The Last Rose of Shanghai

i so desperately wish this was based on a real story. the japanese occupation of china and the influx of refugees to the area is definitely not an aspect of WWII that is commonly told, so the memories of those people who suffered in that part of the world during the war deserve to be shared. and, had......more

In a Nutshell: First half pretty good, second half is a cheesy, corny mash. Offers a decent look at Shanghai during WWII, but the romantic relationship overshadows the war story. Story Synopsis: 1940, Shanghai. Twenty-year-old Aiyi is the owner of a successful night club. Rich and beautiful, she appe......more

~ Quick Summary ~ During WW2, a Jewish refugee Earnest seeks a new life in Shanghai where he meets Aiyi, a nightclub owner who hires him as a pianist. But as WW2 progresses their lives are changed forever. ~ Pick this up if you enjoy/don’t mind ~ 🎬 More focus on the plot and events than characters 💑 Fa......more

I listened to the audio CD of The Last Rose of Shanghai by Weina Dai Randel and learned so much about Shanghai’s history during World War II. The audio CD was pleasantly performed by Josh Bloomberg and Emily Woo Zeller. Most of the books that I had previously read about World War II and the Holocaus......more

This was a super quick read, but there was too much going on. At first I was really captivated by the authors writing style and the idea of an interracial relationship in Shanghai. However, this book has so many twists and turns, it is so unrealistic and very soapy. I honestly felt like I was forcin......more