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“WonderBunny said: 4 Stars
The year is 1925 and Irene has been sent to Shanghai to see about acquiring…well locating and stealing some copper scrolls said to contain the history of the Khmer empire in Cambodia.
Irene is looking for an adventure, knowledge of the place her parents lived for a while and to find her confidence again after the heart break of losing a the top curator position at the museum where she has spent most of her life. To start her adventure, Irene must gather all the knowledge and a few people to help her follow an old diary detailing where the lost Khmer temple is the house the scrolls.
This book was interesting, at times enthralling and had such depth of character that I had a hard time putting it down occasionally. It isn’t a blow everything up and edge of my seat adventure as the back may make it sound but instead a fascinating character novel with a touch of adventure and mystery. Irene meets Simone to help with her travels in Cambodia; both women are complex and drive with some interesting developments. I liked both although Simone could be deceiving and Irene naïve. They complimented each other and I think the tension within their friendship kept me reading.
I found the historical aspects to this novel riveting and thought those features were blended well within the story. Simone is wants to give Cambodia back to it’s people and use the scrolls to show them that they have a glorious history. Irene wants something else upon arriving in China and then traveling to Cambodia…but I don’t think Simone’s desires are any less selfish then Irene’s. It was interesting twist that I found within this novel and is part of what made it so enjoyable. 4 Stars. ”
Play Book Tag Shelf wrote this review Friday, September 14, 2012.
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