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White Gardenia

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( 4,754 ratings, 345 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
White Gardenia by Belinda Alexandra is a captivating historical fiction novel that follows the journey of a young woman, beginning in Shanghai during the turmoil of World War II. Separated from her mother, the protagonist embarks on a quest across the globe, driven by hope and resilience, seeking family and survival amidst the backdrop of tumultuous historical change. Her path weaves through multiple countries, creating a tapestry of adventure, romance, and self-discovery.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're drawn to tales of family, resilience, and survival set against the backdrop of World War II and its aftermath. With vivid historical settings and a story that takes you from Russia to Shanghai and beyond, it offers a captivating exploration of love, identity, and the indomitable human spirit.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description
The beloved debut novel from one of Australia's foremost storytellers. Epic and passionate, White Gardenia will sweep you away ...

'Mama, Mama,' I said to myself, 'keep safe. You will survive, and I will survive, until we can find each other again.'

In a district of the city of Harbin, a haven for White Russian families since Russia's Communist revolution, Alina Kozlova must make a heartbreaking decision if her only child, Anya, is to survive the final days of World War II.

White Gardenia sweeps across cultures and continents, from the glamorous nightclubs of Shanghai to the harshness of Cold War Soviet Russia in the 1960s, from a desolate island in the Pacific Ocean to a new life in post-war Australia. Both mother and daughter must make sacrifices, but is the price too high? Most importantly of all, will they ever find each other again?

Rich in incident and historical detail, this is a compelling and beautifully written tale about yearning and forgiveness.

PRAISE FOR WHITE GARDENIA:

'Depicts vividly the powerful lifelong bond between mothers and daughters' - Paullina Simons

'Captivating' - Daily Telegraph

'A passionate and powerful family saga' - Australian Women's Weekly

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

White Gardenia is praised for its richly detailed settings and engaging storytelling, following a woman's journey from wartime China to post-war Australia. Readers appreciate its blend of historical context and personal drama, often finding themselves absorbed by its vivid descriptions and emotional depth. The character development, particularly in the protagonist, adds to the novel's allure, offering a captivating exploration of resilience and identity.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781460760055

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers (Australia) Pty Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 07 April 2021

Country: Australia

Imprint: HarperCollins Publishers (Australia) Pty Ltd

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 32.0mm

Width: 130.0mm

Height: 199.0mm

Weight: 335g

Pages: 496

About the Author

Belinda Alexandra has been published to wide acclaim in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Holland, Poland, Norway, Russia, Spain, Turkey, Hungary and the United States. She is the daughter of a Russian mother and an Australian father and has been an intrepid traveller since her youth. Her love of other cultures is matched by her passion for her home country, Australia, where she is a volunteer rescuer and carer for the NSW Wildlife Information Rescue and Education Service (WIRES). An animal lover, Belinda is also the patron of the World League for the Protection of Animals (Australia). Find out more at: www.belinda-alexandra.com Twitter: belinda_alexandra_author Instagram: belinda_alexandra_author Author photograph by Elizabeth Allnutt

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