Imatge de l'autor
26+ obres 1,535 Membres 44 Ressenyes 1 preferits

Sobre l'autor

Lesley Downer is an award-winning author of many books on Japan. She divides her time between London and Tokyo. (Bowker Author Biography)

Inclou aquests noms: Leslie Downer, Lesley Downer

Crèdit de la imatge: Lesley Downer at the romantic novel of the year award 2009 where she was nominated for the shortlist

Sèrie

Obres de Lesley Downer

Obres associades

The Courtesan's Arts: Cross-Cultural Perspectives Includes CD (2006) — Col·laborador — 31 exemplars
Slightly Foxed 21: All Washed Up (2009) — Col·laborador — 27 exemplars
Slightly Foxed 70: Tigers at the Double Lion (2021) — Col·laborador — 23 exemplars
Puccini : Madama Butterfly : 2016/17 [programme] (2016) — Col·laborador — 1 exemplars
Puccini : Madama Butterfly : 2022/23 [programme] (2022) — Col·laborador — 1 exemplars

Etiquetat

Coneixement comú

Nom normalitzat
Downer, Lesley
Nom oficial
Downer, Lesley
Data de naixement
1949-09-05
Gènere
female
Nacionalitat
Engeland
Lloc de naixement
Londen, Engeland
Llocs de residència
Japan
Engeland
Educació
Universiteit van Londen (MA - Aziatische Studie's)
Universiteit van Oxford
Professions
Auteur
Relacions
Miller, Arthur I (Echtgenoot)

Membres

Ressenyes

En las montañas del Japón rural de 1861, la piel pálida y las delicadas facciones de Sachi hacen que se sienta diferente. Y lo es. Cuando cumple once años, una princesa imperial se la lleva al palacio de las mujeres del castillo de Edo. Allí, en un ambiente de intrigas y rivalidades, conviven tres mil mujeres y el joven shogun, gobernador de Japón. Sachi será la elegida para convertirse en su concubina. Sus privilegios, sin embargo, pronto son sólo un recuerdo, ya que al estallar la guerra civil la joven debe huir para salvar su vida. En un Japón en pleno cambio, en el que no hay lugar para la pasión y ni siquiera existe la palabra amor, Sachi se enamora de un joven guerrero. Pero antes de que pueda imaginar un futuro con él, debe resolver el misterio que subyace en sus orígenes y que amenaza con destruirla.… (més)
 
Marcat
Natt90 | Hi ha 17 ressenyes més | Dec 8, 2022 |
The Shogun's Queen is such a fantastic book. My knowledge before this book about Japan during 19-century was very limited and I enjoyed both getting a fictional version as well getting a history lesson all in one book. It's actually a very tragic book, the end of the Shogun's regime in Japan that we get to see through the eyes of Okatsu, a girl that was chosen to try to stop the barbarians from taking over the realm either by forcing or by bullying the leaders into giving in. Reading how the Americans and the British, etc. practically set an ultimatum to the leaders to open the borders so they could get into the land made my blood boil. The audacity to think that they had that kind of right is infuriating.

Okatsu, later Princess Atsu, life is fascinating to read about, and through the book did I really hope that she would achieve her goal, and save the realm, but she faces a lot of obstacles in the Women's Palace. To get the Shogun to listen is hard, especially since he is controlled by his mother. And, the Shogun mother is not a woman that will see reason, all she wants is to control her son and what happens outside the walls of the Women's Palace is second that. It would perhaps be easier if the Shogun had been more of leader, but this is a man that should never have ruled. He may have been born to be the Shogun, but he had not the mental capacity for that. Which his mother took advantage of.

The Shogun's Queen is an engrossing book, well-researched and it left me with a need for reading more about Japan and the Shogun's. I loved that it's through Princess Atsu that we get an insight into the chaotic time period. She may be trapped in the Women's Palace, but it's there that so much happens, and it's there that the faith of Japan will be decided...

I want to thank the author for providing me with a free copy for an honest review!
… (més)
 
Marcat
MaraBlaise | Hi ha 1 ressenya més | Jul 23, 2022 |
I read many favourable reviews about this book,and many of them were gushing with praise for it. A Japanese “Gone with the wind” With a gorgeous cover. Can you imagine I was so eager to get this book in my hands?

The plot boils down to this: Sachi is a peasant girl who is adopted by a princess.The princess is going to be the shoguns wife. Sachi grows up in the Edo castle and learns the strict protocol of the castle and using a halberd. The heroine becomes noticed by the shogun and becomes his concubine.

Cue one creepy sex scene (first time nevertheless..poor girl)and some bawdy jokes about "picking mushrooms" by some older women.And then we have the shogun unexpectedly dying,adding to the unrest of the land.

War breaks out and Sachi and a handmaiden flees the castle,Sachi posing as the princess.They met up with some ronin samurai and decide to travel with them. After this I lost grip on the plot….except for the love story between Sachi and one of the samurai. What was his name again?


And as for the editing....

First of all someone hand this author a book about synonyms!

There is only so much repeating of words one can endure. For example someones hair is described as “bushy” throughout the whole book and everyone seems to have “plump” lips.And the plot structure is lacking,feeling sketchy and not that well thought out,the same can be said for the characters up to and including our maincharacter.

Fascinating history yes but it reads more like a history book than a novel sometimes.

And even if I found the love story touching sometimes..it didn’t have that extra oomph! Like in the real “Gone with the wind”

Just about readable.

If you are interested in the authors claim that there was no word for love in japanese culture up until the 19th Century. Here is her take on it. No sources though so I dont know...

http://www.lesleydowner.com/2008/02/15/how-do-you-fall-in-love-when-your-
… (més)
 
Marcat
Litrvixen | Hi ha 17 ressenyes més | Jun 23, 2022 |
Like the pine and the chrysanthemum that bloomed in winter when other flowers had died, a courtesan's charms endured for ever.


Once again Lesley Downer proves to be one of my favorite authors EVER.
I don't even know why this book's ratings are so low, honestly.
The accuracy of the facts that are told, the details and the story itself totally mesmerized me.
Two thumbs up!!
 
Marcat
XSassyPants | Hi ha 3 ressenyes més | Jun 11, 2022 |

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Estadístiques

Obres
26
També de
5
Membres
1,535
Popularitat
#16,763
Valoració
½ 3.6
Ressenyes
44
ISBN
136
Llengües
13
Preferit
1

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