Review of The Secrets of the Sakur Girls
Posted: 06 Jul 2021, 21:51
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Secrets of the Sakur Girls" by Paul Callan.]
I picked this book because of my interest in Asian culture. Paul Callan’s The Secrets of the Sakura Girls is a historical romance and a murder mystery set in the mid-nineteenth century.
After a grueling sea trip and his wife’s unorthodox burial, Reverend Harry Gilmore and his son Rupert arrive in Singapore. As a single parent, the reverend worries about raising his nine-year-old in this exotic British settlement. Far from home, Aoki longs to return to her family in Japan. Sadly, poverty forced her father to sell her; now, Aoki works as a karayuki—or prostitute—in Singapore’s Sakura brothel. The reverend and Aoki’s accidental meetings ignite a romance between them. Yet, Rev. Gilmore is unaware of Aoki’s ungodly activities. On her part, Aoki tries her best to escape the brothel, but Madam Usa has a tight grip on her Sakura girls.
The plotline becomes a crime fiction when a high member of the Chinese community is decapitated near the brothel district. The police fears this could spark another riot among the multi-ethnic community of Singapore. Adding twists to the mystery, the corpse is dressed in lower-class workers’ attire.
I found two themes that converged in the story: the reach of British Imperialism and the plight of sex trafficking victims—the latter being the central topic. Callan portrays the karayuki in a considerate manner, and this was an important positive point. Where others might see Aoki as sinful, he shows her as enlightening. Also, Aoki is a strong female character who is determined to have a better life.
Another key aspect is the message of compassion towards society’s outcasts. For instance, the criminals are given a chance to redeem themselves by providing free labor. Another example is the orphanage taking in unwanted children. However, the message of not judging others is the backbone of this story. Here, the reader wonders if Rev. Gilmore will pass this litmus test with Aoki.
On the flip side, some moments jarred me but didn’t stop me from finishing the book. Early on, Aoki is raped by her client; even so, the scene did move the plot forward. In another part, one karayuki contracted gonorrhea and fretted that she gave it to her favorite client—this felt like Stockholm syndrome. Yet, the hardest part was the presence of a child in the brothel; there was nothing sexual in nature. Still, it made me wince. Also, the use of racial slurs and stereotypes against certain ethnicities might offend some readers.
Overall, I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. His diligent research paid off, and Callan created a time machine into the past; this story paints a believable image of colonial Singapore. Thus, I couldn’t mark it down.
Enthusiasts of the Imperialist Period will relish this book. I would recommend it to those interested in Asian culture and history. Notwithstanding the religious undertones, I wouldn’t classify the tome under that genre. Readers averse to the topics of prostitution and human trafficking should be cautious.
******
The Secrets of the Sakur Girls
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
I picked this book because of my interest in Asian culture. Paul Callan’s The Secrets of the Sakura Girls is a historical romance and a murder mystery set in the mid-nineteenth century.
After a grueling sea trip and his wife’s unorthodox burial, Reverend Harry Gilmore and his son Rupert arrive in Singapore. As a single parent, the reverend worries about raising his nine-year-old in this exotic British settlement. Far from home, Aoki longs to return to her family in Japan. Sadly, poverty forced her father to sell her; now, Aoki works as a karayuki—or prostitute—in Singapore’s Sakura brothel. The reverend and Aoki’s accidental meetings ignite a romance between them. Yet, Rev. Gilmore is unaware of Aoki’s ungodly activities. On her part, Aoki tries her best to escape the brothel, but Madam Usa has a tight grip on her Sakura girls.
The plotline becomes a crime fiction when a high member of the Chinese community is decapitated near the brothel district. The police fears this could spark another riot among the multi-ethnic community of Singapore. Adding twists to the mystery, the corpse is dressed in lower-class workers’ attire.
I found two themes that converged in the story: the reach of British Imperialism and the plight of sex trafficking victims—the latter being the central topic. Callan portrays the karayuki in a considerate manner, and this was an important positive point. Where others might see Aoki as sinful, he shows her as enlightening. Also, Aoki is a strong female character who is determined to have a better life.
Another key aspect is the message of compassion towards society’s outcasts. For instance, the criminals are given a chance to redeem themselves by providing free labor. Another example is the orphanage taking in unwanted children. However, the message of not judging others is the backbone of this story. Here, the reader wonders if Rev. Gilmore will pass this litmus test with Aoki.
On the flip side, some moments jarred me but didn’t stop me from finishing the book. Early on, Aoki is raped by her client; even so, the scene did move the plot forward. In another part, one karayuki contracted gonorrhea and fretted that she gave it to her favorite client—this felt like Stockholm syndrome. Yet, the hardest part was the presence of a child in the brothel; there was nothing sexual in nature. Still, it made me wince. Also, the use of racial slurs and stereotypes against certain ethnicities might offend some readers.
Overall, I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. His diligent research paid off, and Callan created a time machine into the past; this story paints a believable image of colonial Singapore. Thus, I couldn’t mark it down.
Enthusiasts of the Imperialist Period will relish this book. I would recommend it to those interested in Asian culture and history. Notwithstanding the religious undertones, I wouldn’t classify the tome under that genre. Readers averse to the topics of prostitution and human trafficking should be cautious.
******
The Secrets of the Sakur Girls
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
