The Last Rose of Shanghai

 Written by Weina Dai Randel, The Last Rose of Shanghai  is a beautiful love story and an excellent historical representation of what happened in Shanghai, China during the war years of the 1940s.  While Europe was fighting Hitler and the Nazi war machine, China and Japan were also at war between themselves. 

German Jews were able to escape to Shanghai looking for freedom, but found instead a country at war and a different kind of prejudice.  Japan had invaded and was trying to take over rule of China.  Though the Japanese or Chinese were not anti Jewish and many were not aware of the anti-Semitism in Europe. But then Japan forms an alliance with Germany and the Britons in Shanghai's International Settlement  become the enemy, then restrictions finally tighten against Jews. 

Ernest Reismann comes to Shanghai penniless as a Jewish refugee looking for a job to support himself and his sister, Miriam.  As they wait for word of their parents fate back in Germany, Ernest finds work as a piano player in Aiyi Shao's glamorous nightclub.  Aiyi is a young woman going against the mandate of her social community, to marry and have a family.  She wants so much more, freedom, a career.  Aiyi runs the successful nightclub and works hard to keep it profitable.  This will lead to trouble for all those who surround her.  Aiyi has been promised in marriage as is the custom.  She is not sure that is the life she envisions for herself.  Aiyi will have face many obstacles as she learns how to navigate her business and social life.

Falling in love with someone outside your religion or social community is dangerous.  Aiyi and Ernest are willing to risk everything for that love.  It will have implications on their families, friends and business partners.   The decisions they make in their own lives have repercussions on the lives of all the people around them. Deciding if the benefits outweigh the sadness and losses is what book discussion groups will analyze. 

The novel has many twists and turns in the plot. The descriptions of the sounds, smells and streets of Shanghai are so real you will feel like you  are there. The descriptions of danger in the streets of Shanghai  feel so real also, that you will cringe and hold your breath as you wait to make sure each character is ok as they face a dangerous experience.

Ernest and Aiyi's lives intertwine through the years, as we hear their story from each point of view in alternating chapters.  Aiyi is telling her story to a young documentary producer, whom she wants to make a documentary about Ernest's life and his talent as a musician.  Aiyi is at the end of her long and dramatic life.  It has been a life full of so many experiences; marriage, religious practices, race relations, sibling relationships, motherhood, hope, music, women's rights and love.

Weina Dai Randel was born and raised in China. Weina is the winner of the RWA RITA Award, the National Jewish Book Award finalist, the Goodreads Choice Award “Best Historical Fiction” semifinalist, and the RT Book Reviewers Choice “Best First Historical” nominee.  Weina came to the United States at twenty-four, when she switched from Chinese to English and began to speak, write and dream in English. After living in Texas for many years, she now resides in Massachusetts. readers. She is an adjunct professor and is also a member of the Historical Novel Society.