The Gift of Rain
by Tan Twan Eng, 2008, Weinstein Books, New York
This novel is about the experiences of Phillip Hutton, a half-Chinese, half-English person in Malaya before, during, and after World War II. Prior to the war, he meets a Japanese man who has come to Malaya and develops a strong personal relationship with him. He does not realize that the man has come to scout Malaya to aid in the invasion by the Japanese. The young man, in order to protect his family, eventually becomes a collaborator for the Japanese during their occupation.
The story is beautifully written and captures the conflicting emotions of the main character of the young man and the times. The book, however, did not provide me with a lot of empathy for Hutton as he continuallly seems to be blind to the treachery of his Japanese friend. Even when he finds out that the man has betrayed him and commits heinous acts against the local population and his family, he continues to be drawn to him.
Despite my dislike of Hutton’s behavoir and my dislike of his Japanese friend, I enjoyed the book a great deal.
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