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4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
I loved this book. It was a beautiful and engaging story, but it also created a feeling of stillness and serenity as you read. I was so intrigued with the theme of Japanese gardens that I started to imagine creating one in my back yard.
The story takes place in the Cameron Highlands in the hills of Malaysia. It revolves around a former judge and the owners of a tea plantation that together lived though a time of violence known as the emergency, when government troops were fighting a civil war against communist guerillas. One of the central characters is a Japanese gardener who was once the emperor's gardener and has created a beautiful Japanese garden surrounding his home.
The story brings up issues of racism, recovering from war wounds and the committment to nationality and love. In this way, it reflects some of the themes of the English Patient and Casablanca when men and women had to choose between love of country and love of another. In this case, the sectrets were kept for many years before the truth finally comes out.
The story takes place in the Cameron Highlands in the hills of Malaysia. It revolves around a former judge and the owners of a tea plantation that together lived though a time of violence known as the emergency, when government troops were fighting a civil war against communist guerillas. One of the central characters is a Japanese gardener who was once the emperor's gardener and has created a beautiful Japanese garden surrounding his home.
The story brings up issues of racism, recovering from war wounds and the committment to nationality and love. In this way, it reflects some of the themes of the English Patient and Casablanca when men and women had to choose between love of country and love of another. In this case, the sectrets were kept for many years before the truth finally comes out.
Gorgeously written book. From the first pages the author creates such a mood - slow, lush, sad, restrained and yet bursting. It’s a slow read. Dense writing, deep emotions evoked, and lots of side trips to Wikipedia and translation apps to understand the Malayan history, culture and the Japanese language.
This book has a slow start but once I got into the feeling and rythm of the writing I was hooked. The language is truly beautiful: I could picture all the details of the garden and Yun Ling's other surroundings. The story has so many layers that I think multiple readings will have you notice details that enable you to have a new or different take on the story. The book has some flaws but I really enjoyed reading it!
The very beautiful and elegant prose is not enough to hook me into the novel. The pacing is too slow (the first half moved at a glacial pace that I nearly abandoned the novel), and the discussions on Japanese art that go on and on somehow feel artificial. Still, I found the discussions on Malaysian history during and after World War II interesting as well as that part about the kamikaze pilot and his male lover who is a senior officer in the war. The writing is breathtaking, but I needed some meat to devour in the story to make me love it.
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Beautifully written, horrific at times and a very slow read for me. It took me maybe 4-5 months to read it!
The Garden of Evening Mists is beautifully written. It is on the short list of five contenders for 2012's Man Booker Prize, so the quality of writing should not come as a surprise, but I found it a wonderful read. The story itself is pedestrian, but the writing, character development and insight into the power of memory make this an outstanding book.
Enjoyed this book with its focus on Japanese Gardens, since I spent time in Japan studying JG. I wonder if someone who has not can still get the same sense.
It is also a good mystery.
It also explores the phenomena of prisoners who fall in love with their captures. In this case, the whole culture.
I gave only 4 stars for some not believable details. For a book that is so careful with detail, it seems out of place.
The narrator is TERRIBLE! She tries, and fails, to do too many accents and it was sooooo annoying, I almost did not continue.
The book was worth it.
It is also a good mystery.
It also explores the phenomena of prisoners who fall in love with their captures. In this case, the whole culture.
I gave only 4 stars for some not believable details. For a book that is so careful with detail, it seems out of place.
The narrator is TERRIBLE! She tries, and fails, to do too many accents and it was sooooo annoying, I almost did not continue.
The book was worth it.
I want to start reading this book all over again. I didn't want it to end. Although it was about war and violence, it left me with a feeling of peace . . . .