I had no idea what to expect when I first opened this book. I was hoping it would be great because it was based on a true story, but I found myself shocked as I continued reading about the hardship which Jinhua faced. To take readers from the cold streets of China to the sparkling environment of Vienna takes a lot of skill, which I think Curry does well.
Unfortunately, I often found myself really uncomfortable with the language in Curry's novel and felt an immense hatred towards the majority of the characters. Essentially, as a courtesan, it is Xinhua against the world based on their perception of her, which is especially disgusting considering her age. I'm somewhat of a person who recognizes the importance of true stories, but prefer that my literature remains somewhat happy. This story is not at all satisfying, but instead kind of highlights the evil of man. It's well-written but far too much for me.
Unfortunately, I often found myself really uncomfortable with the language in Curry's novel and felt an immense hatred towards the majority of the characters. Essentially, as a courtesan, it is Xinhua against the world based on their perception of her, which is especially disgusting considering her age. I'm somewhat of a person who recognizes the importance of true stories, but prefer that my literature remains somewhat happy. This story is not at all satisfying, but instead kind of highlights the evil of man. It's well-written but far too much for me.