Where I share my love of books with reviews, features, giveaways and memes. Family and needlepoint are thrown in from time to time.

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Song of the Silk Road by Mingmei Yip (Book Review and Giveaway!)

Title: Song of the Silk Road
Author: Mingmei Yip
Publisher: Kensington Publishing

As a girl growing up in Hong Kong, Lily Lin was captivated by photographs of the desert -- its long, lonely vistas and shifting sand dunes.  Now living in New York, Lily is struggling to finish her graduate degree when she receives an astonishing offer.  An aunt she never knew existed will pay Lily a huge sum to travel across China's desolate Taklamakan Desert -- and carry out a series of tasks along the way.

Intrigued, Lily accepts.  Her assignments range from the dangerous to the bizarre.  Lily must seduce a monk.  She must scrape a piece of clay from the famous Terracotta Warriors, and climb the Mountains of Heaven to gather a rare herb. At Xian, her first stop, Lily meets Alex, a young American with whoms she forms a powerful connection.  And soon, she faces revelations that will redefine her past, her destiny, and the shocking truth behind her aunt's motivations.

Powerful and eloquent, Song of the Silk Road is a captivating story of self-discovery, resonant with the mysteries of its haunting, exotic landscape.

My thoughts: I don't think that I have read a book set in China before.  I really liked the story line as it was peppered with descriptions of beautiful locations and much cultural history. It moved along pretty quickly, changing locales and "tasks" and keeping me interested in to where Lily would have to go next and who she might meet along the way.  There were many colorful characters from monks to fortune tellers to other travelers. 

After starting it, I was not readily invested in the character of Lily Lin.  She seemed very shallow and self-centered and sometimes the dialogue seemed a little stilted. I think that Lily comes full circle though and even though the ending contained an unforeseen twist, it had a very satisfactory conclusion.

Yip has two previous novels out, Peach Blossom Pavilion and Petals from the Sky that I think I will adding to my TBR list. 



~I received a complimentary copy of this book from Meryl L. Moss Media in exchange for my review.~


Meryl L. Moss also is letting me give away a copy of Song of the Silk Road to one of my readers!  This giveaway is open to US/Canada only.  It will end at midnight CST on April 27.

Mandatory Entry:  Just leave a comment with your email address.

Additional Entries: Follow my blog - just tell me how you do it - (up to 2 ways, good for 2 entries)
Twitter - leave me the link
Blog post - leave me the link

A total of five entries are available - please leave each entry in a separate comment.



Song of the Silk Road
Publisher/Publication Date: Kensington, April 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-7582-4182-5
356 pages

96 comments:

Natalie W said...

When I saw this I HAD to enter! Love her books
Nataliew2@gmail.com
Thanks!

Natalie W said...

I'm a GF follower
Also following on Network blogs on Facebook
Nataliew2@gmail.com

Natalie W said...

Tweeted
http://twitter.com/nataliew2/status/55732320275136513

Charleydog said...

Such a beautiful title for a book.

pboylecharley(AT)hotmail(DOT)com

PoCoKat said...

Sounds great! Please enter me!

pocokat AT gmail DOT com

PoCoKat said...

Follow on GFC

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PoCoKat said...

Follow on Networked Blogs

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bermudaonion said...

Was the book translated? Sometimes that makes dialogue seem stilted.

Unknown said...

Thanks for the giveaway!

susanna dot pyatt at student dot rcsnc dot org

Unknown said...

I'm a new GFC follower.

Unknown said...

Tweet:
http://twitter.com/#!/SusieBookworm/status/55737927736623104

holdenj said...

I think it sounds good, the cultural aspect and the travelling across the desert.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

holdenj said...

I am a GFC follower.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

holdenj said...

I subscribe via google reader.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

Julie said...

I just reviewed this one as well; I agree about the stilted language, but other parts simply pulled me in! No need to enter me for the giveaway! :)

Emfeist said...

thanks fot the chance! thomas.ftr@gmail.com

Jen B. said...

I really want to read this. The concept is so interesting.
jepebATverizonDOTnet

Katie said...

thank you!

katie_tp(at)yahoo(dot)com

Katie said...

i am a gfc follower

katie_tp(at)yahoo(dot)com

Martha Lawson said...

Wow! Sounds really good. Enter me please!

Old follower on gfc

mlawson17 at hotmail dot com

debbie said...

I am a email subscriber.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

debbie said...

I am a gfc follower.
debbie
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

Margie said...

Thanks for the giveaway. I'd love to read this book.
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

email subscriber
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

blog follower via GFC
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Mona said...

I am fascinated by world fiction b/c it gives me a glimpse into another culture.

monagarg@yahoo.com

Mona said...

GFC follower(MonaG)

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Mona said...

Tweet

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clenna said...

I'd love to win this book. It sounds like one I would really enjoy.

clenna at aol dot com

clenna said...

I follow via google.

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clenna said...

I follow via email

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Taffy said...

This book sounds very interesting! THANKS for the giveaway.
I follow both ways!


taffy(dot)lovell@gmail.com

karenk said...

thanks for the opportunity to read this fabulous novel :)

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

Pamela Keener said...

I'd love to win this giveaway.
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Pamela Keener said...

I follow your blog via GFC & Google Reader.
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Benita said...

I would love to read this book.

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Benita said...

Email subscriber.

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Marjorie/cenya2 said...

This book has a great storyline and I would love to read it.

cenya2 at hotmail dot com

Marjorie/cenya2 said...

I follow by google reader under cenya2.

cenya2 at hotmail dot com

Marjorie/cenya2 said...

I subscribe by email.

cenya2 at hotmail dot com

Jen B. said...

Yesterday I forgot to say GFC follower.
jepebATverizonDOTnet

rubynreba said...

I've heard this is very good. Thanks for the giveaway.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

rubynreba said...

GFC Follower
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

Margie said...

Thanks for the giveaway. This book looks interesting.
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

blog follower via GFC
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Susan said...

I read Petals from the Sky when the book discussion group at my library chose it last year. I'd like to try another book by this author.
sdryburgh@hotmail.com

Susan said...

I subscribe via Google reader.
sdryburgh@hotmail.com

Jessica ( frellathon ) said...

This one sounded great when I first read about it and I love the cover.

frellathon(at)gmail(dot)com

Katrina said...

I would love to win a copy.
ykatrina at hotmail dot com

slb3334 said...

Looks like a good book.

slb3334@gmail.com

Deborah said...

I have been fascinated by the Silk Road since I first heard of it as a child - thank you for the chance to win this book. asthenight at gmail dot com

Deborah said...

I follow your blog with Google Friend Connect (Deborah).

Deborah said...

I'm following your blog with Networked Blogs (Deborah).

Nicole C. said...

I would love to read this book.

choateorama(at)gmail(dot)com

Nicole C. said...

I follow on gfc.

choateorama(at)gmail(dot)com

Erica G said...

Thanks!
cinderwhims at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

I have always had a fascination with the Silk Road and it's history, so I would love to read this more modern take on it. Please accept this as my mandatory entry. Thank you!

Aliya D.
aliyadaya(at)shaw(dot)ca

Anonymous said...

Entry No. 1 = I follow your blog via GFC under Swedish Mamas. Thank you!

Aliya D.
aliyadaya(at)shaw(dot)ca

Unknown said...

My Ex-Husband married a Chinese woman and now lives there. I've always been interested in the culture and scenery.

abstractrose at yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

I'm a follower.
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Desmond said...

Count me in!

dwarzel at hotmail.com

Sue said...

Looks great! Thanks for sharing.

s.mickelson at gmail dot com

skkorman said...

Sounds like a good read—please enter me to win!

skkorman AT bellsouth DOT net

janetfaye said...

I would like to read this book.

janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com

Anita Yancey said...

Sounds like an interesting book. Love to read it to see how it turns out. Please enter me. Thanks!

ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

Anita Yancey said...

Subscribe via email.

ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

Sandee61 said...

I'd like a chance at your giveaway for this book. I read and enjoyed Peach Blossom Pavilion. I'm an email subscriber to your blog.
Thank you for the entry.

Happy Easter...
Sandee61

Muzzley56@aol.com

Beth S. said...

I am a new follower.

beths0103 at yahoo dot com

Sakira said...

Thanks so much for this chance. I really, really want to read this book!!

Kris S
elfdrop AT gmail DOT com

Sakira said...

GFC Follower: Sakira

Kris S
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Sakira said...

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Sakira said...

Tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/SummersKris/status/61844443598307328


Kris S
elfdrop AT gmail DOT com

Sakira said...

Blogged: http://writekris.blogspot.com/2011/04/what-i-like-about-ninjas.html

Kris S
elfdrop AT gmail DOT com

Anonymous said...

I'd love to be entered in your draw. Thanks.
wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I follow your blog through Google Friend Connect.
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Anonymous said...

I follow your blog through Google Reader.
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Anonymous said...

I follow you on Twitter - @lemonslippers - and I tweeted!
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Harvee said...

Would love to win this book!

harvee44 at yahoo.com

Harvee said...

I am a follower with Google Friend Connect.

harvee44 at yahoo.com

lag123 said...

I have read a lot of good reviews on this book. Thanks for the giveaway!

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lag123 said...

I follow via GFC.

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lag123 said...

I follow via email also.

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Jenn S. said...

I have read several reviews of this book and they were all good. Would love to read it.

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Anonymous said...

I would like to read this book!

theyyyguy@yahoo.com

Debbie Kennedy said...

I would love to add this to my list of summer reading.
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susansmoaks said...

i would love to win
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christal couturier said...

Thank You
willdebbie97 atyahoo dot com

christal couturier said...

GFC follow (willdebbie)
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Networked blogs follower
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Renee G said...

Would love to read this one.
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AEKZ2 said...

I really want to read this.

annettekz2@yahoo.com

AEKZ2 said...

GFC follower

Nancye said...

Sounds like a great book! Thanks for the chance.

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Nancye said...

GFC Follower

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Nancye said...

I follow you on Twitter
@NancyeDavis

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Sand said...

This sounds like a great book!

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