So I've finally finished The Gift of Rain.
No, not that it was an arduous task to finish the book, it's just that I haven't really been spending much time reading. For a myriad excuses, none really substantial. I left My Name is Red halfway through; I really should finish that as well.
So yeah, The Gift of Rain. Great book on Penang in the 40s. There are lots of landmarks and streets on this little island that have stood the test of time (and Japanese and Allied bombs) and the author goes through great lengths to make a mention of them. From the E&O (recently refurbished) to Chulia Street, I assume he was either born in Penang, or stayed in Penang for umpteen years. Better still, check out his site for more info on him, yeah?
The book presents the various communities in Penang at the time in contrasting light; the Brits are fixated with social status and tea parties, while the Chinese are obsessed with tradition, culture and business. There's only one mention of an Indian dude throughout the book, and he's a communist. When it comes to the invading Japs, one word: contradiction. Cultured yet barbaric, gentle yet warlike, wise yet murderous. Which pretty much sums up Japan of the 40s. I mean, who would have imagined a race capable of creating zen-inspired gardens would be inclined to kill for pleasure and cause great destruction.
Above all, the author takes the reader on a time machine, back to a time of jukeboxes and dhobi wallas and street peddlers. A time when houses had names like Le Bleu Maison and not the modern crap Wisma Biru, for example. Good thing about Penang is that it had more or less retained it's colonial past and accepted it, instead of denying all references to British rule, as is the norm in all other parts of Malaysia.
I mean seriously, Light Street sounds more aesthetically-pleasing than, say, Jalan Datuk Panglima Besar Abu Bakar or, get this, Jalan Pengaturcara.
Yes, I'm serious. Programmer Road.
Jeez!
No, not that it was an arduous task to finish the book, it's just that I haven't really been spending much time reading. For a myriad excuses, none really substantial. I left My Name is Red halfway through; I really should finish that as well.
So yeah, The Gift of Rain. Great book on Penang in the 40s. There are lots of landmarks and streets on this little island that have stood the test of time (and Japanese and Allied bombs) and the author goes through great lengths to make a mention of them. From the E&O (recently refurbished) to Chulia Street, I assume he was either born in Penang, or stayed in Penang for umpteen years. Better still, check out his site for more info on him, yeah?
The book presents the various communities in Penang at the time in contrasting light; the Brits are fixated with social status and tea parties, while the Chinese are obsessed with tradition, culture and business. There's only one mention of an Indian dude throughout the book, and he's a communist. When it comes to the invading Japs, one word: contradiction. Cultured yet barbaric, gentle yet warlike, wise yet murderous. Which pretty much sums up Japan of the 40s. I mean, who would have imagined a race capable of creating zen-inspired gardens would be inclined to kill for pleasure and cause great destruction.
Above all, the author takes the reader on a time machine, back to a time of jukeboxes and dhobi wallas and street peddlers. A time when houses had names like Le Bleu Maison and not the modern crap Wisma Biru, for example. Good thing about Penang is that it had more or less retained it's colonial past and accepted it, instead of denying all references to British rule, as is the norm in all other parts of Malaysia.
I mean seriously, Light Street sounds more aesthetically-pleasing than, say, Jalan Datuk Panglima Besar Abu Bakar or, get this, Jalan Pengaturcara.
Yes, I'm serious. Programmer Road.
Jeez!
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