Sea of Poppies

    Sea of Poppies is really different from anything else I have read. It takes place during the Opium Wars in India and China. The story encompasses multiple characters, initially following them in their natural settings and eventually weaving their stories into one well written narrative that takes place aboard the the Ibis. The character developemnt is phenomenal. Every time I finish one character's passage I decide I must continue reading until it comes back to them to find out what happens next. Yet, as I read on in the story of a parrallel character I am engrossed with them. I don't know if those last sentences make the sense I was intending them to, but basically every single night I have had a difficult time putting this thing away and going to sleep.

My only complaint is also a positive. There is a lot of native lanaguage used, especially in the dialogue. It is possible to basically ignore those words and never learn their exact meaning and still fully understand the story. There is a bit of a glossary in the back but as I tend to read at night when I am tired I chose the easier approach of ignorance. It seemed when I did go to the effort and look up something it wasn't one of the ones listed in the glossary anyway. Although a little confusing early on in the novel once I was fully immersed in the story it didn't make me feel like I was missing anything. This language though tedious to some readers helps make the characters and the story more real.

I have to throw in a thank you to Chris here. He picked it out all on his own for a gift for me. Thanks Chris! When you read it, you'll be thanking him too. An excellent book well worth the price of hard cover. And it's pretty. (Did you notice the cover options??? I want them both)