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georgiasummer98's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
olap's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
This is a deeply confusing book and quite what the blurbs promise. It is beautifully written, and the idea of 3 narrators revealing different perspectives on the same person without ever truly knowing him kept me thinking throughout. However, I am not sure what I think about the focus of most of the book being the love SQUARE and how it develops. Still a great book.
dylanthwaits's review against another edition
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
ambi_dexter_writes's review against another edition
4.0
It was a truly compelling read for the first 2/3rd of the book when Jasper and Snow narrated it. But when Peter the nasty Whyte Man became narrator he was so insufferable and dislikable that I had to drag myself to finish the book (and I skimmed through a lot of the ending).
To quote one of the residents at the home, Peter can "fuck off to his own country" instead of being such an entitled racsist coloniser who can't appreciate Bunga Raya, Belachan or Kaya after so many years of living in Malaysia, the very place he says is his place of belonging.
Peter was horrible as a character, but my god can Tash Aw right. Down with the romanticising of our colonisers.
To quote one of the residents at the home, Peter can "fuck off to his own country" instead of being such an entitled racsist coloniser who can't appreciate Bunga Raya, Belachan or Kaya after so many years of living in Malaysia, the very place he says is his place of belonging.
Peter was horrible as a character, but my god can Tash Aw right. Down with the romanticising of our colonisers.
jayelle949290's review against another edition
1.0
An overrated book. After all the hype, I was so keen to read this book which is set in Malaya. But ugh! factually inaccurate. When I read the part where the protagonist watched Tunku Abdul Rahman declare, "Merdeka!" on TELEVISION, I stopped reading.
mariomenti's review against another edition
5.0
I couldn't stop reading this. A brilliant, totally captivating story set mostly in 1940s Malaya. It's a mix of fact and fiction (even though I've been to Malaysia and the Batu Caves outside KL, I never knew about the Batu Caves Massacre, where most of the leaders of the communist Malayan People's Anti-Japanese Army (MPSJA) were betrayed and killed). But more than anything, it's a story of love and a more personal kind of betrayal - the story of one man told from three very different perspectives.
frhday's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
eleganthedgehogs's review against another edition
Interesting Malaysia history though book was felt to be just ok.
misspalah's review against another edition
3.0
The previous day's rain had washed thin rivers of mud on to many of the smaller roads, but we drove on regardless. This was the only way to Tanjong Ache, the point on the coast where we will catch a boat to the Seven Maidens. That was Johnny's opinion. Even I was surprised at how certain he sounded. We are now a long way from Kampar - farther, surely, than any boy can cycle. Perhaps this was where he was born, where he grew up; perhaps he did not, as we all believe, spend his youth as a labourer in Tiger Tan's famous shop. His knowledge of this place seemed
to come from some deep recess, something locked away so safely that even he may have forgotten its origin. It was at that moment that I realised, with absolute clarity, that I did not know him at all. But then again I think I have always known that intimacy between us was impossible. That was why I wanted him: he would always be alien to me. And worse, it was I who pretended otherwise. I said things I now know were untrue. 'We are kindred spirits, I told him as we held hands by the river, not a hundred yards from my parents' disapproving gaze. He looked at me with innocent eyes and believed every word I said. Then, as now, there lies an unfordable divide between us. Even Mother, in her own bizarre way, is at one with Father. She understands what he wants of her and vice versa. They each supply what the other needs. That is marriage.
- The Harmony Silk Factories by Tash Aw
.
I have read we, the survivors written by Tash Aw and loving it. Then, i decided to read his first book, The Harmony Silk Factory and ended up disliking it. Tash Aw can write and i think anyone who’ve read at least one of his books will agree with me on this. What i find lacking is the inconsistency of the character building? especially in describing Johnny Lim (the tenacious salesman versus the reserved / silent guy) and some plot were jarring - does this road tripping described by Snow in her diary even possible in the midst of world war 2. It was quite bizarre (at least for me). However, i am not here to nitpick everything - i do enjoy the historical part of it especially from Jasper’s (Johnny’s Son) Narration . Its like seeing Johnny Lim and Malaya shifted throughout certain periods side by side. Both were hardened by complex circumstances and ended up moulded into the identity that they were known today. As for Snow, Johnny’s mother - her observation of Johnny is almost contradictory with Jasper. BUT i believe this is intended by the author as to demonstrate that human characters is different depending on the environment and how perception by a person can vary. Snow felt Johnny is keeping her close but at the same time, emotionally distant with her. She married the man but she didn’t know him. She was kept out of the dark almost all the time. I usually love diary entry form in a novel but with Snow, i felt like she added nothing to the story. Her part is where i felt long winded and i wanted to finish her part ASAP. Dont get me wrong, i was rooting for Snow and Johnny - when Snow recalled her first time meeting Johnny in the rain, observing his skin tone and facial expression, you can almost felt that powerful gaze in that particulqr page. The last one, to conclude who Johnny is, we were brought into the POV of Peter, Johnny’s best friend. I was constantly guessing who is the real father of Jasper because i am sure as hell its not Johnny. It was revealed at the last chapter of the book. As for Peter, it almost like a disgruntled lover / pompous whiney old man chapter. He is insecure of Kunichiwa but he never thought loving Snow is a red flag in a friendship that he has with Johnny. Now when he’s older, he started to become like Honey, an entitled colonizer that was supposed to leave this country years ago. Overall, it was an okay book. Its not for me but i can understand why some love it.
to come from some deep recess, something locked away so safely that even he may have forgotten its origin. It was at that moment that I realised, with absolute clarity, that I did not know him at all. But then again I think I have always known that intimacy between us was impossible. That was why I wanted him: he would always be alien to me. And worse, it was I who pretended otherwise. I said things I now know were untrue. 'We are kindred spirits, I told him as we held hands by the river, not a hundred yards from my parents' disapproving gaze. He looked at me with innocent eyes and believed every word I said. Then, as now, there lies an unfordable divide between us. Even Mother, in her own bizarre way, is at one with Father. She understands what he wants of her and vice versa. They each supply what the other needs. That is marriage.
- The Harmony Silk Factories by Tash Aw
.
I have read we, the survivors written by Tash Aw and loving it. Then, i decided to read his first book, The Harmony Silk Factory and ended up disliking it. Tash Aw can write and i think anyone who’ve read at least one of his books will agree with me on this. What i find lacking is the inconsistency of the character building? especially in describing Johnny Lim (the tenacious salesman versus the reserved / silent guy) and some plot were jarring - does this road tripping described by Snow in her diary even possible in the midst of world war 2. It was quite bizarre (at least for me). However, i am not here to nitpick everything - i do enjoy the historical part of it especially from Jasper’s (Johnny’s Son) Narration . Its like seeing Johnny Lim and Malaya shifted throughout certain periods side by side. Both were hardened by complex circumstances and ended up moulded into the identity that they were known today. As for Snow, Johnny’s mother - her observation of Johnny is almost contradictory with Jasper. BUT i believe this is intended by the author as to demonstrate that human characters is different depending on the environment and how perception by a person can vary. Snow felt Johnny is keeping her close but at the same time, emotionally distant with her. She married the man but she didn’t know him. She was kept out of the dark almost all the time. I usually love diary entry form in a novel but with Snow, i felt like she added nothing to the story. Her part is where i felt long winded and i wanted to finish her part ASAP. Dont get me wrong, i was rooting for Snow and Johnny - when Snow recalled her first time meeting Johnny in the rain, observing his skin tone and facial expression, you can almost felt that powerful gaze in that particulqr page. The last one, to conclude who Johnny is, we were brought into the POV of Peter, Johnny’s best friend. I was constantly guessing who is the real father of Jasper because i am sure as hell its not Johnny. It was revealed at the last chapter of the book. As for Peter, it almost like a disgruntled lover / pompous whiney old man chapter. He is insecure of Kunichiwa but he never thought loving Snow is a red flag in a friendship that he has with Johnny. Now when he’s older, he started to become like Honey, an entitled colonizer that was supposed to leave this country years ago. Overall, it was an okay book. Its not for me but i can understand why some love it.