The Nine Fold Heaven

I really enjoyed reading this book about a famous Shanghai singer, Camilla. It’s very well written with good character development. Although a predictable storyline, it’s still a pleasure to read.

Camilla is a force who knows herself. Right or wrong, good or bad. And she is true to herself. She goes in search of what she wants and finds a way to get it. Camilla/Jasmine, trained as a spy from an early age, develops a lovely voice with a flattering figure and persona. She uses these attributes to do a job she’s been on a path to pursue.There’s so much Chinese poetry and wisdom dispersed within the story that I found it quite interesting. There also are many descriptions of Shanghai.I enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading more from Mingmei Yip.

Another of Mingmei Yip's exotic over-the-top heroines! I don't describe the protagonist of this novel as exotic because she's Chinese, but because within her own culture she's a fantasy figure: female spy, circus performer, trained sexual contortionist, gangster mistress and famous singer, all rolled into one! I'm not sure I was convinced one person could handle all those professions, but the story was compelling enough for me to suspend disbelief.Like Mingmei's other novels, this one packed in enough adventure, suspense, romance and fantastic derring-do to make it good beach reading. At the same time, the many scholarly references to Chinese literature, history and culture make the book educational and thought-provoking.I always get the impression the author has a lot of fun inventing her tales, which makes them more fun for me to read. In this novel, I thought Mingmei must have taken particular pleasure in casting a heroine who is horrified by the thought of nuns ... whereas an earlier heroine spent much of her life desiring to become a nun!

YES! I am purchasing this 2nd book because my "non reader" husband gets stuck reading my Kindle purchase choices when we travel .. AND he loved her previous book! Couldn't believe when he came to me and requested that I research and put on our Kindles further books by the same author! Hmmm! This is absolutely the first EVER time he has done this in YEARS of international travel .. since we are retired we do a LOT of traveling .. so he is kinda forced to resort to his Kindle many times! SO think how you might enjoy this author .. if even a non reader is intrigued!

You must read "skeleton women" before this. Otherwise this book is so-so. Skeleton Women was a great red and makes up for the lack luster here

I was immediately taken in by this story and will look into reading the rest of what he has published! Very good story line with a colorful description of the times and place. The writing style puts you right in there.

Very good read and interesting about different cultures.

the characters did not have depth or complexity that a Tan or See novel contains. I would not recommend to other readers,