A review by paigewetzel
The House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng

emotional informative reflective 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? It's complicated

3.5

I was really excited when I started this book, ready to be transported to the time, and place, and communities of the story. Eng did this so well, carefully describing the flora and humidity, the landscape and weather realities that shaped life in 1920s Penang. I enjoyed the different timelines and parallel stories. But for me, I had come to the book wanting more of… something. I think I was waiting for a bigger moment for one of the characters, for a resolution, for a moment of climax within one of the timelines. More me the novel felt like modest waves coming in and out of the beach, rather than a crashing crescendo. I am also unsure about how I feel regarding Lesley’s decisions, throughout the book. Her entry point into the Chinese revolution felt a little forced and surprisingly, not within the scope of what her character had built to that point. But I appreciated hearing from her perspective as well as Willie’s; his perspective added depth and breadth to the story that was refreshing and unique.