"This is an emotive story, harrowing, beautifully and sparsely told, showing the treatment meted out to people who are seen as nothing more than something to be used."
Siew Chin is taken by the Japanese soldier as a young girl and used as a comfort woman. Lim Tiong does things he is ashamed of and when he sees a man he thinks he remembers from the war, goes after him. He ends up in hospital having crashed his car. Ah Ding also remembers much, as he sits selling tissues at the bottom of the stairs, particularly when he meets a woman who he walked with in 1945. He bears shame as he collaborated with the occupiers. The horrors of war never leave those who experience it. Nightmares, guilt, shame, insomnia, symptoms of what a human does to survive, whether voluntarily or not. This is an emotive story, harrowing, beautifully and sparsely told, showing the treatment meted out to people who are seen as nothing more than something to be used.
Linda Amos, A LoveReading Ambassador
| Primary Genre | Historical Fiction |
| Recommendations: |
Win a Copy of the Final Instalment of The Wolf Den Trilogy, The Temple of Fortuna
Closing date: 09/12/2023
Fall of Singapore told by the people of Singapore a harrowing story of three people who suffered during 1942 and beyond VJ day.
I had read The Railwayman, watched Tenko and read a little about the British and the fall of Singapore but little more.
This is a harrowing account of the Japanese invasion 1942-45. Which sometimes gets overlooked especially when we celebrate anniversaries of the victory in Europe (VEday) and VJ day is not always remebered and it should as readers will understand reading this book.
The three main characters Ah Ding, and Siew Chin and Tiong (husband and wife)
They are all understandably troubled by this terrible time and as survivors the effects will never leave them. Told from the viewpoint of the people of Singapore this gives a new slant to this time. This story will be remembered for a long time personally and I feel humbled to have been able to read this.... Read Full Review
Having lived in Singapore many years ago it was a joy to read this book having recognised some of the places in it.
Having lived in Singapore many years ago it was a joy to read this book having recognised some of the places in it. Reading about how difficult the reconciliation between the two main characters was due to their trauma of the occupation was captivating and saddening. The story of their relationship during the occupation described the shame they felt which left me heavy hearted.
The story is set in different time periods which worked really well explaining their different viewpoints.
This was not my normal genre however I was engrosed in their story, cleverly written in such detail that I felt I knew the characters and had a personal connection to them.... Read Full Review
