Really 4.5. The story is excellent and sorrowful even as it is beautiful. The writing is sometimes a bit too removed but fits the narrator. It made me realize how much of Malaysian history I didn't know. Most of it.

A few places felt like I was reading a clever WW2 caper from Neil Stephenson (Cryptonomicron) and I felt this and some weak writing (the writing of landscape was superb - some of the best I've seen). detracted from the novel a tad.

Over all, an engrossing read.

Update: 2016 - I find my affection for this novel has grown in my memory these past two years. If I reread it now, I would forgive some of its weaknesses. Really, I may change my rating.