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The Song of the Jade Lily

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Kirsty Manning makes her US debut with this gripping historical novel that tells the little-known story of Jewish refugees who fled to Shanghai during WWII.

1939 : Two young girls meet in Shanghai, also known as the “Paris of the East”. Beautiful local Li and Jewish refugee Romy form a fierce friendship, but the deepening shadows of World War II fall over the women as they slip between the city's glamorous French Concession district and the teeming streets of the Shanghai Ghetto. Yet soon the realities of war prove to be too much for these close friends as they are torn apart.

2016: Fleeing London with a broken heart, Alexandra returns to Australia to be with her grandparents, Romy and Wilhelm. Her grandfather is dying, and over the coming weeks Romy and Wilhelm begin to reveal the family mysteries they have kept secret for more than half a century. As fragments of her mother's history finally become clear, Alexandra struggles with what she learns while more is also revealed about her grandmother's own past in Shanghai.

After Wilhelm dies, Alexandra flies to Shanghai, determined to trace her grandparents' past. Peeling back the layers of their hidden lives, she is forced to question what she knows about her family—and herself. 

The Song of the Jade Lily is a lush, provocative, and beautiful story of friendship, motherhood, the price of love, and the power of hardship and courage that can shape us all.

480 pages, ebook

First published April 24, 2018

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About the author

Kirsty Manning

9 books602 followers
Kirsty Manning grew up in northern New South Wales. She has degrees in literature and communications and worked as an editor and publishing manager in book publishing for over a decade. A country girl with wanderlust, her travels and studies have taken her through most of Europe, the east and west coasts of the United States and pockets of Asia. Kirsty’s journalism specialising in lifestyle and travel regularly appear in magazines, newspapers and online.
With husband Alex Wilcox, Kirsty is a partner in the award-winning Melbourne wine bar Bellota, and the Prince Wine Store in Sydney and Melbourne.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,185 reviews
Profile Image for Angela M .
1,337 reviews2,163 followers
July 18, 2019
There always seems to be something new to learn about WWII and this is another work of historical fiction that has taught me about another facet . I had no idea that Jews migrated to Shanghai before the war. But this story did more than just inform, it moved me because of the strength and courage of the characters and it was a testament to how heartache and loss can elevate people to do things because they love others, because it’s the right thing to do. As a young girl Romy Bernfeld and her parents left their beloved Vienna, Austria after experiencing traumatic losses at the hands of the Nazis in 1938. They are exiled but comfortable, until the Japanese take over the French section and their lives once again are in peril. What happen from then through the war years is of course heartbreaking, but there are the beautiful friendships that Romy finds and the love she discovers that sustain her through the years. As in many recent books, there is a dual time line here and secrets of the past that will be discovered. In 2016 Alexandra, Romy’s granddaughter wants to find out more of her history after her grandfather has passed away, but doesn’t want to upset Romy. So she leaves Australia after the funeral and goes to Shanghai. It is here that she finds not just her history but who she is and what she wants moving forward.

The book alternates between 2016 and the war years with narrative, letters and diary entries. In these past-present stories, I tend to like the past story more, but I genuinely liked Alexandra’s character and her story as well. But Romy’s story, which is one of heartbreak in many ways is such a beautiful story of love. I didn’t even fully guess what the secret of the past was and was so taken by what people will do for the ones they love. The book is well researched and beautifully written.

I received an advanced copy of this book from William Morrow/HarperCollins through Edelweiss.
Profile Image for Debbie W..
817 reviews678 followers
June 5, 2023
Why I chose to listen to this audiobook:
1. I added this intriguing title while perusing Historical Fiction on Goodreads; and,
2. May 2023 is my self-appointed "People of the Far East" Month (country featured: China).

Praises:
1. I learned that prior to WWII, many Jewish refugees fled Europe to settle in China, specifically in the city of Shanghai;
2. the description of the Japanese Occupation in Shanghai felt familiar to me as I recently listened to Empire of the Sun which also showcases this setting; and,
3. a very descriptive story! Sensory details abound, especially in regards to food!

Niggles:
1. another dual timeline where we have history during WWII in China, and the modern-day mystery, both of which are getting a little "jaded" for me. The historical period would have been enough.
Granddaughter Alexandra is investigating her family's history, but is too afraid to ask her grandmother (Romy) anything because it might upset her! According to the story, Oma and Opa practically raised Alexandra, so I would think that Alex could broach this subject delicately with her grandparents (since they're super-close), doing away with all the needless traveling and wasted time interviewing various contacts, searching for useless information. Frankly, I'm quite disappointed by all the lies and secrets between people who supposedly "love" each other and how they were initiated in the first place;
2. besides introducing the ethnicity at the beginning of the story, I never really got a sense of "Jewishness" portrayed in this family. I felt that Romy, her parents, and other acquaintances could easily have been other foreigners (e.g. British, French) living in WWII Shanghai; and,
3. was it only me, but did anyone else catch the scene where Li, not once but twice, rips her jade pendant off her neck and passes it to Romy?

Overall Thoughts:
Even though this story wasn't too riveting and it lacked relatable characters for me, I am impressed with Kirsty Manning's overall attempt with this debut novel. I do have another one of her books on my WTR list, so I will give her another try.

Profile Image for Kylie D.
464 reviews571 followers
December 22, 2019
An enjoyable enough novel set in Shanghai during WW2, it sees Romy flee Vienna with her Jewish family after the Nazi's have taken over, only to have her new home in China suffer the same fate when the Japanese arrive.

We follow Romy and her friend's lives as they try to survive the war in a hostile climate, their loves and alliances. Meanwhile in a second timeline Romy's granddaughter Alexandra is in Shanghai, searching for her family's history. The two timelines intertwine as Alexandra gets ever closer to the secrets that Romy is so reluctant to let go of.

I did find this book to be a bit slow, and was never really riveted to it. To me it lacked a focal point of interest and was just another war story. It's an ok read, but I'll probably find it to be forgettable.
Profile Image for Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader.
2,294 reviews31.4k followers
May 24, 2019
The Song of the Jade Lily is beautifully told in two timelines. The first is 1939 Shanghai. Two young girls, Li and Romy, become friends. 

Li is from Shanghai, and Romy is a refugee from Vienna. The two become fast friends. World War II seems far away at first, but it descends upon Shanghai and these girls and tears apart their friendship. 

The second timeline is 2016 when a young Alexandra returns to Australia because her grandfather Wilhelm is dying. As Wilhelm spends his last days, he and his wife, Romy, share family secrets they’ve kept hidden for decades. 

Alexandra travels to Shanghai to find answers about her grandparents. What she finds has her doubting everything she thought was true. 

The Song of the Jade Lily is an engrossing and beautifully-written story. It’s about friendship, strength, and resilience in even the most horrific of times. This is a book whose characters climbed inside my heart, and I’m not sure they’ll ever leave. The mystery is intriguing, and I loved the Chinese culture infused in the story. It was a delectable reading experience, and I hope you get a chance to read it, too! 

I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own. 

My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
Profile Image for Berit Talks Books.
2,042 reviews15.7k followers
May 25, 2019
ℭ𝔬𝔪𝔭𝔢𝔩𝔩𝔦𝔫𝔤. 𝔄𝔟𝔰𝔬𝔯𝔟𝔦𝔫𝔤. ℜ𝔦𝔳𝔢𝔱𝔦𝔫𝔤.

Kirsty Manning has written a stunning story filled with secrets, sorrow, and resilience. 1939 Vienna Austria Romy’s family realizes it is in their best interest to leave the country. But the only place that will take them in without a visa is shanghai. Shanghai is miles away, a brief respite from the war, but it isn’t long before shanghai is also impacted by WWII. 2016 Alexandra returns home to Australia from London to see her beloved grandfather before he dies. Alexandra was raised by her grandparents after her mother Sophia was killed in a car accident. Alexandra knows that her mother was adopted brought over to Australia by her grandfather and grandmother, Romy. Alexander has taken a new job in Shanghai Inn is determined to figure out where her mother came from. The only information Alexander has is a necklace, a birth certificate, a picture, and journal. Will Alexandra discover her roots? Or are some secrets best kept in the past?

This was an amazing book that introduced me to a part of history I previously had no idea about. When I think of WWII I certainly never think of China. I had no idea China took in so many Jewish refugees. I was ignorant to the tensions between Japan and China during WWII. The beauty of historical fiction is learning something that you probably otherwise would never have learned. Romy and her family have found themselves in the unfortunate position of leaving one horrible situation to find themselves in the midst of another. I once again was completely in awe of the resilience of people.

The characters and the setting of this story completely popped off the pages. Kirsty Manning has seamlessly woven together the present and the past in this compelling tale. Both timelines completely captivated me and all these characters stole my heart. The friendship between Romy and Lee was so beautiful to read about. I loved how we really got to learn about the Chinese culture through Romy’s eyes. I found the Chinese medicine fascinating. Romy was such an authentic character, my heart broke for her with some of the letters she wrote to her brother Daniel back in a work camp in Austria. I was so curious as to what the secret was she was keeping from her granddaughter Alexandra, and what her motivations were. Alexandra was also an intriguing character. I loved discovering the past right alongside her. And I love the little bit of romance she had going on with John.

A beautiful story brimming with family, friendship, and culture. This is not a short book, but it went so quick I was so riveted by the story and I just needed to know what the secret was. I also am completely intrigued by all eastern cultures and just love getting to know more about them. Simply put this was an evocative story that all fans of historical fiction will completely devour.

🎧🎧🎧 The audiobook is narrated by Saskia Maarleveld who in my opinion is one of the absolute best! There are so many accents in this book and she nailed them all! She gave each character their own distinct voice and I never was confused as to who is narrating the story. A stellar job!

*** Big thanks to William Morrow and Harper Audio for my copy of this book ***
Profile Image for Veronica ⭐️.
1,089 reviews251 followers
June 17, 2018
The Jade Lily is a dual time-line narrative.

1938 Vienna, Austria – 11 year old Romy and her parents flee to Shanghai after one of her brothers is shot by German soldiers and the other is herded away with other young Jewish men. On the three month trip to Shanghai by boat, Romy meets Nina and they become firm friends. Their lives take very different paths but bonded by the unspeakable events of war they remain firm friends for life.

2016 Melbourne, Australia – 36 year old Alexandra has rushed home from England to be by her dying grandfather’s side, leaving behind a broken romance. Her Grandmother, Romy, is stoic and strong and with lifelong friend Nina by her side she goes about her business without a fuss. This stoic, strong attitude is so endearing and understandable from the women that have been through countless injustices throughout their life and have learned to keep going and do whatever you can to survive through these adversities with no complaint.

Alexandra’s parents died in a car accident when she was young and she was brought up by her grandparents. She knows that her mother Sophia was adopted by Romy and Wilhelm. There is much secrecy around Sophia’s adoption and whenever Alexandra brought it up with her grandparents she could see they were genuinely distressed, so she let the matter drop. Alexandra’s story is one of trying to find out who she is, what makes her the way she is, her ancestry. Armed with nothing but an old photo, her mother’s adoption certificate, an old diary and a jade necklace she accepts a job offer in Shanghai and starts to ask questions.
When Alexandra visited the Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum and saw her great grandparents’ and grandmother’s names engraved on the wall I could almost feel the goosebumps myself. How surreal this moment must have been!

The Jade Lily is an atmospheric tale of the atrocities of war and the stoic, strong women that endured it.
Manning has written a heart-felt historical fiction detailing the hardships endured by the displaced and the unfailing spirit of these people to keep going when all seems lost.
A large focus throughout the story is the blending of cultures as refugees from different countries introduce their cultures and foods into Shanghai. Traditional Chinese medicine is also explored with the healing power and well-being benefits of different blends of herbs and acupuncture.
Shanghai was the star of this story! The people, the food, the customs, the countryside, the refugees and the architecture all feature prominently, then and now.

”...in this swirling metropolis where decadence and depravity skipped hand in hand and it seemed rules were meant to be broken”

The Jade Lily is an intensively researched story that conveys the shocking cruelties endured by the displaced during the war and one woman’s journey of strength and love as she comes of age during these trying times. The vivid descriptions are a sensual feast of odours, flavours, sounds and sights from the streets of Shanghai.

If you read Historical Fiction this is one book you must add to your shelf.


*I received an uncorrected proof copy from the publisher

The Burgeoning Bookshelf

Profile Image for Phrynne.
3,488 reviews2,370 followers
March 26, 2019
I ended up being a bit surprised at how much I enjoyed this book! I knew before I began that it had dual timelines which is a technique I am getting bored with. I frequently long for a straight, continuous timeline told by one unchanging narrator. It would be refreshing. Anyway the dual timeline in The Jade Lily is okay as my interest in the past and the present was fairly equal throughout. Romy and Nina were fascinating characters when they were young and when they were old. Alexandra was a useful means to explore the present.

It was a long book, well padded with cultural revelations about Asian food and medicines. That was all okay too but the most interesting part was the story of the Austrian Jews and the appalling events they had to live through. The fact that they escaped one arena of that awful war only to fall into another one was indescribably sad, as was the innocence of the people and their lack of knowledge about what was actually happening in the detention camps back in Germany.

By the middle of the book I was totally engrossed and I sat up very late to finish it. I had guessed Romy's secret before the end and there was a nice, tidy conclusion. All very well done indeed and I shall look out for more by this author.



Profile Image for Annette.
839 reviews504 followers
May 14, 2019
At a time when no other country, including US, UK, Australia, would open its doors to Jews fleeing the concentration camps, Shanghai had opened its doors to more than twenty thousand refugees fleeing Europe during WWII. “It was possible before 1940 to be released from a concentration camp if you had a valid passport, visa, permit to take up residency in another country, and proof of transport. Such release was always subject to the prisoner leaving Germany within a limited time.”

Vienna, Nov. 1938: Young Romy can’t understand why Jews are so hated. “The synagogue’s library of rare books and manuscripts lay in a pile of smoldering cinders on the footpath.”

Not able to obtain visas, her family is left with only one option where visas are not needed – Shanghai.

In Shanghai, International Committee set up boarding houses for the Jewish refugees. The area is safe for Jews, but relations between Chinese and Japanese have been strained since 1931.

As welcoming as Shanghai felt when Romy arrived there with her family, now it feels as bad as Vienna. The relations between Chinese and Japanese become even more worried. Romy’s family is forced to move to a ghetto. She watches her friends disappear. First Vienna, now Shanghai unwelcomes them.

2016: Alexandra returns to Australia to be with her grandparents, Romy and Wilhelm. Her grandpa is dying and he mentions a name Li. Alexandra has never heard either of her grandparents mention a Li. Then he mentions Shanghai and three of them. Alexandra wonders if he is lucid, because none of it makes sense.

While in Shanghai on her new posting, Alexandra uses her free time to research her Chinese heritage as her grandparents never wanted to talk about their adopted Chinese daughter.

This multilayered story skillfully reveals the past story of WWII Shanghai and the present day Shanghai characterized by its gardens and laneways full of sizzling dumplings and noodles; weaving into it love that matures with each challenge and friendship that deepens with each step. All this tested by the power of war and how hardship and courage can shape a person. The author vividly captures the feel of the era.

This book was read by experts for historical credibility and accuracy of traditional Chinese medicine; and also by those who lived in Shanghai during the Occupation and migrated to Australia afterward.

@FB/BestHistoricalFiction
Profile Image for Brenda.
4,410 reviews2,838 followers
May 14, 2018
It was 1938 and Romy Bernfeld was forced to flee Vienna with her parents after the Nazis began rounding up Jewish residents. Shanghai was a different city completely – bewildered and afraid, Romy found friendship with a neighbour, Li and her brother, while Romy’s mother was shattered and depressed. Her father, a doctor, began working at the local hospital. Gradually Romy found her way around the French Concession where they lived. But with the Japanese invasion, everything changed once again.

Alexandra Laird had returned to Melbourne, Australia to be with her Opa who was dying. It was 2016, and the thought of losing him devastated her – he and Oma (Wilhelm and Romy) had been there for her for as long as she could remember. Alexandra had no idea how she would cope when he was gone. Her transfer to Shanghai with work felt fortuitous – she could research her grandparents’ past while there. Oma had told her very little of what had happened during the war years.

But what would Alexandra find? Her search was frustrating, but as secrets came to light, she found more questions than answers…

The Jade Lily by Aussie author Kirsty Manning is my first by this author, and it won’t be my last! A thoroughly enjoyable historical fiction novel which was set mainly in Shanghai, with the narration in two timelines by both a young Romy and Alexandra; I couldn’t put it down. Heartbreaking, filled with hope, a lifetime of friendship, and masses of courage, The Jade Lily is one I highly recommend.

With thanks to Allen & Unwin for my uncorrected proof to read and review.
Profile Image for Helen.
2,452 reviews11 followers
June 17, 2022
I have had this one sitting on my TBR pile since its release and I am sorry I didn’t read it earlier, this is a beautiful story filled with emotion, friendship and such courage as two young girls meet in Shanghai in 1939 and a bond forms but war changes life in so many ways, what will happen to them? Then 2016 commodities trader Alexandra starts to uncover secrets after the death of her beloved grandfather, a journey to Shanghai and the mysteries unravel.

1939 Romy Bernfield and her family flee Austria and head to Shanghai as refugees, Romy’s father is a doctor so they move into the French part of Shanghai and life here is good, Romy meets her neighbour Li Ho and her family they become inseparable, Mr Ho is a Chinese Doctor and soon Romy is picking up a lot of information in this area and is hoping to become a doctor whereas Li only wants to be a singer but war soon changes things Li has to change her way of life and the Bernfield’s are moved into the ghetto, here life is very hard. So much happens in this time, so much heartbreak.

2016 Alexandra leaves London and returns to Melbourne to be with her grandparents parents Romy and Wilhelm, Wilhelm is dying and Alexandra is also uncovering secrets about her family that have been kept for many years. A new position in Shanghai will give Alexandra hopefully the information she wants about her families past and look towards a better future.

This is a compelling read, beautifully written the descriptions took me to Shanghai during the wars years and now, the characters are so strong and courageous what Romy, Li and the other fabulous characters, Nina, Jian and Wilhelm went through was heartbreaking and so emotional, I cried so much throughout this story the truth about the war years is always hard and to read and feel what they went through was bought to life in this book, I do highly recommend this one, Kirsty Manning is a favourite author for me.
Profile Image for Amanda - Mrs B's Book Reviews.
2,030 reviews296 followers
May 18, 2018
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
Kirsty Manning makes a triumphant return to the Australian historical fiction scene with her second novel, The Jade Lily. It is a novel that takes the reader from the precarious times of World War II Austria, to the cosmopolitan streets of Shanghai, through to modern-day Melbourne. If you are looking for a tale that will sweep you away into times gone by, look no further than The Jade Lily.

The Jade Lily is a multiple time frame narrative that begins with present day heroine Alexandra. Nursing a broken heart, Alexandra feels she must escape London and return home to Australia. Embraced by the love of her dear grandparents, Romy and Wilhelm, Alexandra’s return home is marked by the sad decline of her grandfather, who only has a short time left to live. In these precious few weeks with her grandparents, long-held family secrets are unravelled. Linking to Alexandra’s present day journey is the powerful story of two girls who meet in Shanghai in 1939. The fateful meeting between Li, a local girl and Romy, a young girl who has escaped Vienna with her family, will change both their lives forever. An unmistakable bond forms between these two young girls, which helps the both of them survive the dangers of World War II. However, a big test to their friendship occurs and the two drift away from one another. Romy in particular finds it hard to support Li when her heart feels like it has been broken. The Jade Lily links these two different pathways to self discovery when Alexandra makes the journey to Shanghai. Armed with only a few pieces of information on the past her grandparents tried so hard to lock away, Alexandra is determined to discover her hidden ancestry. The Jade Lily is one engrossing tale that deftly combines the power of friendship, all encompassing love, the limitations of war and it reminds us of the valour displayed by those who lived through one of the harshest points in our world history.

If there is one novel that I have been eagerly awaiting to get my hands on, it is my favourite Australian author, Kirsty Manning’s second and latest novel, The Jade Lily. Those who follow my reviews and reading tastes know that I have endorsed Kirsty Manning’s writing and her first novel, The Midsummer Garden as much as I can. I declared The Midsummer Garden my favourite novel of 2017 (and I read a lot of books). I also openly stated Kirsty Manning is my ‘Stella Spark’. Kirsty is a writer who inspires and transports you to another world through her novels. So perhaps now you have a good feel for the high level of anticipation and excitement I had going into The Jade Lily. I am pleased to report that I simply adored The Jade Lily and if I could award more than the standard 5 star rating, I would!

I think when a novel is so good and has touched you in a way that The Jade Lily has with this reader, you find yourself lost for words. I do believe the best I can do for The Jade Lily and this review is to let the story speak for itself. I was literally blown away by the hidden history of this novel. It is a good thing that we are still digging up snippets of pertinent World War II happenings and showcasing these pivotal events via quality historical fiction titles. In The Jade Lily’s case, the hidden history of Shanghai’s Jewish population and the amount of refugees who were welcomed into this part of the world, where other countries blankly refused, absolutely floored me. It is hard not to read this novel and feel a lump in your throat form. I also felt a strong sense of regret wash over me as I uncovered this rather concealed moment of history.

The Jade Lily takes a multiple narrative approach to the format of the novel, which is a style of novel I always gravitate towards. As with Manning’s first novel, The Jade Lily effortlessly sews the threads of the present day together with the past precisely. Manning is an expert in the art of the slow reveal, gently enticing the reader in both aspects of her narrative, so one informs the other. I loved the family secrets and secrets pertaining to Alexandra’s ancestry that defined this novel. It was one of the overwhelming reasons why I was utterly absorbed in the novel. I enjoyed it immensely and I liked the final turn of events in the novel, I welcomed the final twist with gusto!

Manning’s characterisation is finely tuned. I loved the presentation of both her present day and past characters. I gave my heart out to Romy, I just loved her both in the present and in the past. I think Nina is the hidden heroine of the novel and for me she really stood out as being so central to the storyline. Meanwhile, the characters that define the Shanghai wartime storyline are just so colourful they burst from the pages of this novel.

Setting wise, both the time period and placement of The Jade Lily was sculpted to perfection. I have nothing to fault and I must praise Kristy Manning for getting a diverse range of locales across the globe and specific time periods so precise. It is the finer details that Manning carefully includes in her novel that really makes this book something special. It is clear that Manning has done an exceptional job in combining all her relevant resources to inform each setting of her novel extremely well.

There is so much to love about the themes in this novel, from family secrets, ancestry, the World War II experiences, refugees, displacement, female friendship and forbidden love. Manning also inserts a rich cultural aspect to her novel, especially in the Shanghai based aspects, where we learn some much about traditional medicine and techniques, cooking, architecture and the stunning gardens of this part of the world. The most moving part of the novel for me were the letters incorporated within the past story between Romy’s brother David and his family while he was in Dachau. These were moving, authentic and utterly devastating.

Manning has devoted a lot of time and energy on the finishing touches of her novel. Be sure to check out her Author’s Note and detailed sources section, which adds further insight into the making of this great novel.

As I come to the close of this review, I put my hand and my heart and appeal to you, if there is one book I can recommend, it is The Jade Lily. It is a very special, one of a kind novel, that will enhance your reading mind, providing a most accessible approach to a little known aspect of our shared world history.

*I wish to thank Allen & Unwin for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.

The Jade Lily is book #49 of the Australian Women Writers Challenge

Profile Image for Elizabeth of Silver's Reviews.
1,125 reviews1,523 followers
May 16, 2019
Jewish families were fleeing Austria, and Romy’s family was on its way to China without her brothers Michael and Daniel. Michael had been shot, and Daniel was taken to Dachau Concentration Camp.

China was the only country during the war that they could enter without a visa.

We meet Romy and her family as they make the journey and settle in Shanghai in 1939.

We then move to 2016 and meet Alexandra who has traveled to Australia from London because her grandfather who raised her was dying.

Being back in her childhood home was bittersweet and was heartbreaking when she had to leave her grandmother to return to her job and head to Shanghai - a place Alexandra had never been. The only good thing about leaving was that Alexandra might find out who her mother really was and where her mother had really originated from.

I enjoyed Alexandra's search for clues and the secret Romy was keeping from her granddaughter about who her mother was as well as learning of life in Shanghai during the war.

The back and forth in time was smoothly done, and the characters were authentically portrayed. You will fall in love with the characters and respect their strength.

Ms. Manning’s writing flows beautifully along with the intriguing story line.

If you enjoy historical fiction, learning about another part of the world during WWII, and learning customs of the Chinese culture, you won’t want to miss reading THE SONG OF JADE LILY.

THE SONG OF JADE LILY is an enjoyable, heartbreaking, heartwarming, mesmerizing, educational read.

This book was given to me as an ARC by the publisher and LibraryThing in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Taury.
647 reviews192 followers
March 20, 2022
Amazing book about China’s part in WW 2. When I think of WW 2 I never think of China’s involvement. China and Japan’s tensions rise as China takes in Jewish refugees.

Friendship, love, resilience continues through out this book of fear and adventure and then a walk back to retrace the roots where one originates from. Outstanding!
Profile Image for Linda.
1,387 reviews1,494 followers
June 6, 2019
His voice started to crack and he took a deep breath. "When we feel that our grief will suffocate us and we simply don't know how to continue, we still have choices. We can choose to give up, or we can choose to fill our time helping others, even if that means you have to step outside the rules sometimes to do the right -- the just-- thing."

Kirsty Manning presents a novel spun differently from the usual thread. It's 1939 and the Bernfelds are fleeing Austria under the threat of Nazi occupation. Dr. Bernfeld is a physician with his wife, Marta, who is his assistant. With help from Herr Bloch, they are able to book passage to Shanghai with their young daughter, Romy.

It is here that Manning will draw back the heaviness of a story long needing to be told. She parallels her fictional story alongside the actual historical events happening in Shanghai during World War II with the Japanese takeover in China. Initially, the Bernfelds took refuge in a section known as Frenchtown where Dr. Bernfeld finds work in the local hospital. As the war years progressed, we will find out just how oppressive life had become within the city of Shanghai for the original occupants and for those newly arriving.

Romy's story will take front and center as she and her parents adjust to their new life. They anguish over family members left behind in Austria and situations beyond their control. Manning sets up characters who will become deeply enmeshed in the lives of the Bernfelds. Survival leans into every waking moment with incidents of the cruelties visited upon them and those within their circle.

The Song of the Jade Lily will slide into 2016 showcasing the story of Alexandra, Romy's granddaughter. Romy fled to Australia in the final years of the war. But there are deep secrets that Romy keeps under lock and key within her heart. Alexandra, a financial advisor living in London, has come to a juncture in her life in which she desires to know more of her adopted mother's origins. According to Romy, most paperwork and certificates were lost during the war. But what is not lost is Alexandra's curiosity and persistence. She will fly to Shanghai for answers. And we will eventually get the real story.....the real story of what occuried in Shanghai during those fateful years.

I found this story to be so fascinating. Kirsty Manning lays out a time and place in which a great many have no idea of what actually transpired in Shanghai during the war. The Song of the Jade Lily reveals much in the reactions and the demands of humanity pressured by the evils of war. And the question remains: Would we rise to the occasion under similar circumstances? Perhaps the uncertainty of the answer is an answer unto itself.
Profile Image for Dale Harcombe.
Author 14 books375 followers
May 3, 2018
This is another story told in two different time frames, which seems to be a popular trend these day. It starts in Vienna in 1938. Given the situation and the persecution of Jews, Romy and her parents are forced to flee. Romy and her family end up in Shanghai. There Romy becomes friends with the budding songstress Li. The other story starts in Melbourne in 2106 with Alexandra, granddaughter of Romy and her husband Wilhelm. When her grandfather dies Alexandra, wanting to know the truth but not wanting to upset her grandmother, decides to go to Shanghai to try and find answers to questions about her family. The jade pendant she wears is central to the story.
Conditions, deprivations and the horrors of World War 2 and its effect on people are effectively portrayed. There was a lot about Shanghai and events that went on there that I had no idea about, before reading this book. The sights, sounds and smells of Shanghai are vividly captured. There was a lot of emphasis on the food of the area too.
The story had all the ingredients of a compelling historical read with a mystery at its heart and romance as well. I went into this book expecting to love it. And yet…. This is where I am finding this review hard to write, I found at times the descriptions of place, vivid as they were, made it feel like I was reading a travelogue. And I always felt I was standing on the sidelines watching the characters rather than being involved with them. I can’t put my finger on why this occurred. It may be not be the book’s fault, as much as my own frame of mind at the time. I ended up putting it aside and reading two other books in the meantime before coming back to it.
I am glad I read it and thanks Allen&Unwin for my ARC to read and review. Although there is a lot to recommend it and I found it interesting in many ways, I never quite found it to be the engrossing read I expected. As I said, it could be just me at the moment, so the best idea is read it yourself because I suspect this book is one a lot of people are going to absolutely love.
Profile Image for DJ Sakata.
3,121 reviews1,765 followers
April 13, 2020
Favorite Quotes:

Alexandra spent most of her time with men on the trading desks, who walked around the office with their jaws clenched, veins pulsing at their temples. They smelled of adrenaline, expensive aftershave, and fear.

Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart.

My Review:

This beautifully written and masterfully crafted book turned me inside out and took my breath away. The writing was elegant, lavishly detailed, evocative, and a feast for the senses with frequent tantalizing descriptions of exotic locales, and delicious foods and spices that kept my hunger on edge and eventually devastated my dieting efforts.

The premise and storylines were a fascinating combination of fact and fiction. Ms. Manning’s prose was eloquent and well-textured, complex and multi-layered, thoughtfully observant, and haunting. Her tender touches and emotive insights often stung my eyes and burned my throat. I have never been to Shanghai and had no idea of the unusual population and history or that it had become somewhat of a haven for stateless refugees, an unusual issue and term I was also unfamiliar with.

The characters were compelling and endearing, and their precarious and tenuous positions often left them a heartbeat away from exposure; I felt their tension and reveled in their successes and joys. Their profound experiences were intensely moving and will definitely resonate within me for quite some time.
Profile Image for Paul Lockman.
246 reviews6 followers
July 9, 2018
Kirsty Manning has written an interesting book of historical fiction and there is a lot to like about it. I really enjoyed when we were in Shanghai at the beginning of WWII as I hadn’t read anything about that city at that time. I can’t quite put my finger on exactly why I wasn’t as engrossed with this book as most other people are, I almost feel mean only giving it 3 stars. I just felt a little detached from the characters and the story and I also felt that we needed more time in one particular era rather than just 4 or 5 pages in Shanghai, 5 pages in Melbourne, back to Shanghai for another 6 or 7 pages and so on. That definitely didn’t work for me. Anyhow please read other people’s rave reviews about this book as I am definitely in the minority. If you like historical fiction there is a very good chance you’ll like The Jade Lily. I did like it enough to say I would read another of Kirsty Manning’s books.
Profile Image for Marianne.
3,676 reviews257 followers
May 15, 2018
The Jade Lily is the second novel by Australian author, Kirsty Manning. Alexandra Laird had rushed home from London to be with her grandparents in Melbourne. Opa was dying, and she needed to be with him in his last hours, and to be there for Oma. Her husband’s imminent death brought to mind all the memories that Romy Cohen (nee Bernfeld) had been suppressing. Shanghai, and their years there as Jewish refugees loomed large in her thoughts.

Once Wilhelm has passed, and the proper Jewish mourning rites observed, Romy urges Alexandra to go back to work. Her job as a commodities trader gives her the opportunity to transfer to Shanghai, and she hopes she can use her free time to track down her mother’s family. Alexandra had already known as a young orphan that her mother, Sophia Shu was Chinese, and had been brought to Australia by Romy. Now, with their grief still raw, is hardly the time to ask her Oma about it, so Alexandra makes her own enquiries. And tries not to get too distracted by Zhang, the charming garden designer sharing her building.

Manning tells her story using a split narrative: Romy’s story begins with her family’s escape from Vienna; Alexandra’s narrative is set in 2016. These are supplemented with letters and diary entries. Manning’s characters are multi-faceted and, mostly, appealing, although sometimes their behavior is disappointing or puzzling. Certainly, the most charming character of all is the city of Shanghai itself. Manning’s evocative descriptions will fill the reader’s imagination with the sights, sounds and smells of the place, the food and the people.

The depth of Manning’s research is apparent on every page, and she kindly lists some resources for those readers who are bound to want to know more about the Jewish refugees accepted by Shanghai during World War Two, about the Japanese occupation, and about Traditional Chinese Medicine. She captures the era well, and the mystery of Sophia’s origins will keep readers captivated, even if the reason for the secrecy is less than convincing. Enthralling historical fiction.
With thanks to Allen&Unwin for this copy to read and review.
Profile Image for Andrea.
872 reviews30 followers
July 2, 2018
Kirsty Manning has written a meticulously researched and sumptuously detailed story about an aspect of WWII that - like me - many readers might not be aware of.

The Bernfelds are an Austrian Jewish family that suffers loss during the atrocities of Kristallnacht, but is able to escape to Shanghai before the war really takes hold. There, they initially live in relative comfort in the French Concession, and teenage daughter Romy embraces her new Chinese life and friends. She feels lucky. But as the war begins to make an impact, and the Japanese occupation of Shanghai becomes more entrenched, Romy can't help but feel that their luck is running out.

Decades later, facing a relationship breakdown and the death of her beloved grandfather, Alexandra takes a work posting in Shanghai for a change of scenery. She has an idea that while she is there she may be able to research the history of her adopted mother's family, without having to cause her grandmother Romy any further pain at this difficult time. Alexandra is enthralled with the city, and is also quite keen on her new neighbour and guide, Zhang.

They meandered back out into the shady streets of the former French Concession, past the hawkers selling balls of wool, plastic toys and newspapers on grey tarpaulins laid out on the footpath outside elegant boutiques with restored Art Deco facades. They passed through a series of birdcages dangling from the low bough of a plane tree, parrots squawking within, and past food stalls where people were queuing for dumplings, soups and fluffy white rice buns.

Alexandra makes good progress with her research, and the mystery of how her mother came to be adopted by Romy will generally satisfy readers, even though some elements are a bit transparent.

Personally, I was happy with how the story unfolded, mainly because the author was able to transport me to 1940s Shanghai and hold me there. Throughout the book I felt far more involved in Romy's story than in Alexandra's, but I don't think one would have worked so well without the other. There is so much in this story that I can well imagine re-reading it one day.

With thanks to Allen & Unwin for an uncorrected proof to read and review.

Profile Image for Faith.
1,991 reviews584 followers
May 24, 2019
I’ve read a lot of Holocaust books, so I appreciated the fact that this one had a setting that was new to me. In 1939, what’s left of the Jewish Bernfeld family is forced to flee from Austria to Shanghai, where most of the book is set. One son has been killed and the other has been sent to a concentration camp, but the teenaged Romy and her parents are able to establish a new home in Shanghai. They form friendships there with the orphaned Nina, the Ho family and various aid workers. Romy has a special friendship with the vivacious Li Ho and she also begins to learn Chinese medicine from Li’s father.

The book is told in alternating chapters describing life in Shanghai during the war and chapters from the point of view of Romy’s granddaughter, Alexandra, a currency trader. Romy and her husband Wilhelm adopted a Chinese girl, Sophia, and wound up in Melbourne. Sophia and her husband died, leaving their daughter Alexandra to be raised by her grandparents, but she always wanted to know more about her mother’s life in China. The Alexandra chapters deal with her search for information. Unfortunately, I wasn’t at all interested in Alexandra’s quest. It consisted of going from place to place asking questions, while she acquired a new boyfriend and stumbled on some amazing coincidences.

I was really interested in the story of Jews in Shanghai during the war and what happened to the Bernfeld’s and their friends after the Japanese took over Shanghai. I was also interested in the story of Romy, Wilhelm and Nina in Australia. However, the Alexandra chapters completely disrupted the flow of the story that did interest me and also added about 100 unnecessary pages to the book. Even though I skimmed those chapters, they lessened my enjoyment of the book. I’d be willing to read more by this author, but I hope she abandons the dual time period trope. I’ve rounded my 3.5 star rating up to 4 stars.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
Profile Image for Theresa Smith.
Author 5 books198 followers
May 2, 2018
The Jade Lily is Australian author Kirsty Manning’s second novel, but it is my first experience of her talent. I’ve read a lot of WWII fiction but my choices have been predominately set in Europe. Even though I have studied WWII history, my knowledge of the war in the Pacific is still more limited than what I know of Europe, so reading this novel set in Shanghai over the war years was an enlightening experience. I had no idea, for example, that Shanghai had opened its borders to Jewish refugees prior to 1940. They didn’t even need a visa. The cultural history documented within this novel is incredible, providing an eye opening atmospheric journey that is second to none. Shanghai must have been one of the most multi-cultural cities in the world at that point in time.



Kirsty has taken a period of time in history and carved her story into a setting that is quite significant in Jewish history. One thing that was so apparent to me while reading The Jade Lily was the absolute extent of human suffering throughout WWII on a global scale. Stories like this are grounding, they reinforce the importance of humanity uniting and persevering in the pledge for peace. There is a scene towards the end of The Jade Lily where the US are bombing the Jewish ghetto and everyone bands together to dig people out and provide assistance: Jewish, Chinese, the Japanese soldiers; everyone is united with a single purpose and that shining example of humanity in action brought me to tears. Within such devastation, hope exists.

“Everywhere she looked, Chinese, Jewish and Japanese people were working frantically together to free or resuscitate victims.”

I really feel Kirsty provided a balanced account of the occupation of Shanghai demonstrating on many occasions how the Japanese soldiers were not all brutal; some were, but some were understanding and sympathetic, a cross section that is not dissimilar to the rest of the population. The authenticity of this representation was something I appreciated immensely. Sometimes, good people are forced to do bad things to survive. Shades of grey permeate so many areas for so many people and in times of war the rules are constantly shifting. Kirsty demonstrated this with precision for all of her characters and this human fallibility assures this novel has a presence in my list of top WWII fiction titles.



Both storylines in each era were equally as engaging, but their close link ensured that you never felt as though you were reading two separate stories, a juggle that is ever present for writers of dual timelines. Shanghai in the WWII era was just as vibrant on the page as present day Shanghai and I loved how Alexandra visited places and noted the changes for her grandmother. There is a lot about Chinese medicine in this story and I personally found all of it fascinating. It’s a type of medicine I have dabbled with in terms of treatment and I was keenly interested in the scope and integrity of it from a Chinese perspective. Themes of love and honour were woven through the narrative, the endurance of family bonds and strong friendships, of protecting your loved ones even if it compromises your integrity. I loved so much about this novel, I read late into the night past midnight even though I had to go to work the next day because I couldn’t bear to put it down. It’s definitely a top read for me, a highlight of my reading year so far.

“To live, when those you love are dead, is a cruel, bitter luck.”



Thanks is extended to Allen and Unwin for providing me with a copy of The Jade Lily for review.
Profile Image for Robert Sheard.
Author 5 books311 followers
June 26, 2019
This may even be a 5-star read for me. I'll have to sit on it a little while. This book is so emotionally powerful, I was completely sucked in. It also had a tremendous string of mysteries and twists, yet Manning plays them all masterfully. Every time I had something "figured out," she'd prove me wrong, in a delightfully shocking way. Thoroughly enjoyed this one.
Profile Image for Laura • lauralovestoread.
1,433 reviews260 followers
May 29, 2019
“𝙹𝚊𝚍𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚖𝚊𝚐𝚒𝚌—𝚋𝚘𝚝𝚑 𝚢𝚒𝚗 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚢𝚊𝚗𝚐. 𝙸𝚝’𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚛𝚐𝚢 𝚒𝚗 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐. 𝙰𝚝 𝚒𝚝𝚜 𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚋𝚊𝚜𝚒𝚌, 𝚐𝚘𝚘𝚍 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚕. 𝚆𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚝𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚜𝚎 𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚛𝚐𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚞𝚜. 𝚆𝚎 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚐𝚎𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚌𝚑𝚘𝚘𝚜𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚌𝚑 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚠𝚎 𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎.”

What a beautiful story! I just finished reading The Song of the Jade Lily, and it deserves all the stars from me because it pulled the emotion from me, and taught me something new about history which is one of the reasons I’m such a big fan of Historical Fiction.

In this novel, dual timelines tell the story of friendship, love, family, and war.

1939 Shanghai. Two friends, Romy, a Jewish refugee, and Li, a local Chinese girl. I fell in love with the descriptions of the food, the smells, the culture and the glamour that Shanghai offered. Even during wartime, I saw a side of Shanghai that I had never seen before.

2016 Australia. Alexandra has returned to be with her ailing grandfather, and as he is dying, it is her grandmother’s wish that the truth will be revealed to her about the family mysteries that are deeply woven and hidden. Alexandra searches for the story behind her mother’s lineage and as she searches, she starts to mend her broken heart.

*Thank you to @tlcbooktours and William Morrow Books for this complimentary book. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Mish.
222 reviews113 followers
May 29, 2018
I’ve read many novels based on WW2 but nothing from the perspective of Shanghai China. It was definitely eye opener for me. Generous and welcoming people who saved so many lives by opening their doors and hearts to European refugees. And for Romy and her family, seeing this country for the first time, so vastly different from their home in Vienna was both thrilling and scaring. I loved reading about their customs and spiritual beliefs - the Yin Yang and sayings to bring them good fortune and safety – and how Romy and her parents embraced everything about this place. The exotic delicious foods, the rich fragrant smell of the flowers and herbs used in the natural medicine, is so prominent in this book and beautifully details – made your senses run wild.

While I enjoyed seeing Romy settle in her new country and the friendships she made, I initially thought the plot was traveling at a reasonably gentle pace at the beginning and I felt safe for the characters. But don’t be fooled by this false calmness and security. When the brutally of war really hits, Kirsty Manning doesn’t hold back. It’s so realistically captured, powerful, sudden, you are left gasping for breath. The pace was so fast there was no time to grieve or process what just transpired, only a sense of urgency to save oneself and flee!

The only negative thing I’d say about this novel – and it’s only minor one - is that I couldn’t quite get my bearings around Shanghai; with its different quarter of occupancy and the distance between them. A map would’ve come in handy at the beginning of the book.

Otherwise I loved The Jade Lily. It’s a rich, awe-inspiring story about loyalty, bravery, and about heartbreaking sacrifices to save those you love.


Thanks to Allen and Unwin for my review copy

Profile Image for Kathryn.
849 reviews
July 6, 2018
Thanks to Allen & Unwin for the ARC copy of this that was sent to me.

Unfortunately I struggled with this one. It took me almost a month to read - I picked it up, put it down, and reluctantly picked it back up again.

I’m not really sure what the problem was - the story was written in 2 periods, the WWII period and present day, going back to look at what happened to the grandmother of the present day period during the war period when she was a young woman. I normally like those dual timeline stories, but it didn’t work for me this time.

I’m not sure whether it was perhaps because I found it hard to get a handle on some of the characters and maybe found it difficult to relate to them. The grandmother character, Romy, was Austrian, moved to Shanghai as a refugee and then moved to Australia as a refugee again after the war but had adopted a lot of Asian customs and traditions during her time in Shanghai. But this confused me a little initially - I had to keep reminding myself what nationality she was and then had to work out why she was using Asian medicine, food etc when she was Austrian!

I’m still glad I persevered and read it, because it did improve toward the end, but it was hard work to get there. But perhaps it was just a case of wrong book, wrong time for me!
Profile Image for Katie.
112 reviews3 followers
May 3, 2019
This book reminded me why I can be picky about historical fiction. The story of Jewish refugees in Shanghai during World War II was new to me, but ultimately I would have preferred to learn about it through a factual non-fiction book. This story felt exploitative. The plot twists were manipulative and disappointing, the violence was excessive even for a book taking place during World War II in a city with a lot of turmoil. One moment in particular was particularly horrific and egregious and did nothing to advance the story. As such, the violence felt almost pornographic. The book was also easily 100 pages too long. The author got very into descriptive detail, specifically smells and flavors. It got to a point where I was pretty damn tired of hearing about how cardamom smelled and how soft the dumplings were and just wanted the story to keep moving. It didn't, so it got frustrating. Especially when things finally were revealed and it was disappointing and left me feeling tricked and jilted because it didn't feel remotely realistic. I can see why people like it and it is probably a book some people will love, it was just NOT for me. Big ol' meh.
Profile Image for Marilyn (trying to catch up).
923 reviews329 followers
July 10, 2019
The Song of the Jade Lily: A Novel by Kirsty Manning was a beautiful book about friendship, family, love and loss. It addressed courage and survival during such a vile period in the history of mankind. It was well written and drew me in from the start. I did not know a lot about the history of Shanghai during World War II so this book was quite informative for me as well.

The Song of the Jade Lily alternated between two time periods, Austria and Shanghai during World War II and Melbourne, Australia in 2016. It began in Vienna, Austria in 1938, as the Nazis showed their presence and invaded Austria. The Nazi's cruelty was shown immediately as Romy Bernfeld, a twelve year old Jewish girl along with her parents and two older brothers, were returning from the British consulate, three days after Kristallnacht (the night of the broken glass). They had gone to seek assistance to leave Austria but were told that there was a very long waiting list to obtain visas to England and that they should try seeking passage to Shanghai. Her father was not in agreement with that suggestion. On their way home, Romy's older brother, Benjamin, was shot by a classmate who was now a soldier, for trying to help Herr Bloch, the owner of the piano shop, as he was dragged from his shop and pushed down on the ground. The vision of Benjamin being shot remained in Romy's memory for her whole life. Daniel, Romy's other brother, was pushed into a truck and driven away. Later the family learned that he had been transported to Dachau, a concentration camp. Romy's parents knew that they had no choice. They had to escape Austria. It was not a safe place to be if you were Jewish. With heavy hearts, they secured passage to Shanghai, one of the only places that Jewish refugees were being accepted. The story followed Romy and her parents life in Shanghai during World War II and Romy's life in Melbourne, Australia in 2016.

On the ship to Shanghai, Romy befriended Nina, a young Jewish girl traveling with her pregnant mother. Sadly, Nina's mother and her baby died in childbirth aboard the ship. Nina's and Romy's lives followed very different paths once they arrived in Shanghai. Romy's parents wanted Nina to live with them but Nina was ushered off to Heime in Hongkew to boardinghouses set up by the International Committee for Jewish Refugees where she would live by her uncle, but not with her uncle. On the other hand, Romy and her parents secured rooms at the plush Cathay Hotel and later an apartment in the Frenchtown thanks to a former patient of her father's. Romy's father, a doctor, began to work at the Shanghai Jewish Hospital. Nina and Romy remained close friends and saw each other as often as they were allowed. Romy also became close friends with the Ho family who lived in her apartment complex. She and Li Ho, Li's brother Jian, Dr. Ho, Li's father and Mei, Romy's housekeeper would all become very special people in Romy's life.

In Melbourne, Australia, in 2016, Romy's granddaughter, Alexandra, was summoned home from London where she lived and worked, because her Opa (grandfather) was dying. Alexandra had been brought up by her grandparents (Oma and Opa), Romy and Wilhelm, because her parents had been killed in a tragic automobile accident. Sophia, Romy's and Wilhelm's only daughter had been adopted from China. With her parent's deaths, Alexandra had been brought up by her Oma and Opa in Australia. Returning to Melbourne, to spend as much time with her Opa before he passed, Alexandra became curious about her mother's adoption. She had recently been offered a new job in Shanghai and although reluctant to leave her Oma Romy alone after her Opa's death, she went to Shanghai for her new job and to try and learn about her mother's adoption. As the story alternates between past and present, many secrets are revealed.

Kirsty Manning did an excellent job of researching this book. Her descriptions of the places in Shanghai allowed for visual accuracy and the way she described the foods and smells were brilliant. She was able to portray the bonds of friendship, love and family throughout this book. This was a period of Jewish history during World War II that I had little prior knowledge of. I was engaged from beginning to end and did not want it to end. I was truly captivated. I highly recommend The Song of the Jade Lily.
Profile Image for Certified Book Addicts.
588 reviews21 followers
May 12, 2018
The Jade Lily is Australian author Kirsty Manning's second historical fiction book. It's the first book I have read by Kirsty and I absolutely adored it from the first page! A dual timeline, it alternates between the past and the present in the third person. Set from 1939 onward in both Vienna and Shangahi, I found myself becoming fascinated with both countries, especially Shanghai. I fell in love with Shanghai because of the time and effort Kirsty put into researching this fascinating city. I felt like I was walking along the streets of coastal China as she described the sights and sounds of ordinary everyday people trying to deal with the unpredictability of war. Kirsty's research into the second world war was also both informative and interesting as she weaved facts into her story line.

The main protagonist is Romy, escaping Vienna with her Jewish family after a tragedy during Kristallnacht, The Night of Broken Glass. Incorporating fact into fiction, the borders are closed in all countries but China, forcing the family relocate to Shanghai. Here begins Romy's new life, a life that I could barely fathom in this day and age. I was glued to the pages as I experienced the few highs and many lows during World War II. With the lows, my heart broke for Romy and the people in her life many times over. Fast forward to 2016 and Alexandra, the grand daughter of the elderly Romy, is trying to unravel family secrets that began during the war.

With themes of war, family, love, friendship and sacrifice this is a wonderful way to immerse yourself into a little known aspect of history.
Profile Image for Carolyn.
306 reviews
February 20, 2018
The Jade Lily is a brand new exciting, exotic novel set in Shanghai, China.

The story starts in Vienna then goes to the Brenner Pass in Austria.

It's told over two different time-zones in Shanghai and Melbourne.

Find out the secrets held by two separate families over generations.

What is the Jade Lily and it's meaning and what does it reveal?

Hear about the area famous for its jade carvings.

Will Alexandra be able to find her true past and heritage?

Is all to be revealed from just a photograph and a visit to a Shanghai Refugees Museum?

Walk through spice shops filled with the scent of star anise. Sip on rosehip or chrysanthemum tea and devour dumplings ~ significant to prosperity in Chinese New Year.

Stroll through Asian markets decorated with red lanterns.

Find out what makes Chinese gardens so spiritual. Learn about karma, Yin and Yang and Chinese calligraphy, poetry and about what some of the symbols in Chinese mean.

Chinese culture and cuisine play an important part in this brand new novel by Kirsty Manning.

Make sure you have a lychee and ginger martini handy!

Also, enjoy music, dance and theatre of the Jazz Age.

Thank you so much to Kirsty Manning and the publishers, Allen and Unwin for an early uncorrected proof.
Profile Image for Amy.
1,045 reviews363 followers
September 8, 2019
Just when you think you have encountered every possible variation and slant to the WWII literature, out comes Song of the Jade Lily. Did you know that Jews escaped to Shanghai during the war? That Jews were alongside Chinese under Japanese control?

This book combines the locales of Vienna, Shanghai, and Australia (one month too late!) In it, there is a dual storyline, and an adopted granddaughter of Asian/Chinese descent, who seeks to understand the secrets her grandparents hold, following her grandfathers death.

The older storyline followed Romy Bernard Cohen, who as a young girl, witnesses violence and loss, and escapes to Shanghai with her parents. There she meets the Ho's, a family with two children, and she and Li become best friends. Her current best friend Nina in 2016 is also embedded in the past - in fact they arrived on the same ship to Shanghai. This is Romy, and Willheim's Story. And Nina, and Li, and Jian.

I enjoyed the story well enough, but I found the writing simplistic, and the characters underdeveloped. As usual, the older story in the dual timeline was far more compelling - the history embedded within, more so than the actual plot itself. And as always, entwined in the whole thing, is love and loss, and what one risks to protect.
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