House on the Strand- Daphne du Maurier

[Annna]

Does anyone else think the ending is unsatisfactory? It is as if the author lost interest.

Also Empress Orchid by Anchee Min, What was the significance of the white sack with the overcoat in it left in the tomb?

[Peter Pedant]

and another contribution from someone who hasnt read the book....Empress Orchid,
I have read the first one and I thought it was meant to be biographical. I spent alot of time wondering then when the empress-to-be was gonna walk on as the subject was far too nice to be Tsu Hsi.

Tell you something you dont know....a friend (since departed) walked into a London auction house with a jar and said to the skool leava on duty for ceramics: "This belonged to the Jade Concubine.
SL: yeh, con-Q-whaaaat?
Friend: who was ordered to be drowned by Tsu-Hsi when she abandoned the summer palace and was later found down a well.
SL: sue's what ? Friend: No, Sue's He
SL: whaaaat?.........or ........Whooooooo?
in 1896." and then was asked how he knew, said he had translated the inscription [inscrip-whaaaat?]

He didnt sell and then died so I dont know what happened to it. I was a bit like the skool leva [Jade whaaaat?] and only understood what was going on when I read anchee min.....yes ten years later

I will read the second book and post later. DOnt hold your breath.

[Annna]

Thanks, some food for thought. I 'read' Empress Orchid as a spoken word book, abridged so may have lost the thread!

Thanks A