A review of ‘The Shanghai Circle’ by a member of the Online Book Club on the 11th of February 2024
4 out of 5 stars
‘The Shanghai Circle’ by Tony Henderson deals with pre-World War II Shanghai, where the imminent Japanese invasion and rise of communism threaten the city. The story revolves around the lives of people before and amidst the war, wherein each character tries to fulfill their dreams and responsibilities that are weighed down on their shoulders by overcoming the obstacles along the way. This book tells the tale of war, vengeance, ambitions in life, and friendship amidst dire situations. It also introduces us to the dark side of Shanghai, dealing with drugs, addiction, growing brothels, and prostitution.
The storytelling was great, with a descriptive writing style that captivated me from the start. It was a page-turner, and I devoured it in one sitting. The pacing was great. The weather, topography, and landscape are so beautifully described that I could not resist the desire to visit. The author describes the hills as “cooler and quieter, peaceful amidst the chaos of the world. The harbor in Hong Kong had a grandeur that took anyone’s breath away. Leaves ripped from the trees and swirled around them, and branches hissed and cracked.”
The author wrote the story with vivid words, imagery, and metaphors, providing us with a glimpse of the lives the characters were living. To quote: “The constant pandemonium of the people, the clattering of the rickshaws on the cobbled roads, the shouts of the hawkers selling their wares on the pavement, and the cries of the coolies carrying their loads on long bamboo poles, shouting at the pedestrians as they warned them of their approach. The aroma of spices mixed with the smell of meat, rice, and noodles being prepared and sold on the cooked food stalls around her.”
The characters were bold, independent, ambitious, and fierce. As a reader, I was able to relate to them and empathize with them. Their back stories provided another chance for bonding. They were not the ‘Perfect kind of hero’; they made mistakes, had regrets, and lived with the consequences of their choices. The character of Joseph—cold, ruthless, distant, showing a lack of emotion in front of his father—was at complete odds with the character of Davina—bold, independent, fierce, and loved by her father. The character of Davina was very promising, but we could see less of her in the first 200 pages. For Joseph, I, as a reader, hoped he would come out of his father’s shadow and not fall into his footsteps, though there was no real development except his improved relationship with his father. I admired Joseph’s father’s attempts to rebuild relationships and atone for his sins, and for all he did, we could forgive him. The redemption arc for Joseph’s father’s character made him more deeply rooted in us.
The author showed a stark contrast between two characters, Thomas and James. Both had the same beginning and resources, but the latter fell prey to alcohol, nightlife, and drug addiction and met his downfall. The character of James became resentful, envious, and frustrated, and he took out his frustration in the wrong way. To quote, “These women had to endure his anger as they lay there staring over his shoulder at the ceiling as he took out his frustration on their bodies.” Thomas, on the other hand, became empathetic, complacent, fell in love, worked as a volunteer, and lived a righteous life.
The only thing I did not like about the book was the mention of animal abuse and unnecessary sexual content, which was not needed in some of the situations, but it appears that the author included it to increase the spice in the book. Some scenes were not complementary to the story and only dragged out the book. Animal abuse was a triggering factor for me, and I despised it. To quote one of the scenes: “Two men carried a tiny cage into the room. A monkey slumped inside, its mouth taped shut. The men crawled underneath the main table, where straps had been fitted under the hole. The creature was soon strapped tightly in the harness, with only its head visible. It moved its head a little, its eyes opening and closing. A man brought a bowl of steaming water to the table. While one man held the tiny head still, the other carefully shaved the hair off the scalp. Using a little hammer, the waiter cracked the skull and sliced a section off with a sharp knife.”
There were no grammatical errors in the book and it was amazingly edited. I enjoyed the journey I took through cultures, cities, and people. The author did a fabulous job of making us witnesses, though this book also broke my heart. I was saddened by the characters’ sadness. It took me some time to process the words and accept the fate that the author decided for our characters. I do not wish for a different ending; the author ended it beautifully in a full circle.
I would rate this book 4 out of 5 stars due to excessive erotic content which I personally didn’t like. I just want to tell the author that I loved this story of war, where bloodshed is our prime thought, but what about the dread in people’s lives—the dread that they can be next? The people who leave their lives, memories, and childhood home behind—what’s left of those people is a living body with a dead soul.