Review: Nantwich Bookworms study Tan Wan Eng's "The Gift of Rain"

Bookworms (pic by Sharon Drummond, Flickr)

By Joy Cassidy
Tan Wan Eng’s The Gift of Rain provides an interesting insight into World War Two, not often explored or portrayed to the Western world.

From the small island of Penang, China, the reader is shown how the War impacts the shores of the most hidden-away parts of the world.

Effects that destroy relationships, strengthen misguided loyalties and devastate communities.

The sometimes horrific and disturbing scenes of torture and torment are incongruous to the setting of the novel, which Eng depicts majestically through imagery and metaphor.

Whether recollecting long gone memories of thousands of fireflies that lit the way for a beautiful romance, or a description of the lush vegetation that crept its way up the mountain cliffs towards the sun – Eng captivates his readers from the outset as we explore a lesser known world.

Although the novel is rich in imagery, there aren’t any particular characters that we felt drawn to.

The twists and turns of the plot left us mistrusting of anyone in the end, and somewhat frustrated by the customary values held such as ‘saving face’ and honour, that seem to transcend more expected values like familial love and loyalty.

Told from the viewpoint of a half Chinese and half English teenage son of an influential business man, The Gift of Rain is a coming-of-age tale that is laced with warfare, tragedy, spiritualism and friendship.

Beautifully written and intriguingly ambiguous in parts, it is a recommended read from the Nantwich Bookworms.

Want to join our friendly discussion group?

Put these on your holiday reading lists and come along the first Sunday of the month at The Black Lion, on Welsh Row, Nantwich, at 8pm. Everyone welcome.

Sunday July 7: Dracula (Bram Stoker)
Sunday August 4: The Red House (Mark Haddon)
Sunday September 1: To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Lee)