I started this book last week and it’s a lovely, leisurely read. The writing is beautiful, and I can understand why it made into the Man Booker shortlist. Here’s a quote that talks about the protagonist’s loss of memory…
I have become a collapsing star, pulling everything around it, even the light, into an ever-expanding void. Once I lose all ability to communicate with the world outside myself, nothing will be left but what I remember.
My memories will be like a sandbar, cut off from the shore by the incoming tide. In time they will become submerged, inaccessible to me. The prospect terrified me. For what is a person without memories? A ghost, trapped between worlds, without an identity, with no future, no past.
~ The Garden of Evening Mists by Tan Twan Eng
Lovely writing, isn’t it?
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
ooh that was a very lovely teaser … but it could really get sad if you lose your memory
here’s mine
http://bookskeepmesane.wordpress.com/2013/07/09/teaer-tuesday-july-9-2013/
@bookskeepmesane: It is a sad book, but also quite redemptive, I think. It’s a novel about World war 2 in Asia when Japan attacked Malaysia, so it is sad, and expected.
About the protagonist losing her memory, that’s only a very small part of the book, and it’s aging/dementia related.
I’ve never heard of this one but I think I might actually like it. 🙂
Andrea K. @ Books and Bindings
Teaser Tuesdays
I haven’t heard of this book but I am glad you are enjoying it. My teasers this week are from Playing to Win by Jaci Burton and Wednesdays in the Tower by Jessica Day George. Happy reading!
Lovely teaser.
Yes, I like the feel of this extract! I never noticed this on the shortlist, I have to scour it again for more gems. 🙂
@Book Blather: I think you will like this one. It’s very well-written. I went into it expecting it would be a little boring (lot of reviews highlight the gardening aspect, which is not my thing), but there’s a lot happening otherwise too.
I’ve been meaning to read more by authors from this part of the world so will look out for this one.
@thebluebride: You should try this book. It’s a lovely blend of Chinese, Japanese, Malay, and old colonial British culture all mixed in. Wonderful read 🙂