Play Book Tag discussion

The Garden of Evening Mists by Tan Twan Eng - completed 1/3/21 - 5 stars - My Review

PBT Comments: If you want to read a book that is about a character with a mental health issue, but her mental health is not the primary focus of the book, this is a good one. The protagonist has been diagnosed with aphasia but is not yet experiencing severe symptoms (only minor ones).

Beautifully written novel set in Malaysia. In the 1980s, Judge Teoh Yun Ling is retiring from her position on the Malaysian Supreme Court. She has been diagnosed with aphasia, a neurological condition which will impair her ability to read, write, and understand language. She sits down to write about her life before she can no longer remember.

“Once I lose all ability to communicate with the world outside myself, nothing will be left but what I remember. My memories will be like a sandbar, cut off from the shore by the incoming tide. In time they will become submerged, inaccessible to me. The prospect terrified me. For what is a person without memories? A ghost, trapped between worlds, without an identity, with no future, no past.”

She experienced many traumas in an internment camp during the Japanese Occupation of Malaysia in WWII and held deep-seated resentment against the Japanese. In the 1950s, she became an apprentice to a Japanese gardener, Nakamura Aritomo, formerly employed by Emperor Hirohito. He moved from Japan to Malaysia and designed Yugiri, the Garden of Evening Mists.

“The sounds of the world outside faded away, absorbed into the leaves. I stood there, not moving. For a moment I felt that nothing had changed since I was last here, almost thirty-five years before – the scent of pine resin sticking to the air, the bamboo creaking and knocking in the breeze, the broken mosaic of sunlight scattered over the ground.”

It provides a glimpse into the history of Malaysia, covering portions of both WWII and the Malayan Emergency (1948-1960), a time of insurrection that preceded independence. I have not read many books set in Malaysia am not that familiar with its culture and history, so I found these details fascinating. It also includes elements of Japanese culture, such as the art of designing Japanese gardens, the art of horimono (an elaborate tattooing process), and a mindful approach to archery.

The book has an intriguing plot and realistic characters. It contains a balanced mix of harshness and gentleness; violence and serenity; remembering and forgetting. It is intricate and nuanced. Ultimately it is about overcoming past discord and trauma to achieve reconciliation and healing. I took my time reading it, savoring the written word and the ambiance it evoked.

Great review, Joy! I loved this book and it made my top 10 the year I read it.

Excellent review! Thanks for the detail you provided. I need to get this book. The part that interests me wasn't in the gr blurb. Aphasia caused me to stop teaching and speaking to groups. My variation is milder than hers. It primarily affects my ability to fluidly recall words when speaking and writing (even easy words). I don't want to get on a zoom meeting with people I used to work with, because I feel so self-conscious about it. I can still read and write, but it takes longer to write. Some days I'm fine, and other days I can't write a simple review.

I also want a book from this region, as I know so little about it.

Thanks!

NancyJ wrote: "Excellent review! Thanks for the detail you provided. I need to get this book. The part that interests me wasn't in the gr blurb. Aphasia caused me to stop teaching and speaking to groups. My varia..."
Nancy, it is a beautiful book. I have word finding issues and always hate when that happens. I am pretty good at masking in everyday life, as I work with preschoolers, but there are times talking with hubby and I have to describe what I mean and it is the very simplest word or phrase.

I loved The Gift of Rain, and happy to hear this is another wonderful book by the same author. And an opportunity to "fly" to Malaysia!

Great review. It was a beautiful book. I'm looking forward to reading The Gift of Rain later this year.

I loved The Gift of Rain ... have this one on the TBR

I adored the Gift of Rain - one of my lifetime favorites! I thought this one was good, but a four underneath the five star of Gift,

Great review. This has been on my TBR since I joined GR. I don't know why I haven't read it yet, but your review has me pushing it into my "Read in 2021 folder".

Nice Review, thanks. I loved this book too!

Oh wow! I just realized I already have a copy of The Gift of Rain. I ordered a lot of books last month just in case we lost library access again.

The library also has this one, and audible has them both. I think I might read this story first. I don't even have a mapped out plan for my year long trip yet, so I guess there is no hurry.

Booknblues wrote: "Great review, Joy! I loved this book and it made my top 10 the year I read it."
Thanks, BnB! Glad you loved it too.

NancyJ wrote: "Excellent review! Thanks for the detail you provided. I need to get this book. The part that interests me wasn't in the gr blurb. Aphasia caused me to stop teaching and speaking to groups. My varia..."
I felt the same way about the region. I have read so little about Malaysia. I have a relative with aphasia so I know it can be difficult.

Shelly wrote: "I loved The Gift of Rain, and happy to hear this is another wonderful book by the same author. And an opportunity to "fly" to Malaysia!"
i have The Gift of Rain on my TBR. This book makes me want to get to it soon.

punxsygal wrote: "Great review. It was a beautiful book. I'm looking forward to reading The Gift of Rain later this year."
Thanks! I agree the writing is beautiful.

Amy wrote: "I adored the Gift of Rain - one of my lifetime favorites! I thought this one was good, but a four underneath the five star of Gift,"
If Gift is better than this, I can't wait to read it.

Olivermagnus wrote: "Great review. This has been on my TBR since I joined GR. I don't know why I haven't read it yet, but your review has me pushing it into my "Read in 2021 folder"."
Thanks, OM. I will look forward to seeing what you think of it.

Susan wrote: "Nice Review, thanks. I loved this book too!"
Thank you, Susan!

NancyJ wrote: "Oh wow! I just realized I already have a copy of The Gift of Rain. I ordered a lot of books last month just in case we lost library access again.

The library also has this one, and audible has the..."

Well, Malaysia is a long way from a lot of places, :-)

Yes, such as Galapagos Island. Migrations has me longing for more books related to extinction and evolution. (I didn't finish my review yet. I loved it and I'm listening to it again as I ease into sleep. )

NancyJ wrote: "Yes, such as Galapagos Island. Migrations has me longing for more books related to extinction and evolution. (I didn't finish my review yet. I loved it and I'm listening to it again..."
I have that one on my TBR. I've read a few non-fiction on the topic recently.

I've had this on my radar for years at this point, so maybe I'll get to it soon!

Hope you enjoy it, Becky!

This book was so beautiful. @Booknblues it was also a top 10 for me the year I read it.