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The Gift of Rain

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The Gift of Rain

By: Tan Twan Eng
Narrated by: Daniel York Loh, Eric Mok
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LONGLISTED FOR THE MAN BOOKER PRIZE

Penang, 1939. Sixteen-year-old Philip Hutton is a loner. Half English, half Chinese and feeling neither, he discovers a sense of belonging in an unexpected friendship with Hayato Endo, a Japanese diplomat. Philip shows his new friend around his adored island of Penang, and in return Endo trains him in the art and discipline of aikido. But such friendship comes at a terrible price.

Tan Twan Eng's masterful debut novel is a haunting and unforgettable story of betrayal, barbaric cruelty, steadfast courage and enduring love.

©2023 Tan Twan Eng (P)2023 Canongate Books 20th Century Fiction Historical Fiction World Literature Feel-Good Heartfelt Thought-Provoking China Friendship Imperial Japan
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Love everything about this book except the brutality of war. Full of wisdom, superb writing.

Brilliant

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This book is so beautifully written - it sucked me deep into its imagery and essence. The construction of each sentence is an artwork.

Captivating

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An incredible book on so many levels. Beautifully written—almost like poetry, totally unforgettable—especially the barbaric acts of cruelty by the Japanese occupiers, and very atmospheric—capturing the essence of Penang in 1939 and through the war years when the Japanese occupied Malaysia. Philip Hutton is the 4th child of an English man living in Penang, but his mother (his father’s second wife) was Chinese so he always felt left out of the family. He met Endo-san, a Japanese businessman who was renting an island off the coast near his home. Endo-san taught him the art and discipline of aikido and they became steadfast friends. Their friendship even survived an ultimate betrayal. An unforgettable book that was also beautifully read.

The Gift of Rain is an unforgettable book

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Great narration and an absolute gem of a book for fans of historical fiction (think Arthur Golden/James Clavell)

Excellent

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I read and loved the other two books by the same author, They all share a mystical look at life that is oriental and marvelous descriptions of nature, but The gift of rain, with the terrible descriptions of the acts of barbarity that the Japanese did in Malaysia contrasting with the beauty of the soroundings and the surreal connection between the protagonist had an effect in my spirit similar to what the author described his main character Phillip was feeling. A very difficult thing to achieved. Thank you Tan Team Eng.

Excepcional

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