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White Gardenia

By: Belinda Alexandra
Narrated by: Deidre Rubenstein
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Summary

In the tradition of Paullina Simons comes an unforgettable story of a mother and daughter from a remarkable new writer. Beginning in a small village under Japanese occupation on the Chinese-Russian border in the final days of World War II, White Gardenia tells the story of a Russian mother and daughter separated by war. From the glamorous nightclubs of Shanghai to the harshness of the Siberian wasteland, from a desolate island in the South China Sea and to a new life in post-war Australia, and finally to Cold War Moscow, White Gardenia sweeps across cultures and continents.
©2002 Belinda Alexandra (P)2003 Bolinda Publishing
Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction War
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Critic reviews

"Deidre Rubenstein's well-modulated contralto voice brings empathy and compassion to Alexandra's first novel....Powerful dramatization." ( AudioFile)

What listeners say about White Gardenia

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for MarieLouise

Great portrayal of Oz post-war emigrant view

Love this author but found her Russian heroine harder to identify with than her other book's main characters -- put it down to the character's Russian emotionalism - she seemed to cry at the drop of a hat. Absolutely loved her description of post-war immigration to Australia... as someone who emigrated in early '70's to Oz, four or five decades on from the story, found that little had changed in the welcome anyone from 'outside' Australia received. But like the main character, found so so much to love about the country.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Christineb

Poorly written novel

Firstly the excessive graphic descriptive detail was totally unnecessary The overly romanticism of Russian aristocrat who oozed class and blue blood Totally ridiculous marriage storyline I found myself so agitated The narration when accented was good but over cooked at times Not for me

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Lily

Very loooong

Too long and way too dramatic, every situation,even simple ones, is dressed up in gaspingly high drama. 100 words when 5 would do. I found it exhausting.

I also found it odd that it was so loaded towards the refugees discomforts but never one comment of gratitude towards their rescuers or to Australia for taking in the refugees - I’ve never been to Australia but any country that rescues other human beings deserves applause and gratitude for its consideration & care, it’s gift of such opportunity & freedom.
But it lacked generosity of thought towards those kind people, expressed no gratitude -it just didn’t figure. I found that made it a strangely self-centred novel.

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