The Gift of Rain

A Novel

De: Tan Twan Eng

Narrado por: Gordon Griffin

In the tradition of celebrated wartime storytellers Somerset Maugham and Graham Greene, Tan Twan Eng's debut novel casts a powerful spell.

For the first time, available as an audiobook -- The recipient of extraordinary acclaim from critics and the bookselling community, Tan Twan Eng's debut novel casts a powerful spell and has garnered comparisons to celebrated wartime storytellers Somerset Maugham and Graham Greene. Set during the tumult of World War II, on the lush Malayan island of Penang, The Gift of Rain tells a riveting and poignant tale about a young man caught in the tangle of wartime loyalties and deceits.

In 1939, sixteen-year-old Philip Hutton -- the half-Chinese, half-English youngest child of the head of one of Penang's great trading families -- feels alienated from both the Chinese and British communities. He at last discovers a sense of belonging in his unexpected friendship with Hayato Endo, a Japanese diplomat. Philip proudly shows his new friend around his adored island, and in return Endo teaches him about Japanese language and culture and trains him in the art and discipline of aikido. But such knowledge comes at a terrible price. When the Japanese savagely invade Malaya, Philip realizes that his mentor and sensei -- to whom he owes absolute loyalty -- is a Japanese spy. Young Philip has been an unwitting traitor, and must now work in secret to save as many lives as possible, even as his own family is brought to its knees.

Reseñas de la Crítica

This remarkable debut saga of intrigue and akido flashes back to a darkly opulent WWII-era Malaya. Phillip Hutton, 72, lives in serene Penang comfort, occasionally training students as an akido master teacher of teachers. A visit from Michiko Murakami sends him spiraling back into his past, where he grows up the alienated half-British, half-Chinese son of a wealthy Penang trader in the years before WWII. When Hutton's father and three siblings leave him to run the family company one summer, he befriends a mysterious Japanese neighbor named Mr. Endo. Japan is on the opposing side of the coming war, but Endo paradoxically opts to train Hutton in the ways of aikido, in what both men come to see as the fulfillment of a prophecy that has haunted them for several lifetimes. When the Japanese army invades Malaya, chaos reigns, and Phillip makes a secret, very profitable deal. He cannot, however, offset the costs of his friendship with Endo. 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. Hutton's first-person narration is measured, believable and enthralling.—Publishers Weekly

Emotive and complex.

Gorgeous and engrossing story. The audible performances are the best I have heard. Gordon Griffin and Luke Thompson are stunningly sensitive to accents, diction, and tone. The degree of difficulty of the performance is a 9 out of 10.

Quite enjoyed this one...

This had hints of Bryce Courtenay in it. I enjoyed this WW2 story of friendship and betrayal.

Good readings by the narrators.

A wonderful experience

This truly was one of the best books I have ever had. The author's words were so precise I could hear feel and see everything he described. The use of two narrators, one old and one young, also made the book even more enjoyable.

Interesting subject matter

First and foremost , a collaborator during a time of war is a traitor . The authors attempt a to romanticize those actions ,and even imbue them with heroics , are lost.
The descriptions of the geography and the ethnology are very good. I grew up in s e a and have been to Malaysia , including Penang . His knowledge of the area was very appealing.
The characters were well developed. The internalized racial conflict of the main character was especially well thought out and came across starkly .
My only regret ? is that I kept waiting for the two main characters to finally succumb to their love for each other physically .

A great deal of truth!

This is an excellent story. Throughout the book, many questions that we all spend our life trying to resolve are discussed. In the ending, the summation of our lives are explained. The author really does a great job saying what our lives are all about from the beginning to the end. I highly recommend the book.