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bronwidge's review
1.0
This book was tough to get through. The beginning was so slow, I had a hard time getting into the story. The rising action was so subtle I didnāt realize it was even happening. With 30 pages left of the book I was still unsure how the story could wrap up in any way. The relationship between Connie and Fitz felt sudden and forced. Out of nowhere, completely shocking, tragic events would happenābut instead of carrying the weight of the tragedy, they felt so out of place that they were humorous. Nigel being eaten by a shark? Seriously? I wouldāve rated two stars because it was at least decent enough that I felt I should see it through and finish the book, but I also donāt think I would recommend it to a friend. Soā¦ hate to say it, āļø.
brock111's review against another edition
4.0
It took me some time to get into this book, but once I did I thoroughly enjoyed it. This is the second book I've read by this author and I liked both. The setting of this book was different from other books I've read recently.
megswhitaker's review
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
wyemu's review
3.0
I have to be totally honest; I came to this book with less than an open mind. Having read Furnivall's "The Russian Concubine" series, and the stand alone novel also set in Russia, and having loved them, I wasn't as sure about a book that had a different setting. I'm happy to admit my mistake in my attitude.
While the "feel" of the story is different from the ones previously mentioned, it still has Furnivall's delicate touch when it comes to exploring how people react, and the relationships they form, under harrowing conditions.
Connie Thornton could easily have become a cliche or stereotype of a typical bored housewife in a loveless marriage" but Furnivall's deft touch makes sure that Connie is so much more than that. She isn't always likeable, when trying to make amends for hitting a woman with her car it's easy to see the typical behaviour of rich white person trying to make things better for the "poor" native with absolutely no concept of what their life is really like. While I was not surprised to read about her affair the full details of it, revealed throughout the book, were not what I expected. Throughout, Connie shows the strength of her character and doesn't shy from doing what is necessary, to survive. In situations like this, female characters are often portrayed as either falling apart, or turning into monsters in order to get through it, Furnivall makes sure that Connie becomes neither of these.
Right from the beginning. it's clear that her loveless marriage has to end if there is to be any hope of a happy ending. Her husband, Nigel, was a little 2D at times and getting a more detailed insight into him could have provided a different view of their marriage. On the other hand, that would have made it am entirely different, and much longer, book.
As I said at the beginning, I came to it wanting more of the books set in Russia, but it won me over and I'm delighted it did so. I look forward to reading more of Furnivall's books regardless of their setting.
While the "feel" of the story is different from the ones previously mentioned, it still has Furnivall's delicate touch when it comes to exploring how people react, and the relationships they form, under harrowing conditions.
Connie Thornton could easily have become a cliche or stereotype of a typical bored housewife in a loveless marriage" but Furnivall's deft touch makes sure that Connie is so much more than that. She isn't always likeable, when trying to make amends for hitting a woman with her car it's easy to see the typical behaviour of rich white person trying to make things better for the "poor" native with absolutely no concept of what their life is really like. While I was not surprised to read about her affair the full details of it, revealed throughout the book, were not what I expected. Throughout, Connie shows the strength of her character and doesn't shy from doing what is necessary, to survive. In situations like this, female characters are often portrayed as either falling apart, or turning into monsters in order to get through it, Furnivall makes sure that Connie becomes neither of these.
Right from the beginning. it's clear that her loveless marriage has to end if there is to be any hope of a happy ending. Her husband, Nigel, was a little 2D at times and getting a more detailed insight into him could have provided a different view of their marriage. On the other hand, that would have made it am entirely different, and much longer, book.
As I said at the beginning, I came to it wanting more of the books set in Russia, but it won me over and I'm delighted it did so. I look forward to reading more of Furnivall's books regardless of their setting.
lynnski's review
3.0
This is really a 3.5 star book. I liked it, I just didn't love it. It might have been a 4 star read but parts of the story just seemed a little too far fetched....especially some of the last 100-150 pages. Overall, I would recommend it though.
sarahs_readingparty's review
I love historical fiction, but could not get past the dull characters and their unlikable attributes. It was also a little too vulgar for me.
mandi_m's review
4.0
Jacqui's review:
The White Pearl
A great read with secrets being unraveled throughout which kept me turning the pages to discover the next twist and revelation.
The main character, Connie, was a convincing heroine. The book explored her determination as a mother to keep her son safe, while doing her best for the casualties she meets along the way - all at great risk to herself.
The story weaves together a diverse group of people at the time of the Japanese invasion of Malaya, all with their own personal agendas. Thereās secret lives, double crossing, poverty and prostitution, wealth and privileges, mixed in with love, passion, sorrow, hatred and selflessness.
The backdrop of the story is the stinking heat, tropical rainstorms, deep tangled jungles, savage seas, and the ever-present reptile and insect life of Malaya, all of which provide challenges over and above the threat of the advancing Japanese troops. The writer draws you into these places with her descriptive writing. The story is well researched in terms of the natural environment, the lifestyle of the rich plantation society and poor locals, and the mechanics of the Japanese invasion and Allied response.
I can really see this novel as a film ā it has all the elements of adventure and human perseverance, with some dashing heroes and a resilient female lead, plus some amazing locations.
specialk046's review
3.0
Fairly well-written story. There were definitely a lot of twists and turns, some of them leaving me shaking my head and thinking, "Really? Did that really just happen?". It was still a decent read.
kerite's review
3.0
First off, Iām disappointed by how misleading the description is. āWhen a fighter plane crashes into the sea, they rescue its Japanese pilot. For Connie, that's when everything changes. In the suffocating confines of the boat with her life upended, Connie discovers a new kind of freedom and a new, dangerous, exhilarating love.ā This reads like she falls in love with the pilot, or at least the pilotās presence causes a major shift in her, but thatās not the case at all. The pilot is barely relevant to the story! I donāt know if authors write their own blurbs but itās unfortunate, as the only reason I chose this book is because I was intrigued by that premise. Anyway, once I realized the story wasnāt going in that direction, I tried to enjoy it anyway; I liked the descriptive writing and it had a lot of promise, but the vibe was off in a way itās hard to pinpoint. It seemed unable to balance different moods of different moments, making the tone feel inconsistent. Tension between characters or due to strained situations would build up and then fizzle, scenes that were supposed to be happy had an undercurrent of melancholy that made me feel like I was waiting for the other shoe to drop, and the love story that did develop was unconvincing. The end was both abrupt and strange, shifting from joyful to ominous in a nanosecond. I wasn't sure how I was supposed to feel and so I ended up feeling not much at all. It's one of those books that's enjoyable while reading, but once you put it down you have a hard time recalling anything noteworthy or significant.
timofeev's review
4.0
This didn't catch me the way The Russian Concubine but it was still a good book. I'm definitely going to read more from this author.