Tan Twan Eng is a talented writer, no doubt about this. But the main problem I have with the book is that it is too melodramatic. It's like watching a movie - a Chinese action movie at that. And towards the end, I kept thinking that Tan must have really hated his protagonist to put him through so much misery. Haha. But yeah, Phillip Hutton has the gift of rain - hope for some, pain and suffering for others.

Unlike Tan's other book, this book was rather slow to catch my attention. But now, with a quarter left to read, I am hooked.

Baby is sleeping, husband is away. Perfect time for some literary indulgence.