China Doll

With China Doll, Talia Carner, late of Puppet Child, is once again advocating for children--this time, on a global stage. Literally. Her heroine Nola, a singer at the peak of her game, is sweeping through major Chinese cities on a goodwill tour with full entourage and spare-no-expense staging, when a shadowy figure thrusts a baby girl into her arms. Nola struggles to keep the child, battling the ghosts of her past and the very real and powerful spectres of her management and global politics.Like Puppet Child, this book had me thoroughly engrossed, turning pages into the wee hours of the night. Also, like Puppet Child, it opened a door into the institutionalized mistreatment of children--this time, in Chinese "dying rooms," where drugged orphans languish until they are no longer in need of the scant care on offer.Carner has done her homework here. Her research shapes and enhances the story, but her passion for justice brings it alive. This is accessible but important fiction that highlights both the simple ethics governing the life and death of children, and the political dance between China and the US that makes solutions to an archaic system of neglect so tragically, heartbreakingly complicated.In both her novels, Talia Carner speaks for the children. Let us hope that someone of influence is listening.Susan O'Neill, author, Don't Mean Nothing: Short Stories of Viet Nam

Excellent story, lovely engaging characters. Didn't want to put it down.

Loved this book The characters, the plot, the vivid images, the subject matter,the author's knowledge of women's emotions. I'm not a fiction reader, but this book grabbed and kept my attention all the way through. I recommend it highly!

I worked in a Chinese orphanage for over four years and can tell you that reading this story put me back in the middle of all the emotions and outrage I dealt with on a daily basis. Many people think that negative stories about orphanages shouldn't be written, that they can't be that bad---but the truth is that some of them are that bad. The more that people open their eyes at what is really happening, the better chance at improving conditions we will have. Awareness is the key.

Tania Carner's book is well written and keeps the story moving. You can feel her characters as you read about them. The topic is interesting, somber and very sad. You want to follow the journey through to the end!

It is one of those "can't put it down books". Thoroughly enjoy Talia Carner's writing. Can't wait for another book of hers to come out. I generally do my reading while I am working out at the gym. Needless to say when reading this book, I certainly worked out a lot!Marlene Votion

Excellent book. recommended

It was unrealistic in many ways and predictable. The characters had little depth.