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THE SHADOW IN THE SHADOW OF THE DRAGON Book 1 edition by FRANCIS LAVEAUX Literature Fiction eBooks

Download As PDF : THE SHADOW IN THE SHADOW OF THE DRAGON Book 1 edition by FRANCIS LAVEAUX Literature Fiction eBooks

THE SHADOW IN THE SHADOW OF THE DRAGON Book 1 edition by FRANCIS LAVEAUX Literature Fiction eBooks

It is January 1990 in Beijing, China, when young police officer Wang Jun arrives late for his shift at a busy cyclist intersection crossing in a major neighborhood. But the shift takes a bad turn when an older officer assisting him has a heart attack when pressing Wang to be tough on a cyclist. Later, in the day, Erwan Le Goff, a French news correspondent, is directed in a roundabout way through Beijing to a meeting with an old acquaintance, Cosmos, who has a favor to ask of Erwan. Erwan’s wife, Celeste, is anxious to have a fourth child, even if it is through a hidden adoption, perhaps like the unauthorized child Li Mei has just helped a young peasant woman give birth to. Yet, this is just months since the June Fourth Incident, when the Chinese government cracked down on student protests in Tiananmen Square and throughout the country, and the harsh shadow of the People’s Republic will begin to pervade into these lives when Wang and his girlfriend are arrested under false accusation and severe punishment in order to force Wang into an undercover plot. In many ways, there appears to be a major suspenseful or cautionary plot, but this is only book one of a trilogy which seems to focus more on the opening setup, in the hopes that the reader will be encouraged to continue on with the other two books of the story. However, this first book is a short read, which means the three books in the series would probably been better as a single novel. The writing style appears rushed by sections of conversation interspersed by omniscient perspective, yet at times, I felt lost in segments of small talk conversation. It was also confusing to read a tale set a quarter of a century ago in present tense verbiage and formatted in blog-style paragraphing. In the end, there is not enough depth or character empathy developed yet to allow this book to stand somewhat on its own, and the book’s stopping point gives only the barest of potential to encourage the reader to move on to the other books in the trilogy. This is basically a 2½ star beginning.


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THE SHADOW IN THE SHADOW OF THE DRAGON Book 1 edition by FRANCIS LAVEAUX Literature Fiction eBooks Reviews

"In China we are afraid, afraid of everything, not only afraid of the police, afraid of losing face, afraid of not meeting our obligations, afraid of not being Chinese enough. We are living in the shadow of the dragon!"
So says Xiao Yu, a young Chinese girl, in the wake of the Tiananmen Square massacre.
Written by an author who has clearly spent some time in the country, `The Shadow 1 ( In The Shadow Of The Dragon )' allows us a disturbing look behind the bamboo curtain, at the stark reality of life in a totalitarian state. The ordinary Chinese people are described as being naturally friendly, but are nervous, suspicious, afraid of the government. Here the mere association with a suspected `enemy of the state' can result in removal to a `correctional facility'. At times the story reads like something from Alexander Solzhenitsyn, and has the same power to shock and horrify. But `The Shadow' is all the more frightening because this is the political system which is in the process of establishing itself as the foremost economy on the planet.
I found Francis Laveaux's novel illuminating, fascinating and ultimately quite disturbing. This is a rough diamond of a book which carries a few pesky typos, but could make quite an impact if it were professionally edited and formatted.
This was a good read, if a disturbing one, as it highlights the political atmosphere and tyranny in China when so many were massacred under strict laws.

It is about its people, good and bad, and the terror so like other dictatorships throughout history. It is also about relationships and the choices they face.

I don't give spoilers but will say that this is well written and worth reading for those who enjoy this kind of book.
The Shadow by Francis Laveaux is part 1 of In The Shadow of the Dragon Series. It is a terrifying and yet fascinating dissection of life in China, immediately after the Tiananmen Square Massacre. The Shadow is the full force of the insidious Authority bent on weeding out those responsible for turning against the totalitarian state. The Chinese people are subjected to a state of constant fear, waiting for that dreaded knock on the door in the middle of the night so reminiscent of Nazi Germany. Francis is adept at conjuring up the feel of the Orient and its inscrutable ways, so unlike those in the West. I was reminded of Eric Van Lustbader on several occasions. Overall a pleasant read once I got used to the present tense.
I give Francis Laveaux’s novel FOUR STARS for educating his readers on the difficult subject of life in China.
It is January 1990 in Beijing, China, when young police officer Wang Jun arrives late for his shift at a busy cyclist intersection crossing in a major neighborhood. But the shift takes a bad turn when an older officer assisting him has a heart attack when pressing Wang to be tough on a cyclist. Later, in the day, Erwan Le Goff, a French news correspondent, is directed in a roundabout way through Beijing to a meeting with an old acquaintance, Cosmos, who has a favor to ask of Erwan. Erwan’s wife, Celeste, is anxious to have a fourth child, even if it is through a hidden adoption, perhaps like the unauthorized child Li Mei has just helped a young peasant woman give birth to. Yet, this is just months since the June Fourth Incident, when the Chinese government cracked down on student protests in Tiananmen Square and throughout the country, and the harsh shadow of the People’s Republic will begin to pervade into these lives when Wang and his girlfriend are arrested under false accusation and severe punishment in order to force Wang into an undercover plot. In many ways, there appears to be a major suspenseful or cautionary plot, but this is only book one of a trilogy which seems to focus more on the opening setup, in the hopes that the reader will be encouraged to continue on with the other two books of the story. However, this first book is a short read, which means the three books in the series would probably been better as a single novel. The writing style appears rushed by sections of conversation interspersed by omniscient perspective, yet at times, I felt lost in segments of small talk conversation. It was also confusing to read a tale set a quarter of a century ago in present tense verbiage and formatted in blog-style paragraphing. In the end, there is not enough depth or character empathy developed yet to allow this book to stand somewhat on its own, and the book’s stopping point gives only the barest of potential to encourage the reader to move on to the other books in the trilogy. This is basically a 2½ star beginning.