The Gift of Rain: by Tan Twan Eng (Canons)

You might think that a book about the Japanese WWII invasion of Malaya would be as dry as old bones, but fear not! The Gift of Rain is a joy to read and totally absorbing. The beautiful, almost poetic prose of Tan Twan Eng flows effortlessly from page to page. I was in no rush to finish the book, looking forward to escaping into the world of Philip Hutton, his life and his experiences, for as long as possible. The story is hugely evocative of the time and its place in history, without having to resort to over flowery descriptions and cliché characters. Learning new insights into Chinese/Japanese culture and traditions was fascinating. It’s both gentle and violent in equal measure, much more than the simple retelling of a man’s life. It’s about the blossoming of friendship, hope and courage and at the same time, self sacrifice, suffering and living with the consequences of one’s actions and decisions. It’s about having to face one’s worst nightmares and about the power of the human spirit to survive. Take your time to thoroughly absorb every single word of this wonderful work, you won't regret it.

I have given this ambitious first novel four stars because, although flawed, it is thought-provoking and conveys a vivid impression of the cultural diversity of Malaya during the 1930s-40s, and what the diverse population had to endure. As the British in Malaya sleepwalk into the outbreak of World War 2, Philip feels somewhat alienated from the Hutton family who have made money in business and trade in the Far East for over a century. He is the youngest son, and the product of a second marriage between his father and a Chinese woman who died when Philip was small. So, he is susceptible to the influence of the charismatic Endo-san, teacher of the martial art of aikido and probable spy, laying plans for the Japanese invasion of Malaya. Although Philip has been brought up as a Christian, he has flashes of awareness of having lived in a past life with Endo-san, and of achieving a state of enlightenment through meditation. The author's status as a Chinese Malayan and martial arts practitioner give authenticity to a plot with great potential for drama, intrigue and insight into relationships between cultures. I do not mind slow-paced, reflective novels and do not feel the need to like the main character - in this case, Philip comes across as emotionally repressed. So, why did I find Part 1 such hard going? This was partly due to an often stiff and wooden dialogue, although this may have been an attempt to convey the formality of some modes of Far Eastern expression. The plot makes heavy use of reminiscence and a "telling" style, which combine to distance the reader somewhat from events. The confidante Michiko Murakami seems dispensable to me. The book is laden with characters and minor details, and would have been sharper with more ruthless editing. With the Japanese invasion in Part 2, the novel belatedly takes off, improving in both pace, style and dialogue. We know from the outset that Philip collaborates with the Japanese during the war, and now it becomes clear why and how. Is he naïve in thinking this will save his family? Will he ever be forgiven for his apparent treachery? Is he in fact motivated by a homoerotic relationship with Endo-san? - The author never specifically describes this as such, and the link between the two is caught up what may interest Tan Twan Eng most, namely the fact that the two men may be fated to meet in successive lives until certain matters are resolved. Although I would say this book is original and well-written in places, it seems overlong and the author seems reluctant to "call it a day" at the end. Fascinating issues at the heart of the book are somehow not explored as clearly as I hoped. I was also repelled in particular by the obsession with daggers and swords, and switches between moments of an almost psychopathic acceptance of ritual killing to enable even guilty men to die honourably and passages of shallow sentimentality. This is, I suppose, my western take on eastern cultures I do not fully understand. The author's second book, "Garden of the Evening Mists" is similar in having a wealthy half-westernised Malayan fall under the spell of a talented and manipulative Japanese man, in this case a gardener and tattooist. I think the later book shows a development in the author's skill as a writer, although the plot of "The Gift of Rain" is potentially more powerful and moving.

This is one of most enjoyable books I have read recently. It is interesting because of the information about pre-war Malaya and the mix of peoples who lived there, and how they related to each other at that time,but this is also a book of different levels and dimensions. The story of the half white, half Chinese adolescent boy, Philip Hutton, his relationship with his white half-siblings and his father have an echo of reality and so help set the scene for this novel. His further relationship with the enigmatic Endo-San who becomes his sensei in martial arts and also his tutor in his daily life is a fascinating study as as he slowly but steadily shapes Philip's manner of thought and action without Philip realising for a few years just how strong this influence has become. The spiritual side of their relationship becomes understood by Philip maturesand begins to think and understand more. As the people of Penang become more conscious and fearful of the threat of invasion from Japan, Philip begins to realise how much his father actually does love him, which he had always doubted, and begins to value both his father and his siblings. He also begins to questlon his relationship with Endo San and the motives of the man himself. The second part of the novel deals with the withdrawal of British troops and the departure of many of the European community who feel they have been deserted and abandoned by Britain. This leads to divisions among those left behind, and indeed Philip is not at certain where he stands, as he begins to comprehend how strong the influence of Endo San has been and how Endo San has in many ways misused his trust. He then has to make a decision as to his future actions, particularly as many of the local people now distrust him due to his close association with a Japanese, His final decision angers the local people, both Chinese and Malayans, who see his actions as traitorous, but there is more to this than meets the eye. It is, however a difficult route he has chosen and he too suffers under the Japanese, even with the protection of Endo San. The third part of the book has a more reflective theme and makes more of the spiritual thread that is woven through the story, when Endo San's very sick wife turns up on Philip's doorstep and Philip begins to understand more about himself and the people around him who have been affected by his beliefs and intentions. This is a beautifully written and constructed book with its many diverse characters and themes. It is one that I would happily recommend to others.

I discovered this relatively late; as a 2007 Booker prize winner, it's one that passed me by until recently. In a nutshell, I'm blown away by narrative, plot, central characters and, more importantly, the thought provoking elements to this tale. It's one difficult to summarize. It's set, initially, in Penang, 1939. Philip Hutton is a mixed race ( British/Chinese) son of an established and wealthy trader. He meets with a Japanese aikijitsu master, Endo San, where a master/pupil relationship develops. Hutton develops a spiritual, intellectual and physical awareness which remains with him. An inexorable bond is born between pupil and sensei. This bond challenges truth, trust, family ties and more in the second part of the book, following the Japanese invasion. This is very much a book of two halves; the first part is thoughtful and esoteric. The second part is fast paced, dramatic and brings to fruition all the moral, ethical and familial challenges set up by Hatton's friendship with an enemy. It explores the meaning of truth, trust, betrayal, family relationships, friendship...the lust is almost endless. It's a difficult book to explain without giving away the essence of the the story. A supernatural thread which transcends time and where previous and future lives are inexorably entwined. There are moments of unremitting brutality in the second part of the story. As a reader, I was totally compelled to engage with the reality on which much of this was based. And thereby lies the author's skill. Unpalatable events are recounted in a way that any reader must follow and from those events, lessons are drawn. I found the first part of the book slow. Stick with it as a foundation for later challenges. Certainly one of the best and most challenging titles I read in 2015. It's one which will stay with me.

An interesting setting for this book, which has the backdrop of Malaysia at the time of the 2nd world war. Not something I'm particularly familiar with, but am interested in learning more about as a result of this fiction. It is by no means a fast paced book (and slightly overlong), but that adds to the atmosphere if the storyline which sees the major protagonists caught in the web of destiny. The main protagonist is caught between his duty to a teacher/friend and protecting his family and community and it is this battle that provides some of the most poignant parts of the story.

A great story about a period of history that is seldom written about. Evocative of malaya long ago. I lived there once and this book caught the feeling of the place and the people. I couldnt put it down

This was the first novel written by this Malaysian author, published in 2007 and longlisted for the Booker Prize. It follows some similar themes to the author's later Garden of Evening Mists, with a narrator in their old age reminiscing about their role in the Japanese occupation during the Second World War. Philip Hutton is youngest son of a British company owner in Penang, being the son of his father's second wife, a much younger Chinese woman who died young when Philip was a young child. As a much younger child sometimes dismissed as a "half breed", he is somewhat alienated from his family and comes to know a Japanese man, Endo, living on a small island off a Penang, who trains him in martial arts. As time goes on, and war approaches, Endo's role as a supporter and instigator of the Japanese invasion of Malaya becomes clearer and the relationship between Philip and his mentor becomes more complex and, on the face of it, inexplicable, given the military situation. Philip works for the Japanese occupation forces in order to protect his family, but his loyalties are strained, and terrible and horrific consequences eventually ensue for all members of his family. Despite all this, when most normal friendships would necessarily have foundered in such extreme circumstances, Philip's and Endo's relationship continues at a spiritual level, fuelled by the Japanese man's belief that he and Philip have been inextricably linked in past lives. The war ends and claims its final toll and the relationship ends - or does it? This novel is written in the same lyrical and slightly otherworldly style as his other two works, with flitting around in time between the war and (roughly) the present day, 1995 for the 50th anniversary of the end of the war, but I thought it flowed slightly better than in Garden of Evening Mists. The novel ends in a bittersweet way, as everyone closest to old Philip has now passed away and his role in the war still seen in sharply divergent ways by the Penang community. A powerful novel.

Longlisted for The 2007 Man Booker Prize eventually won by Anne Enright's The Gathering, having read The Gift Of Rain I feel it was cruelly overlooked and should have been a greater contender. Its protagonist is an aging Phillip Hutton who when born had been the product of a wealthy British colonial father and a Chinese immigrant mother in Penang, Malaysia. The only surviving member of the Hutton family, he keeps the good name of his father's business alive. One night he is visited by a dying woman named Michiko who has come to find out about her lost love Endo. From there the novel takes place largely in flashback as Phillip relates to Michiko his relationship with Endo-san from start to finish. Reading The Gift Of Rain reminded me so much of what I love about literature generally. Its ability to transport you to times past and other places, places that no longer are as they once were so that even if you travelled to their location on the map, you wouldn't find them. Recently I've been to Lagos, and the Tudor Court, in this instance I got to travel to pre-war and wartime Malaysia, and Tan Twan Eng paints a beautiful mental image with his descriptions. I loved the tangled emotional complexities of Phillip and Endo's relationship. Some may feel that at certain points Phillip's behaviour in response to Endo's behaviour lacks credulity in the context, but then you remember the parameters set between them and their beliefs about their past and future. Like Philip you feel your gut drop when you put certain things together. Other characters are great too, Kon and Isabel particularly. The strength of the novel ultimately is the writing, some beautifully executed descriptive prose and a portrait of a kind of love not often seen in literature wrapped up in the twists and turns of wartime intrigue. This book is thoroughly worth reading and I do urge you to buy it. 10/10

I found this book absorbing from beginning to end. It's themes are thought provoking, with unexpected twists and turns, but always allowing the reader to make up his or her own mind whilst the naturally beautiful writing seamlessly binds the often painful story together perfectly. This is the first review I have felt compelled to write having enjoyed the book so much. It is a page turner in an unconventional way, one wants to know how the story unfolds but the lyrical writing also compels one to read just a few more pages for the sheer enjoyment afforded by the skill of the author to combine words so effectively.

What a delightful writer - this is a whole new world for me - a non European take on the Japanese occupation of Penang in Malaya during WWII. This is a very cleverly crafted book and a well-worthwhile read. The narrator is believable despite a plot that could stretch the imagination. The story canvasses the experiences of a sad teenager caught between the European and Chinese worlds and the tragic circumstances of how to survive during the occupation. Amazingly this is a tale of survival against huge odds - and a tender love that was never acknowledged beyond the pupil and his master and the appalling treachery caused by that love and respect. Having just read Richard Flanagan's The Narrow Road to the Deep North and Tan Twan Eng's other excellent view on that period; The garden of Evening Mists (set in the Cameron Highlands), the appalling callous treatment by the Japanese to their captured subjects, as well as to their own is heartbreaking. Both Eng's books explore the dichotomy - the gentle sensitivity and respect for art and culture and the other face of savage cruelty. In both there is a sage Japanese character that you almost like. These characters could almost be comical in their teaching and mentoring, but somehow Eng manages to make their actions resonate. Both books, indeed all three, are very worth while reads if you are interested in that period and the depths to which humankind can plumb. All are descriptive of their environment in a lively and informative way.

Garden of Evening Mists, I read first. While one is not a sequel to the other, both have the Malaysia setting with the Japanese man of intrigue & mystic. Gift of Rain, the Japanese "sensei" would befriend a boy, who himself is conflicted w being Chinese & British, neither one nor the other, his father's second wife who died when Phillip was young was Chinese, the other 4 children from the first marriage are English. In Pentang, Malaya, he has yet to know his mother's father who disowned her once she married a Brit. While the story is fictional, the events of the colonization by the British, & the Japanese presence in what would be WWII, the impact on Pentang is historically laid out. Yet, the story is about relationships, bonds, trust, the complexities in a multi- cultural Island. The writing is superb, transforming, uplifting, tragically heartbreaking...perfectly laid out, a brilliant execution. A wonderful piece of art. Just magnificent. Read both books. *I wish there were more books by Tan Twan Eng, I'm still reeling from Gift of Rain which I read yesterday.

Genial, un gran llibre!

The Gift of Rain by Tan Twan Eng is the story of Philip Hutton and the people of Malaya, who noticed the change in the land in the 1940s. A chaotic, devastating and bitter decade. Our Narrator, Phillip, a British-Chinese comes from one of the most influential families in Malaya. But his hybrid background made him insecure Bout his identity. Growing up as an introvert, Philip's life starts to change when Endo-san come into his life. While they had an age gap, it slowly blurs. The lives of Endo and Phillip are connected even from their past lives. That's what the fortuneteller said. Endo came from a village in Japan. After travelling to many Japanese-occupied countries, he reached to Malaya. As with most of the other countries, the people of this land couldn't grasp why they'd be the subject of the war. But we know the history. In this war, Philip chooses to cooperate with the Japanese, and fraternizing with the foes changes his life. Throughout the book, Tan shows us themixedxed cultures of the land and the vivid description of the land, another treat. But, his writing style is not something that gels with me. His metaphors are pretty childish in many ways. Again, it's great to discover a new South Asian Author.