Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1761 in Books
• Published on: 2007-05-10
• Binding: Paperback
• 447 pages

Review
A powerful first novel about a tumultuous and almost forgotten period of history. --Times Literary Supplement

Review
A remarkable book about war, friendship, memory and discipline. --Ian McMillan, BBC Radio 3

Review
Haunting and highly evocative... a deeply moving tale. --Cape Times

Customer Reviews

Amazing
I recieved this book for christmas from my boyfriend, which instantly worried me as we have completley different tastes in books.

From the very beggining I knew he had made a good choice. This book makes you feel for all characters and their problems, in paticular Peter and his teacher. It also gives you a huge idea of the horror of WWII in the far east and apppalled at what another human being is capable of doing to another.

This is possibley one of the saddest books I have ever read, but one of the most enjoyable to read as you are captivated the whole time.

With a small baby, time to read is not always available but this book demands that you find the time as you will not want to put it down.

Moved me to tears.
This book was a powerful portrait of life, love and loyalty in war time. Some of the writing moved me to tears, which is rare for me in a fiction work. The divided loyalty of the main character between his family and his teacher was very well portrayed and even though there were times when you could not understand the reasons why he was so loyal to his teacher, you could at the same time see how it could happen and almost imagine yourself in such a dilemma. This was masterfully done. The contrast between the beauty that the Japenese appreciate and their cruelty in war time was difficult to get to grips with but I think that is part of the point of this story.

a MUST READ
I came accross this quite late after working my way through the contenders for the Booker Prize. This one was far and away the best of the bunch by a country mile and in fact is the most wonderful book I've read for years.

Tan Twan Eng has created a riveting story. I was totally gripped by the menace of the impending Japanese invasion of Penang and by what would happen to the various characters both British and Chinese. The climax when it came was harrowing and heartrending but theres a very positive and uplifting quality too with many of the characters finding redemption -even among the Japanese and among some who don't survive.

It's also a beautifully written book full of the sights, sounds and smells of tropical Asia in the dying years of the British Empire.

This is a book that still lingers in my head and that I'm recommending to everybody as a must read.