between Francine's past in the throws of World War II and her present. The moments from her past in the past were hard to put down but I had a difficult time getting into the present drama of her life and understanding the choices that she made.
Although past and present contained the dramatic situations of war, I felt her World War II experiences were more genuine. As the Japanese invade Southeast Asia, Francine and her four year old daughter, Ruth, must flee to Singapore. She struggles through trials and tribulations, one of which is caring for a teenage girl who is orphaned as her father commits suicide. This girl is not brought up in Francine's present, at all! I would have really liked a conclusion to that aspect of the tale, even a mere mention. As Francine flees the Japanese with her daughter and new found love, Ruth becomes ill. Francine has to make the terrible choice to leave Ruth with a native tribe as she travels to freedom through the jungle. The entertaining section of the novel has ended.
Francine is now a wealthy woman, confronted by Sakura. Sakura is a clearly troubled young woman who might be young Ruth. Sakura has suffered a fate worse than death in the life she lived after Francine left her in the jungle. Sakura has lost her son to drug dealing overlords in Lao and needs hundreds of thousandths of dollars to retrieve him and so has come to Francine.
Francine remains skeptical of Sakura and there is lots of animosity between them from the start. I was confused by their actions and just felt like it was page filler. Francine doesn't want anything to do with Sakura but continues to hunt her down, even though she runs away every time. As for Sakura, after the initial rejection she runs from Francine and puts up quite a fight even after she knows its Francine and not Lao thugs (that excuse only lasted so long). All their interactions just made no sense. Sakura needs the money, Francine just isn't convinced that Sakura is her daughter; so the two just continue to suffer the other?
Francine decides she can't live with herself if she doesn't help Sakura. Sakura remains ungrateful and surly. They head to Lao and as Sakura reveals her depravity and Francine is now shocked by the girl's actions but they continue along. The story just seemed so strange, even Sakura's new lover (who doesn't "give himself" to anyone) is outraged by her behavior and lack of trust but forgives her shortly after. They finally retrieve Sakura's son in war torn Lao and realize that Sakura and Francine are truly mother and daughter in the process.
Marius Gabriel has such a talent for creating characters. The reader can love, hate and respect the depths of these narratives interesting. However I did find the majority of the actions set in the present as confusing. The scenarios just felt unrealistic of human interactions, almost like the behaviors of the unemotional divine. Although both Francine and Sakura had been ravaged by war, they had seemed so charismatic before dealhing with one another in the present.
I was left wanting in this novel to feel some connection to the present story. The greatness of the past was overshadowed. This won't stop my love of Gabriel's historical novels . . . just a little disappointed with his creation of the present.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 1, 2020
The Seventh Moon is an exciting, gripping, WWII story, but very different from other books I have read. It is focused on Singapore, Borneo, Malaya, Japan, and Laos, rather than the usual European story. Francine Lawrence is Eurasian, married to an Englishman, with an 8 year old Eurasian daughter, Ruth. When Singapore is invaded by the Japanese in 1942, Clive (an English soldier) helps Francine escape with Ruth, as her husband has disappeared.
Danger and adventure never stop and Francine, Ruth, and Clive end up crashed in Borneo. Francine has to make the heartbreaking decision to leave Ruth with the natives, as Ruth will never make it out alive if Francine takes her with her. After the war, Francine and Clive search and look for Ruth for many years, but no clue remains where she is, or if she survived. Finally, Francine decides she must give up Ruth and Clive and live her life. She becomes a wealthy, successful businesswoman, and never remarries.
But one day a young Japanese woman named Sakara approaches her, and implies she is Ruth. She has no proof (this is 1970, before DNA tests and Smart Phones) and Francine isn't sure this is not just a scam, a woman after her vast fortune. A lot more danger and adventure follows.
Reading the reviews, most readers liked this book quite a bit more than I did. I found it gripping, and I read it quickly. What I didn't like was I couldn't find Ruth/Sakara totally believable. She had a terrible life but sometimes she was tough and ruthless and vicious, and other times tender and sensitive and loving. I also didn't like the ending, but I won't give it away. What I did like was the strength of the two main female characters, their resiliance and willingness to not be bullied. I don't read many action-adventure-thriller books, so for me to suspend belief that this was possible, was very difficult.
Danger and adventure never stop and Francine, Ruth, and Clive end up crashed in Borneo. Francine has to make the heartbreaking decision to leave Ruth with the natives, as Ruth will never make it out alive if Francine takes her with her. After the war, Francine and Clive search and look for Ruth for many years, but no clue remains where she is, or if she survived. Finally, Francine decides she must give up Ruth and Clive and live her life. She becomes a wealthy, successful businesswoman, and never remarries.
But one day a young Japanese woman named Sakara approaches her, and implies she is Ruth. She has no proof (this is 1970, before DNA tests and Smart Phones) and Francine isn't sure this is not just a scam, a woman after her vast fortune. A lot more danger and adventure follows.
Reading the reviews, most readers liked this book quite a bit more than I did. I found it gripping, and I read it quickly. What I didn't like was I couldn't find Ruth/Sakara totally believable. She had a terrible life but sometimes she was tough and ruthless and vicious, and other times tender and sensitive and loving. I also didn't like the ending, but I won't give it away. What I did like was the strength of the two main female characters, their resiliance and willingness to not be bullied. I don't read many action-adventure-thriller books, so for me to suspend belief that this was possible, was very difficult.
September 1, 2020
The Seventh Moon by Marius Gabriel was simply amazing! This is the 3rd book of his that I've read (the others were The Parisians and The Ocean Liner) and the three were among the most compelling page-turners that I've ever read! There is something about the way he sets a scene, extremely descriptive but concise, to the extent that I am actually there - every single time. I've been late to work from lunch a few times because I lost all sense of time and place while reading!
Like the two other books I mentioned above, this one takes place against the backdrop of WWII. Francine Lawrence, a beautiful Eurasian woman, along with her daughter Ruth move to Singapore (and later elsewhere) fleeing from the Japanese, who are attacking their way across the Far East. The book centers around her experiences and heart breaks along that journey, and then fast forwards to the 1970's where she is living quite a different life in Hong Kong and NY, but incidents transpire that take her back to Southeast Asia. It was absolutely fabulous and I highly recommend it, along with the two I mentioned above.
They call this a thriller, and it is, in the sense that there is almost non-stop action.
Like the two other books I mentioned above, this one takes place against the backdrop of WWII. Francine Lawrence, a beautiful Eurasian woman, along with her daughter Ruth move to Singapore (and later elsewhere) fleeing from the Japanese, who are attacking their way across the Far East. The book centers around her experiences and heart breaks along that journey, and then fast forwards to the 1970's where she is living quite a different life in Hong Kong and NY, but incidents transpire that take her back to Southeast Asia. It was absolutely fabulous and I highly recommend it, along with the two I mentioned above.
They call this a thriller, and it is, in the sense that there is almost non-stop action.
April 11, 2022
To much violence
One of the reasons I love Mr. Gabriel's books is because they leave me with a sense of positive euphoria. But this book is completely different. This bok has the heaviness of books like " The girl with the dragon tattoo ". I am too old for that, I prefer books that make me feel happy and full of hope. Our world is full of so much dread that I like my books to take me to a happy place. Most of this book takes place during WWII when the Japanese were bombarding everywhere along the Pacific and present time when the war was about who was going to control the opium production. And in between the story of a mother, Francine, and her daughter, Ruth or Sakura, were forced to be separated. We know that the mother, now a very rich person, never stopped looking for her daughter. Then this young woman, Sakura, comes into her life. Is not very clear how Sakura believes that Francine is her mother. Sakura has a hidden agenda...and most of the plot takes in Thailand, Bangkok, Laos ( present day guerillas), Hong Kong and US.
One of the reasons I love Mr. Gabriel's books is because they leave me with a sense of positive euphoria. But this book is completely different. This bok has the heaviness of books like " The girl with the dragon tattoo ". I am too old for that, I prefer books that make me feel happy and full of hope. Our world is full of so much dread that I like my books to take me to a happy place. Most of this book takes place during WWII when the Japanese were bombarding everywhere along the Pacific and present time when the war was about who was going to control the opium production. And in between the story of a mother, Francine, and her daughter, Ruth or Sakura, were forced to be separated. We know that the mother, now a very rich person, never stopped looking for her daughter. Then this young woman, Sakura, comes into her life. Is not very clear how Sakura believes that Francine is her mother. Sakura has a hidden agenda...and most of the plot takes in Thailand, Bangkok, Laos ( present day guerillas), Hong Kong and US.
December 6, 2020
If you know anything at all about Southeast Asian art & culture, about colonial Singapore, about the Japanese invasion of Malaysia... this book will astound you. The more you know, the more you will find to appreciate. As an anthropologist and art historian of Southeast Asia, I am absolutely blown away. The way he portrayed the Iban... the skulls in the longhouse... British colonial racism... Peranakan aunties... Hong Kong, Kowloon, and the approach to Kai Tac airport through high rise apartment buildings... Raffles Hotel... Lee Kuan Yew and the sanitization of post-colonial Singapore... so many things said in passing or explored in detail are so very right on point. I am awed by his grasp of his settings snd mesmerized by his plotting. Thank you, Marius Gabriel, for a lush return to places and people I love dearly.
November 10, 2017
Vivid and Moving
I don't know where Gabriel acquired his knowledge of the era and people of which he writes, but it was if he transported me there, an invisible spectator suspended by his enthralling, vivid descriptions above the portrayed events. What a surprise to learn so much about these people and those times in a novel I expected to tell only a love story. I couldn't put it down towards the end. I am left with feelings of horror and gratitude that I was not required to actually live through the things Gabriel commanded my imagination to see, hear, smell, touch, and feel.
I don't know where Gabriel acquired his knowledge of the era and people of which he writes, but it was if he transported me there, an invisible spectator suspended by his enthralling, vivid descriptions above the portrayed events. What a surprise to learn so much about these people and those times in a novel I expected to tell only a love story. I couldn't put it down towards the end. I am left with feelings of horror and gratitude that I was not required to actually live through the things Gabriel commanded my imagination to see, hear, smell, touch, and feel.
October 30, 2022
Another fast paced read!
I read this in 24 hours... fast paced, a good read... keeps you interested through to the end
...
...
.. Now, the ending reminds me of a child's effort put into writing the majority of the story and then burn out on the last page...wss it time for tea? Time to go out? Bedtime? It's thank goodness not a, I woke up and it was all a dream the end type ending but it's over before you realise you are at the end.... hmmmm... Does it spoil the story? No,I would still read and recommend it... your imagination can continue the ending.... but ... cmon, not the quality of the rest of the book ..just saying ..
I read this in 24 hours... fast paced, a good read... keeps you interested through to the end
...
...
.. Now, the ending reminds me of a child's effort put into writing the majority of the story and then burn out on the last page...wss it time for tea? Time to go out? Bedtime? It's thank goodness not a, I woke up and it was all a dream the end type ending but it's over before you realise you are at the end.... hmmmm... Does it spoil the story? No,I would still read and recommend it... your imagination can continue the ending.... but ... cmon, not the quality of the rest of the book ..just saying ..
May 22, 2017
This story was published in 1999 and it was an enthralling tale of danger, love, and war. It's WW II and the main character, Francine, is forced to flee Singapore with her small daughter, Ruth. In the jungles of Saranak, Francine is forced to leave her daughter behind in the care of a primitive tribe, in order to save Ruth's life. I don't want to give away any more of the story.
This is exactly the kind of book I love and try to write myself- a story that sets you in the middle of an entirely new place, and its mores, its food, its language, its history. Truly escapist!
This is exactly the kind of book I love and try to write myself- a story that sets you in the middle of an entirely new place, and its mores, its food, its language, its history. Truly escapist!
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