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The Porcelain Moon: A Novel of France, the Great War, and Forbidden Love
France, 1918. In the final days of the First World War, a young Chinese woman, Pauline Deng, runs away from her uncle’s home in Paris to evade a marriage being arranged for her in Shanghai. To prevent the union, she needs the help of her cousin Theo, who is working as a translator for the Chinese Labour Corps in the French countryside. In the town of Noyelles-sur-Mer, Camille Roussel is planning her escape from an abusive marriage, and to end a love affair that can no longer continue. When Camille offers Pauline a room for her stay, the two women become friends. But it’s not long before Pauline uncovers a perilous secret that Camille has been hiding from her. As their dangerous situation escalates, the two women are forced to make a terrible decision that will bind them together for the rest of their lives.
Set against the little-known history of the 140,000 Chinese workers brought to Europe as non-combatant labor during WWI, The Porcelain Moon is a tale of forbidden love, identity and belonging, and what we are willing to risk for freedom.
Set against the little-known history of the 140,000 Chinese workers brought to Europe as non-combatant labor during WWI, The Porcelain Moon is a tale of forbidden love, identity and belonging, and what we are willing to risk for freedom.
352 pages, Paperback
First published February 21, 2023
809 people are currently reading
21650 people want to read
About the author
Janie Chang
8 books1,349 followersJanie Chang is a bestselling author of historical fiction. Her books are often inspired by tales of ancestors who encountered dragons, ghosts, and immortals as well as family stories about life in China in the years before the Second World War. Her novels, THREE SOULS and DRAGON SPRINGS ROAD were nominated for the International Dublin Literary Award. DRAGON SPRINGS ROAD was a Canadian national bestseller. Her third novel THE LIBRARY OF LEGENDS was a Canadian national bestseller and a Book of the Month Club selection. THE PORCELAIN MOON is set in WWI France and brings to readers the forgotten history of the 140,000 Chinese workers sent to the Western Front. THE PHOENIX CROWN, a novel co-authored with Kate Quinn, released in February 2024. THE FOURTH PRINCESS, releasing in February 2026, is her first Gothic novel.
Born in Taiwan, Janie has lived in the Philippines, Iran, Thailand, and New Zealand. She now lives on the Sunshine Coast of beautiful British Columbia, Canada with her husband and Minnie, a rescue cat who thinks the staff could do better.
Born in Taiwan, Janie has lived in the Philippines, Iran, Thailand, and New Zealand. She now lives on the Sunshine Coast of beautiful British Columbia, Canada with her husband and Minnie, a rescue cat who thinks the staff could do better.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 588 reviews
April 5, 2023
“Loving is what makes you happy, not being loved”.
This is the 4th historical novel I’ve read by Janie Chang …..
I enjoy Janie Chang in the same way I do Lisa See and Amy Tan— snuggly under a blanket — often losing sleep in the middle of the night — ha….as I did last night …..
making friends with her characters — interested in their lives, their history, culture, their struggles and circumstances, their fight and choices.
I love to be transported to another place and time…..
and I have a soft spot for the type of ‘intimate-Chinese-family-historical-storytelling’ we get from Lisa See, Amy Tan, and Janie Chang ….I love them all. These authors and novels are literally comfort reading for me ….
In “ Three Souls”….we visit China in the 1930’s….when China was divided into sphere of influence with each powerful Western Nation that was trying to exert as much control over it as possible.
It begins in 1935 …. a ghost of a young woman watches over her own funeral wondering why she has been denied into the afterlife.
In “Dragon Springs Road”….we visit the early days of the 20th century in China. In 1908 a young girl was abandoned in the courtyard of a once lavished estate near Shanghai.
In “The Library of Legends”… we visit China in 1937 when Japanese bombs began falling on the city of Nanking.
In “The Porcelain Moon”…
… it is set against the little known history of the 140,000 Chinese workers brought to Europe as non-combatant Labor during WWI.
The story begins in France during the last days of WWI…in 1918.
Pauline Deng does not want to be forced back home to Shanghai for an arranged marriage.
Camille Roussel does not want her abusive husband anywhere near her — nor her unborn child. She ‘does’ want the man she has had a secret affair with … but it’s complicated.
Janie Chang opens windows into China’s past in all her novels — stories that have almost been obsolete — forgotten about —
Her gifts are:
…..Writing that is both emotional and cerebral.
…..The history we learn is gentle, organic,…..easier to remember….than if hit over the head with dry textbook facts. ….
but important history and politics - based on real stories.
…..FAMILY….is always at the core ….
….themes about loyalty, marriages, traditions, opportunities, conflicts > with strong women in each book.
and….
…..PLEASURE READING…unflinchingly intimate…..compelling terrain between identity and loyalty, love and loss, victory and defeat….friendship and country.
In “The Porcelain Moon”…
….its wartime love, forbidden love, secrets, friendships, women, rebellion, abuse, history, culture, and an eye-opening education about allied Chinese workers during WWI….
Pauline needs her cousin, Theo’s help…..to talk to her Uncle and stop the nonsense of her returning to Shanghai for an arranged marriage. Theo supports the family porcelain trade….and is a volunteer with the Chinese Labour Corps in France — working as a translator.
In searching for Theo, Pauline finds solace and friendship with Camille - who is married to Jean-Paul — trapped in an abusive marriage.
Descriptions are rich…with enthralling panoramic visuals throughout. …..and it’s an overall absorbing train ride of a journey.
And…..
Times are - a - changing!
A few excerpts:
“Then another room, and another revelation. Porcelain glazed with colors at once intense and serene. The delicate, finely crafted pieces couldn’t have been more different than the free-flowing, joyous paintings she admired ten minutes before, yet their exquisite workmanship exerted just as much fascination over her”.
—Pauline’s first time in a museum in Paris.
“The woman returned with a pair of blue cloisonné vases, and a month after that, an exquisite hair ornament set with seed pearls, the entire semicircle, heightened by a flock of tiny butterflies. Their wings, made from blue kingfisher feathers set in gold wire, trembled as though alive”.
“As long as our family support says, we must do as they wish, in the manner they wish, Theo said. If we were still in Shanghai, I never would’ve known it was possible to question our elders. But here I’ve seen friends chart their own course. If I join the Chinese Labour Corps, it will be the first time I earn money that doesn’t come from our family. I’d think that you, as all people, would understand”.
“Let me tell you a secret. Being loved by your grandfather did me no good at all. He left us penniless. Yet the sight of him every morning made me happy because I loved him. Loving is what makes you happy, not being loved”.
This is the 4th historical novel I’ve read by Janie Chang …..
I enjoy Janie Chang in the same way I do Lisa See and Amy Tan— snuggly under a blanket — often losing sleep in the middle of the night — ha….as I did last night …..
making friends with her characters — interested in their lives, their history, culture, their struggles and circumstances, their fight and choices.
I love to be transported to another place and time…..
and I have a soft spot for the type of ‘intimate-Chinese-family-historical-storytelling’ we get from Lisa See, Amy Tan, and Janie Chang ….I love them all. These authors and novels are literally comfort reading for me ….
In “ Three Souls”….we visit China in the 1930’s….when China was divided into sphere of influence with each powerful Western Nation that was trying to exert as much control over it as possible.
It begins in 1935 …. a ghost of a young woman watches over her own funeral wondering why she has been denied into the afterlife.
In “Dragon Springs Road”….we visit the early days of the 20th century in China. In 1908 a young girl was abandoned in the courtyard of a once lavished estate near Shanghai.
In “The Library of Legends”… we visit China in 1937 when Japanese bombs began falling on the city of Nanking.
In “The Porcelain Moon”…
… it is set against the little known history of the 140,000 Chinese workers brought to Europe as non-combatant Labor during WWI.
The story begins in France during the last days of WWI…in 1918.
Pauline Deng does not want to be forced back home to Shanghai for an arranged marriage.
Camille Roussel does not want her abusive husband anywhere near her — nor her unborn child. She ‘does’ want the man she has had a secret affair with … but it’s complicated.
Janie Chang opens windows into China’s past in all her novels — stories that have almost been obsolete — forgotten about —
Her gifts are:
…..Writing that is both emotional and cerebral.
…..The history we learn is gentle, organic,…..easier to remember….than if hit over the head with dry textbook facts. ….
but important history and politics - based on real stories.
…..FAMILY….is always at the core ….
….themes about loyalty, marriages, traditions, opportunities, conflicts > with strong women in each book.
and….
…..PLEASURE READING…unflinchingly intimate…..compelling terrain between identity and loyalty, love and loss, victory and defeat….friendship and country.
In “The Porcelain Moon”…
….its wartime love, forbidden love, secrets, friendships, women, rebellion, abuse, history, culture, and an eye-opening education about allied Chinese workers during WWI….
Pauline needs her cousin, Theo’s help…..to talk to her Uncle and stop the nonsense of her returning to Shanghai for an arranged marriage. Theo supports the family porcelain trade….and is a volunteer with the Chinese Labour Corps in France — working as a translator.
In searching for Theo, Pauline finds solace and friendship with Camille - who is married to Jean-Paul — trapped in an abusive marriage.
Descriptions are rich…with enthralling panoramic visuals throughout. …..and it’s an overall absorbing train ride of a journey.
And…..
Times are - a - changing!
A few excerpts:
“Then another room, and another revelation. Porcelain glazed with colors at once intense and serene. The delicate, finely crafted pieces couldn’t have been more different than the free-flowing, joyous paintings she admired ten minutes before, yet their exquisite workmanship exerted just as much fascination over her”.
—Pauline’s first time in a museum in Paris.
“The woman returned with a pair of blue cloisonné vases, and a month after that, an exquisite hair ornament set with seed pearls, the entire semicircle, heightened by a flock of tiny butterflies. Their wings, made from blue kingfisher feathers set in gold wire, trembled as though alive”.
“As long as our family support says, we must do as they wish, in the manner they wish, Theo said. If we were still in Shanghai, I never would’ve known it was possible to question our elders. But here I’ve seen friends chart their own course. If I join the Chinese Labour Corps, it will be the first time I earn money that doesn’t come from our family. I’d think that you, as all people, would understand”.
“Let me tell you a secret. Being loved by your grandfather did me no good at all. He left us penniless. Yet the sight of him every morning made me happy because I loved him. Loving is what makes you happy, not being loved”.
October 2, 2022
Janie Chang’s beautiful writing will transport you into another time and place with characters you will feel in your soul. The Porcelain Moon was incredibly well researched and sheds light on a lesser-known aspect of the Great War with the struggles of Chinese laborers brought to work in France. Once I started this book, I absolutely could not put it down – I can’t recommend it enough!
February 4, 2023
4.5 stars
Janie Chang’s latest novel is a beautifully written story about a little-known piece of history: the hundreds of thousands of Chinese laborers brought to Europe during the Great War. These contracted workers — part of the Chinese Labor Corps (CLC) — didn’t fight in the war directly, yet they were crucial in keeping the “machinery of war” running through their efforts in maintaining and rebuilding equipment such as tanks and weaponry, clearing out trenches, loading provisions onto boats to ship out to soldiers, etc. — even after the war, they played important roles in helping to clean up the battlefields and, in many instances, restore land that was taken during the war to its original use. Oftentimes, they were also tasked with doing soul-destroying work such as clearing out decomposing corpses of humans and animals. The commanding officers overseeing these workers were usually non-Chinese military personnel and misunderstandings were common due to lack of access to translators — many of the workers were either treated poorly or subject to harsh working conditions, especially the ones from the peasant class who were largely uneducated and illiterate, with little to no understanding of the local language and culture, so they couldn’t relay their grievances or fight for their rights. What’s worse is that, later on, the contributions of these workers were largely wiped from the history books, with very little information about their efforts available even now. Chang did a great job bringing this obscure history to light, with research that was both meticulous as well as intricate. The author’s note that detailed some of this research definitely should not be missed!
As far as the narrative goes, the story alternates between the two main female protagonists: Camille, a Frenchwoman from an aristocratic family fallen on hard times, who tries desperately to escape from an abusive marriage; and Pauline, the illegitimate daughter of a traditional Chinese family who is sent to France with her uncle and cousin to take care of the family’s antiques store — two women who live very different lives, yet whose paths end up intersecting in a tremendous way. I loved nearly all the characters in this story, but without a doubt, I resonated with Pauline the most. In a culture where losing face was worse than death and being unfilial was an unforgivable sin subject to grave condemnation, Pauline’s life had already been predetermined for her, and as a daughter (especially an illegitimate one), the only choice she had was to obey. But yet, those circumstances didn’t stop her from trying to rise above her fate, which in itself, was hugely admirable. Though my own family background is quite different from Pauline’s, the cultural obligations and conventions that she was bound by were more than familiar to me — which is why I couldn’t help rooting for her character more than Camille’s, even though overall, I was deeply invested in both women’s stories.
This was my first historical fiction novel of 2023 and I’m so glad I got to start off with a book I loved, especially with this particular genre being one of my absolute favorites. I had actually read Janie Chang’s previous novel The Library of Legends back when it came out and while I appreciated the obscure history depicted in that story as well, I felt it leaned too much into the fantasy and romance elements at the expense of the historical portion. This newest work, The Porcelain Moon , is in an entirely different vein in my opinion, as it focused more on the historical and cultural elements and balanced both in a way that flowed seamlessly.
Janie Chang has two backlist titles that I’m interested in but haven’t read yet — I’m hoping I will get a chance to read them some time soon. What has me most excited though, is hearing that she is co-authoring a new book with Kate Quinn (one of my favorite historical fiction authors), which is scheduled for publication later this year (in the Fall) — I can’t wait to read it!!
Received ARC from William Morrow via NetGalley.
Janie Chang’s latest novel is a beautifully written story about a little-known piece of history: the hundreds of thousands of Chinese laborers brought to Europe during the Great War. These contracted workers — part of the Chinese Labor Corps (CLC) — didn’t fight in the war directly, yet they were crucial in keeping the “machinery of war” running through their efforts in maintaining and rebuilding equipment such as tanks and weaponry, clearing out trenches, loading provisions onto boats to ship out to soldiers, etc. — even after the war, they played important roles in helping to clean up the battlefields and, in many instances, restore land that was taken during the war to its original use. Oftentimes, they were also tasked with doing soul-destroying work such as clearing out decomposing corpses of humans and animals. The commanding officers overseeing these workers were usually non-Chinese military personnel and misunderstandings were common due to lack of access to translators — many of the workers were either treated poorly or subject to harsh working conditions, especially the ones from the peasant class who were largely uneducated and illiterate, with little to no understanding of the local language and culture, so they couldn’t relay their grievances or fight for their rights. What’s worse is that, later on, the contributions of these workers were largely wiped from the history books, with very little information about their efforts available even now. Chang did a great job bringing this obscure history to light, with research that was both meticulous as well as intricate. The author’s note that detailed some of this research definitely should not be missed!
As far as the narrative goes, the story alternates between the two main female protagonists: Camille, a Frenchwoman from an aristocratic family fallen on hard times, who tries desperately to escape from an abusive marriage; and Pauline, the illegitimate daughter of a traditional Chinese family who is sent to France with her uncle and cousin to take care of the family’s antiques store — two women who live very different lives, yet whose paths end up intersecting in a tremendous way. I loved nearly all the characters in this story, but without a doubt, I resonated with Pauline the most. In a culture where losing face was worse than death and being unfilial was an unforgivable sin subject to grave condemnation, Pauline’s life had already been predetermined for her, and as a daughter (especially an illegitimate one), the only choice she had was to obey. But yet, those circumstances didn’t stop her from trying to rise above her fate, which in itself, was hugely admirable. Though my own family background is quite different from Pauline’s, the cultural obligations and conventions that she was bound by were more than familiar to me — which is why I couldn’t help rooting for her character more than Camille’s, even though overall, I was deeply invested in both women’s stories.
This was my first historical fiction novel of 2023 and I’m so glad I got to start off with a book I loved, especially with this particular genre being one of my absolute favorites. I had actually read Janie Chang’s previous novel The Library of Legends back when it came out and while I appreciated the obscure history depicted in that story as well, I felt it leaned too much into the fantasy and romance elements at the expense of the historical portion. This newest work, The Porcelain Moon , is in an entirely different vein in my opinion, as it focused more on the historical and cultural elements and balanced both in a way that flowed seamlessly.
Janie Chang has two backlist titles that I’m interested in but haven’t read yet — I’m hoping I will get a chance to read them some time soon. What has me most excited though, is hearing that she is co-authoring a new book with Kate Quinn (one of my favorite historical fiction authors), which is scheduled for publication later this year (in the Fall) — I can’t wait to read it!!
Received ARC from William Morrow via NetGalley.
July 28, 2023
The Porcelain Moon by Janie Chang. Really good book. Don’t have tine to leave a review. Maybe i can later
March 14, 2023
4.5
A Goodreads win! So exciting!
Recovering from eye surgery and was unable to read it sooner. A good way to start reading again!
Regrets, what-ifs, conscience, forbidden love…
Pauline, a Chinese, illegitimate niece, is living/working at her Uncle Louis’ antique shop in Paris. She lives with her uncle and cousin Theo and “works” as a housekeeper, cook, bookkeeper, and clerk at the family’s shop. She runs away to avoid an arranged marriage, which will return her to a life in Shanghai.
Camille, a French housewife, has an escape fund hidden in the basement. She longs to flee her abusive marriage. She grew up as a member of an impoverished aristocrat family. Her husband Jean-Paul married her for the respectability. This would be the closest he would get to aristocracy.
Pauline and Camille will meet and eventually become friends. A risky judgment will bind the two women forever.
140,000 Chinese arrived by various routes to Noyelles-sur- Mer , France in 1916-17. Contracted separately by the British and French governments, private Chinese companies supplied employment opportunities in mostly unskilled jobs providing support services. This “forgotten army” made a vital contribution to the WWI effort. This is the setting for The Porcelain Moon and Pauline and Camille’s stories of love, acceptance, and secrets.
* A unique book for sure! I wasn’t aware of the Chinese Labour Corps (CLC) and their contributions.
* A vivid picture of antiques, fashion, locations, and life in the CLC.
* Beautiful cover!
* I found a report about the history of the CLC online. It presented details of CLC duties, living conditions, work conditions, and contract information. Fascinating and informative!
* The author’s note is also enlightening! Don’t skip it!
* Thanks again to Goodreads for this ARE copy.
To be published 2/21/23.
A Goodreads win! So exciting!
Recovering from eye surgery and was unable to read it sooner. A good way to start reading again!
Regrets, what-ifs, conscience, forbidden love…
Pauline, a Chinese, illegitimate niece, is living/working at her Uncle Louis’ antique shop in Paris. She lives with her uncle and cousin Theo and “works” as a housekeeper, cook, bookkeeper, and clerk at the family’s shop. She runs away to avoid an arranged marriage, which will return her to a life in Shanghai.
Camille, a French housewife, has an escape fund hidden in the basement. She longs to flee her abusive marriage. She grew up as a member of an impoverished aristocrat family. Her husband Jean-Paul married her for the respectability. This would be the closest he would get to aristocracy.
Pauline and Camille will meet and eventually become friends. A risky judgment will bind the two women forever.
140,000 Chinese arrived by various routes to Noyelles-sur- Mer , France in 1916-17. Contracted separately by the British and French governments, private Chinese companies supplied employment opportunities in mostly unskilled jobs providing support services. This “forgotten army” made a vital contribution to the WWI effort. This is the setting for The Porcelain Moon and Pauline and Camille’s stories of love, acceptance, and secrets.
* A unique book for sure! I wasn’t aware of the Chinese Labour Corps (CLC) and their contributions.
* A vivid picture of antiques, fashion, locations, and life in the CLC.
* Beautiful cover!
* I found a report about the history of the CLC online. It presented details of CLC duties, living conditions, work conditions, and contract information. Fascinating and informative!
* The author’s note is also enlightening! Don’t skip it!
* Thanks again to Goodreads for this ARE copy.
To be published 2/21/23.
December 11, 2022
5/5stars
I absolutely couldn't put this down! Janie Chang wrote my absolute favorite book of all time, and each book afterward has been absolutely wonderful as well. She is truly an expert at writing fleshed out characters that feel so, so real. I also love how she always seems to pick such a small, usually ignored (at least by the West) part of Chinese history - in this case, the Chinese labor force in WWI.
The writing was beautiful as always, the characters absolutely had my rapt attention for their stories, and I just had to keep flipping pages until I got to the end. I absolutely loved this and highly recommend it for all my lit fic lovers and historical fiction readers!!
I absolutely couldn't put this down! Janie Chang wrote my absolute favorite book of all time, and each book afterward has been absolutely wonderful as well. She is truly an expert at writing fleshed out characters that feel so, so real. I also love how she always seems to pick such a small, usually ignored (at least by the West) part of Chinese history - in this case, the Chinese labor force in WWI.
The writing was beautiful as always, the characters absolutely had my rapt attention for their stories, and I just had to keep flipping pages until I got to the end. I absolutely loved this and highly recommend it for all my lit fic lovers and historical fiction readers!!
May 3, 2023
This HF sheds light on a little- known bit of history; the Chinese Labour Corps ,which recruited thousands of able-bodied Chinese men to work the fields while the French & British men were off fighting WW1 . Thanks to the author for giving these brave men who were willing to travel half-way across the world and were often given the horrible job clearing out the trenches a shout-out. Interlaced through the story is a young Chinese student,Theo,whom , along w/his cousin Pauline,have spent the majority of their lives in Paris after their Father/ Uncle Louis leaves Shanghai and opens La Pagode' ; a Chinese antiquities shop there,He takes them w/him as children,hoping Theo will take over the shop. Pauline is brought to help out but he plans to send her back to Shanghai for an arranged marriage when she's of age. Neither cousin wants what's expected of them so Theo ends up joining the CLC as a Translator. Louis,of course, is v. disappointed in his son & Pauline ,who is extremely close to her cousin,is afraid that Theo will be severely or injured killed being so close to the line of fire and sets off for the village of Noyelles sur Mer,where Theo is based to talk him into coming home.
Meanwhile,Theo likes being of use in the war effort ( though he's assigned to work besides translating that gives him nightmares) He also meets Camille Roussel ; a young married Frenchwoman who's the village's Postmistress and trapped in an abusive marriage. They discover they share a love of art( Camille is an aspiring artist) and meet in secret for fear of what her husband will do and the fact that they're a mixed- race couple ( Theo's father has a French mistress but they're never seen together in public) Meanwhile Pauline rents a small converted gardenhouse from the kindhearted Camille ,after being turned away from staying at the nurse's headquarters due to her being Chinese. They become friends and Camille shows her the Chinese collectables that her late father bought while in China. One of them Pauline identifies as a v.valuable bowl from the Tang Dynasty which could give Camille the means to escape her awful marriage and find a way to be w/Theo . Then Theo is reported as Dead from a bomb attack which turns both women's plans upside-down.
I enjoyed this book and found it interesting but felt the MC's needed a bit more dimension. Also,the story lagged in places . Overall,this book is worth a read, especially for readers of HF and forbidden romance. Beautiful cover as well.👌 ( This was an unbiased review of an ARC of this novel)
Meanwhile,Theo likes being of use in the war effort ( though he's assigned to work besides translating that gives him nightmares) He also meets Camille Roussel ; a young married Frenchwoman who's the village's Postmistress and trapped in an abusive marriage. They discover they share a love of art( Camille is an aspiring artist) and meet in secret for fear of what her husband will do and the fact that they're a mixed- race couple ( Theo's father has a French mistress but they're never seen together in public) Meanwhile Pauline rents a small converted gardenhouse from the kindhearted Camille ,after being turned away from staying at the nurse's headquarters due to her being Chinese. They become friends and Camille shows her the Chinese collectables that her late father bought while in China. One of them Pauline identifies as a v.valuable bowl from the Tang Dynasty which could give Camille the means to escape her awful marriage and find a way to be w/Theo . Then Theo is reported as Dead from a bomb attack which turns both women's plans upside-down.
I enjoyed this book and found it interesting but felt the MC's needed a bit more dimension. Also,the story lagged in places . Overall,this book is worth a read, especially for readers of HF and forbidden romance. Beautiful cover as well.👌 ( This was an unbiased review of an ARC of this novel)
August 20, 2022
The historical aspect of this novel is as important if not more important than the novel's basic plot of marriage and romance in the early 1900s during WWI.
Pauline Deng and her cousin Theo are Chinese who have spent many years living in France and both are reluctant to return to Shanghai for arranged marriages to people they have never met.
I was also fascinated by this little known, overlooked part of history, of over 140,000 Chinese laborers and peasants brought over to Europe to help the WWI war effort in non-combatant work, such as clearing battlefields, loading goods and ammunition on trucks and trains, keeping the railroads running, and soul-destroying jobs such as handling corpses in the trenches.
Pauline and Theo are a fascinating part of the plot, as they struggle to keep their freer life in France, in spite of the war. There is danger for both of them, and death, as they try to find their way during wartime France.
An excellent read
Pauline Deng and her cousin Theo are Chinese who have spent many years living in France and both are reluctant to return to Shanghai for arranged marriages to people they have never met.
I was also fascinated by this little known, overlooked part of history, of over 140,000 Chinese laborers and peasants brought over to Europe to help the WWI war effort in non-combatant work, such as clearing battlefields, loading goods and ammunition on trucks and trains, keeping the railroads running, and soul-destroying jobs such as handling corpses in the trenches.
Pauline and Theo are a fascinating part of the plot, as they struggle to keep their freer life in France, in spite of the war. There is danger for both of them, and death, as they try to find their way during wartime France.
An excellent read
September 30, 2024
Janie Chang uses the vehicle of her novel to write about the Chinese Labour Corps during the First World War. Cited by her own references as the ~forgotten workers of the Great War~, her narrative flits around the edges of their experience. And experiences that she acknowledges in her notes that are very hard to find references for as most of those Chinese workers were illiterate and those who worked with them, rarely wrote of them.
The Porcelain Moon centers mostly on two women. Pauline Deng, who moves from Shanghai with her uncle and cousin to Paris to open an arm of an antiques dealership. And Camille Roussel, her aristocratic upbringing descending slowly into poverty and an abusive marriage. Their lives intertwining as the war continues to rage and they struggle to escape situations forced upon them.
It's a cute read. The action mostly taking place in Paris and the village of Noyelles-sur-Mer, and while the war is an oversized presence within the narrative, it's not much of it's violence in the pages. The violence is however of a different kind, that of a man against his wife. It's usually brief and sparing but no less shocking and horrific. It contrasts with the greater violence of the ongoing war, that this act of domestic violence is soul destroying.
I found Pauline (and occasion, Theo) to be aggravatingly naive at some points. I know it's supposed to reflect their sheltered existence in Paris with their uncle but Theo had actually attended the Sorbonne, he should be more aware of cultural norms. Pauline could also be aggressively narrow minded. She clearly saw the horror of her own arranged marriage but refused to see that Theo could possibly feel the same about his. It occasionally felt unnecessary and only included to create drama between the cousins.
Ultimately, though well written and paced, this felt a little uneven, characters felt a little 2D in places and some plot a little manufactured. Still an interesting and enjoyable read.
The Porcelain Moon centers mostly on two women. Pauline Deng, who moves from Shanghai with her uncle and cousin to Paris to open an arm of an antiques dealership. And Camille Roussel, her aristocratic upbringing descending slowly into poverty and an abusive marriage. Their lives intertwining as the war continues to rage and they struggle to escape situations forced upon them.
It's a cute read. The action mostly taking place in Paris and the village of Noyelles-sur-Mer, and while the war is an oversized presence within the narrative, it's not much of it's violence in the pages. The violence is however of a different kind, that of a man against his wife. It's usually brief and sparing but no less shocking and horrific. It contrasts with the greater violence of the ongoing war, that this act of domestic violence is soul destroying.
I found Pauline (and occasion, Theo) to be aggravatingly naive at some points. I know it's supposed to reflect their sheltered existence in Paris with their uncle but Theo had actually attended the Sorbonne, he should be more aware of cultural norms. Pauline could also be aggressively narrow minded. She clearly saw the horror of her own arranged marriage but refused to see that Theo could possibly feel the same about his. It occasionally felt unnecessary and only included to create drama between the cousins.
Ultimately, though well written and paced, this felt a little uneven, characters felt a little 2D in places and some plot a little manufactured. Still an interesting and enjoyable read.
February 25, 2023
Chang has become a must-read author for me and The Porcelain Moon did not disappoint! I pre-ordered it (a rarity for me) and when it came in the mail I had the most delightful moment of literary euphoria.
The Porcelain Moon is that special kind of historical fiction that keeps me in the genre. This book couldn't have been written ten years ago. Only in the past decade has a significant amount of research been published on the 140,000 Chinese laborers who came to Europe during the Great War. They were promised they wouldn't be at the front lines, but war is an unsteady horse. Their tasks ranged from basic manual labor to clearing out trenches after battles, the most horrifying task I can imagine. While Chang explores the lives of two women, one French and one Chinese, their stories are intertwined because of the Chinese Labour Corps.
Antiques and watercolors were part of the world of the novel, making me enjoy it even more. Though the subject matter is heavy, much of the novel takes place in Paris and the countryside away from the front lines. I found the characters memorable and the novels' questions worth considering, though they were challenging.
Recommended to historical fiction fans eager to learn about some of the unsung laborers in WWI.
Content warnings: domestic violence ; war violence
The Porcelain Moon is that special kind of historical fiction that keeps me in the genre. This book couldn't have been written ten years ago. Only in the past decade has a significant amount of research been published on the 140,000 Chinese laborers who came to Europe during the Great War. They were promised they wouldn't be at the front lines, but war is an unsteady horse. Their tasks ranged from basic manual labor to clearing out trenches after battles, the most horrifying task I can imagine. While Chang explores the lives of two women, one French and one Chinese, their stories are intertwined because of the Chinese Labour Corps.
Antiques and watercolors were part of the world of the novel, making me enjoy it even more. Though the subject matter is heavy, much of the novel takes place in Paris and the countryside away from the front lines. I found the characters memorable and the novels' questions worth considering, though they were challenging.
Recommended to historical fiction fans eager to learn about some of the unsung laborers in WWI.
Content warnings: domestic violence ; war violence
March 18, 2023
This was a really well-written and researched historical fiction novel focused on the lives of Chinese noncombatant laborers who were sent to Europe during WWI. I learned a lot reading this book and highly recommend paying attention to the author's note included at the end. The narration by Katharine Chin, Saskia Maarleveld and James Chen was fantastic too. Historical fiction fans don't want to miss this one with an incredible cast of memorable characters! Recommended for fans of Lisa See. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review.
October 12, 2022
Captivating from the outset, THE PORCELAIN MOON tells a story of found family and forbidden love, while showcasing the lesser-known contribution of Chinese workers to the Allied cause in WWI. This tender and beautifully written story is Janie Chang at her best!
March 9, 2023
I really loved the concept in this one, plus I loved the depth of historical research present in the story.
July 24, 2023
I first got wind of The Porcelain Moon a few weeks ago via The New York Times Review of Books, which praised it. My curiosity was piqued because this is a novel that touches upon the small Chinese community in France a few years prior to and during the First World War -- as well as on the lives of a Chinese family from Shanghai who ran an antiques business in Paris -- and, in part, upon the cadres of Chinese contracted workers who were part of the Chinese Labor Corps (CLC) - which was under British command -- and its French equivalent, who provided noncombatant labor, which proved vital to the Allied war effort on the Western Front.
This is an engaging novel rich in drama and suspense, bringing to the reader the experiences of the Chinese community in France of little more than a century ago, and its personal interactions with Europeans of various social strata.
This is an engaging novel rich in drama and suspense, bringing to the reader the experiences of the Chinese community in France of little more than a century ago, and its personal interactions with Europeans of various social strata.
January 24, 2025
Приятна книга, чете се бързо въпреки всички тежки житейски съдби, събрани и разказани вътре! Това е една от чисто женските истории за приятелство, любов по време на война, но засягаща важни теми като различията, домашното насилие, отношението към жените и тяхната безкрайна сила!
November 27, 2023
How is it that we rarely, if ever, hear of the 140,000 workers of the Chinese Labor Corps of World War I? They are the men who came to France's aid to dig trenches, fell the trees which shored up the trench walls and labored on, seven days a week? This beautifully crafted story helps to shine a light on these hard-working laborers. These workers are among the threads in a romantic knot of a story. Traditional familial duty is juxtaposed against freedom of expression, brutishness against tender affection, and despair which gives way to hope. Ms. Chang's writing is exquisite and her historical research - herculean. If you are a fan of finely written and well-researched historical fiction, then I highly commend this story to you.
I am grateful to author Janie Chang for having provided a complimentary copy of her book (along with a wonderful tote bag). Her generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which, are mine alone.
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: January 30, 2024
No. of Pages: 304
ISBN No.: 978-1250848581
I am grateful to author Janie Chang for having provided a complimentary copy of her book (along with a wonderful tote bag). Her generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which, are mine alone.
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: January 30, 2024
No. of Pages: 304
ISBN No.: 978-1250848581
June 21, 2023
3.5 stars. A story of two young women, one Chinese and the other French, with marriage problems. I wasn't expecting to learn about the tremendous contributions of thousands of Chinese workers to the Allied Forces in (and after) WW1. The author's notes at the end were also very interesting.
February 16, 2023
[arc review]
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Canada for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
The Porcelain Moon releases February 21, 2023
Set in France during the early 1900’s and at the tail end of WWI, we’re told the story of two strong women whose lives are running in tandem to each other, with one character in particular tying them together in unexpected ways.
With multiple pov’s, we get to experience what it’s like for Pauline as one of the only Chinese girls living in Paris, working in her family’s antique shop, while evading an arranged marriage.
We also get insight into a French woman named Camille, who is living through some of the worst domestic abuse. She spends her days working at the post office, but is an artist at heart.
Thirdly, we also get a small perspective through Theo’s letters of what it’s like being a translator during the war and coming to terms with family expectations, disownment, arranged marriages, and more.
This has some heavier themes that I wasn’t quite expecting.
TW include mentions of cheating, dementia, war, domestic abuse, marital r*pe, miscarriage, misogyny, and racism (including mentions of pulling at corners of eyes to mock Chinese, and calling Chinese “chintok” aka “chink”)
The historical aspect paired with the Chinese Labour Corps and difficulties of interracial couples was good but it read a little predictable and the really long chapters weren’t a personal favourite.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Canada for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
The Porcelain Moon releases February 21, 2023
Set in France during the early 1900’s and at the tail end of WWI, we’re told the story of two strong women whose lives are running in tandem to each other, with one character in particular tying them together in unexpected ways.
With multiple pov’s, we get to experience what it’s like for Pauline as one of the only Chinese girls living in Paris, working in her family’s antique shop, while evading an arranged marriage.
We also get insight into a French woman named Camille, who is living through some of the worst domestic abuse. She spends her days working at the post office, but is an artist at heart.
Thirdly, we also get a small perspective through Theo’s letters of what it’s like being a translator during the war and coming to terms with family expectations, disownment, arranged marriages, and more.
This has some heavier themes that I wasn’t quite expecting.
TW include mentions of cheating, dementia, war, domestic abuse, marital r*pe, miscarriage, misogyny, and racism (including mentions of pulling at corners of eyes to mock Chinese, and calling Chinese “chintok” aka “chink”)
The historical aspect paired with the Chinese Labour Corps and difficulties of interracial couples was good but it read a little predictable and the really long chapters weren’t a personal favourite.
Read
November 20, 2024нічого від книги не очікувала, а вона виявилась доволі захоплюючою. трошки засолоденька кінцівка, як на мій смак. але дійсно непогана історія про життя та міграцію в часи закінчення першої світової війни.
June 19, 2023
3.8 stars
Well for a historical fiction, this was a great book to shed light on war that happened in France, the devastating effects, the Chinese Labour Corps sent to the front to work during wartime and we get two different perspective of two women: a Chinese woman, Pauline Deng who came to Paris alongside her uncle and older cousin Theo as they opened an antique shop under the family' business and a Frenchwoman, Camille, married to an abusive husband. I felt the first part of the story was interesting enough to kept my attention but the 2nd half felt stale and lost me most of the time. I wasnt as invested into their story by the time I'm finished.
Pauline Deng moved to Paris at a very young age, an illegitimate of the Deng's family, the only family she is close with is her cousin Theo so she vowed to live with him and to serve him. Camille, a Frenchwoman, a noble by name but the fortune lost to the war thus making her family's situation become rough during the war married to Jean Paul, a reckless abusive husband. Together, these two women make their way in the rough world of war and suffered from misognystic in their hard ways.
Porcelain Moon revolves around the dire state of the Great War, forbidden love between two different race, sheds light on the Chinese labourers whom sacrifice their lives to work in France, the mistreatments faced by them and how inherent racism and misogny befell our main characters. Its not an easy read but the author's beautiful writing made it easy to follow and you get to sympathise with the characters. Even though the story felt rough on the edges, I still think its a solid story and we can learn on the history of this Great War. These Chinese Labour Corps remained an obscure part of the history because they are barely mentioned in any part of history textbooks as if these people's efforts are non-existent. When they are the most crucial member of the society at the time from being the labourer in doing all of the machinery work, repairs, helping to clean up the corpses from the war, doing all sorts of labours but being mistreated poorly due to their non-Chinese personel/commander. Thus, Theo acted as the translator to clear the misunderstandings with his excellent French& English skills so he is like a mediator for the Corps. Its truly an eye opening to discover about this history so its a reminder to appreciate the hardworks and sacrifices of these unsung heroes.
Thank you to Times Reads for the review copy.
Well for a historical fiction, this was a great book to shed light on war that happened in France, the devastating effects, the Chinese Labour Corps sent to the front to work during wartime and we get two different perspective of two women: a Chinese woman, Pauline Deng who came to Paris alongside her uncle and older cousin Theo as they opened an antique shop under the family' business and a Frenchwoman, Camille, married to an abusive husband. I felt the first part of the story was interesting enough to kept my attention but the 2nd half felt stale and lost me most of the time. I wasnt as invested into their story by the time I'm finished.
Pauline Deng moved to Paris at a very young age, an illegitimate of the Deng's family, the only family she is close with is her cousin Theo so she vowed to live with him and to serve him. Camille, a Frenchwoman, a noble by name but the fortune lost to the war thus making her family's situation become rough during the war married to Jean Paul, a reckless abusive husband. Together, these two women make their way in the rough world of war and suffered from misognystic in their hard ways.
Porcelain Moon revolves around the dire state of the Great War, forbidden love between two different race, sheds light on the Chinese labourers whom sacrifice their lives to work in France, the mistreatments faced by them and how inherent racism and misogny befell our main characters. Its not an easy read but the author's beautiful writing made it easy to follow and you get to sympathise with the characters. Even though the story felt rough on the edges, I still think its a solid story and we can learn on the history of this Great War. These Chinese Labour Corps remained an obscure part of the history because they are barely mentioned in any part of history textbooks as if these people's efforts are non-existent. When they are the most crucial member of the society at the time from being the labourer in doing all of the machinery work, repairs, helping to clean up the corpses from the war, doing all sorts of labours but being mistreated poorly due to their non-Chinese personel/commander. Thus, Theo acted as the translator to clear the misunderstandings with his excellent French& English skills so he is like a mediator for the Corps. Its truly an eye opening to discover about this history so its a reminder to appreciate the hardworks and sacrifices of these unsung heroes.
Thank you to Times Reads for the review copy.
April 8, 2023
5 stars for bringing a largely unknown historical story to life in this novel. I expect almost no readers new that over 100,000 Chinese laborers were brought to Europe to support WWI. 3 stars for the multiple romance themes - and that’s a personal preference. I didn’t realize this was historical fiction romance, but it is. I would have preferred this aspect toned down, but I think many readers will enjoy the sub-themes. I’m a romance scrooge though, so take my comments accordingly. If you loved The Nightingale or are a Kate Quinn fan I think you’ll love this book. If you enjoy 20th century historical fiction, and feel the WWII space is a bit saturated, this novel will take you to WWI and a brand new look at it’s history.
January 2, 2024
I had high hopes for this historical fiction that was set in early 20th century France but will admit I was somewhat disappointed. The historical aspect of Chinese immigrants being hired as civilian translators during WW1 as well as the Chinese customs during this time period was quite fascinating and novel. I haven't read about this history before, and I enjoyed learning more about it. However, the story itself lacked emotional depth, and I found myself feeling removed from the characters.
The plot used the two perspectives of Pauline, a Chinese immigrant living with her uncle and cousin, trying to evade the customs of Shanghai arranged marriage, and Camille, a French woman who is trying to escape an abusive marriage. The two storylines eventually converge. The ending was just so-so.
The plot used the two perspectives of Pauline, a Chinese immigrant living with her uncle and cousin, trying to evade the customs of Shanghai arranged marriage, and Camille, a French woman who is trying to escape an abusive marriage. The two storylines eventually converge. The ending was just so-so.
March 20, 2023
Simply beautiful writing, wonderful characters and a compelling plot will keep you turning the pages in this story that breathes life into a part of history that has been untold for too long. With a backdrop of World War 1 and the Chinese Labour Corps in France, we fall in love with Pauline, whose uncle owns an antique shop in Paris, and who is destined to be sent back to Shanghai to be married; we feel for Theo, who is also burdened with the weight of expectation and tradition; and it's impossible not to root for Camille, a young wife who is desperate to escape an abusive marriage. Obedience wars with personal autonomy, family expectations with a search for happiness, and Chang examines the lengths people will go to to find their own lives.
There is such a soft strength to the writing that just pulled me through, and the pacing leading to the end was brilliant. An excellent read and highly recommended!
There is such a soft strength to the writing that just pulled me through, and the pacing leading to the end was brilliant. An excellent read and highly recommended!
June 11, 2023
Until this novel, I knew little of the import of the Chinese laborers who came to France to assist during The Great War. Although they weren’t soldiers, they were responsible for keeping tanks, etc. in working order. The discrimination was rampant. The Chinese and French cultures, traditions, languages, everything, made for deplorable working conditions for these Chinese workers. The novel explores Chinese custom in terms of inheritance and marriage. It also sheds light on biracial relationships that inevitably developed during these war times.
September 15, 2025
audiobook. had no idea about the Chinese population in France during WWI. this book did a great job weaving invisible history with a great plot. the love stories felt a bit "off" for me - but overall, great book and enjoyed the performances!
March 14, 2023
Just couldn't get into this story. .
October 2, 2024
Amid World War I, Chinese immigrant Pauline is desperate to avoid an arranged marriage and seeks help from her cousin, Theo. After living in Paris for so many years, she does not want to return to Shanghai. Will Theo, who works as a translator for the Chinese Labour Corps, help her?
Based on the little-known fact that 140,000 Chinese workers worked in Europe as non-combatant labor during WWI, The Porcelain Moon was part historic tale, part romance, and part female friendship. When Theo is caught between a rock and hard place, Pauline forges a friendship with his married mistress, Camille; will the women be able to help each other realize their wildest dreams?
While I appreciated the historic uniqueness of this story, the plot itself was lacking. Additionally, even when the characters were faced with helpless, dire situations, it was hard to feel a connection with them because an emotional pull was missing.
Location: France
Audiobook
Based on the little-known fact that 140,000 Chinese workers worked in Europe as non-combatant labor during WWI, The Porcelain Moon was part historic tale, part romance, and part female friendship. When Theo is caught between a rock and hard place, Pauline forges a friendship with his married mistress, Camille; will the women be able to help each other realize their wildest dreams?
While I appreciated the historic uniqueness of this story, the plot itself was lacking. Additionally, even when the characters were faced with helpless, dire situations, it was hard to feel a connection with them because an emotional pull was missing.
Location: France
Audiobook
November 12, 2023
The Porcelain Moon was set during the last year of WW1 in 1918. It is set during a time when 140,000 Chinese workers were brought to Europe as non-combatant labor during WWI. China was neutral at the beginning of the war, so they did not fight, but were often in the front and killed during combat. The story is told through the eyes of a young Chinese woman, Pauline Deng, who is living with her uncle in France, helping at his antiquities store. Camille Roussel is a young french woman whose family lost their fortune and she is married to an abusive man, but in love with Theo, Pauline's cousin, who is working as a translator for the Chinese Labour Corps in the French countryside. When Pauline is told that her uncle's wife is arranging a marriage for her in Shanghai, she runs and tries to find Theo who she is hoping will convince his father to let her live life taking care of them without having to marry. Life is not that simple.
The Porcelain Moon shed light on a time and events that I don't know much about. It was extremely interesting as I learned about the Chinese labourers in both France and England. The terrible conditions they lived under and how they were treated shed light on the inequalities at that time. The way Camille and Pauline lived, and their fight and flight from their lives showed how women were treated as possessions and their limited rights. The Porcelain Moon is a tale of forbidden love, identity and belonging, and what we are willing to risk for freedom. I was pulled in from the start and became very invested in the lives of Pauline, Camille and Theo. I found Janie Chang's writing to be lyrical and descriptive, with a great story. Her author's notes gave more information about the life and times of the Chinese in Europe during WW1. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Katharine Chin, Saskia Maarleveld and James Chen. I love listening to books with more than one narrator and this cast brought the characters alive. Their voices, expression and pacing were perfect for the story and I highly recommend the audiobook if you are interested in The Porcelain Moon.
The Porcelain Moon shed light on a time and events that I don't know much about. It was extremely interesting as I learned about the Chinese labourers in both France and England. The terrible conditions they lived under and how they were treated shed light on the inequalities at that time. The way Camille and Pauline lived, and their fight and flight from their lives showed how women were treated as possessions and their limited rights. The Porcelain Moon is a tale of forbidden love, identity and belonging, and what we are willing to risk for freedom. I was pulled in from the start and became very invested in the lives of Pauline, Camille and Theo. I found Janie Chang's writing to be lyrical and descriptive, with a great story. Her author's notes gave more information about the life and times of the Chinese in Europe during WW1. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Katharine Chin, Saskia Maarleveld and James Chen. I love listening to books with more than one narrator and this cast brought the characters alive. Their voices, expression and pacing were perfect for the story and I highly recommend the audiobook if you are interested in The Porcelain Moon.
July 15, 2024
Meticulously researched and beautifully written, this gem of a book is a must-read for anyone interested in the untold stories of the Chinese men who worked overseas as foreign labour during The Great War. Three main characters dominate this book - Pauline aka Baoling, an illegitimate child who works to keep house for her uncle and cousin in Paris, Theo the young man for whom a Chinese antique business has been set up, and Camille a young Frenchwoman in rural Noyelles.
The story begins with Pauline refusing to return to Shanghai for an arranged marriage and attempting to reach Theo, her cousin who is working for the British Chinese Labour Corps as an interpreter, to help intercede on her behalf. The entire book spans little more than a week with lots of flashbacks that paint the back story and explain the characters' motivations and desperations. As each character tries to escape circumstances mapped out for them by the people who control their lives, we get a glimpse into how the Chinese worked in France for the Allies, what they did, how they were perceived, and at what cost.
I have little knowledge of WWI, admittedly, and was concerned that this might hinder my enjoyment of the story. However, actually no detailed knowledge is required; in fact, this book makes for a great introduction to it. There are also some references to events in China during that period such as the looting of the imperial palaces and mansions by Western soldiers.
A lengthy afterword follows the novel, which gives the reader a non-fictional account of events, people, and places of that period.
The story begins with Pauline refusing to return to Shanghai for an arranged marriage and attempting to reach Theo, her cousin who is working for the British Chinese Labour Corps as an interpreter, to help intercede on her behalf. The entire book spans little more than a week with lots of flashbacks that paint the back story and explain the characters' motivations and desperations. As each character tries to escape circumstances mapped out for them by the people who control their lives, we get a glimpse into how the Chinese worked in France for the Allies, what they did, how they were perceived, and at what cost.
I have little knowledge of WWI, admittedly, and was concerned that this might hinder my enjoyment of the story. However, actually no detailed knowledge is required; in fact, this book makes for a great introduction to it. There are also some references to events in China during that period such as the looting of the imperial palaces and mansions by Western soldiers.
A lengthy afterword follows the novel, which gives the reader a non-fictional account of events, people, and places of that period.
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