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donnaadouglas's review
2.0
This novel, set in Hong Kong, contains two main story arcs. The first follows Claire, a newly married English woman who has arrived in Hong Kong in the post-war era and takes up a job as a piano teacher to the daughter of an influential local family. The other story follows Will Truesdale, the driver for the same 'influential family' who embarks upon an affair with Claire. However, his story starts pre-war, and tells of his own first experiences in Hong Kong during the war.
Initially I expected this story to be no more than a tragic war-torn love story, but it actually became more of a mystery as the story progressed. Will Truesdale's past life involved a Eurasian woman named Trudy, and her involvement in a wartime underworld became apparent in the developing story.
I did not enjoy this novel. Unfortunately the 'mystery' aspects of the story seemed too convoluted, and I didn't see the relevance of the Claire character, her main purpose seemed to be purely to add even more of an element of mystery to an already confusing plot, and I felt she was more of a hindrance to the uncovering of the story than a help to it.
I also felt that we weren't really given any great insight into any of the main characters. They were hard to relate to as we weren't really told anything about them. The whole novel seemed hurried, like it was underdeveloped, and the characters really didn't stand out as memorable because of this. I wouldn't recommend this novel - there are similar stories out there of a much better quality!
Initially I expected this story to be no more than a tragic war-torn love story, but it actually became more of a mystery as the story progressed. Will Truesdale's past life involved a Eurasian woman named Trudy, and her involvement in a wartime underworld became apparent in the developing story.
I did not enjoy this novel. Unfortunately the 'mystery' aspects of the story seemed too convoluted, and I didn't see the relevance of the Claire character, her main purpose seemed to be purely to add even more of an element of mystery to an already confusing plot, and I felt she was more of a hindrance to the uncovering of the story than a help to it.
I also felt that we weren't really given any great insight into any of the main characters. They were hard to relate to as we weren't really told anything about them. The whole novel seemed hurried, like it was underdeveloped, and the characters really didn't stand out as memorable because of this. I wouldn't recommend this novel - there are similar stories out there of a much better quality!
sarahinthelibrary_'s review
5.0
I pretty much devoured this in a couple of sittings, staying up until 3am last night - absolutely hooked. As a huge historical fiction fan, this was right up my alley. I go through reading slumps on a regular basis, but The Piano Teacher brought me right back out of my latest one. I am excited to read more of Lee's work :)
smjohns91's review
3.0
Equal parts Somerset Maugham's The Painted Veil and Kwan's Crazy Rich Asians, it's a simple enough love story and coming of age in a foreign land novel. And easy quick read with nice details.
bmg20's review
2.0
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I didn’t enjoy this quite as much as I had hoped. The story was riveting; however, the characters were tremendously shallow, hard to understand, and extremely hard to like.
The Storyline
The story switches points of view between 1953 and 1942 when World War II has struck Hong Kong.
In 1953, Claire and Martin Pendleton, a recently married English couple, have moved to Hong Kong. Claire becomes a piano teacher teaching a young girl named Locket. Her parents, the Chens, employ Will Truesdale as their driver whom Claire eventually begins to have an affair with.
In 1942, Trudy Liang, a Eurasian, and Will Truesdale, an Englishman, are lovers. WWII strikes Hong Kong, Will ends up in a POW camp, and Trudy forms some treacherous alliances in order to keep him alive and as safe as possible.
Thoughts
The women in this story were borderline impossible to like. Claire’s ‘habit’ of stealing various items from the Chen household was the most strange and it was never really explained. There would just be occasional references to her dropping things into her purse… maybe it was explained, I may have simply missed it.
Everyone seemed to be enthralled with Trudy and I couldn’t understand why. She was charming in an overly obnoxious way and seemed to have quite a big head.
‘People have always expected me to be bad and thoughtless and shallow, and I do my best to accommodate their expectations. I sink to their expectations, one might say. I think it’s the ultimate suggestibility of most of us. We are social beings. We live in a social world with other people and so we wish to be as they see us, even if it is detrimental to ourselves.’
As the story progresses you get the whole story of what she ended up doing because of her love for Will and you can’t help but dislike her a little less, except not really. I had an emotional disconnect with this story and despite Trudy’s protestations of love for Will, I couldn’t see it. Essentially, I found Trudy’s actions to be more selfish than not, that all she did was to protect herself.
Bit of a disappointment from what I had anticipated.
I didn’t enjoy this quite as much as I had hoped. The story was riveting; however, the characters were tremendously shallow, hard to understand, and extremely hard to like.
The Storyline
The story switches points of view between 1953 and 1942 when World War II has struck Hong Kong.
In 1953, Claire and Martin Pendleton, a recently married English couple, have moved to Hong Kong. Claire becomes a piano teacher teaching a young girl named Locket. Her parents, the Chens, employ Will Truesdale as their driver whom Claire eventually begins to have an affair with.
In 1942, Trudy Liang, a Eurasian, and Will Truesdale, an Englishman, are lovers. WWII strikes Hong Kong, Will ends up in a POW camp, and Trudy forms some treacherous alliances in order to keep him alive and as safe as possible.
Thoughts
The women in this story were borderline impossible to like. Claire’s ‘habit’ of stealing various items from the Chen household was the most strange and it was never really explained. There would just be occasional references to her dropping things into her purse… maybe it was explained, I may have simply missed it.
Everyone seemed to be enthralled with Trudy and I couldn’t understand why. She was charming in an overly obnoxious way and seemed to have quite a big head.
‘People have always expected me to be bad and thoughtless and shallow, and I do my best to accommodate their expectations. I sink to their expectations, one might say. I think it’s the ultimate suggestibility of most of us. We are social beings. We live in a social world with other people and so we wish to be as they see us, even if it is detrimental to ourselves.’
As the story progresses you get the whole story of what she ended up doing because of her love for Will and you can’t help but dislike her a little less, except not really. I had an emotional disconnect with this story and despite Trudy’s protestations of love for Will, I couldn’t see it. Essentially, I found Trudy’s actions to be more selfish than not, that all she did was to protect herself.
Bit of a disappointment from what I had anticipated.
nagam's review
3.0
Certainly an interesting story. I am not a history buff, therefore didn't really know what happened in Hong Kong during world war II. This story was interesting (though sometimes a bit frustrating) because I was also learning while relaxing with this book. I felt a little lost at times as I tried to weave the two stories together. Once it finally all came together at the end of the book, I was pretty disapponted because the book had moved SO slowly and then WHAM it was over. I was most anticipating the end and the author sped through it too quickly. The author is a brilliant writer, but I felt like I had to think a lot through after the last page because things wrapped up so quickly.
emmamgregory's review
3.0
An easy to read romp through Hong Kong during the 2nd world war and then a decade later. I learned a little easy history which I do enjoy in dumbed down easy to digest portions. I couldn't give this book more than 3 stars as despite enjoying it the writing was very simplified.
bookishblond's review
2.0
This book could have been SO good. Just look at the beautiful cover art! I had such high expectations for this story, fueled mainly by the partial review by Elle magazine featured on the cover: "Riveting... This season's Atonement." EXCUSE ME. How DARE that dumb magazine compare this beach read to one of Ian McEwan's masterpieces? The ending just fizzled out. In fact, the entire last third of the book was fizzling. No me gusta.
carole888's review
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This gave me an insight into Hong Kong during the Japanese occupation .... The story told, alternates between two periods that are separated by a span of 12 years.
emilyisreading2024's review
4.0
I thought I would really like this book. I wanted to like it. However, I was disappointed. It's historical fiction and there's a mystery component, things I normally enjoy, but I didn't have any empathy for the characters and simply didn't care too much about what happened to them. The ending seemed pretty predictable too.