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Bamboo Trilogy #2
The Planter's Wife
From award-winning author Ann Bennett comes a haunting and powerful novel of love and loss during World War 2 Malaya.
'A vivid account of a brutal period, and a searing exploration of trauma, memory and loss..' The Lady Magazine.
1938: Juliet and her sister Rose arrive in Penang to stay with an aunt, after the death of their father. Juliet quickly falls under the spell of Gavin Crosby, a plantation owner, who despite his wealth, charm and good looks is shunned by the local community. Rushed into marriage, Juliet is unprepared for the devastating secrets she uncovers on Gavin’s plantation, and the bad blood between Gavin and his brother…
1938: Juliet and her sister Rose arrive in Penang to stay with an aunt, after the death of their father. Juliet quickly falls under the spell of Gavin Crosby, a plantation owner, who despite his wealth, charm and good looks is shunned by the local community. Rushed into marriage, Juliet is unprepared for the devastating secrets she uncovers on Gavin’s plantation, and the bad blood between Gavin and his brother…
But in 1941 the Japanese occupy Malaya and Singapore sweeping away that world and changing Juliet’s life forever.
For decades after the war which robbed her of everyone she loved, Juliet lives as a recluse back on the plantation. But in 1962 the sudden appearance of Mary, a young woman from an orphanage in Indonesia, forces Juliet to embark on a journey into the past, and to face up to the heart-breaking truths she’s buried for so long.
The Planter's Wife was previously published as Bamboo Island
333 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2015
1486 people are currently reading
847 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
October 23, 2019
Gripping
Not so much for the part in the camps did I find this an interesting read because I have read other books on the topic. No, it was for the story of life on a rubber plant ion that I found most enjoyable. I will say no more not to spoil what I think is a very good read.
Not so much for the part in the camps did I find this an interesting read because I have read other books on the topic. No, it was for the story of life on a rubber plant ion that I found most enjoyable. I will say no more not to spoil what I think is a very good read.
August 24, 2017
5 Words: Memories, family, love, passion, war.
December 13, 2019
Engrossing read!
What a wonderfully written book about a woman's life prior to and after WWII in Malaya.
The story is told, many times in flashbacks, as Juliet is forced to remember the horrific past mostly during Japanese occupation during the war. A young woman arrives in her doorstep claiming to be a relative causing total disruption of Juliet's staid life in her Malaysian plantation in 1962.
I have to say that the attention to historic detail is very well done and descriptions of sights, sounds and events are very real. The feelings of fear, despair and inhumanity are balanced by the very few human likenesses throughout Juliet's life story. You feel the emotions!
This is a great one for readers of historical fiction that I will recommend to readers. And I thank this gifted author for a beautiful story.
What a wonderfully written book about a woman's life prior to and after WWII in Malaya.
The story is told, many times in flashbacks, as Juliet is forced to remember the horrific past mostly during Japanese occupation during the war. A young woman arrives in her doorstep claiming to be a relative causing total disruption of Juliet's staid life in her Malaysian plantation in 1962.
I have to say that the attention to historic detail is very well done and descriptions of sights, sounds and events are very real. The feelings of fear, despair and inhumanity are balanced by the very few human likenesses throughout Juliet's life story. You feel the emotions!
This is a great one for readers of historical fiction that I will recommend to readers. And I thank this gifted author for a beautiful story.
March 29, 2017
Hello everyone and welcome to the second of three very special days on my blog to celebrate the Bamboo Trilogy by Ann Bennett. To see my review of the first book in the series, Bamboo Heart, please click HERE. This post today will focus on the second novel, Bamboo Island which involves different characters than the first book but is set in the same time frame, in Southeast Asia during the Second World War. It means each book can be read as a stand alone but we do get certain events being referred to in the second and third book.
I really enjoyed the first book in the series but I was especially delighted to discover that I enjoyed Bamboo Island even more! It follows a British woman called Juliet Crosby who has lived with her husband, Gavin on a rubber plantation but their marriage is fraught with difficulties. Her only confidant is her sister Rose who is married herself and lives in Singapore so visiting and speaking with each other is a rare occurrence. There are a number of different time frames to this story (which was part of why I loved it most) and we switch between them seamlessly.
There is pre-war, naive Juliet and her struggles with her distant husband and distant sister (both distant for VERY different reasons, mind you!). Then there is Juliet during the war with full and heart-breaking description of her struggles and her internment at a horrific prison camp but also the friendships and bonds she makes along the way. Finally, there is post war Juliet living back on the rubber plantation and waiting for someone. The person who turns up is definitely not whom she is expecting, a young girl called Mary, claiming to have crucial information about Juliet's family and the loss of those that she had been close to. Juliet is uncertain about whether to believe her but the two women journey to try and find evidence to back up Mary's claims leading Juliet to go on an emotional journey back in time herself as she remembers her difficult life and comes to terms with what happened to her in the past.
I raced through this book in just over twenty-four hours, I kid you not. I literally could not put it down. I connected and sympathised with Juliet as a character so much, perhaps more than I did with the female lead in Bamboo Heart and I was constantly on edge whilst reading it, desperate to find out more about her past. I also can't remember the last time I was willing a character to have a happy ending so bad! Again, the author does not avoid full and frank details about the conditions a prisoner of war under the Japanese would experience and once again, she had me disgusted, despairing but completely devoted to the story. I felt that the secondary characters in this novel were also people I wanted to get to know and felt like fully, fleshed out people who you could instantly love (or hate, in some cases!). After the strength of this second part of the trilogy, I now can't wait to get to Bamboo Road where I hope to find further fascinating characters that will give me the intense feelings that Bamboo Island did.
If you like the sound of Bamboo Island, you can buy it here:
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/9...
For my full review and many more please visit my blog at http://www.bibliobeth.com
I really enjoyed the first book in the series but I was especially delighted to discover that I enjoyed Bamboo Island even more! It follows a British woman called Juliet Crosby who has lived with her husband, Gavin on a rubber plantation but their marriage is fraught with difficulties. Her only confidant is her sister Rose who is married herself and lives in Singapore so visiting and speaking with each other is a rare occurrence. There are a number of different time frames to this story (which was part of why I loved it most) and we switch between them seamlessly.
There is pre-war, naive Juliet and her struggles with her distant husband and distant sister (both distant for VERY different reasons, mind you!). Then there is Juliet during the war with full and heart-breaking description of her struggles and her internment at a horrific prison camp but also the friendships and bonds she makes along the way. Finally, there is post war Juliet living back on the rubber plantation and waiting for someone. The person who turns up is definitely not whom she is expecting, a young girl called Mary, claiming to have crucial information about Juliet's family and the loss of those that she had been close to. Juliet is uncertain about whether to believe her but the two women journey to try and find evidence to back up Mary's claims leading Juliet to go on an emotional journey back in time herself as she remembers her difficult life and comes to terms with what happened to her in the past.
I raced through this book in just over twenty-four hours, I kid you not. I literally could not put it down. I connected and sympathised with Juliet as a character so much, perhaps more than I did with the female lead in Bamboo Heart and I was constantly on edge whilst reading it, desperate to find out more about her past. I also can't remember the last time I was willing a character to have a happy ending so bad! Again, the author does not avoid full and frank details about the conditions a prisoner of war under the Japanese would experience and once again, she had me disgusted, despairing but completely devoted to the story. I felt that the secondary characters in this novel were also people I wanted to get to know and felt like fully, fleshed out people who you could instantly love (or hate, in some cases!). After the strength of this second part of the trilogy, I now can't wait to get to Bamboo Road where I hope to find further fascinating characters that will give me the intense feelings that Bamboo Island did.
If you like the sound of Bamboo Island, you can buy it here:
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/9...
For my full review and many more please visit my blog at http://www.bibliobeth.com
April 10, 2020
Fabulous!!!!!!
One of the very best books I've read! Really keeps your interests piqued . Loved going through all the journeys and time frames with Juliet. Cautionary note: the story will switch to different time frames mid chapter. You'll get used to it after awhile, but just be alert to it. Absolutely loved loved this story!
One of the very best books I've read! Really keeps your interests piqued . Loved going through all the journeys and time frames with Juliet. Cautionary note: the story will switch to different time frames mid chapter. You'll get used to it after awhile, but just be alert to it. Absolutely loved loved this story!
April 27, 2020
I seem to have read a spate of WWII books lately, not necessarily great reading during a pandemic. "The Planter's Wife," however, is a welcome change of pace--or more accurately--setting. Anne Bennet sets her characters, sisters Rose and Juliet, in Malaya before the outbreak of the war. With both parents gone, the pair visit an aunt and uncle in the British colony. The owner of a local rubber plantation is attracted to Juliet. Despite her aunt's skepticism and the rumors of his unsavory character, Julie accepts his proposal, while her outgoing sister weds a dashing RAF officer. Juliet soon understands aunt's caution and regrets her decision to marry Gavin Crosby.
The details of Juliet's experience unfold when a stranger appears on the plantation twenty years after the war, claiming to be her only surviving relative. Mary produces the one relic that might convince Juliet of the truth of her story, but Juliet and Mary must retrace all the harrowing events of the war before Juliet accepts Mary as well as her past.
This is an aspect of WWII history about which I am far less familiar. Bennett does a nice job of engaging the reader in the story and creating empathy for the reclusive Juliet.
The details of Juliet's experience unfold when a stranger appears on the plantation twenty years after the war, claiming to be her only surviving relative. Mary produces the one relic that might convince Juliet of the truth of her story, but Juliet and Mary must retrace all the harrowing events of the war before Juliet accepts Mary as well as her past.
This is an aspect of WWII history about which I am far less familiar. Bennett does a nice job of engaging the reader in the story and creating empathy for the reclusive Juliet.
September 15, 2022
Wonderful book I love this series of the planters well well worth reading.
April 21, 2025
Would have loved more of an ending on Juliet and Adam but overall loved this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 27, 2020
There was a very abrupt ending which I didn't like. It would have been nice to see how the relationship developed between Juliet and Adam. Mary didn't feature very much either and would have liked to have read more about their relationship.
February 26, 2025
I’ve picked up this book randomly at a bookstore and it turned out to be a great choice - I absolutely loved it!
The story follows the incredibly challenging life of a British woman who moves to Malaya with her sister after the death of their father.
Orphanhood, a tragically unhappy marriage, loneliness, the horrifying Japanese invasion of Malaya during the Second World War, the torment of life in a prison camp, loss of her loved ones… yet there is light at the end of the tunnel.
The history of Malaya was the most fascinating aspect for me - I learned so much thanks to this novel.
The story follows the incredibly challenging life of a British woman who moves to Malaya with her sister after the death of their father.
Orphanhood, a tragically unhappy marriage, loneliness, the horrifying Japanese invasion of Malaya during the Second World War, the torment of life in a prison camp, loss of her loved ones… yet there is light at the end of the tunnel.
The history of Malaya was the most fascinating aspect for me - I learned so much thanks to this novel.
November 24, 2020
A book I very much enjoyed, describing Japanese female prisons in WW2. A twist at the end.
April 18, 2020
I loved this book. I never picked up the twist right until the end.
April 11, 2020
The Planters Wife
I enjoyed the way the author presented the story about the people and the Islands during the second world war. A dreadful time for the islanders and landowners.
I enjoyed the way the author presented the story about the people and the Islands during the second world war. A dreadful time for the islanders and landowners.
April 3, 2020
Great book
Lived the book and looking forward to reading more by this author. The location was new to me but I enjoyed learning about that part of the world. We need to learn about what people experience during war.
Lived the book and looking forward to reading more by this author. The location was new to me but I enjoyed learning about that part of the world. We need to learn about what people experience during war.
August 25, 2020
There were 5 or 6 spelling errors and wrong words (that I noticed) in the book. I was quite disappointed as I paid more than usual for the paperback. I’ve noticed errors in my kindle before but they normally 2.99 or free. Is this an amazon thing?
February 10, 2021
Nice read situated in Malay pre, during and post WW2: The Planter's Wife by Ann Bennett
A middle aged woman who owns a rubber plantation and lives a solitary life after having lost much during the war, is visited by a young one who thinks she is her niece.
She hands the young woman a journal written during her early years there pre, during and post WW2.
Then the both of them go on a journey to solve the puzzle and to find out about the girl's mother. That takes them to Indonesia and a beach.
Comfy read that describes exotic places and violent pasts.
4 stars out of 5
http://www.dutchysbookreviewsandfreeb...
A middle aged woman who owns a rubber plantation and lives a solitary life after having lost much during the war, is visited by a young one who thinks she is her niece.
She hands the young woman a journal written during her early years there pre, during and post WW2.
Then the both of them go on a journey to solve the puzzle and to find out about the girl's mother. That takes them to Indonesia and a beach.
Comfy read that describes exotic places and violent pasts.
4 stars out of 5
http://www.dutchysbookreviewsandfreeb...
March 15, 2021
I could not put the book down, the story of Juliet her sister Rose who travelled to Penang in the 1930s. Juliet’s horrid husband Gavin and his nasty drunken brother Scott, the rubber plantation in Malaya and the war and the Japanese invasion all kept the story moving and were vividly alive. I can’t say much more without a spoiler but there are lots of twists along the way. I spent three months in Malaysia and Singapore in the 1970s so the landscape and the descriptions of the food and the food stalls all felt really familiar. I really like Ann Bennett’s stories of the Far East and I love stories that cross across decades and life times. On to the next book by Ann Bennett.
October 3, 2021
Ann Bennett has researched the historical, cultural and geographical details of this period very thoroughly, which made this historical romance very readable.
Her father's incarceration on the Thai Burma Railway led her to undertake this research, and she has woven her narrative cleverly around the historical facts.
She does maintain the suspense of the story, although the ending could be guessed at.
I will read more of this author's books set in the East; quick, light reads that do evoke the atmosphere of place and time.
*Editor note: There are some annoying grammatical & spelling errors; and bacon (pork) is definitely not on the breakfast menu in a cheap Sumatran guesthouse.
Her father's incarceration on the Thai Burma Railway led her to undertake this research, and she has woven her narrative cleverly around the historical facts.
She does maintain the suspense of the story, although the ending could be guessed at.
I will read more of this author's books set in the East; quick, light reads that do evoke the atmosphere of place and time.
*Editor note: There are some annoying grammatical & spelling errors; and bacon (pork) is definitely not on the breakfast menu in a cheap Sumatran guesthouse.
October 25, 2021
incredible story!
This is the third book I’ve read by Ann Bennett and this was as good as “The Last Pavilion” and “The Tea Planter’s Club” if not better. The author so carefully weaves historical facts with characters that the reader feels like they are living through what the characters are experiencing. The Japanese occupation of Malaysia and Singapore was a brutal time, it’s amazing anyone survived. Ann Bennett’s characters are flawed but resilient. I look forward to reading more by this author.
This is the third book I’ve read by Ann Bennett and this was as good as “The Last Pavilion” and “The Tea Planter’s Club” if not better. The author so carefully weaves historical facts with characters that the reader feels like they are living through what the characters are experiencing. The Japanese occupation of Malaysia and Singapore was a brutal time, it’s amazing anyone survived. Ann Bennett’s characters are flawed but resilient. I look forward to reading more by this author.
July 3, 2024
This is another in the genre of books written about the experiences of expatriates in the Far East during WW2, this one in Malaya. It is apparently part of a group of standalone novels which also include Burma and Thailand. This is an entertaining read, around one woman’s life from her move to a rubber estate when she marries; with the trauma, losses and eventual resolution after the war ends. It feels authentic to the reader, and as usual with books about Malaya, reminds me of my parent’s description of living through the Emergency.
October 18, 2024
Read in 1 sitting
I couldn't put this book down. My 1st husband & I lived in Malaysia during the latter part of the insurgencies (he was in a special forces battery - still not acknowledged) & my baby son and I lived in Johore Bahru, travelled across to HMS Terror naval base for tiffin with the ladies and swimming in the pool. I visited many villages in Malaysia, right up to Penang and was taken right back there. I could wax lyrical about this book, but am anxious to read more!!
I couldn't put this book down. My 1st husband & I lived in Malaysia during the latter part of the insurgencies (he was in a special forces battery - still not acknowledged) & my baby son and I lived in Johore Bahru, travelled across to HMS Terror naval base for tiffin with the ladies and swimming in the pool. I visited many villages in Malaysia, right up to Penang and was taken right back there. I could wax lyrical about this book, but am anxious to read more!!
June 27, 2020
Loved this book
The book is well written and I love how the author tied everything together in the end, without giving anything away earlier. Set in WW2, there were some parts that were difficult to read, but needed to be told. Juliet who never really thought much of herself, overcame extreme pain, became a strong and determined woman as she faced her past. This was a fast read and I didn’t want to put it down,
The book is well written and I love how the author tied everything together in the end, without giving anything away earlier. Set in WW2, there were some parts that were difficult to read, but needed to be told. Juliet who never really thought much of herself, overcame extreme pain, became a strong and determined woman as she faced her past. This was a fast read and I didn’t want to put it down,
August 25, 2021
A book of historical fiction and romance. A well researched story of the life of a planter's wife in Malaya pre-war and the terrible years of Japanese occupation. We all know the stories of the attack on Singapore and the evacuations that followed but I had read little about what life was like there for those left behind. 3 stars perhaps for the quality of the writing but an engrossing read nonetheless.
December 27, 2020
Bennet was Absolutely brilliant in this book. She built the storyline surrounding Japanese occupation of British Malaya vividly, transported back to the wonderful stories my grandfather always told me when I was a small kid. And it also happened that my grandfather was a native of Kuala Lipis. So lucky that I plucked this book out of shelves and worth spent every minute.
October 15, 2021
HISTORICAL BASED STORY
Wonderful story, best for read unlike I did in short bursts of time... made it a little confusing. However, the author brought it all together and the parts I was confused about were resolved. I have read many WWII historical novels, this offered a different perspective and a different setting. Very good read. Character development very good.
Wonderful story, best for read unlike I did in short bursts of time... made it a little confusing. However, the author brought it all together and the parts I was confused about were resolved. I have read many WWII historical novels, this offered a different perspective and a different setting. Very good read. Character development very good.
December 26, 2022
An enjoyable read
I really enjoyed the characters and there were some interesting twists along the way! I would recommend to anyone who enjoys stories about families overcoming great tribulations as this takes place during a pretty brutal war! I am a terrible reviewer but I km?now why I like and I enjoyed reading this book quite a lot !
I really enjoyed the characters and there were some interesting twists along the way! I would recommend to anyone who enjoys stories about families overcoming great tribulations as this takes place during a pretty brutal war! I am a terrible reviewer but I km?now why I like and I enjoyed reading this book quite a lot !
September 29, 2020
I enjoyed this book and blazed though the hope and heart ache. I have read quite a bit of war historical fiction but mostly crafted around the USA and Americans so getting some knowledge about English lives in colonies was a breath of fresh air.
November 30, 2020
Whilst I really enjoyed this read I had been looking forward to more historical depth. I visited Malaysia last year so am aware of the history. The characters are good but I’d liked to have had more about them as individuals. Also more of an understanding of the 2 brothers backgrounds. Mary’s too!
May 4, 2021
Good honest story
I enjoyed this and read it quite quickly but found the writing style a tad dull. It’s the kind of book I liked but won’t stick with me in any way. I don’t think I will read any more of the series but thanks anyway Ann Bennett.
I enjoyed this and read it quite quickly but found the writing style a tad dull. It’s the kind of book I liked but won’t stick with me in any way. I don’t think I will read any more of the series but thanks anyway Ann Bennett.
September 15, 2021
a very emotional read about the ups and downs of love and family life beautiful colourful scenes of Singapore and Malaysia very exotic. Juliets character comes alive and you can relate to her emotions an enjoyable read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews