Garden of Evening Mists

  21 Reviews

In the Cameron Highlands of Malaya following World War 2, Chinese Malay Yun Ling becomes apprenticed to Nakamura Aritomo (a man who had once been the gardener to Emperor Hirohito) in order to create a garden to honour her sister who died in a Japanese POW camp. Years later Yun Ling returns to the area to make sense of all that has happened.

Spanning a changing Malaysia from colonial times to the present day, this is a beautifully wrought tale of exotic landscapes, political upheaval and intriguing mystery. With its exquisite imagery and deep connection to the natural world, it is a book to be savoured.

Comments from Groups

A fascinating book - so many facets for discussion. The group agreed it was one of the best books so far. [Nelson 062]

Found this book truly beautiful, engrossing and thought provoking. [Wellington 142]

Everybody rated the book very highly. [Christchurch 009]

An excellent choice. It's a book that would reward a second reading. [Dunedin 029]

Very much a mixed review - some quite critical of the characters and the violence, others loved it. Whangarei

The book was enjoyed by all our group. Some members loved it and described it as 'wonderful'. A few found it hard to get into, and felt the two main characters lacked depth in the way they were developed. Most of us found the whole Malayan story of the Japanese occupation and aftermath fascinating, as we know very little about this period in history. Discussion was around the POW experience and whether the gardener was a spy. His mystery disappearance kept the discussion lively with theories. The writing was beautiful, some thought a bit overdone at times with abundant metaphors to describe everything in the lush environment. A very different book with complex layers and time zones. Auckland 037

Probably the least enjoyed book this year. We enjoyed the style of writing, but found it a bit slow moving with too much time spent on the garden. Paihia 003

This is a beautifully written book, which, despite some very dark moments, is memorable and compelling. Some members found it quite hard to follow all the threads and time shifts, but felt it was well worth the effort. We had a wide ranging discussion. Altogether a very fulfilling book choice. Auckland 071

We mostly enjoyed the book apart from some of the very gruesome parts. The writing was beautiful with very 'visual' descriptions, especially of Yugiri Garden - you could see it in your mind. Our discussion was lengthy, and interestingly many of us interpreted parts of the book quite differently. Worth persevering through the slower moving chapters. Hamilton 004

An excellent book. Full of depth and wisdom and secrets. Christchurch 005

Wonderful read. Interesting history of an area where our own troops served. The story was revealed in the way a Japanese garden is revealed - complex, subtle and demanding. Hikurangi 001

There was a mixed response from the group on this book. Some had not finished it; some felt it was quite brutal in parts; others enjoyed its setting in Malaya and its gardening references. One member had read the author's other novel 'The Gift of Rain' and liked that much more. Newport 013

All agreed that it was a great read - but definitely a slow read to understand the relationships, and always wondering if we had got to the truth of the events during the wars. Auckland 027

Everyone enjoyed this book and what an animated discussion we had, with some folk picking up ideas that others hadn't. We still went home with different opinions on what had happened to Aritomo, and what war activities the main characters had been involved in. Ngarb 001

Reviews

WAIUK 001

30-10-2023

Everyone loved this book, an interesting discussion had before we started the questions. Two members had been to Penang, following in the footsteps of their fathers who were there at this time in Malaya's history.

HOKITIK 004

24-08-2023

Less than half the group finished reading this story but all agreed that it was beautifully written. The setting, layers of cultural symbolism and descriptive prose added to the intricate storyline. The story doesn't follow a chronological order but is more irregular like memories. Fascinating discussion led by those who had visited the area, and those who hadn't finish the book now wished they had ...

WELL 100

25-11-2022

The group admired the beautiful writing, and the compelling story.

TEHORO 002

05-10-2022

Another great choice for the group. We enjoyed the evocative descriptions, the almost poetic elegiac quality of the writing, and the profound sense of melancholy that seeps through the story. We had a very lively discussion - a good hallmark for an excellent book. Several members intend to buy a copy and we all want to read his next book.

WELL 183

03-10-2022

We all enjoyed this book but took a little time to get into it. Several especially enjoyed the beautiful way it was written.

WELL 120

03-10-2022

Our group enjoyed this book, beautifully written but main characters not so appealing. Gives an enlightening perspective on the Japanese in Malaya, which we didn't know much about.

AKAR 002

03-10-2022

Everyone had plenty to say and were keen to get further understanding through the questions.

PALMN 022

03-10-2022

Most enjoyed it, some felt it was bit slow.

MATAM 001

22-07-2021

We all loved 'The Garden of Evening Mists', for its beautiful writing in describing the Malayan highlands. A complex story of a Chinese Malayan woman's coming to terms with the cruelties inflicted in the Japanese prison camp, through her association with the Japanese Emperor's former gardener. It was not a story to be "gobbled up", but to be read slowly and savoured. General consensus - best book ever!!

CART 001

21-04-2021

All enjoyed the book. Hard to get into at the start, once underway, a great story. Chopping around time zones took a little to follow, but made the book more stimulating. Insightful reading about the war and division in the area, leading to the formation of Malaysia - reminiscent of WWII. Interesting cultural practices, and beautiful descriptions of the country. Many situations and descriptions were tranquil and calming, and had a spiritual dimension.

CHCH 449

03-07-2020

Half the group loved the book and found it fascinating with the different cultural themes and twists and turns within the story. A couple of readers didn't finish and the others decided, on hearing the positive reports, that they would re-visit and complete reading. Two comments that were agreed on were that the names and changes of time periods became confusing and many descriptive passages, although well-written, were often too long.

NELS 077

26-03-2020

We found the parts about the prison camp most interesting. It was slow moving and a bit hard to get into to begin with but picked up in the second half. Beautifully written and an interesting slice of history.

PALMN 038

22-01-2020

Two of our members were gripped by the story and the way it was told but most didn't finish it, agreeing the descriptive passages and the theme weren't their cup of tea.

MARTIN 003

18-12-2019

Several members didn't finish the book but those that persevered, enjoyed it. Some found it a bit long-winded with unnecessarily long descriptive passages. An interesting look at recent Malayan history.

WELL 215

01-03-2019

A slow moving book, not everyone in the group was able to finish it. The language was very descriptive, the story was intricate, detailed and respectful. Some parts were hard to follow. It was an interesting insight into WW2 in Malaysia, we all learnt a lot.

CHCH 238

01-02-2019

It is one of those books that keeps you thinking long after you have finished it. Beautifully written, sad but also enlightening for the reader, and full of intrigue.

AUCK 009

01-02-2019

"Brilliant", "haunting", "unforgettable", "I want to buy it" were some of the comments. We thought the writing was beautiful and very poetic; the research that must have gone into it was outstanding and it displayed a deep knowledge of the various groups and ethnicities involved. Altogether a very satisfying read, provoking much discussion. We were sorry that voting for the best book of the year took place before we had read this, as we would most likely have put this one at the top of the list.

OTORO 002

01-02-2019

A great read.

AUCK 058

01-02-2019

An engrossing, beautifully written book which the whole book club enjoyed. Deserving of the accolades received.

AUCK 335

01-02-2019

A bit difficult to get into, and to understand the structure with its changes of time and place. We enjoyed the descriptive writing - garden, mountains, flowers, trees, clouds - and found the context very interesting as we knew very little about Malaya and its history. The ending left many unanswered questions which some found frustrating, others liked.

MARLB 001

01-02-2019

Loved by half of us. A difficult book to "get into" but worth persevering...