The Red Thread: A Love Story
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Book Overview
A seductive literary love story set in contemporary Shanghai, The Red Thread intertwines the lives of two pairs of lovers across the centuries. Shen, a young, American-educated appraiser in a Shanghai auction house, is captivated by Ruth, a self-possessed Australian artist who happens into one of his auctions. As they fall in love, Shen finds that their lives are strangely mirrored by those of the characters in a rare Chinese manuscript that is nearly two hundred years old, and of which the last two chapters have never been found. Shen's search for the final chapters goes from one of curiosity to one of desperation when he realizes that the future of their relationship, and the prognosis for Ruth's failing health, seem to be foretold in the missing pages. Interwoven in the novel and presented in red type are passages from the actual nineteenth century memoir Six Chapters of a Floating Life that illuminate the lovers' parallel lives. An elegant and multilayered novel, drawing comparisons with Memoirs of a Geisha and The English Patient, The Red Thread is evocative, moving, and unforgettable.
Format:Hardcover
Language:English
ISBN:0811829510
ISBN13:9780811829519
Release Date:August 2000
Publisher:Chronicle Books
Length:256 Pages
Weight:1.05 lbs.
Dimensions:1.0" x 1.0" x 1.0"
Customer Reviews
1 rating
Probably not everyone's cup of green tea
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 24 years ago
I don't read much fiction. When I do it is usually by accident. This one was a happy accident. It has all the things I like in it. Antiques and curios, art, ancient scriptures, asian food, chinese herbal medicine, reincarnation, even embroidered shoes. The love story is far from traditional and it would not surprise me if many readers missed the point entirely. I suppose also a good deal of readers would not consider the ending happy. Thank goodness there are some writers who do not write for the majority. Sorry I can't tell you why four stars and not five stars, this would spoil the book for you...........I don't like it when reviews tell too much of the story and give away the plot.
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