Do You like book Daughter Of Fu-Manchu (2012)?
For some reason I have fallen into a recent binge of noir style mysteries: Sherlock Holmes, Cornell Woolrich and Sax Rohmer. There is a certain feel that is unique to the time periods 1890s-1950s.The problem with the Fu Machu novels is their racist overtones. They are written from the perspective of a British Empire centered culture. The books express the view that the "civilizing" white world is the only light in a world of mysterious and exotic savages.With that said, it doesn't mean the books should be abandoned and forgotten. Dr. Fu Manchu and his daughter Fah Lo Suee are unique characters despite their stereotype nuances. They portray an inner energy that make them truly malevolent villains. Unfortunately, the story is weak. It is told in long paragraphs of narrative, a characteristic of this type of literature, but poorly executed here. The story concerns Fah Lo Suee's plot to take control of the Si Fan, the global criminal organization formerly controlled by the long dead Fu Manchu. As events unfold, we learn that her father is alive and that he is not prepared to give up control just quite yet. Both heroes and villains do dumb things and coincidences pop up from time to time to move the plot along. This really bogs down the center of the book.Written in 1931, its final chapter is its best. Here we see the climax of the Si Fan civil war. It is understated and at first glance lacks a dramatic conclusion, but in the last chapter we see the strength of Fu Manchu and the hate/respect relationship between him and Nayland Smith of Scotland Yard. Rohmer even gives the venerable villain a positive motive. Fu Manchu began his rise to power on the hope of making China a better place. The final chapter is also prophetic. It predicts the next world war (implying that it was set in motion by Fah Lo Suee before Fu Manchu could stop her). It also summarizes the Western European fear that Asia will rise and united from Turkey to Japan to become the new center of world power.
—Stuart
wow! I found this one great! this, the fourth, came after a fourteen year gap, when Rohmer, apparently, like Doyle, wanted to be done with his most famous creation. If he returned grudgingly, it doesn't show. except, if you speculate, you could interpret certain strategies of this book in that light. whether or no. those methods really worked on me!the racism usually seems rote, the respect between the "racial enemies" always makes a good impression on me. the sexism in this one is painful, a few times, though. "During their short acquaintance Rima and Mrs. Petrie had established one of those rare feminine friendships which a man can welcome."what?? no idea whether Rohmer thinks stuff like that sells (which could be true, for all I know). or whether he just thinks stuff like that. still loved the book, to my surprise. :)
—Mumbler
Reviewed for Hearts on Fire Reviews “Daughter of Fu Manchu” ought to be utilized as a course in teaching writing, specifically, in teaching how to write an effective reader’s hook, and in how to maintain, escalate, and continue tension in enraptured readers. The initial pages contain an entire series of reader’s hooks, which is a very important tool in my perspective as a reader and as reviewer. I had rather the experience of a trout caught by multiple fishermen, in the sense that author Sax Rohmer leaves no escape from tension, from fear, thrills, action, nor adventure. In this particular entry in his beloved “Fu Manchu” series, Mr. Rohmer sounds the key of the Yellow Peril, of that great mad genius of the Far East, but sounds it gently and periodically. Here the danger-and the terror, the thrills, and the anxious ponderings-stem from a new but related threat: a lady of elusive heritage and ethnicity, known to the excavators of an abandoned and possibly cursed Egyptian tomb as Madame Ingomar-a lady who is actually far more dangerous than any could have perceived, for she is none other than the dreaded heiress to Dr. Fu Manchu-the daughter herself.I wish I could express better my total enjoyment of the Fu Manchu series. I mourn that Mr. Rohmer passed in 1959 (from a strain of Asian flu); what a joy if he were still alive and penning these wonderful novels! Such an excellent author; full praise to the publisher, Titan Books, for their foresight and continued good sense in bringing Mr. Rohmer to a new generation-and to the delight of us oldster fans!
—Mallory Heart
