THE GIFT OF RAIN

Book ID/图书代码： 05430007B17182

English Summary/英文概要： Penang, 1939, sixteen-year-old Philip Hutton is a loner. Half English, half Chinese and feeling neither, he discovers a sense of belonging in an unexpected friendship with Hayato Endo, a Japanese diplomat. Philip shows his new friend around his adored island of Penang, and in return Endo trains him in the art and discipline of aikido. But such knowledge comes at a terrible price. The enigmatic Endo is bound by disciplines of his own and when the Japanese invade Malaya, threatening to destroy Philip’s family and everything he loves, he realises that his trusted sensei - to whom he owes absolute loyalty - has been harbouring a devastating secret. Philip must risk everything in an attempt to save those he has placed in mortal danger and discover who and what he really is. With masterful and gorgeous narrative, replete with exotic and captivating images, sounds and aromas - of rain swept beaches, magical mountain temples, pungent spice warehouses, opulent colonial ballrooms and fetid and forbidding rainforests - Tan Twan Eng weaves a haunting and unforgettable story of betrayal, barbaric cruelty, steadfast courage and enduring love.

Chinese Summary/中文概要： 1939年的檳城，一名16歲的中英混血少年Philip Hutton，意外認識了日本外交官Hayato Endo。Philip帶著Hayato參觀檳城各處美麗的景點，而Hayato則傳授他合氣道做為回報，自此兩人發展出深厚的友誼。二次大戰爆發，日軍佔領馬來西亞，親人和家園受到嚴重威脅的Philip，被迫為日本人工作，同時也發現了Hayato的真實身份其實是一名間諜，來到檳城只是為了搜情報。作者將背叛、殘酷、勇氣與愛等人生面，交織出一部令人難以忘懷的雋永故事。

Awards/获奖情况：2007英國布克獎初試啼聲備獲好評
Tan Twan Eng首部作品即入圍布克獎
"The Gift of Rain is a powerful first novel about a tumultuous and almost forgotten period of history."
"A remarkable book about war, friendship, memory and discipline."
"Haunting and highly evocative... a deeply moving tale."
John McRae, author of The Routledge Guide to Modern Writing
"An engrossing read, a hugely enjoyable emotional voyage."

“Strong characters and page-turning action make this a top pick for historical fiction…Philip’s personal drama unfolds against the backdrop of fascinating glimpses into Chinese culture, British imperialism, and the Japanese occupation that eventually claims the lives of everyone around him.” Library Journal (Starred Review)
"[A] remarkable debut saga of intrigue and aikido...Eng’s characters are as deep and troubled as the time in which the story takes place, and he draws on a rich palette to create a sprawling portrait of a lesser explored corner of the war...measured, believable and enthralling." Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)
“Don’t open this book unless you are ready to be swept away.
Set in Malaya over several decades, the book opens in 1939. Philip, a half Chinese/ half British teenager becomes the student and guide of a Japanese diplomat who becomes his sensei master. It is only after the Japanese invade Malaya that the boy realizes that his teacher, to whom he has proudly shown and told so much, is a Japanese spy. Intrigue, love, politics, and war are intricately woven together in this story of complex and fascinating characters. The Gift of Rain is a treasure.” Elaine Petrocelli, Book Passage
“The Gift of Rain is an amazing book. Love, cruelty, sacrifice are all here -- and more. With its beautifully evoked place and time, this quietly spellbinding novel tells of lives lived through war and occupation, through years of alliances, bonds, and betrayals with compelling grace and rare depth. The Gift of Rain embodies, in a way this reader has seldom encountered, how what can be heartbreaking in life can also be heartmaking.” Rick Simonson, Elliott Bay Book Company
“I loved The Gift of Rain and will recommend it to all my bookselling friends. It’s a beautiful work of historical fiction, but its themes also make it timely and relevant—a look at the excruciating choices that war inflicts on civilians. A small nation, an inconsequential battleground, a footnote to the greater world war is the setting for one young man’s coming of age. His journey into adulthood is mesmerizing, painful, and illuminates an unquenchable human spirit to survive.” Miriam Sontz, Powell’s Books
“It is very, very hard to move on to another novel after The Gift of Rain. It was a wonderful reading experience and I am still so immersed in it. This story of past lives and old destinies is handled with as much power as grace. The author has the wrenching and profound task of illustrating the beauty and cruelty of human choices against the vast canvas of history and time. The luminous descriptions and exquisite awareness of the characters’ emotions are a testimony to the author’s craft.” Marie du Vaure, Vroman’s Bookstore
“The Gift of Rain is a beautiful novel about an achingly difficult time in history, the Japanese invasion of Malaysia during WW II. The characters, particularly 18 yr. old Philip must navigate an impossible landscape of loyalty, love and subterfuge within the shifting island cultures. While grand in sweep this novel’s grace is in the intimate details of the characters lives where the fiercest love sits alongside betrayal. What a compelling story that still will not let me go.” Sheryl Cotleur, Book Passage.

About the Author/作者介绍： 陳德黃(Tan Twan Eng)為馬來西亞新進作家，於英國大學(University of London)研讀法律，而後於吉隆坡最知名的法律事務所擔任律師。擁有合氣道初段的好身手，並對保存古蹟建築不遺餘力。過去一年在南非旅行，目前住在開普頓，撰寫他的第二部著作。
Tan Twan Eng was born in Penang, but lived in various places in Malaysia as a child. He studied law through the University of London, and later worked as an advocate and solicitor in one of Kuala Lumpur’s most reputable law firms. He also has a first-dan ranking in akido and is a strong proponent for the conservation of heritage buildings. He has spent the last year traveling around South Africa, and currently lives in Cape Town where he is working on his second book.

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Rights Status/版权销售情况：Simplified Chinese/简体中文：AVAILABLE

Complex/Traditional Chinese/繁体中文：AVAILABLE

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