Tales of Ming Courtesans by Alice Poon
Publication Date: June 1, 2020
Earnshaw Books
Paperback; 354 Pages
Genre: Historical Fiction
Synopsis:
Inspired by literary works and folklore, Tales of Ming Courtesans traces the destinies of the three girls from the seamy world of human trafficking and slavery to the cultured scene of the famously decadent pleasure district of the city of Nanjing, evoking episodes in Memoirs of a Geisha.
The girls all existed - Rushi was a famous poet, Yuanyuan became the concubine of a general who changed the course of Chinese history by supporting the Manchu invasion in 1644 and Xiangjun challenged the corruption of court officials to try to save her lover. Rushi's daughter, Jingjing, gradually pieces together the stories of the three from a memoir left to her by her mother.
Betrayal, tenacity and hope all come together in a novel that brings to life an important era in China's history, and particularly highlights the challenges faced by independent-minded women.
Praise for Tales of Ming Courtesans
"In Tales of Ming Courtesans, Alice Poon masterfully brings to life three fascinating women who had a lasting impact on China's culture and history. This beautiful telling of their turbulent lives and devoted friendship is a reverential testament to their memories." - Kelli Estes, bestselling author of The Girl Who Wrote in Silk
"Tales of Ming Courtesans is a poignant and captivating exploration of the lives of three extraordinary women.... Ultimately an enduring tale of the power of sisterhood and the bonds between women." - Jeannie Lin, USA Today bestselling author of The Lotus Palace
"Tales of Ming Courtesans is a brilliant, 'own voices' alternative to Memoirs of a Geisha....An exquisite reading experience. Highly, highly recommended." - M. H. Boroson, author of The Girl With Ghost Eyes
"Alice Poon's excellent Tales of Ming Courtesans follows the intertwined lives of three seventeenth-century courtesans..... Poon's real achievement is to create believable depth to her characters' known histories....She has clearly written Tales from the heart." - David Leffman, author of The Mercenary
About the Author
Born and raised in Hong Kong, Alice Poon steeped herself in Chinese poetry and history, Jin Yong’s martial arts novels and English Literature in her school days. This early immersion has inspired her creative writing.Always fascinated with iconic but unsung women in Chinese history and legends, she cherishes a dream of bringing them to the page.
Her new historical novel Tales of Ming Courtesans will be released by Earnshaw Books on June 1, 2020.
She is the author of The Green Phoenix and the bestselling and award-winning non-fiction title Land and the Ruling Class in Hong Kong. She now lives in Vancouver, Canada and devotes her time to writing historical Chinese fiction.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads
Review: Years ago I read Snow Flower and the Secret Fan with a friend who was reading it for her book club. I loved it.
Tales of the Ming Courtesans ranks right up there was that book for me. Like that book, I was instantly pulled into the story and the trials and triumphs of the characters and they do have both and like Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, the lives of the characters are filled with much heartache. In fact, I'd say most of these women spent more time down than up. Such was the case of women in China during that time period.
The things that happened to Rushi, Yuanyuan and Xiangjun will hurt your heart. Yet their friendship is what helps them rise up.
The ending was not as I thought when it came to Liu Rushi's daughter and her paternity.
Its a story to be read at a leisurely pace. Each word should be savored though you will want to devour them.
This was a perfect change of pace read for me as I had been reading more than my share of new adult fiction lately. It was great to go back in time for a "meatier" story, one that made me think.
Rating: 5 flowers
Blog Tour Schedule
Monday, May 25
Excerpt at Journey in Bookland
Review at Historical Fiction with Spirit
Tuesday, May 26
Review at Gwendalyn's Books
Wednesday, May 27
Review at 100 Pages a Day
Friday, May 29
Review at Reader then Blogger
Monday, June 1
Review at A Chick Who Reads
Wednesday, June 3
Guest Post at Chicks, Rogues and Scandals
Friday, June 5
Review at YA, it's Lit
Monday, June 8
Interview at Passages to the Past
Wednesday, June 10
Feature at What Is That Book About
Friday, June 12
Review at Passages to the Past
Giveaway
During the Blog Tour, we are giving away a copy of Tales from Ming Courtesans! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.
Giveaway Rules
– Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on June 12th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Paperback giveaway is open to the US only.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspicion of fraud will be decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
– The winner has 48 hours to claim prize or a new winner is chosen.
Tales of Ming Courtesans
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