Reviewed on Richard & Judy on Wednesday 1 July 2009.
A beautifully written love story set in Hong Kong, slipping back and forth between the love affair between the piano teacher of the title and her lover's previous love, set against a backdrop of World War II. Intriguing characters and themes make this an unputdownable read, not only is it an exploration of the love story but also how the characters cope with the effects and aftermath of the Japanese invasion of Hong Kong. Gripping stuff.
| Primary Genre | Modern and Contemporary Fiction |
| Recommendations: |
Win a Copy of The Sisters of Hope Square by Faith Hogan and a Bucket List Scratch Book
Closing date: 04/07/2026
Sometimes the end of a love affair is only the beginning... In 1942, Will Truesdale, an Englishman newly arrived in Hong Kong, falls headlong into a passionate relationship with Trudy Liang, a beautiful Eurasian socialite. But their love affair is soon threatened by the invasion of the Japanese, with terrible consequences for both of them, and for members of their fragile community who will betray each other in the darkest days of the war. Ten years later, Claire Pendleton lands in Hong Kong and is hired by the wealthy Chen family as their daughter's piano teacher. A provincial English newlywed, Claire is seduced by the colony's heady social life. She soon begins an affair…only to discover that her lover's enigmatic demeanour hides a devastating past. As the threads of this compelling and engrossing novel intertwine and converge, a landscape of impossible choices emerges – between love and safety, courage and survival, the present and above all, the past.
The Piano Teacher features in the following genres: Modern and Contemporary Fiction, Book Club Recommendations, eBooks of the Month, General Fiction, Fiction, Recommendations
The Piano Teacher is available in Paperback, Hardback
The Piano Teacher was written by Janice Y K Lee and published by Harpercollins Publishers
The Piano Teacher has 304 pages
