Empress Orchid
21 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by k1rsteng from Unknown, somewhere in Tokyo / 不明、東京のどこか, Tokyo-to Japan on Sunday, January 29, 2006
As I live in Asia, I have been buying books related to the area. I throughly enjoyed the book. This book has now travelled to my sister in the UK.
My sister sent me this book as she enjoyed it. It is currently sitting in my mount TBR!
I am going to send this out on a ring. This is on Richard and Judy's bookclub 2006 list.
Participants:
Vespa (UK/UK)
Izzles (UK/UK)
Katybean (UK/UK)
Purplerosebud (UK/UK)
longfordmaine (UK/?/not start)
Scotsbookie (UK/Europe/not start)
nut (Ireland/Europe)
Angellica (UK/international/not start)
LindyLouMac (EU/recieve from EU/EU)
Djgib(UK/Europe)
soulbalm (UK/Europe)
Lizziepie (UK/international)
This ray is about to start its second session, so here are the new participants:
sudokugirl (Bosnia-Herzegovina/international)
hetku77 (Finland/international)
janey-canuck (Canada/international)
tabby90 (US/US)
sejent (US/US)
tenneh (US/US)
MaryZee (US/US)
zosime (US/international)
ann-718my (Malaysia/Asia)
I am going to send this out on a ring. This is on Richard and Judy's bookclub 2006 list.
Participants:
Vespa (UK/UK)
Izzles (UK/UK)
Katybean (UK/UK)
Purplerosebud (UK/UK)
longfordmaine (UK/?/not start)
Scotsbookie (UK/Europe/not start)
nut (Ireland/Europe)
Angellica (UK/international/not start)
LindyLouMac (EU/recieve from EU/EU)
Djgib(UK/Europe)
soulbalm (UK/Europe)
Lizziepie (UK/international)
This ray is about to start its second session, so here are the new participants:
sudokugirl (Bosnia-Herzegovina/international)
hetku77 (Finland/international)
janey-canuck (Canada/international)
tabby90 (US/US)
sejent (US/US)
tenneh (US/US)
MaryZee (US/US)
zosime (US/international)
ann-718my (Malaysia/Asia)
I enjoyed this book, because it really brought the Forbidden City to life and I was amazed by the lifestyle and ritual. Orchid was living a life others were envious of, but it was really a life of lonliness and competition. I admire Orchid's strength, but regret that others did not recognise this as a strength, but a threat to their own power (I would like to have understood them more by knowing their thoughts as well as Orchid's. )However I was slightly disappointed by end of the book, but I'm not sure if this was because I felt the story wasn't finished or because I wanted a happier ending.
I have posted this book to Vespa today and I have included the Richard and Judy bookclub notes that accompany this book.
Arrived safely. I have one book in front of it, so I should get there by the end of this week
Like AKG, I was a bit disappointed by the ending, it felt a bit rushed and not quite complete, however,it didn't spoil my enjoyment of the book.
Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for sharing.
Book arrived yesterday, many thanks.
I didn’t enjoy this book much, the whole thing just seemed very rushed to me. In particular I would have preferred more background to Orchid’s childhood, we heard very little of this and didn't get to know her character before she entered the Forbidden City, therefore I felt little for her frustrations and adjustments to palace life.
Hi,
Just to say that the book arrived safely today!! I will update again when I'm done (have a few in front of it first, but won't take me long!!)
Just to say that the book arrived safely today!! I will update again when I'm done (have a few in front of it first, but won't take me long!!)
Journal Entry 10 by katybean from Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire United Kingdom on Monday, April 24, 2006
I finished this book last night, and was completely baffled by the ending LOL, I re-read the last few pages a few times and was still confused LOL
I enjoyed most of the story - the insight to living in the Forbidden City and it's rituals, but I did lose track of who was who when it got a bit political? I can't believe how evil the wives were to each other!!
I pm'd purplerosebud for their address, and they replied saying they had a few bookrings in their possesion and was going to contact the next bookcrosser to see if they would swap places. I'm waiting to hear back where the book will be travelling to next, but will journal when it's on it's travels again.
Thanks for sharing, this would be one of those books that I probably wouldn't have read if it wasn't for bookcrossing :o)
I enjoyed most of the story - the insight to living in the Forbidden City and it's rituals, but I did lose track of who was who when it got a bit political? I can't believe how evil the wives were to each other!!
I pm'd purplerosebud for their address, and they replied saying they had a few bookrings in their possesion and was going to contact the next bookcrosser to see if they would swap places. I'm waiting to hear back where the book will be travelling to next, but will journal when it's on it's travels again.
Thanks for sharing, this would be one of those books that I probably wouldn't have read if it wasn't for bookcrossing :o)
Journal Entry 11 by katybean at BookRing in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, April 26, 2006
RELEASE NOTES:
The book is on it's way to purplerosebud!
The book is on it's way to purplerosebud!
Journal Entry 12 by katybean at BookRing in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Released 17 yrs ago (4/26/2006 UTC) at BookRing in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
The book is on it's way to purplerosebud!
The book is on it's way to purplerosebud!
Journal Entry 13 by purplerosebud from Petersfield, Hampshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, May 2, 2006
Arrived today many thanks! Only one other book in front and I am looking forward to reading it asap.
Journal Entry 14 by purplerosebud from Petersfield, Hampshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, May 17, 2006
I thought this was an excellent book and really enjoyed reading it. Having been to China and seen the Forbidden City and the Summer Palace may have made it even better for me. I did find their customs most amazing but I wasn't dissapointed by the ending as the final outcome was pretty much as I expected.
Thank you for sharing.
I will be sending it off to longfordmaine very soon.
Thank you for sharing.
I will be sending it off to longfordmaine very soon.
I've been away for a couple of weeks so this has sat in my pile of unopened mail until I got back in the UK this evening. I have another book that is part of a ring ahead of this but I'll do my best to get it moving along soonest.
A top class read. Thoroughly enjoyed it and was intrigued by all the power plays and politicking going on in order to keep position and status in court.
I would loved for the story to have continued on!
I will now contact the next on the list ...
I would loved for the story to have continued on!
I will now contact the next on the list ...
Arrived this morning, thank you longfordmaine. #2 on Mount TBR.
A thoroughly enjoyable read. I have read other books about Empress Orchid (Tsi Hzu) in her later life & for me this book threw light on why she turned out the way she did. I enjoyed the detail of court life & the descriptions of the palaces & clothing.
Thank you akg! I have PM'd nut for their details & will have it of on its travels again asap.
Thank you akg! I have PM'd nut for their details & will have it of on its travels again asap.
Popped in the post to nut this morning.
Oops, apologies for the delay journalling. I have the next address to send it on to.
I enjoyed the book, though I think I would have preferred it without the talking about things that hadn't happen yet (fore-narrating?). I wouldn't have minded that if I'd already known something about her, but I prefer stories to unfold as they happen.
I want to watch the Last Emperor now. Though someone tells me she's not in it. I'd like to see how the spoiled little brat turns out. It must have been so hard for her watching him.
Edit: I'm getting my generations mixed up. The Last Emperor isn't Empress Orchid's son, but her grandnephew.
I enjoyed the book, though I think I would have preferred it without the talking about things that hadn't happen yet (fore-narrating?). I wouldn't have minded that if I'd already known something about her, but I prefer stories to unfold as they happen.
I want to watch the Last Emperor now. Though someone tells me she's not in it. I'd like to see how the spoiled little brat turns out. It must have been so hard for her watching him.
Edit: I'm getting my generations mixed up. The Last Emperor isn't Empress Orchid's son, but her grandnephew.
Journal Entry 22 by angellica from Worksop, Nottinghamshire United Kingdom on Thursday, December 14, 2006
Arrived safely today - Thanks for sharing. I am looking forward to reading this.
I have got quite a lot on at the minute and it may be a while for me to get to it.
Please give me a nudge if I'm holding things up.
Edit: Sorry, I have been really struggling with life and I think it's time to get this moving. Sorry for holding the ring up for so long..
I have got quite a lot on at the minute and it may be a while for me to get to it.
Please give me a nudge if I'm holding things up.
Edit: Sorry, I have been really struggling with life and I think it's time to get this moving. Sorry for holding the ring up for so long..
I cannot believe that after waiting two years to read this, it has finally arrived! Thankyou so much to those involved in its travels.
It arrived on Saturday from Angellica who sadly has not done a JE. I wonder if she ever got around to reading it?
I am already half way through and finding the description of Orchid's life in The Forbidden City fascinating.
It arrived on Saturday from Angellica who sadly has not done a JE. I wonder if she ever got around to reading it?
I am already half way through and finding the description of Orchid's life in The Forbidden City fascinating.
During the last days of the Ching dynasty and the opium wars of the nineteenth century Orchid a young girl from an aristocratic but impoverished family auditions to become one of Emperor Hsien Feng’s concubines. She does this to escape marriage with an unsuitable cousin and rescue her family from poverty. She successfully gains a position not just as one of the Emperor’s three thousand concubines, but as wife number four. A prestigious position in the hierarchy, but one that still does not bring her close enough to Hsien Feng to attract his attentions. Orchid learns how to satisfy a man sexually just so that she can bribe her way into the royal bed!
Successfully giving birth to the Emperor’s only son does not however bring Orchid the happiness she hoped for. She continues to feel very dissatisfied with the restrictive life she is forced to live within the walls of the Forbidden City, surrounded by the other royal wives, concubines and enuchs within a web of conspiracies and jealousies. Hsein Feng dies at a very young age and Orchid along with another wife Nuharoo become Empress’s to support her son the young child Emperor Tung Chih.
Maybe the author has twisted the historical facts, but this is a novel and an enjoyable way to learn something about the history of China.
It gives us an interesting account of life in the royal court at the time, described in intricate detail, even the colour schemes of the décor! My only real disappointments were that the characters lacked depth and that the story ended when Orchid was only thirty. However what the characters lacked the very vivid descriptions of life style certainly made up for. Some I found rather disturbing such as the description of the indignities that Orchid underwent during her interview. Then very much later in the book (page 316) One-cough’s description of how to perform a successful beheading.
To summarise Ancheee Mins fictional novel based on historical facts about a strong independent young woman, who goes on to become a famous historical figure is fascinating.
Update: 27.04.08 Unfortunately still not heard from DJgib, have made 3rd attempt at contact today and will also put ISO on forums.
Successfully giving birth to the Emperor’s only son does not however bring Orchid the happiness she hoped for. She continues to feel very dissatisfied with the restrictive life she is forced to live within the walls of the Forbidden City, surrounded by the other royal wives, concubines and enuchs within a web of conspiracies and jealousies. Hsein Feng dies at a very young age and Orchid along with another wife Nuharoo become Empress’s to support her son the young child Emperor Tung Chih.
Maybe the author has twisted the historical facts, but this is a novel and an enjoyable way to learn something about the history of China.
It gives us an interesting account of life in the royal court at the time, described in intricate detail, even the colour schemes of the décor! My only real disappointments were that the characters lacked depth and that the story ended when Orchid was only thirty. However what the characters lacked the very vivid descriptions of life style certainly made up for. Some I found rather disturbing such as the description of the indignities that Orchid underwent during her interview. Then very much later in the book (page 316) One-cough’s description of how to perform a successful beheading.
To summarise Ancheee Mins fictional novel based on historical facts about a strong independent young woman, who goes on to become a famous historical figure is fascinating.
Update: 27.04.08 Unfortunately still not heard from DJgib, have made 3rd attempt at contact today and will also put ISO on forums.
Journal Entry 25 by LindyLouMac at by mail in To the next participant, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Released 15 yrs ago (4/30/2008 UTC) at by mail in To the next participant, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
En route to DJgib in the UK, the next participant.
En route to DJgib in the UK, the next participant.
Thanks LindyLouMac for being so patient and not giving up on me - I'm glad it got here safely! I've actually got two other books on the go at the moment but they're both going pretty slowly, so I'll most likely read this one in between. I'll try not to be too long about it.
I thought this was a really really interesting read. I previously knew absolutely nothing about the Forbidden City and that period of Chinese history (or any period of Chinese history for that matter), so this book was very enlightening. I especially liked that my first taste of this bit of history was from the Chinese point of view, rather than a Western one which would normally be the case. Anchee Min really made the forbidden city come to life and illustrated the point very well that a life of privilege is rarely to be envied.
Thanks akg for sharing this book!
I pm'd soulbalm for an address a couple of days ago but no reply as yet - I'll give it another go.
Update 26/07/08 (when I realised I had been very negligent in explaining what was happening with this book, sorry!): soulbalm and Lizzipie asked to be skipped, so the ring was extended and I sent the book to sudokugirl in Bosnia.
Thanks akg for sharing this book!
I pm'd soulbalm for an address a couple of days ago but no reply as yet - I'll give it another go.
Update 26/07/08 (when I realised I had been very negligent in explaining what was happening with this book, sorry!): soulbalm and Lizzipie asked to be skipped, so the ring was extended and I sent the book to sudokugirl in Bosnia.
The book arrived this morning. Looking forward to reading it.
Journal Entry 29 by sudokugirl from Sarajevo, Sarajevo Bosnia-Herzegovina on Friday, August 29, 2008
I just couldn't find the time to read this. My sister did and she liked it. Hopefully I'll find this book again when the timing is better for me. Thanks for sharing anyways, k1rsteng and akg.
Sent to hetku77.
Sent to hetku77.
16.9. The book arrived today. Thank you, sudokugirl!
18.10. I finished reading the book last night. Oh, I had forgotten how much I enjoy reading historical fiction! It was really fachinating to read about Orchid's life in Forbidden City. The story was really captivating, though extremely sad at times. Truly wonderful to read.
19.10 The book will continue its journey to janey-canuck tomorrow morning.
11.11. The book came back to me, as the address for janey-canuck in rabck.com was an old one. I will mail the book again tomorrow in janey-canuck's current address.
18.10. I finished reading the book last night. Oh, I had forgotten how much I enjoy reading historical fiction! It was really fachinating to read about Orchid's life in Forbidden City. The story was really captivating, though extremely sad at times. Truly wonderful to read.
19.10 The book will continue its journey to janey-canuck tomorrow morning.
11.11. The book came back to me, as the address for janey-canuck in rabck.com was an old one. I will mail the book again tomorrow in janey-canuck's current address.
Received yesterday, I have to finish my book club book for this month and then I'll get to this one.
Well, I thought the book was good & bad, if that makes sense. I agree with everyone else's comments about not having enough background about Orchid and the book feeling rushed and being surprised at the ending. I thought we'd be taken to the point in her life she was at when she began the story but I don't feel we got there. I understand there's another book about her now by the same author, I'm not sure if it is a re-release of this book under a different name or if it picks up where this one left off - I'll be seeking out a copy of it, for sure.
Thanks for sharing, the book is on it's way to the next in line, I got it in the mail last night.
Thanks for sharing, the book is on it's way to the next in line, I got it in the mail last night.
Got in the mail today, thanks!
I really enjoyed this book and I felt like I got sucked right into this world and flew through it. But like others I felt it ended too soon. I remember being in the last 30 pages or so when intrigue involving Su Shun was still happening and wondering how on earth we would have enough time before the end for her to talk about some of the highlights of her reign. Turns out we didn't. Seems like there should be a part two.
Messaging sejent for an address.
Messaging sejent for an address.
Received in today's mail. I have one book to finish before I start this one. I'm looking forward to it!
I found this to be a bit too heavy on the politics for my taste, but many of the details of life in the Forbidden City were fascinating.
Sending to tenneh in NE.
Sending to tenneh in NE.
received today - will get to it asap!
I loved this book and will be looking for a copy for my permanent shelf! I did also wish to learn more about Orchid's reign and her son. Will be looking for more books on this subject.
I loved this book and will be looking for a copy for my permanent shelf! I did also wish to learn more about Orchid's reign and her son. Will be looking for more books on this subject.
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
going to MaryZee
going to MaryZee
This arrived safely today. I've been looking for it, and it had great timing since I only had a couple of quick chapters left in my latest book.
Starting on this - already read the prelude.
Starting on this - already read the prelude.
I love historical fiction; it's one of my 2 favorite genres. I don't often read about China though, so whenever a very good book is offered as a bookring, I do take that opportunity to learn more about China.
I finished this book a few days ago, just before going away for the weekend, so I had to read the above journals and pull the book back out to refresh my memory.
I wished that Orchid had been able to be closer with Nuharoo, although I certainly understood the rivalry between them. I was very heartened to see them work together after Hsien Feng died, although I realize Orchid was very upset by Nuharoo's viewpoint on life (ie, all she was interested in was her makeup and robes, and not so much about helping her "son" retain power). I found the political struggles Orchid endured to be an important part of the story. And although the ending was abrupt, it was also an interesting bit of suspense... will she or won't she (highlight to see spoiler) stay in the tomb with Yung Lu, or get unexpectedly trapped, to be buried alive forever.
I have Zosime's address and will be mailing this on to her later this week. Thanks to everyone who's shared this book!
Book was mailed out 6/11.
I finished this book a few days ago, just before going away for the weekend, so I had to read the above journals and pull the book back out to refresh my memory.
I wished that Orchid had been able to be closer with Nuharoo, although I certainly understood the rivalry between them. I was very heartened to see them work together after Hsien Feng died, although I realize Orchid was very upset by Nuharoo's viewpoint on life (ie, all she was interested in was her makeup and robes, and not so much about helping her "son" retain power). I found the political struggles Orchid endured to be an important part of the story. And although the ending was abrupt, it was also an interesting bit of suspense... will she or won't she (highlight to see spoiler) stay in the tomb with Yung Lu, or get unexpectedly trapped, to be buried alive forever.
I have Zosime's address and will be mailing this on to her later this week. Thanks to everyone who's shared this book!
Book was mailed out 6/11.
This book arrived last week, sorry for not journalling sooner! I've been looking forward to reading it, just a few more chapters in my current book and I'll get started. =)
Held on to this way longer than I'd planned. Sorry for holding things up!
I really enjoyed this book once I got started. I'll have to track down the sequel soon! Thank you so much for sharing.
I really enjoyed this book once I got started. I'll have to track down the sequel soon! Thank you so much for sharing.
I promise I haven't forgotten about this book! I finally got a reply from the next reader, but not an address. Will keep working on it!
This is finally flying away to ann-718my. I am terribly sorry for the prolonged delay! My tenuous organizational skills sort of derailed for a while, but I am getting things put back together again. Meanwhile I have read the sequel to this book, [i]The Last Empress[/i] and it was very good. A bit less engrossing and a bit more of a history lesson, but still a very enjoyable read.
Journal Entry 45 by ann-718my at Klang, Sultanate of Selangor (Shah Alam) Malaysia on Monday, July 5, 2010
just got this with much thanks! i'm so happy as i've already read The Last Empress
Journal Entry 46 by ann-718my at Cyberjaya, Sultanate of Selangor (Shah Alam) Malaysia on Monday, April 11, 2011
finished this long time ago and i loved it! i'm offering this up as a bookray again... let's see how many ppl in this world has not read this yet ;P
