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Mr Chen's Emporium (2012)

by Deborah O'Brien(Favorite Author)

3.7 of 5 Votes: 2

ISBN

1742755542 (ISBN13: 9781742755540)

languge

English

genre

Historical Fiction

publisher

Bantam Australia

review 1: Set in the (mythical) gold-rush town of Millbrooke, NSW, this book has two parallel stories. The first follows Amy Duncan in 1872, as she travels from her Sydney schooling to Millbrooke, to join her Scottish harsh-preaching minister father and family when her mother becomes unwell. It is then she meets Charles Chen, the enigmatic and handsome owner of the 'Aladdin's Cave' of Mr Chen's Emporium, on the main street of Millbrooke. The second is set in present day, when recently widowed artist Angie decides on a country change and rents the old Manse in Millbrooke. The two story lines don't really gel, apart from Angie becoming quite the sleuth in discovering what happened to Amy and Charles - which is in itself very interesting and poignant. I didn't buy Amy's father being so... more rigid and such a hellfire preacher and bigot. I sometimes get weary of so-called Christian ministers copping such blame (when they prove themselves not to be Christian at all by their actions); I find this a bit clichéd and trite. Anyway. Despite the disjointed story lines and the above objection, the book is charming and very pleasant to read. And I did love all the references to the little 'duck-moles' - the platypus.
review 2: A really interesting novel with unexpected twists.Keeps the reader wanting to know more after the novel has ended ,especially with the character Amy who is widowed at a young age.What did she go on to become? what of the child she is carrying and the prejudices she no doubt will face.We desperately need a sequel to this novel.The novel provides accurate historical references and the images that are conjured in ones mind with the superb descriptions and true to life characters both past and present are a credit to the author.For those of us that have lived in the country we can truly relate to some of the scenes and descriptions as depicted in the novel.This novel is a credit to the author who manages to successfuly involve us in the lives of 2 women in different eras and somehow relates the present to the past.A most captivating read !! less

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