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The Courtesan: A Novel
A timeless novel inspired by the legendary real-life Chinese courtesan Sai Jinhua, an extraordinary woman who bridged two worlds in the twilight decades of the Qing dynasty, a tumultuous era of East meets West
The year is 1881. Seven-year-old Jinhua is left an orphan, alone and unprotected after her mandarin father’s summary execution for the crime of speaking the truth. For seven silver coins, she is sold to a brothel-keeper and subjected to the worst of human nature. Will the private ritual that is her father’s legacy and the wise friendship of the crippled brothel maid be enough to sustain her?
When an elegant but troubled scholar takes Jinhua as his concubine, she enters the close world of his jealous first wife. Yet it is Jinhua who accompanies him—as emissary to the foreign devil nations of Prussia, Austria-Hungary, and Russia—on an exotic journey to Vienna. As he struggles to play his part in China's early, blundering diplomatic engagement with the Western world, Jinhua’s eyes and heart are opened to the irresistible possibilities of a place that is mesmerizing and strange, where she will struggle against the constraints of tradition and her husband’s authority and seek to find “Great Love.”
Sai Jinhua is an altered woman when she returns to a changed and changing China, where a dangerous clash of cultures pits East against West. As the Boxer Rebellion brews and finally breaks, Jinhua’s Western sympathies will threaten not only her own survival but the survival of those who are most dear to her.
An authentic and beautifully written portrait of China’s relationship with the West, the story of the incredible Sai Jinhua, told the way it might have been, is not to be forgotten.
The year is 1881. Seven-year-old Jinhua is left an orphan, alone and unprotected after her mandarin father’s summary execution for the crime of speaking the truth. For seven silver coins, she is sold to a brothel-keeper and subjected to the worst of human nature. Will the private ritual that is her father’s legacy and the wise friendship of the crippled brothel maid be enough to sustain her?
When an elegant but troubled scholar takes Jinhua as his concubine, she enters the close world of his jealous first wife. Yet it is Jinhua who accompanies him—as emissary to the foreign devil nations of Prussia, Austria-Hungary, and Russia—on an exotic journey to Vienna. As he struggles to play his part in China's early, blundering diplomatic engagement with the Western world, Jinhua’s eyes and heart are opened to the irresistible possibilities of a place that is mesmerizing and strange, where she will struggle against the constraints of tradition and her husband’s authority and seek to find “Great Love.”
Sai Jinhua is an altered woman when she returns to a changed and changing China, where a dangerous clash of cultures pits East against West. As the Boxer Rebellion brews and finally breaks, Jinhua’s Western sympathies will threaten not only her own survival but the survival of those who are most dear to her.
An authentic and beautifully written portrait of China’s relationship with the West, the story of the incredible Sai Jinhua, told the way it might have been, is not to be forgotten.
416 pages, Paperback
First published September 8, 2015
248 people are currently reading
4198 people want to read
About the author
Alexandra Curry
4 books56 followersAlexandra Curry is a Canadian of Austrian and British parentage who has spent happy years living and travelling in Asia, Europe, Canada, and the United States. A graduate of Wellesley College, she now lives in Atlanta, Georgia. The Courtesan is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 319 reviews
January 10, 2021
Not sure exactly why, but the story feels a bit filtered with Western perception. And I'm a sucker for all things authentic. Still, a worthy read, even though a bit fuzzy around the storyline twists.
Q: A story is a garden you carry in your pocket. The stories we tell ourselves and each other are for pleasure and refuge. Like gardens they are small places in a large world. But, Jinhua, we must never mistake the stories we tell for truth. (c)
Q: It is a new thing—to explore—and to be alluring. (c)
Q: “It is the music of Johann Strauss; it is the music of romance, and you will hear it better, stronger, louder in Vienna than anywhere else in the world. This music is Vienna. It is the Viennese. It is the side of their temperament that is light and gay and frivolous and that loves the pretty words, the beautiful melody, the passionate woman. It is the side that covers up the darker side, but only in Vienna.” (c)
Q: A story is a garden you carry in your pocket. The stories we tell ourselves and each other are for pleasure and refuge. Like gardens they are small places in a large world. But, Jinhua, we must never mistake the stories we tell for truth. (c)
Q: It is a new thing—to explore—and to be alluring. (c)
Q: “It is the music of Johann Strauss; it is the music of romance, and you will hear it better, stronger, louder in Vienna than anywhere else in the world. This music is Vienna. It is the Viennese. It is the side of their temperament that is light and gay and frivolous and that loves the pretty words, the beautiful melody, the passionate woman. It is the side that covers up the darker side, but only in Vienna.” (c)
June 14, 2018
This is a true story of Sai Jinhua, who is orphaned at the age of seven and sold to a brothel during a time when Chinese view Westerners as barbarians, who bring opium and want to convert them. At the brothel, she receives the first cruel treatment of foot-binding. Custom of applying painfully tight binding to the feet of young girls to prevent further growth. A symbol of beauty in Chinese culture.
At the age of twelve she is taught the “Art of the Bedchamber” as “all men want a virgin who is 12 years old.”
At the age of thirteen she becomes a concubine to a troubled scholar, who receives a position at the Chinese Embassy in Vienna. He takes Jinhua to accompany him. Being in the Western part of the world as an emissary to the barbarians feels like punishment to him. Where he is not happy with opposite traditions, “here the soles of men’s boots are black instead of white, that vests are worn inside a man’s jacket instead of outside; that women bind their waists instead of their feet, and people read from left to right.”
It is interesting and entertaining to see Europe through the eyes of an Asian person in the late 19th century: “…chopsticks, which the foreign devils do not use…”; “…barbarian bow, putting one gleaming boot behind the other and bending her knees, which Wenqing says is a symptom of an uncivilized culture in the Western countries: a bow of only a few inches.” Not as deep and gracious as Chinese.
She on the other hand embraces the differences and even tries to learn the German language from her servant Resi, who is quite a character herself.
Upon her return to China, she experiences the so called Boxer Rebellion. An uprising against the growth of foreign forces. Her Western experience becomes a danger to her and those who are dear to her.
The information available about Sai Jinhua is conflicting; therefore the author had to take some liberties in creating this story. The story is fast paced with no prolonged descriptions. It may not be to everyone’s liking. However, I enjoyed this book tremendously.
@FB/BestHistoricalFiction
@https://bestinhistoricalfiction.blogs...
At the age of twelve she is taught the “Art of the Bedchamber” as “all men want a virgin who is 12 years old.”
At the age of thirteen she becomes a concubine to a troubled scholar, who receives a position at the Chinese Embassy in Vienna. He takes Jinhua to accompany him. Being in the Western part of the world as an emissary to the barbarians feels like punishment to him. Where he is not happy with opposite traditions, “here the soles of men’s boots are black instead of white, that vests are worn inside a man’s jacket instead of outside; that women bind their waists instead of their feet, and people read from left to right.”
It is interesting and entertaining to see Europe through the eyes of an Asian person in the late 19th century: “…chopsticks, which the foreign devils do not use…”; “…barbarian bow, putting one gleaming boot behind the other and bending her knees, which Wenqing says is a symptom of an uncivilized culture in the Western countries: a bow of only a few inches.” Not as deep and gracious as Chinese.
She on the other hand embraces the differences and even tries to learn the German language from her servant Resi, who is quite a character herself.
Upon her return to China, she experiences the so called Boxer Rebellion. An uprising against the growth of foreign forces. Her Western experience becomes a danger to her and those who are dear to her.
The information available about Sai Jinhua is conflicting; therefore the author had to take some liberties in creating this story. The story is fast paced with no prolonged descriptions. It may not be to everyone’s liking. However, I enjoyed this book tremendously.
@FB/BestHistoricalFiction
@https://bestinhistoricalfiction.blogs...
May 5, 2015
This novel is a fictional account of Sai Jinhua, a famous courtesan in the late Qing Dynasty. Sai Jinhua became a prostitute at 20 and at 23 married Hong Jun, a retired top rank imperial official, as his concubine. She traveled extensively with her husband as an ambassador’s wife, but was later forced to leave Hong’s home after his death.
The book is reminiscent of many other Geisha and Courtesan based novels with similar elements...poor child being sold to brothel, evil Madame, foot binding, rough and insensitive clients who "buy" a virgin and and clients who stimulate the intellect.
Broken into six parts the book follows Jinhua's life from a child through adulthood. I found the first four parts very interesting albeit similar to other novel of the same genre. Jinhua's life is quite remarkable given the time period (late 1800s) and the strict societal boundaries placed on both Chinese women and courtesans.
May 22, 2017
The story of Sai Jinhua has been told before. It has been told in the language of poems, plays, novels, and opera. Sai Jinhua has been called a heroine- and a woman of depravity. Her life has been shaped, and reshaped, and twisted into allegory. The courtesan's story was banned, at times, in the place of her birth; at other times she was praised in the nine heavens. Sai Jinhua has been a legend in China for a hundred years.
How did this beautifully written historical fiction escape my attention for two years? After reading my Goodreads friend Jennifer's review, I just knew that this would be the perfect Saturday night read. The Courtesan brings to life the story of Sai Jinhua, an orphan, a courtesan, the wife of a powerful politician, and most of all, an extraordinary woman. I found it so interesting how Alexandra Curry sweeps readers from a Chinese brothel to the glittering courts of Vienna and then culminates in the terror of the Boxer Rebellion. Although I had to take a star off for a time shift that left me with more questions than answers, I would certainly recommend this to any fan of historical fiction.
A story is a garden you can carry in your pocket.
How did this beautifully written historical fiction escape my attention for two years? After reading my Goodreads friend Jennifer's review, I just knew that this would be the perfect Saturday night read. The Courtesan brings to life the story of Sai Jinhua, an orphan, a courtesan, the wife of a powerful politician, and most of all, an extraordinary woman. I found it so interesting how Alexandra Curry sweeps readers from a Chinese brothel to the glittering courts of Vienna and then culminates in the terror of the Boxer Rebellion. Although I had to take a star off for a time shift that left me with more questions than answers, I would certainly recommend this to any fan of historical fiction.
A story is a garden you can carry in your pocket.
August 8, 2015
This book was easily a 5 star plus read. It was highly readable, a page turner, and quite an adventure. I loved its basis in history during such a tumultuous time for China and the world. The main characters, Jinhua and Suyin, were lovable, and I felt for each of them from the very beginning. "The Courtesan" was a tale of loyalty and friendship and sacrifice. Curry's descriptions of each period of time were rich and colorful. Jinhua's story was fascinating.
I highly recommend this to fans of historical fiction and also for fans of fiction who love a beautifully told story.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC e-copy to review. All opinions expressed are my own.
I highly recommend this to fans of historical fiction and also for fans of fiction who love a beautifully told story.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC e-copy to review. All opinions expressed are my own.
August 27, 2015
I really wanted to like this book. As a fan of Arthur Golden's Memoirs of a Geisha and of Lisa See's books (and a huge fan of historical fiction in general), I was expecting an entertaining but educational read.
Initially, The Courtesan reminded me of the Chinese Memoirs of a Geisha, as it centers on two girls with a relationship similar to that of Sayuri and Pumpkin--in this story, they are the future courtesan (or, more crudely, money tree) Jinhua, and the plain Suyin. There's even a Hatsumomo-like brothel owner named Lao Mama, who comes across as much more sadistic than her counterpart in Memoirs of a Geisha.
Like many stories about young Chinese courtesans or Japanese geishas, Jinhua is sold to Lao Mama, whose sole intent is to one day exploit Jinhua and make her do "bed business." This euphemism, however blunt, is still not too crude.
What made me feel exceptionally uncomfortable is Lao Mama's excessive use of the c-word (when talking about her young charge's anatomy, but also as an expletive and nickname for some characters) and the fact that it is clear that Jinhua's first experience with bed business comes at the age of 12. The way it was written was especially appalling; I'm sure that young girls really had to endure such torture at the mercy of disgusting, vile men, but it was very hard to read.
Structurally, this novel felt like an unedited draft. It is loosely based on folklore, but there are large gaps in the narrative that make it feel like you're reading four different narratives that are too loosely bound into a novel. There are a lot of gaps that one must suspend his or her disbelief to get past. There's no real happy ending and little satisfaction of any kind by the end of this novel.
Initially, The Courtesan reminded me of the Chinese Memoirs of a Geisha, as it centers on two girls with a relationship similar to that of Sayuri and Pumpkin--in this story, they are the future courtesan (or, more crudely, money tree) Jinhua, and the plain Suyin. There's even a Hatsumomo-like brothel owner named Lao Mama, who comes across as much more sadistic than her counterpart in Memoirs of a Geisha.
Like many stories about young Chinese courtesans or Japanese geishas, Jinhua is sold to Lao Mama, whose sole intent is to one day exploit Jinhua and make her do "bed business." This euphemism, however blunt, is still not too crude.
What made me feel exceptionally uncomfortable is Lao Mama's excessive use of the c-word (when talking about her young charge's anatomy, but also as an expletive and nickname for some characters) and the fact that it is clear that Jinhua's first experience with bed business comes at the age of 12. The way it was written was especially appalling; I'm sure that young girls really had to endure such torture at the mercy of disgusting, vile men, but it was very hard to read.
Structurally, this novel felt like an unedited draft. It is loosely based on folklore, but there are large gaps in the narrative that make it feel like you're reading four different narratives that are too loosely bound into a novel. There are a lot of gaps that one must suspend his or her disbelief to get past. There's no real happy ending and little satisfaction of any kind by the end of this novel.
June 22, 2015
In 1881, a Chinese mandarin is beheaded for speaking the truth to the Emperor, leaving his 7 year old daughter, Jinhua, orphaned, as her mother died giving birth to her. His First Wife promptly sells her, and she, the pampered child who has unbound feet and the ability to read, ends up in a low class brothel and forced into being a ‘money tree’ at just shy of twelve years old. The only person who is kind to her through this is the brothel maid, Suyin. Her career is cut mercifully short, however, when a high government official, Subchancellor Hong, visits and decides she is the reincarnation of his old love. Jinhua’s life takes her not just to the upper class again, but to Vienna, and to Peking during the Boxer Rebellion.
Sai Jinhua was a real woman, and through the years much of the detail of her life has been lost, altered, and made legendary. The author has done her research, not just into Jinhua’s life but the lives of those who knew (or might have known) her, and into the conditions in China during the period, but of course, given all the varying ‘histories’ she has had to make choices about which ones to use and breathe life into the story. The story comes off as (mostly) real feeling, but drags at times. The last part of the book drags- which is odd, considering what violent events take place in it. I came away with great sympathy for Jinhua- and even more of Suyin. In this book, Jinhua is totally human, with both good and bad aspects to her character. Not the best example of this type of novel, but this is a first effort and the author has great promise.
Sai Jinhua was a real woman, and through the years much of the detail of her life has been lost, altered, and made legendary. The author has done her research, not just into Jinhua’s life but the lives of those who knew (or might have known) her, and into the conditions in China during the period, but of course, given all the varying ‘histories’ she has had to make choices about which ones to use and breathe life into the story. The story comes off as (mostly) real feeling, but drags at times. The last part of the book drags- which is odd, considering what violent events take place in it. I came away with great sympathy for Jinhua- and even more of Suyin. In this book, Jinhua is totally human, with both good and bad aspects to her character. Not the best example of this type of novel, but this is a first effort and the author has great promise.
November 8, 2018
This was so beautifully written, the language is absolutely stunning. Just for that alone I recommend reading this book.
The story of Sai Jinhua is shrouded in mystery and what her life was really like is extremely difficult to tell based on the conflicting accounts from various sources. This is one possibility that Alexandra Curry imagined, and whether it is true or not doesn't really matter to me. Either way, it's a harrowing story of suffering, and living through and with it. Especially the last chapter encapsulates this feeling we get throughout the book, that no matter how hard and taxing her life was a times, it was still her life and she hopefully still cherished its course in the end.
If you're a historical fiction fan who doesn't mind if it's heavy on the fiction, definitely pick this one up!
The story of Sai Jinhua is shrouded in mystery and what her life was really like is extremely difficult to tell based on the conflicting accounts from various sources. This is one possibility that Alexandra Curry imagined, and whether it is true or not doesn't really matter to me. Either way, it's a harrowing story of suffering, and living through and with it. Especially the last chapter encapsulates this feeling we get throughout the book, that no matter how hard and taxing her life was a times, it was still her life and she hopefully still cherished its course in the end.
If you're a historical fiction fan who doesn't mind if it's heavy on the fiction, definitely pick this one up!
August 28, 2015
Two stars: A novel that falls flat due to large chunks of missing time and a writing style that is hard to connect with.
Jinhua is a precocious eight year old whose whole world revolves around her scholarly father. Jinhua is the daughter of her father's concubine who died while giving birth to her. When Jinhua's father fails to return one day, she spends the entire day crying for him, only to learn from her father's first wife, who consequently hates her, that her father was beheaded at the request of the emperor. Jinhua is promptly sold to a brothel where her feet are bound and she is trained for "bed business". Jinhua's life is brutal and harsh, until one day, another scholarly man comes to the brothel and insists that she is the reincarnation of his dead concubine. Jinhua becomes this man's concubine. When the scholarly man is called away to Vienna, Jinhua accompanies him and learns the ways of the barbaric West. What will happen to the Jinhua, will she find love and happiness at last?
What I Liked:
*I picked up The Courtesan because I was interested in learning more about the Chinese culture, and more specifically the life of a woman during the late 19th Century. I was also intrigued because this book was compared to Memoirs of a Geisha, which is a favorite of mine. This book doesn't live up to Memoirs, but I did learn some interesting things about women in China during this time period.
*The first part of the story was riveting, even though at times, it was disturbing and painful to read. Once Jinhua is sold to the brothel, her life becomes a living hell. Her feet are broken and bound, and she is forced to learn all about sex. At twelve, she is forced to bed with a man who brutalizes her. Life is cruel for the girls in the brothel, and they are beaten and sexually abused. The one thing that keeps Jinhua grounded is her love for the maid and her friend, Suyin. Even though there were times that I recoiled in horror, I kept reading as I wanted a better understanding of life for women in China. This was an eye opener.
*The third part of the story follows Jinhua as a young woman living in Vienna with her husband. Her life has dramatically improved. In Vienna, Jinhua's eyes are opened to all the possibilities life has to offer. During her time in Vienna, she learns German, and she begins to take big steps, and she refuses to be a subservient and abused Chinese woman. It was here that I saw tremendous growth and courage in Jinhua.
*The final portion of the book relates Jinhua's struggles once she returns to China and War comes. Jinhua is in danger because of her Western sympathies. Once again, she is forced to make some hard decisions as she fights for herself and those she lives.
*All in all, this is a sad, at times depressing, account of the struggles young woman in China faced. Life was cruel and they had no rights or voice. Even though this was a troubling and disturbing read, I gleaned some important information from the book.
And The Not So Much:
*I was completely engrossed in the first portion of the book, but after Jinhua's time in Vienna, I became lost. The author breaks the book down into six parts that cover different periods of Jinhua's life. The problem was that there was no bridge between the different sections. There was often a big jump in time between, and absolutely no recap, leaving me with a lot of questions and no answers. I never found out why she left Vienna, did she leave on her accord, or did she leave with her husband? I didn't like the time jumps, it made the read choppy and left to many questions. Furthermore, I what happened to her husband? So much information was left out.
*The writing style was confusing. It is told in third person narrative with several view points. I never felt drawn into the story.
*This was supposed to be a book about a woman who forged a relationship with the West and found a great love, but again, so much was left out of the story. It was hinted that Jinhua fell in love with a Count in Vienna, but did she have a torrid love affair with him or not? Furthermore, I was never clear on their parting? I was also troubled by the fact that there was really no detail regarding how she made it back to China and why.
*The other issue I had was that the book is depressing and things really never improve. There is really no joy or happiness.
*The ending is abrupt and there is no mention of what happened to Jinhua at the end of her life.
The Courtesan is a book I really wanted to love, but I didn't because of the way the novel was written. This is a novel that starts out strong, but ends up faltering quickly because of the time jumps and no bridge to explain what happened between the different sections. I struggled to connect with the writing style, and I was disappointed in the lack of information. Finally, the books ends abruptly with no mention of what happened to Jinhua at the end of her life. The Courtesan is a book that will work for a select audience, but for me, it was a miss.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and I was no compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.
Jinhua is a precocious eight year old whose whole world revolves around her scholarly father. Jinhua is the daughter of her father's concubine who died while giving birth to her. When Jinhua's father fails to return one day, she spends the entire day crying for him, only to learn from her father's first wife, who consequently hates her, that her father was beheaded at the request of the emperor. Jinhua is promptly sold to a brothel where her feet are bound and she is trained for "bed business". Jinhua's life is brutal and harsh, until one day, another scholarly man comes to the brothel and insists that she is the reincarnation of his dead concubine. Jinhua becomes this man's concubine. When the scholarly man is called away to Vienna, Jinhua accompanies him and learns the ways of the barbaric West. What will happen to the Jinhua, will she find love and happiness at last?
What I Liked:
*I picked up The Courtesan because I was interested in learning more about the Chinese culture, and more specifically the life of a woman during the late 19th Century. I was also intrigued because this book was compared to Memoirs of a Geisha, which is a favorite of mine. This book doesn't live up to Memoirs, but I did learn some interesting things about women in China during this time period.
*The first part of the story was riveting, even though at times, it was disturbing and painful to read. Once Jinhua is sold to the brothel, her life becomes a living hell. Her feet are broken and bound, and she is forced to learn all about sex. At twelve, she is forced to bed with a man who brutalizes her. Life is cruel for the girls in the brothel, and they are beaten and sexually abused. The one thing that keeps Jinhua grounded is her love for the maid and her friend, Suyin. Even though there were times that I recoiled in horror, I kept reading as I wanted a better understanding of life for women in China. This was an eye opener.
*The third part of the story follows Jinhua as a young woman living in Vienna with her husband. Her life has dramatically improved. In Vienna, Jinhua's eyes are opened to all the possibilities life has to offer. During her time in Vienna, she learns German, and she begins to take big steps, and she refuses to be a subservient and abused Chinese woman. It was here that I saw tremendous growth and courage in Jinhua.
*The final portion of the book relates Jinhua's struggles once she returns to China and War comes. Jinhua is in danger because of her Western sympathies. Once again, she is forced to make some hard decisions as she fights for herself and those she lives.
*All in all, this is a sad, at times depressing, account of the struggles young woman in China faced. Life was cruel and they had no rights or voice. Even though this was a troubling and disturbing read, I gleaned some important information from the book.
And The Not So Much:
*I was completely engrossed in the first portion of the book, but after Jinhua's time in Vienna, I became lost. The author breaks the book down into six parts that cover different periods of Jinhua's life. The problem was that there was no bridge between the different sections. There was often a big jump in time between, and absolutely no recap, leaving me with a lot of questions and no answers. I never found out why she left Vienna, did she leave on her accord, or did she leave with her husband? I didn't like the time jumps, it made the read choppy and left to many questions. Furthermore, I what happened to her husband? So much information was left out.
*The writing style was confusing. It is told in third person narrative with several view points. I never felt drawn into the story.
*This was supposed to be a book about a woman who forged a relationship with the West and found a great love, but again, so much was left out of the story. It was hinted that Jinhua fell in love with a Count in Vienna, but did she have a torrid love affair with him or not? Furthermore, I was never clear on their parting? I was also troubled by the fact that there was really no detail regarding how she made it back to China and why.
*The other issue I had was that the book is depressing and things really never improve. There is really no joy or happiness.
*The ending is abrupt and there is no mention of what happened to Jinhua at the end of her life.
The Courtesan is a book I really wanted to love, but I didn't because of the way the novel was written. This is a novel that starts out strong, but ends up faltering quickly because of the time jumps and no bridge to explain what happened between the different sections. I struggled to connect with the writing style, and I was disappointed in the lack of information. Finally, the books ends abruptly with no mention of what happened to Jinhua at the end of her life. The Courtesan is a book that will work for a select audience, but for me, it was a miss.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and I was no compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.
September 10, 2015
I received The Courtesan from First to Read (a Penguin program). It was published by Dutton in September of 2015.
After her mother dies in childbirth and her father is executed, Sai Jinhua is sold to a brothel and expected to learn the art of pleasing and pleasuring men. Along with many other young girls, she is repeatedly and brutally taken advantage of. However, one day, a gentleman comes and tells Jinhua that she was his lover in a past life and proceeds to purchase her and install her as his concubine.
Although it isn’t obvious, The Courtesan is Alexandra Curry’s debut novel. The first thing that grabbed my attention was the gritty beginning of Sai Jinhua’s life as a Chinese courtesan (cross between a geisha and a prostitute). While her story starts out a lot like Memoirs of a Geisha, an excellent book in its own right, The Courtesan quickly establishes itself as something quite different.
I can thankfully say that even though Jinhua is married young and taken to grand places, this book is by NO MEANS a sweeping romance–and thank goodness for that. Half the fun of the novel is the underlying bitterness that comes with Jinhua’s being sold as a child with no say in her future. She does manage to steal some time to live her own life in Germany while her husband, a Chinese Emissary, is traveling in order to make contacts and secure alliances for China. Her desire to understand and feel love is her most endearing trait. Because of this desire and a strong sense of curiosity, she refuses to stay indoors as her husband commands.
Through learning German and exploring, Jinhua builds her reputation and legacy. So, while Curry’s novel is neither completely fictional nor completely historical, it is a wonderful tale about a girl thrown into another culture, another world, and her determination to do what is right, even if it tears her world apart. I may not be able to relate to the brutality that Sai Jinhua endures, but her desire to understand love and her need to choose her own path resonates deeply.
After her mother dies in childbirth and her father is executed, Sai Jinhua is sold to a brothel and expected to learn the art of pleasing and pleasuring men. Along with many other young girls, she is repeatedly and brutally taken advantage of. However, one day, a gentleman comes and tells Jinhua that she was his lover in a past life and proceeds to purchase her and install her as his concubine.
Although it isn’t obvious, The Courtesan is Alexandra Curry’s debut novel. The first thing that grabbed my attention was the gritty beginning of Sai Jinhua’s life as a Chinese courtesan (cross between a geisha and a prostitute). While her story starts out a lot like Memoirs of a Geisha, an excellent book in its own right, The Courtesan quickly establishes itself as something quite different.
I can thankfully say that even though Jinhua is married young and taken to grand places, this book is by NO MEANS a sweeping romance–and thank goodness for that. Half the fun of the novel is the underlying bitterness that comes with Jinhua’s being sold as a child with no say in her future. She does manage to steal some time to live her own life in Germany while her husband, a Chinese Emissary, is traveling in order to make contacts and secure alliances for China. Her desire to understand and feel love is her most endearing trait. Because of this desire and a strong sense of curiosity, she refuses to stay indoors as her husband commands.
Through learning German and exploring, Jinhua builds her reputation and legacy. So, while Curry’s novel is neither completely fictional nor completely historical, it is a wonderful tale about a girl thrown into another culture, another world, and her determination to do what is right, even if it tears her world apart. I may not be able to relate to the brutality that Sai Jinhua endures, but her desire to understand love and her need to choose her own path resonates deeply.
November 4, 2016
In an effort to make transitions in time seamless, The Courtesan is told in six parts—and all are riveting. Curry's storytelling is almost lyrical, and while she isn't yet ready to be compared to the likes of Tan, See, or Golden, she is no doubt on her way to carving out her own name among them.
I went into this book hesitant, unsure based on other reviewers comparing this to the much loved Memoirs of a Geisha. There are certainly similarities, but the fact is that the story of Sai Jinhua predates Memoirs and, while Curry's telling of it is, the story itself is not a new one. This makes juxtaposition a bit unfair and, because I was aware of this, I was able to read The Courtesan with fresh perspective.
And I loved it.
It's raw and gritty without sacrificing hope and delicacy in our heroine. Despite her circumstances, Sai Jinhua is somehow relatable and authentic. While the material isn't ground-breaking, the dialogue is wonderful, the story itself is gripping, and the writing style is divinely expressive. It's truly enjoyable—and I look forward to seeing what this author follows it with.
I'd like to thank Net Galley and the publisher Twenty7, who furnished an ARC of this book for my honest opinion, which this certainly is.
I went into this book hesitant, unsure based on other reviewers comparing this to the much loved Memoirs of a Geisha. There are certainly similarities, but the fact is that the story of Sai Jinhua predates Memoirs and, while Curry's telling of it is, the story itself is not a new one. This makes juxtaposition a bit unfair and, because I was aware of this, I was able to read The Courtesan with fresh perspective.
And I loved it.
It's raw and gritty without sacrificing hope and delicacy in our heroine. Despite her circumstances, Sai Jinhua is somehow relatable and authentic. While the material isn't ground-breaking, the dialogue is wonderful, the story itself is gripping, and the writing style is divinely expressive. It's truly enjoyable—and I look forward to seeing what this author follows it with.
I'd like to thank Net Galley and the publisher Twenty7, who furnished an ARC of this book for my honest opinion, which this certainly is.
July 13, 2015
A beguiling and fascinating tale about Sai Jinhua, the fabled concubine and courtesan from China who enchanted men and women across the globe with her beauty, charm, wit, and perseverance. The Courtesan: A Novel by Alexandra Curry begins with the beheading of Jinhua's father and then proceeds to follow her life beginning at the tender age of six years old after being sold into slavery to a brothel and going from riches to rags in a heartbeat.
Jinhua's life was no longer her own to govern and she was forced to go through many ordeals including the process of foot binding and the loss of her virginity at twelve years old. The only thing that kept her sane and grounded to this earth was her best friend the brothel maid, Suyin. Their love of stories and the possibility of having better lives gave each girl hope for a better and more fulfilling future.
This novel was an amazing debut in the historical fiction genre, and anyone who enjoyed Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden should deeply consider picking up a copy once this is released in September. I am anxiously looking forward to Alexandra Curry's next project.
Jinhua's life was no longer her own to govern and she was forced to go through many ordeals including the process of foot binding and the loss of her virginity at twelve years old. The only thing that kept her sane and grounded to this earth was her best friend the brothel maid, Suyin. Their love of stories and the possibility of having better lives gave each girl hope for a better and more fulfilling future.
This novel was an amazing debut in the historical fiction genre, and anyone who enjoyed Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden should deeply consider picking up a copy once this is released in September. I am anxiously looking forward to Alexandra Curry's next project.
August 15, 2015
Debut novel and already can't wait for the author's next book! Book was so delicious I swallowed it whole. China 1880s. Jinhua is orphaned at a young age and is sold to a brothel. She becomes dear friends with Suyin, the maid. They are there for each other in heartbreaking ways. The book follows Jinuha to Europe and back to China again, as she matures and has several life changing experiences. Any fan of Lisa See would like this book and it would make a great book bulb selection. The writing is lyrical and Ms Curry tells the story as if each character is talking to you. Loved it. Is as dreamy and has as much imagery as the cover depicts.
August 6, 2015
The Courtesan By Alexandra Curry
Publisher: Dutton
Publication Date: September 8, 2015
Rating: 5 stars
Source: eARC from NetGalley
First I would like to thank the publisher for letting me review this title.
This one intrigued me when I first saw it on Edelweiss, I have to admit, I am glad I followed my intrigue to Netgalley, where I hoped beyond hope to get my hands on an early read of this. I love historical reads, I especially love historical reads that are about places where I have been. I traveled to China while I was in college, it was a trip I won't ever forget.
The loved how the author took me back there in her descriptions and in the rich culture that I can clearly see that she loves.
The character of Sai Jinhua is very intriguing, we see her at her most innocent in the beginning of the book, she loves her father very much. She feels like her father's death is her fault in a way. For a child the very act of losing a parent is devastating. Yet it does not stop there, she is then sold to "A house with a wide door" by her mother. She is first put through the process of foot binding. Can I admit that I became slightly squeamish at this part, I mean I have heard of foot binding before, I have seen the pictures. Yet the thought and the descriptions, just to have the smallest feet possible, I have to always wonder why.
She is also taught how to pleasure a man, this house is; in a simple description a brothel. All cultures have their own names for them, but the Chinese names are always elaborate descriptions. This one is called The House of the Round Moon and Passionate love. I have read even more elaborate names, but you get the point. So at 12 Jinhua loses her innocence, this scene made me slightly less squeamish than the foot binding.
So a year goes by, and while Jinhua is not alone, she in the years she has been there has made a almost sister like friendship with the maid Suyin. This friendship is one that she treasures always, even though a strange twist of fate takes her away from the house. This part of the book, from the introduction of the scholar to the journey to Vienna, was a little hard to understand. This was suppose to happen to her, it was suppose to lead her to something happy, but it all seemed sort of random. I mean how does the scholar know to go to that house, where there happens to be a girl who remembers her father's beheading by painting a red line across her throat.
So moving on, her master is sent to Austria as an emissary, and you can clearly see the difference in the experience with these two. One holds tightly to his cultural background, while Jinhua wants nothing more than to learn about everything she can. I don't really think it was the Count she meet there that made her happy. I think it was what she gained in knowledge that made her truly happy. In the book she meets the Empress of Austria, Elizabeth. who shares with her the tale of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
After three years, we find Jinhua and Suyin in Peking, the year is 1900. They own their own brothel by the name of The House of Midsummer Dreams.
I only mention the year because of the events that happen in Peking in 1900, what is known as the Boxer Rebellion. I first heard about the Boxer Rebellion when I was in middle school, I was watching a movie one day called 55 days in Peking. It’s an old one starring Charlton Heston, this piece of history from that day truly fascinated me. The author mentions a book in her sources about the Boxer Rebellion that I actually own. It is Jinhua's relations with foreigners that causes her trouble here, leading to a tragedy that changes her life forevermore.
As a wrap up, this book is about a truly fascinating person, and I would recommend to anyone who likes history, who likes learning. I would recommend it to a person who likes to be drawn into the life of a woman who defines an age in her countries history. I commend the author for sharing Jinhua's life with the rest of us, and offer a thank you to her for a truly wonderful book.
Publisher: Dutton
Publication Date: September 8, 2015
Rating: 5 stars
Source: eARC from NetGalley
First I would like to thank the publisher for letting me review this title.
This one intrigued me when I first saw it on Edelweiss, I have to admit, I am glad I followed my intrigue to Netgalley, where I hoped beyond hope to get my hands on an early read of this. I love historical reads, I especially love historical reads that are about places where I have been. I traveled to China while I was in college, it was a trip I won't ever forget.
The loved how the author took me back there in her descriptions and in the rich culture that I can clearly see that she loves.
The character of Sai Jinhua is very intriguing, we see her at her most innocent in the beginning of the book, she loves her father very much. She feels like her father's death is her fault in a way. For a child the very act of losing a parent is devastating. Yet it does not stop there, she is then sold to "A house with a wide door" by her mother. She is first put through the process of foot binding. Can I admit that I became slightly squeamish at this part, I mean I have heard of foot binding before, I have seen the pictures. Yet the thought and the descriptions, just to have the smallest feet possible, I have to always wonder why.
She is also taught how to pleasure a man, this house is; in a simple description a brothel. All cultures have their own names for them, but the Chinese names are always elaborate descriptions. This one is called The House of the Round Moon and Passionate love. I have read even more elaborate names, but you get the point. So at 12 Jinhua loses her innocence, this scene made me slightly less squeamish than the foot binding.
So a year goes by, and while Jinhua is not alone, she in the years she has been there has made a almost sister like friendship with the maid Suyin. This friendship is one that she treasures always, even though a strange twist of fate takes her away from the house. This part of the book, from the introduction of the scholar to the journey to Vienna, was a little hard to understand. This was suppose to happen to her, it was suppose to lead her to something happy, but it all seemed sort of random. I mean how does the scholar know to go to that house, where there happens to be a girl who remembers her father's beheading by painting a red line across her throat.
So moving on, her master is sent to Austria as an emissary, and you can clearly see the difference in the experience with these two. One holds tightly to his cultural background, while Jinhua wants nothing more than to learn about everything she can. I don't really think it was the Count she meet there that made her happy. I think it was what she gained in knowledge that made her truly happy. In the book she meets the Empress of Austria, Elizabeth. who shares with her the tale of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
After three years, we find Jinhua and Suyin in Peking, the year is 1900. They own their own brothel by the name of The House of Midsummer Dreams.
I only mention the year because of the events that happen in Peking in 1900, what is known as the Boxer Rebellion. I first heard about the Boxer Rebellion when I was in middle school, I was watching a movie one day called 55 days in Peking. It’s an old one starring Charlton Heston, this piece of history from that day truly fascinated me. The author mentions a book in her sources about the Boxer Rebellion that I actually own. It is Jinhua's relations with foreigners that causes her trouble here, leading to a tragedy that changes her life forevermore.
As a wrap up, this book is about a truly fascinating person, and I would recommend to anyone who likes history, who likes learning. I would recommend it to a person who likes to be drawn into the life of a woman who defines an age in her countries history. I commend the author for sharing Jinhua's life with the rest of us, and offer a thank you to her for a truly wonderful book.
October 11, 2015
The author's debut novel is vivid and gripping. Alexandra Curry has successfully employed techniques that one would only see in seasoned novelists, let alone a challenging genre such as historical fiction. The use of different narrative viewpoints, strong characterizations, a protagonist that has the reader aching to know what on earth is going to happen to them next, the balanced and judicious use of foreign languages interspersed throughout the novel, and a well-though out story arc, all make for a good quality read, especially for fans of historical fiction that take place in China. In short, it is a story well told, eliciting compassion for a young girl who has no say in her fate but who in the end, in this reader's mind, comes out triumphant.
July 16, 2015
Thanks PENGUIN GROUP Dutton and netgalley for this arc.
All the threads of the story come together beautifully in this novel. Alexandra Curry has a way with words that made me feel connected to the larger message of the book. Once my daughter is old enough, this is the kind of book that I hope to discuss with her and hopefully she will see how women can be strong and wise in life.
All the threads of the story come together beautifully in this novel. Alexandra Curry has a way with words that made me feel connected to the larger message of the book. Once my daughter is old enough, this is the kind of book that I hope to discuss with her and hopefully she will see how women can be strong and wise in life.
September 4, 2015
This book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 4.5/5
Review: Though its voice is reminiscent of a tragic fairy tale, Alexandra Curry’s debut novel The Courtesan is actually a work of biographical historical fiction.
The story begins in 1881 with the execution of young Sai Jinhua’s father and her subsequent sale to a brothel. Under the cruel eye of Lao Mama, Jinhua endures footbinding and “bed business” with the support of her maid Suyin. The two girls become like sisters to one another until the haunted Sub-chancellor Hong makes Jinhua his concubine, taking her away from Suyin and brothel life.
When her new husband is asked to serve the Chinese empire as an ambassador to Vienna, Jinhua accompanies him on the journey, where she is drawn to European culture in a way he does not understand. Defying her husband’s wishes, she obsesses over learning German and even begins to fall for a Prussian count.
In keeping with the tragic fairy tale style, Jinhua does not have the blessing of a happily ever after.
She returns to a changed China as a changed woman, and her new-found Western sympathies threaten herself and those dear to her under the rise of the Society of the Righteous and Harmonious Fists.
From the beginning, it is clear that Curry conducted a lot of research for the novel. She pulls idioms from the German as well as the Chinese language. She threads other historical figures through Jinhua’s story and holds to her understanding of those figures. Her depiction of Chinese and Viennese culture of the late 1800s is rich enough that I can imagine it without much difficulty.
Still, The Courtesan is not Sai Jinhua’s story—it is what Sai Jinhua’s story might have been. By the end of the novel, it is clear that Curry filled in the holes and questions of Jinhua’s story with her own imagination and interpretation. This did not deter my enjoyment of the story, but those who prefer historical fact over historical fiction might not find the book so pleasurable as a result.
One of my favorite traits of the book—second only to Curry’s fairy tale voice—is her constant movement between characters’ perspectives. While most of the book is told in third person limited from Jinhua’s angle, other chapters explore the minds of side characters like Suyin and Jinhua’s Viennese maid.
My favorite chapters, though, are the ones that tapped into the viewpoint of characters who stand in the way of Jinhua’s desires. The first chapter, for example, details the death of Jinhua’s father from the executioner’s eyes. Other chapters look through the lenses of Jinhua’s father’s First Wife, the go-between who brought Jinhua to the brothel, Lao Mama, and Sub-chancellor Hong’s First Wife.
The constant movement between characters humanizes those who don’t deserve to be humanized and adds gravity to the novel.
That is not to say the book lacks gravity without these chapters; on the contrary, it takes every grim turn a story can take.
The scenes of footbinding and “bed business” are graphic and characters—particularly those from the brothel—swear intensely. These details made the book difficult to read, but I believe they’re necessary for the portrayal of Jinhua’s environment in this novel.
The most important judge of any historical fiction piece, in my opinion, is that the reader wants to learn more about the figures and events covered in the piece by the end than they did when they began.
For this reason especially, I belief The Courtesan is a success. I’m now far more interested in Sai Jinhua the events leading up to the Boxer Rebellion than I was before reading the novel. I’ve already begun poking around to see what others believe to be the true story of Jinhua and to learn more about the Boxer Rebellion.
Though I love the novel’s style and believe it to be a successful work of historical fiction, the novel fell short in the realism of its main character. Jinhua herself is ever-changing—a trait Curry likely instilled to emphasize her “many lives.” It may be less poetic, but I believe the depiction of Jinhua as having one life with many phases would have saved her character from frequent contortion.
Aside from this fault in Jinhua’s character, The Courtesan is a masterfully written novel with a great love for tragedy.
Recommendation: Fans of Amy Tan, Chinese fairy tales, and the historical context of this novel will likely enjoy it.
I would not recommend this book to victims of abuse or those sensitive to a gritty narrative.
The Courtesan will be available for purchase September 8th.
This review and reviews of similar books are available
Rating: 4.5/5
Review: Though its voice is reminiscent of a tragic fairy tale, Alexandra Curry’s debut novel The Courtesan is actually a work of biographical historical fiction.
The story begins in 1881 with the execution of young Sai Jinhua’s father and her subsequent sale to a brothel. Under the cruel eye of Lao Mama, Jinhua endures footbinding and “bed business” with the support of her maid Suyin. The two girls become like sisters to one another until the haunted Sub-chancellor Hong makes Jinhua his concubine, taking her away from Suyin and brothel life.
When her new husband is asked to serve the Chinese empire as an ambassador to Vienna, Jinhua accompanies him on the journey, where she is drawn to European culture in a way he does not understand. Defying her husband’s wishes, she obsesses over learning German and even begins to fall for a Prussian count.
In keeping with the tragic fairy tale style, Jinhua does not have the blessing of a happily ever after.
She returns to a changed China as a changed woman, and her new-found Western sympathies threaten herself and those dear to her under the rise of the Society of the Righteous and Harmonious Fists.
From the beginning, it is clear that Curry conducted a lot of research for the novel. She pulls idioms from the German as well as the Chinese language. She threads other historical figures through Jinhua’s story and holds to her understanding of those figures. Her depiction of Chinese and Viennese culture of the late 1800s is rich enough that I can imagine it without much difficulty.
Still, The Courtesan is not Sai Jinhua’s story—it is what Sai Jinhua’s story might have been. By the end of the novel, it is clear that Curry filled in the holes and questions of Jinhua’s story with her own imagination and interpretation. This did not deter my enjoyment of the story, but those who prefer historical fact over historical fiction might not find the book so pleasurable as a result.
One of my favorite traits of the book—second only to Curry’s fairy tale voice—is her constant movement between characters’ perspectives. While most of the book is told in third person limited from Jinhua’s angle, other chapters explore the minds of side characters like Suyin and Jinhua’s Viennese maid.
My favorite chapters, though, are the ones that tapped into the viewpoint of characters who stand in the way of Jinhua’s desires. The first chapter, for example, details the death of Jinhua’s father from the executioner’s eyes. Other chapters look through the lenses of Jinhua’s father’s First Wife, the go-between who brought Jinhua to the brothel, Lao Mama, and Sub-chancellor Hong’s First Wife.
The constant movement between characters humanizes those who don’t deserve to be humanized and adds gravity to the novel.
That is not to say the book lacks gravity without these chapters; on the contrary, it takes every grim turn a story can take.
The scenes of footbinding and “bed business” are graphic and characters—particularly those from the brothel—swear intensely. These details made the book difficult to read, but I believe they’re necessary for the portrayal of Jinhua’s environment in this novel.
The most important judge of any historical fiction piece, in my opinion, is that the reader wants to learn more about the figures and events covered in the piece by the end than they did when they began.
For this reason especially, I belief The Courtesan is a success. I’m now far more interested in Sai Jinhua the events leading up to the Boxer Rebellion than I was before reading the novel. I’ve already begun poking around to see what others believe to be the true story of Jinhua and to learn more about the Boxer Rebellion.
Though I love the novel’s style and believe it to be a successful work of historical fiction, the novel fell short in the realism of its main character. Jinhua herself is ever-changing—a trait Curry likely instilled to emphasize her “many lives.” It may be less poetic, but I believe the depiction of Jinhua as having one life with many phases would have saved her character from frequent contortion.
Aside from this fault in Jinhua’s character, The Courtesan is a masterfully written novel with a great love for tragedy.
Recommendation: Fans of Amy Tan, Chinese fairy tales, and the historical context of this novel will likely enjoy it.
I would not recommend this book to victims of abuse or those sensitive to a gritty narrative.
The Courtesan will be available for purchase September 8th.
This review and reviews of similar books are available
August 14, 2015
“You are Madam Working Hands. You are as strong as a boulder. You are a pillar of iron in a sea of trouble, and you can wield this knife.”
I received this book as part of the Penguin First to Read program for an honest review.
I loved this story based on an actual Chinese heroine who has many legends built up around her life. Sai Jinhua was real, but this story takes many liberties with the facts known and the legends that surround this remarkable woman. That is just fine with me, because Alexandra Curry has created an amazing character that I loved and it doesn’t matter to me if she is only a fictional character.
Sai Jinhua’s story begins with her father’s death and her being sold by the First Wife to a brothel at twelve years old. There she meets Suyin, a disabled maid who becomes her lifelong friend and partner. The many lives Jinhua lives from daughter, whore, courtesan, wife and brothel keeper are all told in the first person of the many people affected by the story.
She travels to Vienna, Austria with her husband in a diplomatic mission and finds what she calls, “Great Love” in an Austrian Count. Her love of knowledge, naiveté and simplicity make her a woman you can identify with even in today’s global age.
I don’t want to give the entire story away, but this is one of the best historical novels I have read in a long time. Alexandra Curry knows people and makes the characters in her book come alive. I came away with a greater understanding of the Chinese people and their hatred of the foreign devils that causes the Boxer rebellion.
I highly recommend this novel as great historical fiction told in an engaging style. The characters created in this book whether based on fact or purely fictional are well rounded and unforgettable. It’s a beautiful story and one I will read again.
I received this book as part of the Penguin First to Read program for an honest review.
I loved this story based on an actual Chinese heroine who has many legends built up around her life. Sai Jinhua was real, but this story takes many liberties with the facts known and the legends that surround this remarkable woman. That is just fine with me, because Alexandra Curry has created an amazing character that I loved and it doesn’t matter to me if she is only a fictional character.
Sai Jinhua’s story begins with her father’s death and her being sold by the First Wife to a brothel at twelve years old. There she meets Suyin, a disabled maid who becomes her lifelong friend and partner. The many lives Jinhua lives from daughter, whore, courtesan, wife and brothel keeper are all told in the first person of the many people affected by the story.
She travels to Vienna, Austria with her husband in a diplomatic mission and finds what she calls, “Great Love” in an Austrian Count. Her love of knowledge, naiveté and simplicity make her a woman you can identify with even in today’s global age.
I don’t want to give the entire story away, but this is one of the best historical novels I have read in a long time. Alexandra Curry knows people and makes the characters in her book come alive. I came away with a greater understanding of the Chinese people and their hatred of the foreign devils that causes the Boxer rebellion.
I highly recommend this novel as great historical fiction told in an engaging style. The characters created in this book whether based on fact or purely fictional are well rounded and unforgettable. It’s a beautiful story and one I will read again.
October 6, 2015
The Courtesan by Alexandra Curry was a wonderful book. It mentioned on the cover that the main character was inspired by a legendary woman in China. While reading the book, I didn't see why she was legendary, BUT I really loved the book. At age 7, Jinhua is orphaned and then sold to a brothel. While still quite young, she becomes a concubine to a emissary, who takes her, not his first wife to Europe. There she experiences and embraces new possibilities of Vienna.This angers the emissary who insists that she remain chaste and that eastern ways are superior. She returns to China a different woman,and seeks her independence. All around, China is also changing becoming more dangerous as East and West cultures clash. The book was fascinating, and a great look into Eastern culture in the late 1800's to 1900's.
November 2, 2015
It's books like this that make me, as a reader, fall into a world and become part of it, relive the past through the eyes of a character, and find truth there. It's books like this that make the writer in me realize how much I can still improve my craft, and how a truly great writer can bring a story to life.
The tale is tragic, beautiful, and inspiring. Fall into the history of China in the tumultuous time when the West forces its way into the East. Cry, and hope; despair, then hope again. There's more here than just historical fiction. It's a fascinating glimpse into a person's life, the decisions she makes, those that are made for her, and all the many characters who have an impact - however brief - on one remarkable individual's destiny.
The tale is tragic, beautiful, and inspiring. Fall into the history of China in the tumultuous time when the West forces its way into the East. Cry, and hope; despair, then hope again. There's more here than just historical fiction. It's a fascinating glimpse into a person's life, the decisions she makes, those that are made for her, and all the many characters who have an impact - however brief - on one remarkable individual's destiny.
August 9, 2015
I reviewed this book for NetGalley.
Ms. Curry writes an intriguing and enchanting historical novel about Sai Jinhua, a famous (some would say infamous) courtesan of late nineteenth and early twentieth China.
Ms. Curry realistically depicts the abusive world of the Chinese brothel and then moves on to the beautiful world of fin-de-siecle Vienna and finally finishes in China, with Sai Jinhua surviving the Boxer Rebellion and finally going home. Great scene setting and atmosphere.
The characters are well written, especially Sai Jinhua, whose develpment from pampered child to a well traveled and intelligent woman is fascinating. A very enjoyable journey to a lost world!
Ms. Curry writes an intriguing and enchanting historical novel about Sai Jinhua, a famous (some would say infamous) courtesan of late nineteenth and early twentieth China.
Ms. Curry realistically depicts the abusive world of the Chinese brothel and then moves on to the beautiful world of fin-de-siecle Vienna and finally finishes in China, with Sai Jinhua surviving the Boxer Rebellion and finally going home. Great scene setting and atmosphere.
The characters are well written, especially Sai Jinhua, whose develpment from pampered child to a well traveled and intelligent woman is fascinating. A very enjoyable journey to a lost world!
August 18, 2015
Reading for me is to open a door to experiences. This door opens to a glimpse into a unfamiliar culture during a time of great political upheaval in China. There is a real person behind the main character of this story, Jinhua, whose life has many stories. It starts with her as a young girl with a loving father, to her life in a brothel, to the angry streets of the boxer rebellion. It was heart wrenching to read how her feet were bound, necessary in a culture for young women and a symbol of beauty, but devastating in its brutality. The story captured me with it's threads and I rooted for this woman's happiness. I truly enjoyed reading this book.
January 8, 2016
Riveting story that takes the reader to China in the 1800's
It maybe Alexandra Curry's first novel, but it reads as though it is classic literature. I couldn't put it down. The Courtesan, the main character, a complex and fascinating individual, made alive by the author. I hope I don't have to wait eight years for her next book. However, if it is this good it will worth the wait.
It maybe Alexandra Curry's first novel, but it reads as though it is classic literature. I couldn't put it down. The Courtesan, the main character, a complex and fascinating individual, made alive by the author. I hope I don't have to wait eight years for her next book. However, if it is this good it will worth the wait.
November 29, 2015
I loved this book! I started reading it as my flight was taking off, fully intending to read a chapter and then put it down and sleep, but no... i could not put it down! The book is exquisitely written, bringing Jinhua's story to life. I was carried back in time and place, to be at her side and experience her tough tough life, feel her emotions and see her world through her eyes. Read this, you will not be disappointed!
August 15, 2015
I just finished the Courtesan and I am disappointed. It can't be over. I want more. I wish for more stories of her time in Vienna. I want the count to find her. I want to hear about her life with the boy. It ended far too soon.
September 3, 2015
I truly enjoyed this book. It was incredibly well-researched historical fiction, and definitely a fascinating subject. I was already interested in this period of history, but this book does a great job of bringing a human story to life. I highly recommend this read!
December 8, 2015
I truly enjoyed this book. it behind when Jinhua is orphaned at 7 years of age, and follows her life through many extreme changes. I couldn't put it down and highly recommend it.
December 16, 2015
excellent read!
November 1, 2020
Na samom početku hteo bih da spomenem naziv knjige i da mi nije jasno zašto su "The Courtesan" preveli kao "U dvorani snova" ako već imamo i našu reč - Kurtizana. Naslov koji je dat je svakako u funkciji romana i ima smisla, ali prosto mi nije jasno zašto izdavači nekad misle da mogu bolje da osmisle naslov od samog autora i/ili originalnog izdavača.
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Moram da priznam da mi je početak knjige bio mnogo težak i da sam posle nekih 15ak strana razmišljao da od knjige odustanem. Razlog tome je stil pisanja koji je meni bio konfuzan i nije mi prijao. Sve je nekako drugačije bilo. Ipak, rešio sam da pružim priliku romanu još nekih 20 do 30 strana i posle toga je sve bilo okej. Očigledno sam se navikao na taj stil koji je, ako tako mogu da kažem, "kineski". Nisam odličan poznavalac kineske kulture, ali kroz više filmova i knjiga sam imao dodira sa načinom izražavanja Kineza o životu i drugim stvarima, a ovaj stil pisanja je baš takav. Metafore koje koriste su vrlo lepe, ali na prvu veoma čudne. Nekako mi je trebalo vremena da "kliknem" sa tim. Posle to tokom romana nisam osećao i sve je bilo okej.
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Sam početak radnje romana, prvih stotinjak stranica, me je podsetila na romane Memoari jedne gejše (u izdanju Vulkan-a) i Plava beležnica (u izdanju EvroBook-a). Imamo devojčicu koja biva prodata nekoj "kući", a onda je tu uče određenim pravilima ponašanja i krajnji cilj je da na neki način zadovolji muškarca. U drugoj polovini romana postoji deo koji je ispričan iz ugla Sujin, "sestre" od Đinhue. I tu postoji momenat koji dosta liči na "Za tebe i hiljadu puta ako treba" iz Lovca na zmajeve. To je momenat kad čitalac vidi koliko zaista Sujin voli svoju "sestru" Đinhuu i da je spremna da učini sve za njenu sreću. I pre toga imamo neki uvid u njena razmišljanja i osećanja, ali ovde je to toliko jasno, duboko i nedvosmisleno da me je mnogo ganulo. I tu me je kupila kao lik, jer bezuslovno, bespogovorno voli do srži.
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Generalno, sama knjiga kao knjiga je osrednje ocenjena na GRu, pa od nje nisam imao veća očekivanja. Čitajući rečenicu sa naslovnice imao sam jedan utisak, sinopsis mi je odavao drugi utisak, a na kraju sam dobio nešto skroz treće čemu se nisam baš nadao, ali mi je bilo okej. Radnja se dešava pre 130-140 godina, što je neki potpuno drugi svet. Jedna od zanimljivijih momenata je da se deo radnje događa u Beču. Tu imamo pogled na Evropu i evropljane iz ugla jednog kineza koji evropljane konstantno naziva varvarima. Načini razmišljanja evropljana i ljudi sa dalekog istoga se potpuno razlikuju, kao i njihove kulture, načini odevanja, ponašanje i sve ostalo. Zanimljivo mi je bilo da sve to propratim i posmatram "nas" iz nekog drugog ugla, iako sami Srbi nisu bili uključeni.
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Mogu još da izdvojim da je u ovom romanu prisutna i prstenasta kompozicija, na neki način. Pri početku romana se dešava jedan, a pri kraju romana drugi događaj i o oba nije prijatno čitati. Definitivno budi određena osećanja kod čitaoca. Jedan od najupečatljivijih momenata mi je kada devojčica koja ima blizu dvanaest godina ima prvi put seksualne odnose (ne svojom voljom, naravno) nije sigurna da li krvari zato što je dobila menstruaciju ili je to nešto što se redovno dešava posle seksa. Ali kao kurtizana zna više poza u seksu, jer je morala da nauči. Naravno, verujem da je u to vreme tako nešto bila učestala pojava, ali definitivno nije prijatno kada čitate da o devojčici koja postaje "drvce koje rađa novac" a trebalo bi da bude samo dete koje se igra.
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Sve u svemu, meni je ovo bila zanimljiva knjiga. Nije knjiga koja će vas oduševiti i pomeriti, ali će vas dotaći, sigurno.
🎎
Moram da priznam da mi je početak knjige bio mnogo težak i da sam posle nekih 15ak strana razmišljao da od knjige odustanem. Razlog tome je stil pisanja koji je meni bio konfuzan i nije mi prijao. Sve je nekako drugačije bilo. Ipak, rešio sam da pružim priliku romanu još nekih 20 do 30 strana i posle toga je sve bilo okej. Očigledno sam se navikao na taj stil koji je, ako tako mogu da kažem, "kineski". Nisam odličan poznavalac kineske kulture, ali kroz više filmova i knjiga sam imao dodira sa načinom izražavanja Kineza o životu i drugim stvarima, a ovaj stil pisanja je baš takav. Metafore koje koriste su vrlo lepe, ali na prvu veoma čudne. Nekako mi je trebalo vremena da "kliknem" sa tim. Posle to tokom romana nisam osećao i sve je bilo okej.
🎎
Sam početak radnje romana, prvih stotinjak stranica, me je podsetila na romane Memoari jedne gejše (u izdanju Vulkan-a) i Plava beležnica (u izdanju EvroBook-a). Imamo devojčicu koja biva prodata nekoj "kući", a onda je tu uče određenim pravilima ponašanja i krajnji cilj je da na neki način zadovolji muškarca. U drugoj polovini romana postoji deo koji je ispričan iz ugla Sujin, "sestre" od Đinhue. I tu postoji momenat koji dosta liči na "Za tebe i hiljadu puta ako treba" iz Lovca na zmajeve. To je momenat kad čitalac vidi koliko zaista Sujin voli svoju "sestru" Đinhuu i da je spremna da učini sve za njenu sreću. I pre toga imamo neki uvid u njena razmišljanja i osećanja, ali ovde je to toliko jasno, duboko i nedvosmisleno da me je mnogo ganulo. I tu me je kupila kao lik, jer bezuslovno, bespogovorno voli do srži.
🎎
Generalno, sama knjiga kao knjiga je osrednje ocenjena na GRu, pa od nje nisam imao veća očekivanja. Čitajući rečenicu sa naslovnice imao sam jedan utisak, sinopsis mi je odavao drugi utisak, a na kraju sam dobio nešto skroz treće čemu se nisam baš nadao, ali mi je bilo okej. Radnja se dešava pre 130-140 godina, što je neki potpuno drugi svet. Jedna od zanimljivijih momenata je da se deo radnje događa u Beču. Tu imamo pogled na Evropu i evropljane iz ugla jednog kineza koji evropljane konstantno naziva varvarima. Načini razmišljanja evropljana i ljudi sa dalekog istoga se potpuno razlikuju, kao i njihove kulture, načini odevanja, ponašanje i sve ostalo. Zanimljivo mi je bilo da sve to propratim i posmatram "nas" iz nekog drugog ugla, iako sami Srbi nisu bili uključeni.
🎎
Mogu još da izdvojim da je u ovom romanu prisutna i prstenasta kompozicija, na neki način. Pri početku romana se dešava jedan, a pri kraju romana drugi događaj i o oba nije prijatno čitati. Definitivno budi određena osećanja kod čitaoca. Jedan od najupečatljivijih momenata mi je kada devojčica koja ima blizu dvanaest godina ima prvi put seksualne odnose (ne svojom voljom, naravno) nije sigurna da li krvari zato što je dobila menstruaciju ili je to nešto što se redovno dešava posle seksa. Ali kao kurtizana zna više poza u seksu, jer je morala da nauči. Naravno, verujem da je u to vreme tako nešto bila učestala pojava, ali definitivno nije prijatno kada čitate da o devojčici koja postaje "drvce koje rađa novac" a trebalo bi da bude samo dete koje se igra.
🎎
Sve u svemu, meni je ovo bila zanimljiva knjiga. Nije knjiga koja će vas oduševiti i pomeriti, ali će vas dotaći, sigurno.
December 27, 2017
So I only read a small portion of this book and can't really judge the whole thing, but I want to warn other readers about the excessive brutality against children in the early chapters. Just one depiction of violence after another. I don't know how anyone can get through it and I'm not sure why the author felt the need to describe every detail of every beating and rape--I could have stuck with the book if the violence hadn't been lingered on in chapter after chapter. I get wanting to convey how horrible life was for poor young girls, but you can convey that without describing every single blow. But it was well written and clearly well researched and I assume if I had managed to survive the early horribleness there would have been some redemption for the abused children. I'm going to cling to that belief anyway.
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