The Gift of Rain

The Gift of Rain, by Tan Twan Eng
 
Tan Twan Eng makes a great literary debut with this fictional account of Phillip Hutton's life on the island of Penang, off the coast of Malaysia. Set primarily during the brutal Japanese occupation of Malaysia in World War II, Eng writes an absorbing tale of intrigue, betrayal and survival of Hutton and his family. Half British and Chinese, Hutton is anchored in the tradition of a colonial British family, but is drawn to the powers of Oriental philosophy through his friendship with a mysterious Japanese visitor to the island before the war shatters his existence. Eng is a talented writer who vividly creates Hutton's world. The characters are strongly drawn, the historical detail makes for absorbing reading and the island of Penang is beautifully created. The Gift of Rain is highly recommended.
-Roy