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A review by autumn_alwaysreadingseason
The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
1930s Malaysia. A doctor dies and his houseboy, Ren, is tasked with finding his severed finger and returning it to his grave within 49 days to make his body whole so his soul can rest. Meanwhile, Ji Lin, an apprentice dressmaker takes up a part-time job in a dance hall to pay off her mother's Mahjong debt in secret so her husband doesn't have another excuse to beat her.
Ren and Ji Lin's stories intertwine as they both become involved with stolen fingers, the myth of a man-eating tiger, and spirits.
It took me a little bit to get into this book as Ren and Ji Lin's stories start out separately. Ji Lin quickly ends up with a severed finger in a glass jar and the reader thinks it's probably the one that Ren is looking for, so we're just waiting for them to come together somehow. There's also the fact that Ren and his twin brother, and Ji Lin and her stepbrother are named after 4 of the 5 Confucian virtues; who's the fifth?
Everything comes together well and I loved the surreal, myth/folklore aspects of this book. There's also commentary about a woman's image--Ji Lin kept her dance hall job a secret because she would be looked down upon and seem less virtuous or "used"--and job prospects--Ji Lin does not want to be a dressmaker but her stepfather will not allow her to continue her schooling. There's a questionable relationship between Ji Lin and her stepbrother that takes up quite a bit of plot and was not as enjoyable as the other parts.
Ren and Ji Lin's stories intertwine as they both become involved with stolen fingers, the myth of a man-eating tiger, and spirits.
It took me a little bit to get into this book as Ren and Ji Lin's stories start out separately. Ji Lin quickly ends up with a severed finger in a glass jar and the reader thinks it's probably the one that Ren is looking for, so we're just waiting for them to come together somehow. There's also the fact that Ren and his twin brother, and Ji Lin and her stepbrother are named after 4 of the 5 Confucian virtues; who's the fifth?
Everything comes together well and I loved the surreal, myth/folklore aspects of this book. There's also commentary about a woman's image--Ji Lin kept her dance hall job a secret because she would be looked down upon and seem less virtuous or "used"--and job prospects--Ji Lin does not want to be a dressmaker but her stepfather will not allow her to continue her schooling. There's a questionable relationship between Ji Lin and her stepbrother that takes up quite a bit of plot and was not as enjoyable as the other parts.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror
Minor: Incest