Empress Orchid - Anchee Min

I really enjoyed this book. Generally I am not really into books that have a lot of histroric value as I never feel I enjoy the story very much but this I found amazing. Although not accurate, it is based on a true story but in a round about way. It is about a young girl whose mother sends her to the palace to try and become one of the young princes wives. Hence the title she succeeds. I will not actually ruin any of the actual story but will say this is definately worth the read as the best thing about this was that I learnt a lot about ancient China and how life in the palaces was not as plain, easy and simple as they looked. It made me appreciate ...  Read the complete review

It's 19th century Peking, and a nervous Orchid is waiting at the gates of the Forbidden City before dawn to hear her fate. If she is chosen, she can save her family from starvation and escape an arranged marriage to her backward cousin, Bottle. But the price she will pay for winning is by no means clear. Anchee Min's Empress Orchid is a beautiful historical biography, embellished with character, detail and ritual and I was surprised by how compelling I found it. The story starts with poor Orchid's humble beginnings and as I read it, I genuinely felt a sense that she was growing. To begin with she is meek and indecisive, but the events that follow make her into ...  Read the complete review

Empress Orchid isn't a book I would normally pick up. When recommended it by a friend, who then preceded to offer me her copy, I felt somewhat obliged to give it a go. Rather surprisingly, the necessary trudge through I'd predicted didn't happen and I actually found myself enjoying it. The story follows the life of 'Orchid', a young woman who would become the last empress of China. It is a semi fictional-semi factual account of her introduction into the Forbidden City following her betrothal, along with several other women, to the Emperor Hsien Feng. What follows is a tale of jealousy, suspicion and ambition as each of the emperor's wives vie for his ...  Read the complete review

"Orchid kowtowed to the Grand Empress and the Emporer. She knew she was not allowed to make eye contact, but she couldn't help herself." I like to read. Books fascinate me. I don't know whether it's because I have such a great imagination or whether I can relate to the descriptions of certain things throughout the novel. Empress Orchid was a great read. Anchee Min described the undescribable. Brief outline Orchid is a 16 year old girl. Her father had just died, and she, her brother, sister and mother are on their way with the coffin to the grand city to give her father the burial he deserves. Something happens along ...  Read the complete review

i ABOUSOLUTLY LOVED THIS BOOK. Based on a true story it tells of a young girl who enters the imperial city to try and win the emperors heart although not chosen as his empress but a concubine she is fourtunate enogh to bear him a son and the heir to the thrown. After many struggles with the emperess nahuroo and other concubines she wins the heart of the emperor and reguly shares his bed and becomes his favourite concubine. This book really drew me in and it felt as though as was actually ther living the life along all the imperial ladys. I strongly reccommend this book and if you have already read it then why not read the follow up THE LAST EMPERESS it will drown you ...  Read the complete review