The Gift of Rain by Tan Twan Eng

The Gift of Rain  -  Nominated for the Man Booker Prize

The Gift of Rain is the haunting story of wartime loyalties in Japanese occupied Malaysia.  Philip Hutton at 16 feels himself an outsider, the only child of a second marriage between a rich British businessman and a well-born Malayan woman.  Although the Hutton family welcomes Philip, his Malayan family turned away from his mother who died when he was seven.  He looks different.  He feels different.  He can’t quite fit himself in.

Then, an island on his father’s estate is rented to a middle-aged Japanese man who on purpose or by chance meets Philip and becomes his aikijutsu teacher.  A strong friendship develops between them in spite of the rumors of war and occupation of Malaysia by Japan. 

Philip seems to me to be hypnotized by this man, who is himself an outsider in Malaya at this time just before the war.  I get the strong feeling from the author of a physical relationship, although it is never stated. 

Malaya is occupied by the Japanese.  Philip is betrayed by his beloved teacher and friend, putting his family in grave danger.  He must make choices that may be right or wrong, but choices must be made.  Philip must save what he can of his family and his people, even though he is thought to be a traitor to his country.

This book is about the longing and frailty of youth, the mistakes we make because we love and trust and believe beyond what we should, the endless, ongoing, misery caused by racial differences and the consequences of our choices that we live with forever. 

Tan Twan Eng was born in Penang and lived in various regions of Malaysia as a child.  He studied law at the University of London and later worked as an advocate and solicitor in one of Kuala Lumpur’s most respected law firms.  The gift of Rain is Mr. Tan’s first novel.