Amazing women in amazing times
Suzanne Joinson's novel is engaging, weaving an adroitly balanced story set in the time frames of 1923 and today. The book grabbed me at the first page and kept my interest throughout. The pacing between the two time periods was exceptionally well done. The characters and locations, as well as the tensions between the Moslem and Christian worlds, came to life on the page. My only let-down was that the book ended. Ms. Joinson left me wanting to read her next book.
Rated of 5
by Margaret B. (Pompano Beach, FL)
A Lady Cyclist's Guide to Kashgar by Suzanne Joinson
When three missionary ladies traveling saw a young girl in the middle of the road having a baby, they stopped and helped her. There were other travelers who stood and watched but did not help. The mother died and the missionary ladies were accused of killing the mother. The author describes every scene so vividly that I felt I was there. With the descriptions of the food, such as nutneg and cottage cheese sandwiches, I was glad I wasn't. The book gives wonderful description what life was like in1923 in Kashgar.
Rated of 5
by Mary R. (San Jose, CA)
An Expert Weaving of Two Tales
'A Lady Cyclist’s Guide to Kashgar' is a compelling novel that weaves two stories that take place in separate times and places, but come together in a surprising and expertly conceived twist. The ‘local color’ is exceptional and the character development is realistic. This will be a great book for book groups – with the issues of parenting, the work of missionaries, war-torn countries, justice, and even self-mutilation in the name of mystical awareness. This is an extremely enjoyable read.
Rated of 5
by Anita S. (Santa Barbara, CA)
Fascinating
I loved this book. The stories of the two main women were so fascinating and interesting that I could hardly put the book down. Both women were adventurous and yet were trying to find a place for themselves in the world. As I read the book, I knew that eventually they would be connected in some way which only added to the story. This book is so well written and I felt I could relate to these women. All the characters were well defined and the incidents and descriptions of the locales were intriguing, especially in Kashgar. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a great book. I think book clubs would have a lot to discuss with this book.
Rated of 5
by Sue Z. (Mooresville, NC)
A Lady Cyclist's Guide to Kashgar
I found this book to be complex and quite fascinating. The characters evolve in the most interesting ways especially the main character, the lady cyclist. She grows from being quite naive, to having the will to carry on despite sometimes overwhelming odds, while still keeping a touching and sometimes irritating vulnerability. I think the author has perfectly captured the essence of British short-sighted attitude of the the Twenties, when the feeling was that Britain and all things British were superior to anything else to be found anywhere
Rated of 5
by Robin (Corpus Christi, TX)
A Lady Cyclists Guide to Kasgar
The descriptive imagery in this novel is almost lyrical. The eccentricities of the female characters and their individual motivations for rejecting traditional lives are finely drawn. The two distinct and separate tales in this novel ultimately connect in a surprising and unexpected way.
Rated of 5
by Sharon B. (Rome, GA)
A Lady Cyclist's Guide to Kashgar
The action starts in the first few pages of this debut novel with the birth of a baby in the desert. Eva continues her story of living at a mission in a remote village in China in 1923 through her journal of notes intended for publication as a travel book. The hardships and intrigues of this adventure pull the reader in immediately. The alternating third-person account of Frieda, a businesswoman in present-day London who is left a mysterious inheritance, is a little slower to get into, but about halfway through the book I could not put it down and was eager to find out what happens to both of these women.
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by Grace W. (Corona del Mar, CA)
of 5
by Sharon B. (Rome, GA)
