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27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Surprisingly good, June 25, 2009
This review is from: The Girl from Junchow (Mass Market Paperback)
The Girl from Junchow is a rare novel: a second book that is actually better than the first. I enjoyed the first book, The Russian Concubine, but considered Furnivall's next novel a bit of a train wreck, so I came to this one with mixed feelings... and, as it turns out, was pleasantly surprised.
This book continues the adventures of Lydia, a teenage Russian refugee brought up in 1920's China, as she returns to Russia in search of her imprisoned father, accompanied by her half-brother Alexei and friend Liev Popkov. Her Chinese lover Chang An Lo puts in an appearance as well, and he's actually much improved since The Russian Concubine; he has a life now and struck me as a much more believable character than he did the first time around. We're also introduced to a new cast of secondary characters: a pleasure, since one of the things Furnivall does very well is develop even the minor characters.
The story, meanwhile, is an entertaining one, complete with crisp dialogue and a well-drawn historical setting. And Furnivall's writing style has clearly matured since The Russian Concubine as well. The biggest sticking point for me is that the plot lacks realism, with characters frequently getting out of ridiculously dangerous and difficult situations with mind-boggling ease. Nothing nature, injuries or the Soviet State throws at these characters manages to stop them for long, which dilutes the suspense and makes relating to the characters' predicaments more difficult. These quick-and-easy solutions to seemingly insurmountable problems are nothing you wouldn't see in many a fantasy novel or action-packed thriller, but they seem out of place here, when combined with much loving attention to character development and setting, not to mention the relatively slow pacing, with whole chapters devoted to character interaction.
For those who haven't read The Russian Concubine, this book should still be easy to understand; the setting has shifted from China to Russia anyway, and many old characters have fallen by the wayside. And for those who read and enjoyed the first book, I highly recommend this sequel.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A wonderful sequel, July 7, 2009
This review is from: The Girl from Junchow (Mass Market Paperback)
After finishing 'The Russian Concubine' two years ago I hoped and hoped that a sequel would be released. I was so excited when I heard that 'The Girl from Junchow' had been released and snatched it up immediately.
I was not disappointed. We return to the world of Lydia Ivanova and find her journeying to Russia to find her father- just as she said she would at the end of 'The Russian Concubine'. I was relieved to find that we are also kept aware of the activities of Chang An Lo, for I had found him to be an intriguing character.
The plot of this novel has been expertly woven into the context of Stalinst Russia- the way Furnivall portrays the time period is magnificent (which isn't surprising, seeing as the author dealt with aspects of Stalnist Russia in her brilliant novel 'The Red Scarf').
The story is gripping, and has not lost the thrill that was present in the first novel. Lydia's character has been developed even further, and now, after two novels, I am becoming strangely attached to this courageous protagonist.
All in all, a wonderful book.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Better than the first, but..., July 1, 2009
This review is from: The Girl from Junchow (Mass Market Paperback)
I liked this book as well as the first but was quite thrown off by the convenient "Get Out Of Jail Free" card-type of escape from dangerous situations that came up time and time again. Also, the revelation that Lydia made to Chang An Lo at the end of the book regarding the deal she'd made came far too late with no foreshadowing whatsoever. It felt contrived as did a few other things in this book.
That said, it is an enjoyable read. The characters are fleshed out nicely. I enjoyed it enough to stay awake into the wee hours reading it.
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