Welcome to Litsy!

This is an intriguing if somewhat hodge podge of a book. A loosely dual timelined novel which follows in the first person Lesley a British woman in penang just after WW1 and the real author Somerset Maugham who visits her and her husband for 2 weeks and whilst there has Lesley share her personal story. There is a lot going on in this one and i did not warm to the characters but the writing is lush and the sense of place compelling.

I enjoyed this historical fiction based on real events. In 1921 Lesley and Robert Hamlyn are a British couple living in the colony of the Federated Malay States. They are visited by famous writer Sommerset Maugham, who discovers a past connection between Lesley and Chinese revolutionary Sun Yat-sen, which proves more surprising and entertaining than he could have imagined. Love, friendship and sexuality at that time and place were complicated.

This historical novel (that is on the short list for the #walterscottaward ) did not capture my imagination as I hoped it would. I learned about Malasia in the 1920's, but failed to connect strongly with the characters. 2.5🌟 for me.

This extraordinary stunning story thoroughly researched mix of fact and historical fiction will be one of my favourite reads of the year. Astutely portrayed characters full of emotional depth & complexities, dripping with inequalities class diversions repugnant social norms expectations & attitudes to women & homosexuals deeply embedded unacceptable racism. But don‘t be put off it‘s a vivid lush portrait of Malaya & a melting pot of characters.

Just finished this lovely book in time for April‘s #bookspin #bookspinbingo @TheAromaofBooks ! I totally loved the way it‘s written, the characters, the plots. I was so engrossed and enveloped by the story. It‘s no wonder that he‘s still one of my favourite authors! I hope I don‘t have to wait another 8 years for the next book 🙏🏻 My rating is 5/5!!!

Wasn‘t a planning on adding this to mays TBR but library 📚 haul came in - why do they always come available at once ! So il have to make sure I just make more time to read in the coming month 😆only on page 📑 16 and already it‘s beautifully written, captivating I can almost smell the air and feel the Malaysian 🇲🇾 heat- now that‘s a talented author & powerful writing .”our minds travel when our bodies cannot “

I thought this was great! Historical fiction: 1920s, unhappy wife stuck in a passionless marriage befriends playwright and novelist W Somerset Maugham who travels with his “secretary” [read: lover] to her adopted home of Penang. She tells him stories from her life he eventually uses in his fiction. These side stories are explored intriguingly and without losing the central story. Colonialism is a theme and the setting is amazing.

This is a multi-layered beautifully written novel with several plots the authors threads together into a cohesive storyline. It makes sense why it was longlisted for the Booker Prize in 2023. I look forward to reading some of the other author's novels.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book - a quiet and clever novel, using actual events as a starting point to tell a story of gendered roles, homophobia and the ways we conceal our true selves in a repressive social structure.
It is subtle and slow moving with a great sense of setting.
I can imagine this being turned into a really beautiful film.

Photo of a proper summer‘s day and a pohutakawa tree.

I enjoyed this slowly unfolding story of love, loyalty, art and politics set in 1920s Malaysia. I was drawn in by the beautiful descriptions of setting and the dreamlike pace of the story. It makes me want to read his other books.

Really enjoyed this. Great story and great historical backdrop, learned a lot and got lost down the rabbit hole a few times. Just this week I have been reviewing forms from Sun Yat Sen University!
Need to read the authors other books now.

#quicklunchtimeread
Enjoying the book if hardly any reading time this week!

Hands up who didn‘t know this is a pillow type thing….👋

I really enjoyed this story set in Penang, Malaya. Set in different timelines 1910 and 1921. Somerset Maugham visits his old friend Peter and his wife Leslie. Leslie tells Maugham about a story back in 1910, which then eventually puts it in a short story. I loved the setting and atmosphere.

Rave reviews five star read The House Of Doors by Tan Twan Eng so excited to read.Thanks @Bloomsbury_Publishing for my gifted copy.

(A picture I found of Armenian Street in Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia)

I really enjoyed this look at 1921 British Penang and of W. Somerset Maugham, with China collapsing on the horizon. Eng is having a little dialogue with Maugham‘s stories from his 1921 visit. His main storyteller is a Penang-born British housewife, Leslie Hamlyn, in an unhappy marriage and with her own curious history.

It‘s unexpectedly 60 degrees at 8 am in Vermont and I‘m delighted to be sitting on my porch listening to the cacophony of geese who have been flying overhead for days. Granddaughter Charley is enjoying her first Fall. And I just finished this novel. In an interview the author said he didn‘t want the events in the novel to disappear from history. I was intrigued the entire time by his ability to weave several themes and events into this one novel.

Released on audio today, i started this morning. About 45 minutes in and it‘s touched on rural South Africa in 1947, Penang (in modern Malaysia) in 1921 and W. Sommerset Maugham. And the two audio readers are excellent. I‘m smitten for the moment.

W. Somerset Maugham with his secretary visits an old friend living in Penang. While there, W starts talking to his friend‘s wife, Lesley. She might have more to tell than how to be a society hostess, a story involving murder, a trial, fight for independence and a love affair.

I enjoyed this book and will look into Eng‘s other novels.

3rd book for #SummerEndReadathon @TheSpineView
Extended #RushAthon @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES

I loved this. No idea how it didn't make the booker shortlist.

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

US pub date is 10/17/23
#ARC #Netgalley

New fb group from the #Booker team: https://m.facebook.com/groups/682707483916804/

‘Another book?‘ she says, stacking my plate and teacup onto her tray. ‘Everywhere in the house, books, books, books.‘
‘Yes … another book …‘

(Anyone else find this exchange oddly familiar?)

My favourite that I've read from the #BookerLonglist so far. Exquisitely crafted sense of time and place, the atmosphere of 1920s Penang was palpable. And Lesley and Willie were such wonderfully genuine POV characters, as they stumbled towards understanding each other and the intricacies of the lives that had been built around, for, and sometimes by them.

@BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain @BookwormM

#BookSpin #DoubleSpin #BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

Can we all take a moment to appreciate these gorgeous endpapers? 😍

About 50 pages in and just loving this one so far. Beautifully evocative writing. Thank you again @squirrelbrain 💓

Our panel has posted our ratings and reviews for this Booker longlist novel. You can read them here:

https://thereadersroom.org/

At a surface look, this is absorbing historical fiction; a story inspired by real people and by the short story The Letter, published in Maugham‘s collection The Casuarina Tree. This would have been enough for me, but there is more at work here. Eng‘s mirroring of Maugham‘s style, and use of the voice of the colonist to explore the experiences of life in inter-war Malaysia adds a layer of complexity to how we can read this narrative.

3.5 stars. A story about family, love and storytelling. The different timelines didn‘t work well in my opinion and I did not feel a connection to the characters.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

Interesting story in an unfamiliar setting with a deep exploration of marriage and society. It's hard to review without spoilering, but I enjoyed particularly that all characters were nuanced, flawed and quite realistic.
Not sure about the Booker nomination, it's a decent read, but not outstanding or something I feel the need to recommend to people.

#booker13

@squirrelbrain thank you so much (that was FAST!)! I'm so excited for this one, and I really appreciate your kindness!

#booker23 5/13

Tan Twan Eng creates settings and characters like no one else.
I loved the Penang setting again, as I did all characters who are each so lovable in their own way. The plot is great too, the sorrow of times past beneath it all.

Tan deserves the Booker Prize, even though this is not my favorite book of his.

(Photo: Meganisi, Greece)

Loved it! I cried reading this book because it made me reflect on love, relationships, and forbidden feelings. Beautifully written and it really felt for all the characters but especially the female protagonist. My favorite book so far from long list. Full review on our blog in a few weeks

Definitely my favourite so far on the #bookerlonglist (although this is only #4 of 13).

Set on the Malay Peninsula in the early 20th century, this is a beautifully written story of relationships, intertwined with visits from Somerset Maugham and Sun Yat Sen, and incorporating a murder.

I need to read the author‘s other two books now.

Gorgeous endpapers.

Loved this one. Makes me want to go back and read the author's other two now.

I love this author.

This is quite confrontational: ordering a book once in a while 😉 and have them delivered all at the same day 😅 #bookhaul #sorrynotsorry