Reviews with content warning for Sexual violence - حديقة الضباب

I'm really not sure if I like this book or not. I think I did - it was a very challenging read, both in terms of the subject matter and characters, but also just from the formatting of the book. I believe this was intentional, as a way to convey the turmoil and confusion felt by the characters. It was a much heavier read than I was prepared for, but I am glad I read it. There aren't many books on this subject, and it is an important one.

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itsgeesus's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

I had my moments with this book. The storytelling of Yugiri and the Cameron Highlands was written impeccably, and I must admit, did seem otherworldly. A lot of the imagery was poetic, and I thoroughly enjoyed it when these places were described in detail. I also loved the differentiation between the characters, the accents really came to life on the page and I could hear each one clearly and distinctly. More often than not, however, I struggled to even finish a page. It was a combination of everything, the narrator having this holier-than-thou attitude was so offputting that it genuinely frustrated me - and it wasn't even over the Japanese guards who had taken her to the slave labour camp, it was over everyone. I think there were two characters where this wasn't the case, her sister and Aritomo. It was also some of the actual plot. At times, I genuinely asked myself why what I was reading was relevant - it added nothing to the story, and just seemed like it was filler. I enjoyed bits of it, but would I recommend it? Not necessarily.

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abbie_'s review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I’m SO happy I’m back in a historical fiction mood! I’ve been mainly reading contemporary for over a month now, not being in the right headspace to situate myself in a different time period. But Tan Twan Eng made it so easy to get lost in the world he conjures up, 1940s and 1950s Malaysia, spanning the Second World War and Malayan Emergency.

In the ‘present day’ storyline, Yun Ling is struggling to come to terms with her aphasia. She’s determined to set down her past before she’s unable, coming face to face with the trauma she endured as a prisoner of war during the Japanese Occupation of then Malaya. She also recounts the time after, apprenticed to a famous Japanese gardener in the countryside.

This is a book for people who love to get swept away in the prose. The sentences are beautifully crafted, the author lingers over the descriptions of the jungle, tea estates and gardens. It’s incredibly evocative but I can also imagine it being tiresome for folk who like a little more action in their reads.

Like with any good historical fiction, I learned a lot about the Occupation and the subsequent Emergency, as well as the arts of Japanese gardens and horimono. It’s difficult to read at times given the horrors Yun Ling and her sister suffered as prisoners of war, but I don’t think it descends into trauma porn. Tan Twan Eng approaches the topics sensitively, reminding us that we must learn from the past.

My only complaint is I wasn’t convinced by the romance in it. However, it plays only a small part and the novel has so much more to offer besides that.

Definitely will be picking up The Gift of Rain!

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craylemon's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective relaxing sad slow-paced

Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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