"'You have to have plenty of action,' said Liu, 'And lots of conversation, too. Otherwise the reader will put the story down and not read it to the end.'"
 |
Shanghai Scarlet by Margaret Blair Trafford Publishing
book review by Carissa Harwood
Mu Shiying is a young man writing modernist stories in Shanghai, China during the jazz explosion of pre-World War II. Caught in a world where he is torn between tradition, Mu Shiying is swept up by the changes tearing apart his country as he writes underground notes against the Nationalist forces that strive to bring China to its knees and change the country he loves forever. Mu Shiying has a weakness for the modern women who is the embodiment of the future: educated and independent. Meet Qui Peipei, who shares with Mu Shiying a love of the culture of the Western world. Both are trapped in their own mazes of danger that together they try to escape the war that is tearing their lives and their country apart.
Richly crafted with nuance, this novel transports the reader inside the life and minds of the characters. You are invited to join a world hidden in mystery and intrigue, from war torn Shanghai's dance halls and nightclubs, to quiet back room salons. This is a work of historical fiction based strongly on Mu Shying's own writings and notes. It is important to mention that with few exceptions, the names of the characters in Shanghai Scarlet are based on real people from original writings, diaries, and journal documents. Meticulously crafted, the passions of the characters will grab readers by the heart. Complete with playlists—audio and visual suggestions—this novel is an experience worth the journey.