A sweeping tale of secrets and survival set against the mystical backdrop of Nepal, and the tropical heat of 1940s Malaya.
In the heart of bustling Kathmandu, Chloe Rai's quaint bookshop is a sanctuary for those seeking solace within the pages of timeworn stories. But when she discovers a collection of letters hidden within the crumbling walls of a forgotten Rana palace, her world begins to intertwine with a narrative from a different time and place.
Penned in the 1940s by a woman named Alice Lacey, the letters tell the story of the Malayan Emergency, a time of turmoil and conflict. As Alice's life becomes intertwined with that of Anil, a Gurkha officer, their bond is tested by the chaos and violence surrounding them. Chloe's discoveries not only reveal family secrets, but also mirror her own struggles in the present. As she delves deeper into Alice's story, she begins to understand the power of the past in shaping the present.
With a rich cultural backdrop and a poignant exploration of friendship, resilience, and truth, 'The Bookseller of Kathmandu' is a beautifully woven tale that showcases the enduring power of storytelling. Join Chloe on a journey through time as she uncovers the truth and learns to navigate the complexities of her own life.
If you enjoy captivating storytelling, then you won't want to miss 'The Bookseller of Kathmandu.' And if you loved 'The Fortune Teller of Kathmandu,' then you will be enthralled by Chloe and Alice's intertwined stories...
The Bookseller of Kathmandu is another stunning book from Ann Bennett. She writes so descriptively, totally immersing the reader in the culture of both Nepal and Malaya, that your senses go into overdrive. My childhood was spent in India, and Alice felt like a kindred soul to me. Her experiences during the Malayan Emergency were terrifying, from her abusive husband to the terrorist attacks.
If you've ever been to the Himalayan regions of India and Nepal, reading this book will bring back fond memories of the food, people, and mountains, with the added bonus of learning a bit of history. And if you haven't yet been to this region, you'll want to make travel plans. I highly recommend The Bookseller of Kathmandu...I loved it.
A brilliant book by a well established author whose historical detail can be relied upon
Alice is the main protagonist
She is a sympathetic, innocent , rather naive and gentle character who draws us in immediately
It was also great to catch up on Chloe from a previous novel , at a later point in her life and see that she had found happiness in kathmandu with Kiran - and owning a book shop - always my dream occupation!
The setting for the story ,during the "Emergency" in Malaya in the forties was fascinating and I supplemented the book with some reading on the history surrounding the events .
A tragic conflict which was but a small part of the "war" against communism that raged in the post war years .
Sadly Not everyone's war ended in 1945
I was enthralled by the quirks of history as outlined in the book - how the MLNA were supplied with arms and trained by the British Army and how they subsequently used those arms to mount attacks on those who trained and armed them .
There are so many examples littered through our history books of the cruel ironies and twists of fate that manifest in conflicts through the generations and the divided and shifting loyalties that no one can foresee.
The tragedy of how the naive and innocent can be used by terrorists is also a never ending theme in conflict . Alice sadly was a victim of this and of the social norms prevalent in society and her story is an illustration of the suffering of victims caught up when internal conflict breaks out in a country
The complexity of the dilemmas faced by the protagonists in a divided society make for a compelling narrative and I think most readers will have realised what was happening before Alice herself found out adding to the dramatic irony of the story
The protagonists were well described and I couldn't put my "reader" down until i knew how they fared.
I so love the vivid descriptions of the exotic places and feel that whilst reading the book I am transported to a different time and place.
I Highly recommend this book
it's compelling , evocative and a pleasure to read
Enjoy !!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
❤️ Blurb - A sweeping tale of secrets and survival set against the mystical backdrop of Nepal, and the tropical heat of 1940s Malaya. In the heart of bustling Kathmandu, Chloe Rai's quaint bookshop is a sanctuary for those seeking solace within the pages of timeworn stories. But when she discovers a collection of letters hidden within the crumbling walls of a forgotten Rana palace, her world begins to intertwine with a narrative from a different time and place. Penned in the 1940s by a woman named Alice Lacey, the letters tell the story of the Malayan Emergency, a time of turmoil and conflict. As Alice's life becomes intertwined with that of Anil, a Gurkha officer, their bond is tested by the chaos and violence surrounding them. Chloe's discoveries not only reveal family secrets, but also mirror her own struggles in the present. As she delves deeper into Alice's story, she begins to understand the power of the past in shaping the present. With a rich cultural backdrop and a poignant exploration of friendship, resilience, and truth, 'The Bookseller of Kathmandu' is a beautifully woven tale that showcases the enduring power of storytelling. Join Chloe on a journey through time as she uncovers the truth and learns to navigate the complexities of her own life. If you enjoy captivating storytelling, then you won't want to miss 'The Bookseller of Kathmandu.' And if you loved 'The Fortune Teller of Kathmandu,' then you will be enthralled by Chloe and Alice's intertwined stories... 💜 Review - This was such a beautiful and well written novel. I was drawn into the story from the very first page and I kept reading until the end as I wanted to know what happened. I loved Chloe and Alice's characters and I enjoyed following their journeys through the story. I also loved the place settings in the book. I can't recommend the novel enough. I look forward to reading more by the author. 💝 Thank you to Rachel's Random Resources, the author Ann Bennett and the publisher for my copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
This book is wonderfully researched and moves from present day Nepal to 1940s Malaya and post colonial India. The transitions are smooth and the reader is equally invested in both Alice's story as well as Chloe's. when a relative of her Nepalese husband offers Chloe his father's library of books for her bookshop, she is determined to find out more about Alice and her relationship with Anil. There are many parallels between the two stories as they come together beautifully at the end. The descriptions are well drawn and invite the reader to put Nepal on their bucket list.
Once again Ann Bennett has written a compelling story set in the Far East. I had met the protagonist, Chloe Rai, in “The Fortuneteller of Kathmandu” so it was pleasing to see her happily running a treasured bookshop in the heart of old Kathmandu.
In this novel she becomes involved in an intriguing discovery made via her husband’s distant cousin, Rajesh. After the death of his father, Anil, a former Gurkha officer, Rajesh is clearing the Rana palace where he grew up. Among the books are many on Gurkha military history which he wishes to give to Chloe for her bookshop. While exploring the books she finds a letter from an Englishwoman called Alice, sent to Anil from postwar Malaya.
Entering the world of the Malayan Emergency in the late 1940s we become involved with the lonely life of Alice, an Englishwoman brought up in India, now the wife of a rubber planter at a dangerous time when communists in the jungle were attacking British plantations. Major Anil Desai is the local officer in charge of maintaining their safety and becomes a good friend.
I soon became deeply involved in the tale of Alice, a caring but unhappy, woman and her relationship with the courteous, Anil. As Chloe in 2018 finds more letters, we learn of the increasing danger and the impossible situation both Alice and Anil were in. Meanwhile Chloe and her husband Kiran face difficulties in their relationship worsened by his need to lead tours to Everest base camp. I highly recommend this story for its fascinating revelation of a troubled historical situation as well as a touching love story sensitively interpreted by Chloe who has a foot in both cultural backgrounds.
The Bookseller Of Kathmandu by Ann Bennett is a powerful dual timeline novel that I thoroughly enjoyed. It is part of the Echoes Of The Empire series but can be read as a stand-alone. The action is set in 2018 and 1949 in Malaysia. The reader is transported back to a time of unrest and prejudice. We hear of the role of the Gurkhas in trying to stop the spread of Chinese communism. They had to guard the white estates and also break up small illegal settlements. There was inequality between the races and the sexes. Entitled white Englishmen lorded it over everyone. They considered it their ‘right’ to do so. In contrast to her dastardly and bullish husband, Alice, the leading lady in 1949 had a pure heart and a good soul. She tried to help and to ease burdens where she could. There are some hard to read scenes of domestic violence – verbal and physical. We see that the victim prefers to remain silent, fearing the judgement of others. In 2018 an elderly man is trying to piece together his father’s past after finding a diary and letters. What he uncovers is a tale of love and loss; and a father that he can be proud of. All the characters were well drawn and realistic. The leading ones were likable. I thoroughly enjoyed The Bookseller Of Kathmandu. It was a powerful tale. I received a free copy via Rachel’s Random Resources for a blog tour. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
Enthralling, riveting and exceptional storytelling.
I will try to do justice to this gripping, heart-wrenching book. From the first page to the last, it had me completely absorbed into a different world. As a lover of romance, I found the story an engrossing read and enjoyed moving effortlessly between Kathmandu 2018 and Malaya 1948. It’s painfully sad in parts but equally uplifting. Can you have both? – I’d say yes due the superb writing skill of Ms Bennett. Her attention to detail is exceptional. The detailed narrative guides you to a different continent as if you’re watching the drama unfold in front of you on a television screen. I soaked it all up in its entirety. The dialogue was skilfully written and flowed beautifully. It had everything a reader could wish for; it was powerful, atmospheric, emotional, engaging and harrowing. Suffice to say this book is superb. 5 stars do not do credit to the beautiful storytelling that the author has created for the reader – sadly I can’t award more but certainly would if I could. I’m feeling bereft now that I’ve finished it! I have received an advance copy of this book and this is my genuine review.
In the bustling heart of old Kathmandu, British-born Chloe owns a bookshop. Her husband Kiran has a distant relative Rajesh, whose father Anil recently died, leaving his palace to Rajesh. Rajesh offers a cache of books from the palace to Chloe to sell in her bookshop. Hidden letters are found among these old books, uncovering a relationship between Anil and a British woman named Alice. Back in the 1940's, Alice lived in Malaya with her husband, who was the manager of a huge tin mine. During their time there, unrest was coming to a violent head in what was called the Malay Emergency, where communist terrorists rampaged through the jungle surrounding the mine, killing mine owners and workers alike. Anil was a military guard working to ensure the safety of the mine owners' families and remove the communist terrorists. Their paths crossed in times of strife, and they developed a forbidden attraction. The letters between Alice to Anil paint an intense picture of the Malay Emergency and highlight how dangerous everyday life was then. I knew nothing about this time in history, and that's what I love most about historical fiction - there's always something more to learn.
First of all, I was lucky enough to make it into Ann's Arc reader group and got The Bookseller of Kathmandu ahead of its first printing.......lucky me!
From start to finish, I had a hard time putting this book down and getting on with other must-do things. I loved that the storyline involved the foreign lands of Nepal and Malaya and that it was set in two time periods. The author's writing is easy-reading and the plotline was full of unexpected twists and turns (which kept me turning pages). Also character development and dialogue was perfectly matched to the times involved.
If you have some 'me' time to relax and want to get lost in a good novel for a couple of hours, I'd definitely recommend this book.......it's well worth the read!
What a wonderful, poignant, immersive, transporting, STUNNING story this was! I could not put it down! Kept on thinking about it and couldn't wait to get back to it during those times I had no choice but to do other things. Both strands are so compelling. The author is so skilful at making us care for her characters so we feel part of their lives. She also draws time and place so vividly with a few well chosen words. I felt like I was there with the characters experiencing their ups and downs. Just beautiful. A book I highly recommend to everyone. It was such an absolute joy to read. I will be thinking about it for a long time. Powerful, absorbing, wonderful. LOVED it!
I am an avid reader. This book is one of the best novels that I have read lately. I loved this story and am looking forward to Ann Bennett’ next book. A book seller in Kathmandu finds some long lost love letters in some old books. These letters teller the story of an English woman living on tin mine in Maylasia who falls in love with a Gurkas soldier who is part of the British forces sent to Malaysia during the Malaysian Emergency (war) in the late 1940’s to quell the communist insurgents. It is a story of love, abuse, prejudice, respect, loss, and redemption.
Being gifted an arc from the author i was thrilled to read her latest. I absolutely love ann bennett’s novels interspersing history with fiction. This was not my favourite only bc i was annoyed with decisions made by fmc but learning about the Emergency in Malaya and the Ghurkas was fascinating .My favourite character Anil Desai made up for the depth of character if Alice Lacey. But this is only my opinion.the book is brilliant and i highly recommend.
Having read all of Ann's books I was thrilled when this came out. It is an excellent read well written and beautifully descriptive. The book tells the story of Chloe who lives in Kathmandu and owns a bookshop. She is given some letters from the 1940s and 50s from a friend. Then we discover the story of Alice who wrote the letters. And so to live, loss and adventure.
Oh this book is such a me book, I can't begin to truly explain the love I have for this book. On a dual timeline of now and the 1940s Malaysia, the correlation of the lives between Chloe and Alice was fascinating and I think the lives we live in every point in history has some links and the reltaionships and emotions that we can all truly relate too and seeing Chloe evaluate her own life as she discovers Alice's secrets is a really interesting aspect
Well, what an unexpected but wonderful surprise read this was. I had never read any Ann Bennett before but I am trying to diversify my reading, and this book did just that. It was compelling, enthralling and fascinating all at once. I don't think I have read any books set in Nepal, and this setting was utterly stunning and an amazing location to contrast the WWII happening at the time. I would definitely read more from Bennett, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
This is the first I've read from Bennett...I need to read more and I need to read them now...this was such wonderful reading!
It's the first book I've read that's been set in Malaya and Nepal. The author's descriptions were rich, and the imagery allowed me to drift into the countries and their culture.
I had no idea there was a book that preceded this one - The Fortune Teller of Kathmandu - I will be reading it very soon as I want to find out more about Chloe and her Grandmother’s past.
Ann has a knack of drawing you into the story. I love how she can have two stories intertwined through the whole book. You feel so connected to the characters. Once I started reading the book I couldn't put it down, I couldn't wait to find out how it ended for Anil and Alice, and it was an emotional rollercoaster. Can't wait for Ann's next book to be released.
Didn’t know much about the history of Kathmandu and the people before reading this book. I learned alot. The story wound through the history in an interesting way. It’s a good love story without the gushy stuff. Recommend it to the curious.
A very tender tale of two sets of lovers, one in tge 1950's and a modern day pair. Love across barriers and societal pressure. An easy read that kept my interest to the end.
What a wonderful, poignant, immersive, transporting, STUNNING story this was! I could not put it down! Kept on thinking about it and couldn't wait to get back to it during those times I had no choice but to do other things. Both strands are so compelling. The author is so skilful at making us care for her characters so we feel part of their lives. She also draws time and place so vividly with a few well chosen words. I felt like I was there with the characters experiencing their ups and downs. Just beautiful. A book I highly recommend to everyone. It was such an absolute joy to read. I will be thinking about it for a long time. Powerful, absorbing, wonderful. LOVED it!
An excellent story set in mountains and in the background of British colonial rule in Malaysia post second world war. The story builds up in bits and pieces but is riveting until the last page where two generations meet happily at the end.
what an excellent read. Chloe owns a bookshop in Katmandu a relative of her husband asks her if she wants some of the old books from his father's house. the father was a major in the ghurka regiment. amongst the fathers books they found some letter and set about discovering the mystery of who they ere from