Welcome to Litsy!

*Cat (Serene) is not allowed on the table
This was the wrong time to read this book. I thought it was well crafted. Chan handled the multiple times and POV well. I was never confused where or who we were dealing with. I appreciate this being an area that is a historical blind spot for me (British Malaya occupied by Japan)
The writing is obviously debut level, a bit chunky, occasionally trying to do too much. But she gets her points across.

There are so many historical fiction books out there focusing on Germany during WWII, that I found it a refreshing (for lack of a better word) change to have a novel shine light on Asia (specifically Malaya) during this time &highlight the lives effected &tragedies that occurred there.

There are serious topics &it‘s at times a difficult read, but I appreciated how the author approached each topic &how informative this historical fiction book was.

#WeekendReads @rachelsbrittain

I really enjoyed this book about intrepid Jean Paget who leads a group of imprisoned women around wartime Malaya, comes into some money, and makes a life for herself in Australia. This is a quiet love story, but mostly Jean‘s story, and you can‘t help but root for this practical, can-do character who in building a life for herself also builds a town for her life.

I saw the movie in my impressionable teens and it stayed with me. The trauma of the war the romance against all odds the crucifixion and the steak and two eggs for breakfast. The language is of its time and is now we know better, very offensive. It‘s also about a third too long and could have ended much sooner with an epilogue. Buts it‘s also quaint. Jean is fierce + determined. Joe is a strong masculine hero. I‘m glad I read it with adult eyes.

@vonnie862 Yes! There‘s a Netflix series! #foodandlit #Malaysia #Malaya @Catsandbooks

The Japanese occupation of #Malaysia in WWII is yet another story not told enough. Fortunately there‘s this book reminding all of us of the damage colonization can do, first by the British (but at least not physically brutal) and then by Japan. In this story, we learn early on that Mom Cecily was spying for Japan, planning its invasion, during the British occupation. The Brits treating Malaysians as inferior was a good enough reason to make ⬇️

Jean Paget is the only single woman on a forced march of 100s of miles during WWII by the Japanese of the women and children around #Malaysia because there was no POW camp to house them. This first part of the book is based on true events in Sumatra. One of the few survivors, Jean became a creative leader, finding ways to keep the others alive, while balancing intricate communications with the captors and the Malayans met ⬇️

#fortheloveofbooks @TheSpineView

Whoohoo! I finished the tagged book last night. #Malaysia #foodandlit @Catsandbooks