The Garden of Evening Mists by Tan Twan Eng
Just finished The Garden of Evening Mists which was a book I picked up as a result of this review here.
The GoEM starts with Yun Ling Teog retiring from her profession of Judge, she is suffering from a deterioration in her mental health which inspires her to record her memoirs.
During the Japanese occupation of Malaysia Yun Ling Teog and her sister were taken prisoner and held in a prison camp set in the jungle. Yun Ling was the only survivor and she wants to build a Japanese garden as a memorial to her sister. After escaping the camp Yun Ling returns to her uncle’s tea plantation in order to try and persuade her uncle’s close friend, Aritomo, a former gardener to the Emperor of Japan, to help her build this memorial. He refuses however agrees to take Yun Ling as his apprentice so that she can build her own garden.
I’m not going to go too much into the plot. There are a number of secrets that will be revealed as the story unfolds. We will eventually learn of how Yun Ling survived the horrors of the camp and also why Aritomo left Japan. We will learn a little more about the Japanese occupation of Malaysia and the violence that continued even after the war ended as the communist rebels hiding in the hills committed brutal crimes against the residents. But there is more than this. Gardens, tattoos, hidden gold, spy intrigue, war, occupation, guerilla warfare, love.
This is a very evocative novel, moving and captivating. Told in different timeframes and revealing more to the original relationships than at first meets the eye. On top of that, I suppose ultimately this is a book of forgiveness. There is a love story here but it’s very subtle and understated and what I really took from it was the way that Yun Ling was able to move on from her own personal experiences and have a relationship with Aritomo.
I think the only criticism that I had was I found Yun Ling very detached and almost cold which made it a bit more difficult to connect with her, but I assume that this was deliberate on the part of the author to reflect how Yun Ling had withdrawn into herself as a result of the horrors she experienced whilst in the camp.
This is a very intriguing story. It’s really almost poetic. But, if you’re expecting a fast paced novel then this might not be the one for you. There is plenty of information contained here and clearly the author has researched this well but it’s a subtle reveal – in fact I’m sure that I’ve probably missed certain aspects of this but I think this is one of the things about this story and I imagine that people who read it will likely come away with differing experiences.
Classics Club – book list
As of January 2016 – I’ve updated my list – (1) because I’m not doing as well as I’d hoped! and (2) I’m taking part in a Vintage sci fi event so I’m hoping to help achieve both goals.
I’ve decided to take part in the Classics Club reading challenge. I’ve chosen my 50 books and have decided to set myself the challenge to read these in a five year period. My books are as follows (in no particular order and subject to change – because I might see something I like better!)(BTW do you have any idea how difficult it was coming up with 50 books for this – much more difficult than I anticipated?): (I’m currently reviewing this list and have removed some of the books on here with a view to replacing them with others.
- Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K Jerome (currently reading)
- The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark (currently reading)
- The BFG by Roald Dahl
- David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
- Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper
White Fang by Jack London – read and reviewed- Waverley by Sir Walter Scott
- The Importance of Being Ernest by Oscar Wilde – read and reviewed
- Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein
- War of the Worlds by H G Wells – read and reviewed
Something Wicked this Way Comes by Ray Bradburyreview here- The Never Ending Story by Michael Ende
- The Once and Future King by T H White
- Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott
- The Talented Mr Ripley by Patricia Highsmith
- One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey
- The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyesreview here- Whiskey Galore by Compton MacKenzie
- The Witches of Eastwick by John Updike
- The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie
- A Room with a View by E M Forster
- Legend by David Gemmell
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jacksonreview here- Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk
- Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh
- Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra
- The Quiet American by Graham Greene
- Perfume by Patrick Suskind
The Ghosts of Sleath by James Herbertreview here- Let the Right one in by John Ajvide Lindqvist
- Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare
A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespearereview hereBeauty by Robin McKinleyHowl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jonesreview here- The Turn of the Screw by Henry James
Details of the challenge can be found here.
Total 1/50
Tricked by Kevin Hearne
15 March 2013
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Kevin Hearne, The Druid Chronicles, Tricked
Tricked is the fourth instalment of the Iron Druid Chronicles brought to us by Kevin Hearne. This is a great series of books with oodles of humour, some great banter and a cheeky, rather easy on the eye mind, Druid called Atticus. If you haven’t read any of the IC books then I recommend you give them a go. They’re chockablock with different characters, myths, religions, weird and wonderful creatures and giggles.
At the start of the story you may be surprised to discover that Atticus dies. Now, keep your undies on – it’s a staged death to get certain people, who are less than pleased with him following his antics in Hammered, off his back, and, still keep your trollies on – that wasn’t a spoiler – it’s the first line of the book (and also there’s a rather big giveaway on the jacket!) So, faked death successful, bad guys off the trail, what can possibly go wrong? Plenty.
Coyote plays a main role in this story which is where we get the title from of course because he’s tricksy after all! So, in payment for aforesaid staged demise, Atticus is now in Coyote’s debt and has made an arrangement to help him and his people – unfortunately for Atticus, he didn’t read the small print and pretty soon he’s going to be up to his neck in sand with the ants swarming (I made that bit up).
I really enjoyed this. Oberon plays a big part and the banter between him and Atticus is as good as ever. Lots of one liners and playing oneupmanship on each other usually with the incentive of sausages (not for Atticus). The story examines a little more of Atticus’s former life which is interesting and I think could bear a lot more of a look into.
We spend more time with Granuaile which helps to get to know her a little bit better and the chemistry between the two seems to be hotting up, in spite of Atticus having the best intentions not to become involved with his student. It’s simply not the done thing!
Anyway, the main action contains a whole new form of evil in the form of skinwalkers. They’re some nasty characters, vicious, fast, evil and with a demented mania to have a taste of our hero. These skinwalkers can shape shift. They’ve been living out in the desert for many years picking off innocent people. They’re seriously messing with the set up of Coyote’s new enterprise and yet Coyote is missing in action. This problem doesn’t belong to Atticus but he will own it against his will or better judgement.
Now, I won’t go too much more into the plot. There’s plenty of action in this story. There are new characters plus some old ones. A bit of betrayal from an unexpected source and an intriguing set up for the next story.
I do enjoy these books. I thought this one was not as dark as the last and to a certain extent I preferred this. There’s a certain sort of light relief in reading these books. They are easy to read, they always have a fast moving plot and there are plenty of different myths and religions that seem to live together seamlessly.
Did I miss anything? Yes, the Widow! I’m not going to tell about that. You’ll have to read it. And, Leif!!! No way!
Mmm, criticisms. I’m still not 100% sure about the Atticus/Granuaile thing. It’s not that I don’t like Granuaile but I’m just not convinced by it somehow. Not yet at least anyway. However, that being said, I am convinced about this series, which is good.
Looking forward to reading the next.
A Hat Full of Sky by Terry Pratchett, readalong week 1
13 March 2013
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: A Hat Full of Sky, Dab of Darkness, Little Red Reviewer, Readalong, Terry Pratchett
Hi everyone. Today is the first week in the A Hat Full of Sky readalong being hosted by Little Red Reviewer and Dab of Darkness. These books are such good fun – if you haven’t read them but fancy a really refreshing blast of humour then get onboard – it’s not too late, this is a lovely leisurely schedule so there’s lots of time to catch up! Plus, once you start reading about Tiffany you’ll get swept along (not to mention the Nac MacFeegle). If you haven’t read these books already however you might wish to stop reading from hereon-in as spoilers will be running amok like little blue men! You have been warned.
What do you think of Miss Level and her housemate Oswald? Did you guess the secret about her identity before she told Tiffany the truth?
Wow, the world of Miss Level is totally out there! I think Tiffany is in for a very strange time. And, no, I confess, I hadn’t guessed about her identity. At first, I hadn’t realised that there was a third character in the mix – I had this weird idea that Miss Level had run amok with the whole ‘see me’ thing and had created a sort of other version of herself that was running around but, not only does she have ‘another’ self (which actually is a little bit creepy if you really think about it) but she has Oswald, an ondageist, who runs around tidying up! It sounds divine – where can I get me one of those?? Although not sure I like the idea of Oswald just being able to go wherever he wants when he wants!
What kind of witchy stuff do you think Miss Level will start teaching Tiffany?
It’s a strange form of teaching really isn’t it. A bit like teaching but without being taught. The witches don’t seem to know how they do things but it just seems to be something they have a feel for. It feels like it’s going to be less about teaching, in a traditional sense, and more a sort of coming to the idea of what’s right and what’s not, with a sprinking of herbal lore thrown into the mix.
What do you think of Jeannie? Do you think she’ll get in the way of the Feegle continuing to help Tiffany?
Not quite sure to make of Jeannie yet. She seems a bit bungling (a bit in the way that Roland felt in the first novel). She doesn’t particularly feel malicious at this stage but I do wonder about her with all her beads and baubles and dancing in the woods! A bit like the kind of thing that seemed to have given witches a bad name in the first place when they were thought to be devil worshippers? I must admit I don’t like the idea very much of Tiffany in the woods at night with that weird demon thing searching for her!
Have your feelings for Roland changed any?
Okay, I admit that I was a bit of a meanie on Roland and I’m now feeling slightly sheepish! I just was a bit flabbergasted with his ‘lord to the manor’ behaviour. He seems to have developed a bit of a crush on Tiffany doesn’t he and turned into a blushing maniac now whenever she’s around – it will be interesting to see how that develops.
Which is creepier? a Hiver or a Drome?
A Hiver definitely – it’s a demon after all and just looking for a host to possess! The whole thing with sounding like a bunch of buzzing insects – just creepy.
What really grabbed my attention this time?
The way Tiffany won the battle of the wills with the goat!
“I am no’ deid! I’m trying to have a moment o’ existential dreed here, right?”
The part where the horse and cart, with the Mac Nag Feegles on board, is going faster than the coach and horses that they’re trying to catch in order to get their more speedily. Irony at all?
Good fun. Don’t forget it’s not too late to join in!
AMENDMENT to the question about Jeannie above. Okay, I admit it! I’m a raging doghead! So, now you all know. I answered that question as though I was talking about Petunia (is it Petunia?). Anyway, what can you do. (Perhaps answer the proper question – okay, Jeannie – I didn’t like that she stopped the guys in blue from sending out a bit of a rescue party when they spotted the Hiver was on Tiffany’s tail! But, she has a lot to contend with and I think she’s feeling insecure. She did the right thing as soon as she realised Rob would stay with her if she asked. So I think she’ll be okay.
Goodies galore…
Just very quickly, because I’m all excited, I have to give you all a quick list of my recent goodies. I’ve been buying books, it’s a dirty job but someone has to do it:
Bought:
- The Anvil of the World by Kage Baker
- Something Wicked this Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
- Agatha H and the Airship City by Kaja Foglio/Phil Foglio
- Rot and Ruin by Jonathan Maberry
- Hum and the Shiver by Alex Bledsoe
- Range of Ghosts by Elizabeth Bear
- The first two books in the Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobbs
Library:
- A Hatful of Sky by Terry Pratchett
- Tempest Rising by Nicole Peeler
Given (I love it if somebody gives me books – it makes me so happy! I need to get out more 😉
- Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion
- Shadows by Paula Weston
Yay. Good times.
