Well into this book I wondered why I kept reading? It was mildly engaging and perhaps part of its allure was its setting in Penang, Malaysia, which I once visited. (A little Penang excurses here. My visit there came at a time when it was first possible to reserve hotel rooms online. On my previous travels I'd find housing upon arrival. So, making an online reservation in Penang, the hotel site gave two prices for rooms. The basic price was $10.00 a night but $20.00 if you wanted a private room. Being a big spender I opted for private.😁) The author wrote two previous books, both of which I enjoyed. His constant use of vocabulary, common to the area's English speakers, Malaysia was an English Colony until 1957, piqued my interest...frequently looking up the meaning of words, this, too, kept me reading. An example, warehouses lining the harbor are called "godowns."
Persistence was rewarded as it became very interesting. The book is The House of Doors, Tan Twan Eng, and his previous books were The Gift Of Rain, and The Garden Of Evening Mists. It could be classed an historical novel. Two famous people, who spend time in Penang feature prominently in the story. W. Somerset Maugham, the English author, visited Penang in the 1920s. Sun Yat-sen, the Chinese revolutionary was there raising money when revolution broke out in China. Both are feature in Twan's story. While Penang is the main focus of the tale the protagonists move to South Africa for health reasons. This mirrors the author's life as he divides his time between those locales.
Lesley, the main charcter is imagined in relationship with both Maugham and Yat-sen. In Saigon we stayed at the Oriental Hotel where Maugham has stayed previously. Another historical detail is the trial, conviction and pardon by the Sultan of an English woman convicted of murder.
It's good story, well told in excellent prose. It's garnered very positive reviews.
Takk for alt,
Al
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