Trade Wind

Rating:
Summary: Irresistible
Review: I borrowed this book from a friend some years ago and found it enjoyable and would like to have a copy,

Rating:
Summary: Exquisite!
Review: I first read this novel when I was a teenager some 20 years ago; it is one of my favorite books of all time. I have read it so many times that I can run through whole pages of dialogue in my head! Reading it is like visiting an old friend. To me, every word is perfectly chosen, every nuance sublime. The novel contains action, adventure, historical detail and romance - what's not to love? Read it (look for a copy at a Half-Price Books or the library) and fall in love.

Rating:
Summary: rape, in any form, should not be romanticized
Review: I really enjoyed this novel--up until about 2/3 of the way through, the main character is raped by the main love interest. It shocked me. I am sorry, this is something that is compleatly unacceptable. Many allowances can be made for the romantic nature underpinning both of the characters relationship, but it doesn't matter how much romantic feelings there are, rape is rape, and to continue and have the two characters fall in love and live happily ever after is a sad and rediculous thing indeed. Ms Kaye ought to have put her efforts to better use, as the social and political ideas were very good, but unfortunately, the book is worthless.

Rating:
Summary: A book for all Seasons
Review: I was recommended to M.M.Kaye by my Enlish teacher who, herself, an unmarried woman, thought that the female students in her class should be introduced to the more sophisticated romance genre that was not too modern, and too graphic in its portrayal of a love story. As a result I got acquainted with The Far Parvilions, Shadow of the Moon and Trade Wind. For some reason, Trade Wind, has been in my memory the longest despite that it was not her most acclaimed works (I guess it really depend on one's taste) and finally acquired one copy a decade later. I have, everytime, immensely enjoyed reading about Miss Hero Hollis. I was captivated with the character of the curious, spoilt yet resolute, child of six having her future foretold by an irish wisewoman, growing into a high-minded resolute young woman on a moral crusade to the place of '...sun, wind and saltwater with men whose heads do grow beneath their shoulders...'and her fateful meeting with Captain Rory Frost. I have to admit that the pleasure that I get from reading the story arises from the development of her character as she stayed in the foreign land, her trials and tribulations and the belated realization that despite her good but failed intentions, that in life just like in fiction, 'people do things or don't do them because there is something in them that pushes them that way and that they are not always strong enough to fight against', which is aptly said about human nature. And in spite of their differences in values, status and moral conducts, to my opinion, the author did a brilliant job in weaving the relationship of the two main characters in such a way that the romance was plausible, though not always excusable (like the rape for instance),and make the reader understand that like in real life, some things are just harder to account for or justify. The proverbial yet inadequate 'It just happened' holds. In all,Rory Frost is a far cry from a hero that I would want for myself but Miss Hollis is definately one of the best heroines I've ever read despite all her flaws. The characters in the story as well as the description of Zanzibar,both the good and the bad, to me, are very real, the ending is not overly saccharine for my system and I would recommend Trade Wind (as well as other works by this author) for traditional readers who like very good writing, a clever plot and an unforgettable historical romance.

Rating:
Summary: Not up to M.M. Kaye's usual standard
Review: I've had this book sitting in my book shelf since 1981 and I've never read it. Why? Well cause everyone keeps saying "it's not as good as 'Far Pavilions'". They're right of course, but I have not looked at 'Far Pavilions' in a long time. And since I dropped the ridiculously expensive cable package I've been reading more books. Thus I turned my attention to 'Trade Wind' and what an enjoyable read I found. Its style compares more to her mysteries rather than to her famous best-seller. Ms. Kaye gathered up a fascinating history of Zanzibar about slave trading, the Sultan from Oman and his feuding children, an attack by pirates on the American Consulate, and a grisly account of a cholera epidemic in which 20,000 people perished. She includes social commentary on the westernization of the uncivilized world, the duplicity of the French regarding slavery and her trademark scenery descriptions. I'm so glad I finally picked up this book.

Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT, MOVING , HISTORICAL FICTION - MY FAVORITE!
Review: In the 20+ years since I first picked up "Trade Wind", it remains my favorite piece of fiction. Nothing has touched me like this novel. I guess that I've read it a minimum of 20 times. It's impossible to explain the feeling that reading this book gives me, but the way in which Ms. Kaye writes about her characters and their motivations touches a deep cord. I first read this book at 17. I'm now almost 40, but through all these years and all these readings, the story of Hero Hollis and Rory Frost still has the power to move me deeply. I encourage every reader who likes good writing and an engaging plotline to give this book a try. I'd also recommend Ms. Kaye's, "Shadow of the Moon" as well.

Rating:
Summary: Sophisticated, Superb Historical Fiction
Review: M. M. Kaye, the author of two of my favorite historical novels, "The Far Pavilions" and "Shadow of the Moon," does not disappoint with "Trade Wind." Unlike her other books, which are set in India, this tale is told against the languid, sensuous, often savage beauty of 19th century Zanzibar - a lawless island paradise off the coast of East Africa.

Hero Athena Hollis, a lovely Boston bluestocking with a long list of good intentions and a self-appointed mission to abolish slavery, visits her diplomat uncle and his family who are stationed in Zanzibar. In transit, there is a violent storm at sea and the unfortunate Hero is swept overboard only to be rescued by Captain Rory Frost, disreputable scoundrel, privateer, slave trader, etc.. She is eventually returned to the bosom of her family, unscathed, but with a tremendous dislike of the Captain and his chosen profession.

This epic romance is chock-full of adventure and excitement - international politics, the slave trade, Arabian sultans and princesses, revolution, pirates, natural disasters, espionage and intrigue. Ms. Kaye's research, as always, is impeccable. Her characters are subtly developed, three dimensional and very believable. The love story is quite unique - outwardly the couple does not seem to be a "match made in heaven." However, the chemistry does work and the romance provides some unusual twists to the plot. There is a rape scene, as some reviewers have mentioned, but I don't think rape has been romanticized here. There is violence in the novel, as this is a historically accurate piece, about a place that has a violent history. The rape is not gratuitous nor is it graphic. The episode adds rather than detracts from the plot.

I was captivated by "Trade Wind" and apart from the spellbinding saga, I learned much about the history of the strange, lovely island called Zanzibar. Highly recommended.
JANA

Rating:
Summary: Sophisticated, Superb Historical Fiction
Review: M. M. Kaye, the author of two of my favorite historical novels, "The Far Pavilions" and "Shadow of the Moon," does not disappoint with "Trade Wind." Unlike her other books, which are set in India, this tale is told against the languid, sensuous, often savage beauty of 19th century Zanzibar - a lawless island paradise off the coast of East Africa.

Hero Athena Hollis, a lovely Boston bluestocking with a long list of good intentions and a self-appointed mission to abolish slavery, visits her diplomat uncle and his family who are stationed in Zanzibar. In transit, there is a violent storm at sea and the unfortunate Hero is swept overboard only to be rescued by Captain Rory Frost, disreputable scoundrel, privateer, slave trader, etc.. She is eventually returned to the bosom of her family, unscathed, but with a tremendous dislike of the Captain and his chosen profession.

This epic romance is chock-full of adventure and excitement - international politics, the slave trade, Arabian sultans and princesses, revolution, pirates, natural disasters, espionage and intrigue. Ms. Kaye's research, as always, is impeccable. Her characters are subtly developed, three dimensional and very believable. The love story is quite unique - outwardly the couple does not seem to be a "match made in heaven." However, the chemistry does work and the romance provides some unusual twists to the plot. There is a rape scene, as some reviewers have mentioned, but I don't think rape has been romanticized here. There is violence in the novel, as this is a historically accurate piece, about a place that has a violent history. The rape is not gratuitous nor is it graphic. The episode adds rather than detracts from the plot.

I was captivated by "Trade Wind" and apart from the spellbinding saga, I learned much about the history of the strange, lovely island called Zanzibar. Highly recommended.
JANA

Rating:
Summary: An inside look at a world that has almost disappeared.
Review: The first time I read Trade Wind, I started out not liking it. Three-quarters of the way through I was hooked. The description of the setting captured my imagination. My favourite thing about it is M M Kaye's own reflections on a fading world that the western world still tries to encroach upon. She allows you to see the world for what it can offer and people for who they are. Even today many do not have the insight to look on the flip side of the coin to really understand the people around them. I have now read this book over 30 times in 6 years.

Rating:
Summary: Love Really Knows No Bounds
Review: This is yet another novel by M.M. Kaye that kept me up late at nights not wanting to put it down. I found this book at a book sale out at my University and I tell you, It was a great purchase. It is a compelling story about love and hate co-existing. Again, the history and culture of the land of zanzibar and its immigrants holds the reader to the end. I have read this book three times in the year that I purchased it. I laughed, I cried. Love triumphed over Social Barriers, Race and Hate itself.