With intrigue, romance and suspense to rival Gone With the Wind, Amber Road tells an epic story of one woman's indomitable spirit against the backdrop of World War Two.
As an empire is swept away, a young woman's world is ripped apart...
It's 1941 and seventeen-year-old Victoria Khoo lives in luxury in colonial Singapore. Her carefree days are spent fantasising about marrying Sebastian Boustead, scion of a great British merchant family, and becoming mistress of his imposing mansion on Amber Road.
Not even Sebastian's arrival from London with his new fiancée, Elizabeth Nightingale, can dampen her dreams…
Then the war reaches Asia and ‘Fortress Singapore' abruptly surrenders to the Japanese. As the inhabitants are deserted by Britain, Victoria is forced to protect both her family and her rival, Elizabeth, from the cruelty of the occupation.
Victoria's old life has vanished in a heartbeat - but nothing will stand in the way of her destiny. Not the war. Not Elizabeth. And certainly not Joe Spencer, the charismatic Australian who both charms and infuriates her at every turn… - See more at: http://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/b...
Boyd Anderson spent several years as a creative director in advertising, winning many awards in New York, Cannes, London, Los Angeles and Sydney. Boyd now writes historical fiction. Amber Road is his fourth novel, following Children of the Dust, Ludo and Errol, Fidel and the Cuban Rebel Girls. He lives in Sydney.
Before reading this book, I had never realised just how badly off Singapore was during WWII so that was an interesting facet of the story.
I had mixed feelings about this book. I didn't like the main character, Victoria, for the most part. She thought she was in love with the boy next door and, despite his not returning her advances and even bringing a fiance back from England, she kept on and on about how she knew him best of anyone and they were meant to be together. She also seemed to be trying to be something she wasn't - she referred to a ladies' manual of proper ways to behave and I just felt like she was trying too hard and putting on a performance. So that annoyed me, although she improved after the war broke out, and she had other things on her mind than her feelings for the next door neighbour and behaving properly (like staying alive). However, the theme of her love for the neighbour continued sporadically throughout the book, and it annoyed me each time it came up.
I liked the way some of the chapters began with a page or two written through her brother's eyes and then continued from Victoria's point of view. It gave a different viewpoint of some issues - like Victoria's running after the neighbour and what her brother was doing during the war (because Victoria and her family had no idea where he was or what he was doing).
It was a fairly easy read, and I don't feel like it was a waste of time, but I'm not driven to search out any more of Boyd Anderson's work, if any exists.
Boyd Anderson has created a wonderful rendition on the Japanese attack on Singapore and its surrounds, he has created wonderful characters, although very naive ones and he has provided wondrous sensory imagery for the reader to indulge in this world so different from our own.
However, this novel is far too long and includes some scenes that, in my opinion should have been cut in editing, there was no need for the rice carting detail at the end of the novel, I found myself having to go back pages to fully understand what was going on and why things were happening, and for me, that was a huge let down to a great book.
The language is entertaining, it allows for the many different languages used within this novel which makes the novel seem so much more real, than just another work of historical fiction.
Although it does lag towards the end and there are so many characters with similar names that make things a little too much confusing, this is a great novel, a wonderful read. It is both uplifting and heart-wrenching and that makes it wonderful.
It is 1941 Singapore, and the Japanese invasion is looming. A young, shallow, seventeen year-old, Victoria Khoo is preparing to be re-united with Sebastian Boustead. Sebastian has been studying in Cambridge, England and is returning home for the first time in a year. Victoria in is love with Sebastian and believes it is her destiny to marry him. Unfortunately for Victoria, Sebastian has brought his fiancée, Elizabeth with him. At Sebastian’s engagement party, Victoria meets Joe Spencer, a laid-back Australian who has come to Singapore as an exporter. When the Japanese begin bombing Singapore, Victoria’s world is turned upside-down. While her family moves to Johore, away from immediate danger, Victoria stays behind in Singapore with her father’s second wife, and looks after her grandmother. Victoria is obsessed with the English way of life – she is constantly reading Manners for Women, a manual of etiquette. I found it interesting that many Chinese people living in Singapore during the Second World War considered themselves to be more English than Chinese. Victoria and her siblings attended English schools, spoke English at home, and dressed in the English fashions of the day. The one instance where they didn’t feel English was the fact that their father had three wives – as was the Chinese custom. I have read a lot of books set during World War Two, but most have been set in Germany or England. This is the first one I’ve read that has been set in Singapore so I was very interested to read about the Japanese occupation of Singapore. Victoria is a self-centred young girl who is forced to grow up quickly and use all of her resourcefulness to survive. I was often frustrated with her character. About two-thirds of the way through the book I thought she would come to her senses, forget about Sebastian, and fall in love with Joe, and while there is a love triangle for most of the book, she can never really move past Sebastian. I loved the character of Joe with his laid-back air and his sarcastic humour. He and Victoria end up going through so much of the war together, and I was really pulling for them as a couple. Alas, without giving too much away, I was quietly devastated by the ending. The romantic in me wanted the epic fairytale! On another note, the cover is gorgeous, and definitely highlights the exotic location of the story.
I think I liked this book mostly because I met the author at a Monday Morning Lecture and it takes place in Singapore during the war years. I enjoy the stories of Singapore's history as I knew so little about it before moving here. The story of Victoria was interesting but I found her to be annoying in her inability to leave her childhood fantasy of marrying Sebastian behind, even when their circumstances change and she falls in love with another. She was so, so juvenile (which we were constantly reminded of by her use of "so, so" before descriptions) and it got on my nerves. Also, the characters that came into and through her life weren't followed up on in a way that was satisfying, though it was realistic in that was written mostly from her viewpoint (and by recollections of her brother) and not by an omniscient narrator.
Overall I did like it, and having read many books on this subject it is certainly better than others I've read.
There's only one Gone With the Wind. And that's really the way it should stay. I had a love/hate relationship with this book - it's huge at over 500 pages & it could definitely have done with a solid pruning and it's not a great work of literature, but I still wanted to finish it & find out what happened to the characters, even though if you've read or seen Gone With The Wind it will come as no surprise. And unfortunately, Victoria and Joe just don't have the same charm or illicit the same sympathy as Scarlett and Rhett. But a great idea to set it in this place and time.
I was completely engrossed in this book from the beginning until the last page. But on that very last page I found myself heart broken, I like my love stories to have a happy ending. Or at least any concrete ending. But with this book I turned over the last page expecting more, this was followed by some frantic searching and re reading. But I could not find the ending I was looking for and was left disappointed.
I read this book because I was interested to learn more about the fall of Singapore but to be frank I was glad to finish it. It went on and on towards the end and I felt it jumped all over the place with little cohesion. It was as if the author had gathered so many stories and bits of information about those times and he wanted to cram it all into his novel. I found the main character, Victoria Khoi, totally unauthentic, a Scarlet o’Hara clone. She begins as an entitled, cosseted 17 year old with disdain and lack of empathy for the events surrounding her. I found she remained the same throughout the book except when the author used her as a conduit to share an incident where she appeared useful.
At the beginning of this book, seventeen year-old Victoria speaks and acts as a child and I nearly gave up on it. However, it did improve as she matured and I guess it was the author's intent to speak as a naive teenager. I was interested in events in Singapore during the war and Victoria's efforts to support herself and her family. During the war years she learns the art of survival and grows up very quickly, whilst still harbouring unrealistic hopes for a lost childhood love. Overall, quite an interesting read.
The first few chapters were hard to read, but probably because I am never inclined towards the lifestyle of the rich. So when war broke and the story truly begun, those pages kept me captivated for hours long. At the end of the 590++ pages, I fell in love with one person: the writer - Boyd Anderson. For he wrote like a woman, peeling layers and layers of emotions and thoughts in his characters, creating friends in all of them for me.
I don't know how to express this book without GIFs nor images so if y'all are interested in my review of this book I think you guys would like to visit my blog https://essay3152001.wixsite.com/book...
I have a love hate relationship with this book istg.
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Australia for an advanced reader copy of this title.
In 1941 Singapore, 17 year old Chinese-Singaporean Victoria Khoo lives a life of leisure and luxury. Her biggest concern is her dream to become the wife of childhood friend Sebastian and mistress of his family’s colonial mansion on Amber Road. Even when Sebastian returns from Cambridge to announce his engagement to the English Elizabeth Nightingale, Victoria’s dreams aren’t derailed. But war is coming and the course of the next 5 years will change all of their lives.
I had a bit of a love-hate relationship with Amber Road. I think Victoria is one of the most irritating literary characters I have ever come across and it took strength as the reader not to hate her. She starts the novel as a spoilt young miss, for whom everything is ‘so, so’ something. She is obsessed with Sebastian to the point of ruin, even after a five year period of war where she is forced to grow up very fast and it is shown that Sebastian isn’t really the dream boat she’d made him into. It’s easy to see that the annoying qualities of the main character are a purposeful move by Anderson, but I think he may have taken it to far. For me, though by the end of the book Victoria has become a savvy, strong, purposeful, empathising character and I found a grudging respect for her, she never truly redeemed herself. It’s one of the few books I’ve ever been pleased about the main character not getting a truly happy ending. There were also certain elements of the book I never quite ‘got,’ such as the chapter prologues by Victoria’s brother George, who is a truly minor character, which never seemed necessary or to advance the plot.
On the other hand, Anderson’s imagery is really quite stunning. There were pieces of description that I had to pause and read twice just to fully take it in, such as the initial description of Emerald Hill, where Victoria lives for a time during the war. Anderson’s depiction of the Japanese invasion of Singapore was respectfully done, while truly highlighting the horrors of the period. Asia’s role in WWII is not a subject I know an awful lot about, and this book has made me want to find out more. Aside from Victoria, there are some well drawn and very memorable characters. The Australian salesman Joe was obviously going to be significant, but his character evolves in such a way that he still takes you by surprise. Elizabeth, Sebastian’s English fiance who for various reasons ends up being sheltered by Victoria for a majority of the war is a character that Anderson forces us to re-examine at the last moments in a truly horrifying way and her experience of the war is probably one that will stay with me longer than Victoria’s.
Overall, Amber Road is a readable book in a not-often touched setting, but might just have to many flaws to make it memorable.
An historical, romantic fiction narrated through the eyes of a naïve 17 year old Peranakan girl from Singapore. It is set during WWII, particularly during the harsh Japanese occupation of Singapore. I loved this book and I thought the author captured the feelings of the main character, Victoria, very well. Victoria has an unyielding love for her neighbour, Sebastian Boustead. Victoria’s love for Sebastian never waivers, even after the introduction of his fiancée, Elizabeth. The relationship that Victoria and Elizabeth develop sometimes appears false on Victoria’s part as you feel she is always scheming to get her man. Victoria has to grow up fast and become a hardened survivor, which does not allow her character to appeal to all readers. The beginning of some chapters was narrated by Victoria’s brother, George, and from this you get another point of view of Victoria.
Victoria is so blinded by her unrequited love for Sebastian that she does not realise Joseph Spencer is her one true love until it is too late. The relationship between Victoria and Joseph develops at a subtle pace, with his coming to her aid throughout her time in Malaya and after the Japanese have surrendered.
Throughout the story Victoria refers to a book by a Mrs Humphry on how one should portray herself to be the quintessential English girl. These little anecdotes do help to bring light and humour to the main character showing her love for all things English and her disregard for the traditional Chinese customs of her heritage.
At times I thought the book was a little slow because of all the detail and historical significance but I am unsure if that is because I currently live in Singapore and have read a lot about these years during the war and the occupation, therefore, some of the information was not new to me. Notwithstanding, if the detail was less it would be an injustice for the emotion and story.
From start to finish I felt the emotions and hardships of the war and this was shown with the development and maturity of Victoria’s character. However, rather than living for ‘the now’, Victoria continually shows her somewhat naïve side by planning for her dream future of a life with Sebastian. All this makes for an interesting ending! Real characters and associates of the Japanese military were used throughout the book and this gives the book a more realistic feel ie you sometimes think you are reading a biography.
The starting was kind of boring and confusing, but it was the start of the war that brought the story to life. Brought up in a wealthy Straits Chinese family in colonial Singapore, 17 years old Victoria Khoo spent her days fantasising of becoming the mistress of a grand mansion of Amber Road, through a marriage to Sebastian Boustead, the descendant of the great British merchant family. However, the arrival of Sebastian with his fiancée from London, Elizabeth Nightingale, shattered Victoria's dreams. When Singapore fell into the hands of the Japanese, thus marked the era of World War 2, Victoria was forced to protect her family and her rival in the love triangle, from the cruelty of the Japanese occupation. Victoria was forced into a "marriage of convenience" to Kee Onn, to keep herself safe as somebody's "wife", yet still hoping for her dreams to come true after the war would end. Unknowingly, her love life took a turn for a twist when an Australian, Joe Spencer came into the picture.
This is definitely the Gone With the Wind of Asia and the Second World War. Found this to be interesting as I am Malaysian and this gave me an insight into what happened during WWII in this area albeit from a fictional perspective. Unfortunately the main character Victoria Khoo is the typical Scarlett to Joseph Spencer's Rhett. To the end, she couldn't see how much he cared for her, all the while pining after Sebastian Boustead. Couldn't quite understand why the start of each chapter starts with the words/recollections of George Khoo especially when he didn't feature prominently in the novel. The ending definitely leaves opportunity for a sequel.
Will I be reading it, should it be written? Definitely.
I wanted to like this book. But I really did not get immersed in it. The characters seemed very cardboard, and I kept seeing scenes which could have been so much more dramatic but instead seemed like missed opportunities. The main character Victoria I did not like at all. Spoilt 17 year at the outbreak of WW2 in Singapore, who has her dreams, that she just won't shake when circumstances change. She is aloof, a bit of a snob and aware of class distinctions. And always concerned about appearances, does he have the right coloured dress, what will people think? And after the war is over, she starts up all over again!
A historical-fiction that is closer to home. I've read many versions of WW2 fiction from other characters in other countries, but this being an account of a Singaporean in a time where Singapore and Malaysia were united made it more relatable for me.
A well written and well put together story of Victoria Khoo and how the war made her grow up. One thing I didn't like was that she kept making the same mistake over and over regarding her 'love' up until the book finishes. Bit repetitive.
And also after the war ended the story kind of drifted a bit.
Reminded me of Bryce Courtenay's but not as detailed and dramatic. I wanted to like the main character but found it quite hard. Started to like her during the last part of the war and when she tried to rebuild business but just couldn't quite get there. The historical background is interested because of where I came from but the plot was too jumpy and not enough details to get my teeth into.
I felt Victoria was shallow, and didn't want to realise the realities of war. Although she wanted to know Joe, she never gave up her dream of wanting Sebastian, who never gave up wanting Elizabeth. Unfortunately she was to learn the hard way.
Loved reading about Singapore during WW2 from the point of view of civilians. Although light and fluffy at times, and overly romantic, it was a charming story and by half way through this huge book I was hooked and couldn't put it down.
I just hated Victoria's shallow and naive character. Otherwise it was nice reading about Singapore's history and all the familiar places on the island. The book has a little too much similarities to Noel Barber's Tanamerah.
To me this novel was just average. It was an interesting story of war and relationships but somehow I could not quite identify much with the characters. I felt that the author may have been trying too hard to draw the reader in but the characterization remained rather two-dimensional. Pity.
An enjoyable and engaging book. It was interesting to see the Japanese invasion of Singapore through the eyes of the local people and the impact that it had on their lives. I will hunt out more of Boyd Anderson's books now.
This book was okay but not really my thing. I'm not huge on romances. The main character got on my nerves a bit. It was also probably a lot longer than it needed to be. The writing was good though and the imagery was great.
This novel was way too long. Better editing would have helped to trim and uplift the story. Overall it was just an okay book for a rainy day when there is nothing much on tv.