misspalah's review against another edition
3.0
The previous day's rain had washed thin rivers of mud on to many of the smaller roads, but we drove on regardless. This was the only way to Tanjong Ache, the point on the coast where we will catch a boat to the Seven Maidens. That was Johnny's opinion. Even I was surprised at how certain he sounded. We are now a long way from Kampar - farther, surely, than any boy can cycle. Perhaps this was where he was born, where he grew up; perhaps he did not, as we all believe, spend his youth as a labourer in Tiger Tan's famous shop. His knowledge of this place seemed
to come from some deep recess, something locked away so safely that even he may have forgotten its origin. It was at that moment that I realised, with absolute clarity, that I did not know him at all. But then again I think I have always known that intimacy between us was impossible. That was why I wanted him: he would always be alien to me. And worse, it was I who pretended otherwise. I said things I now know were untrue. 'We are kindred spirits, I told him as we held hands by the river, not a hundred yards from my parents' disapproving gaze. He looked at me with innocent eyes and believed every word I said. Then, as now, there lies an unfordable divide between us. Even Mother, in her own bizarre way, is at one with Father. She understands what he wants of her and vice versa. They each supply what the other needs. That is marriage.
- The Harmony Silk Factories by Tash Aw
.
I have read we, the survivors written by Tash Aw and loving it. Then, i decided to read his first book, The Harmony Silk Factory and ended up disliking it. Tash Aw can write and i think anyone who’ve read at least one of his books will agree with me on this. What i find lacking is the inconsistency of the character building? especially in describing Johnny Lim (the tenacious salesman versus the reserved / silent guy) and some plot were jarring - does this road tripping described by Snow in her diary even possible in the midst of world war 2. It was quite bizarre (at least for me). However, i am not here to nitpick everything - i do enjoy the historical part of it especially from Jasper’s (Johnny’s Son) Narration . Its like seeing Johnny Lim and Malaya shifted throughout certain periods side by side. Both were hardened by complex circumstances and ended up moulded into the identity that they were known today. As for Snow, Johnny’s mother - her observation of Johnny is almost contradictory with Jasper. BUT i believe this is intended by the author as to demonstrate that human characters is different depending on the environment and how perception by a person can vary. Snow felt Johnny is keeping her close but at the same time, emotionally distant with her. She married the man but she didn’t know him. She was kept out of the dark almost all the time. I usually love diary entry form in a novel but with Snow, i felt like she added nothing to the story. Her part is where i felt long winded and i wanted to finish her part ASAP. Dont get me wrong, i was rooting for Snow and Johnny - when Snow recalled her first time meeting Johnny in the rain, observing his skin tone and facial expression, you can almost felt that powerful gaze in that particulqr page. The last one, to conclude who Johnny is, we were brought into the POV of Peter, Johnny’s best friend. I was constantly guessing who is the real father of Jasper because i am sure as hell its not Johnny. It was revealed at the last chapter of the book. As for Peter, it almost like a disgruntled lover / pompous whiney old man chapter. He is insecure of Kunichiwa but he never thought loving Snow is a red flag in a friendship that he has with Johnny. Now when he’s older, he started to become like Honey, an entitled colonizer that was supposed to leave this country years ago. Overall, it was an okay book. Its not for me but i can understand why some love it.
to come from some deep recess, something locked away so safely that even he may have forgotten its origin. It was at that moment that I realised, with absolute clarity, that I did not know him at all. But then again I think I have always known that intimacy between us was impossible. That was why I wanted him: he would always be alien to me. And worse, it was I who pretended otherwise. I said things I now know were untrue. 'We are kindred spirits, I told him as we held hands by the river, not a hundred yards from my parents' disapproving gaze. He looked at me with innocent eyes and believed every word I said. Then, as now, there lies an unfordable divide between us. Even Mother, in her own bizarre way, is at one with Father. She understands what he wants of her and vice versa. They each supply what the other needs. That is marriage.
- The Harmony Silk Factories by Tash Aw
.
I have read we, the survivors written by Tash Aw and loving it. Then, i decided to read his first book, The Harmony Silk Factory and ended up disliking it. Tash Aw can write and i think anyone who’ve read at least one of his books will agree with me on this. What i find lacking is the inconsistency of the character building? especially in describing Johnny Lim (the tenacious salesman versus the reserved / silent guy) and some plot were jarring - does this road tripping described by Snow in her diary even possible in the midst of world war 2. It was quite bizarre (at least for me). However, i am not here to nitpick everything - i do enjoy the historical part of it especially from Jasper’s (Johnny’s Son) Narration . Its like seeing Johnny Lim and Malaya shifted throughout certain periods side by side. Both were hardened by complex circumstances and ended up moulded into the identity that they were known today. As for Snow, Johnny’s mother - her observation of Johnny is almost contradictory with Jasper. BUT i believe this is intended by the author as to demonstrate that human characters is different depending on the environment and how perception by a person can vary. Snow felt Johnny is keeping her close but at the same time, emotionally distant with her. She married the man but she didn’t know him. She was kept out of the dark almost all the time. I usually love diary entry form in a novel but with Snow, i felt like she added nothing to the story. Her part is where i felt long winded and i wanted to finish her part ASAP. Dont get me wrong, i was rooting for Snow and Johnny - when Snow recalled her first time meeting Johnny in the rain, observing his skin tone and facial expression, you can almost felt that powerful gaze in that particulqr page. The last one, to conclude who Johnny is, we were brought into the POV of Peter, Johnny’s best friend. I was constantly guessing who is the real father of Jasper because i am sure as hell its not Johnny. It was revealed at the last chapter of the book. As for Peter, it almost like a disgruntled lover / pompous whiney old man chapter. He is insecure of Kunichiwa but he never thought loving Snow is a red flag in a friendship that he has with Johnny. Now when he’s older, he started to become like Honey, an entitled colonizer that was supposed to leave this country years ago. Overall, it was an okay book. Its not for me but i can understand why some love it.
anna2256_'s review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
sofiazee's review against another edition
2.0
A gripping story of how Johnny Lim, a textile merchant & Communist, became what he came to be. Johnny's life was never portrayed straightforwardly; instead it was narrated by 3 important persons in his life: Jasper, his son; Snow, his wife; and Peter Wormwood, his only best friend.
It was an interesting take on how the author portrays his invisible protagonist. We could never know what Johnny really felt & thought in those situations depicted by those 3. Perspective is a personal thing; and it is not wrong to see how perspectives of different people differs or even contradicts each other. That was perhaps the intention of Tash Aw, but something that disturbed me as I could not accurately grasp who Johnny actually is. Even after finishing the whole book, Johnny remains a myth to me.
Albeit the plot can be quite distracting (for me) due to the alternating past & present, it's still quite a breezy read. Nothing too fascinating, but good to kill time.
It was an interesting take on how the author portrays his invisible protagonist. We could never know what Johnny really felt & thought in those situations depicted by those 3. Perspective is a personal thing; and it is not wrong to see how perspectives of different people differs or even contradicts each other. That was perhaps the intention of Tash Aw, but something that disturbed me as I could not accurately grasp who Johnny actually is. Even after finishing the whole book, Johnny remains a myth to me.
Albeit the plot can be quite distracting (for me) due to the alternating past & present, it's still quite a breezy read. Nothing too fascinating, but good to kill time.
joannielee27's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
sean67's review against another edition
2.0
I tried with this one but I found it a real struggle and could n0t get into it.
ifthebook's review against another edition
2.0
Decidedly okay. It always felt like something was about to happen, but nothing really ever did. And there seemed to be a real lack of focus. In the end, I didn't really see what the point was, except that maybe people's perceptions are always going to be flawed. But, really, I didn't need to read this whole book to know that. So, eh. I won't be reading it again. I did love Peter, though.
Oh, and there were a couple references to how Johnny was the only one who thought that the Japanese would invade, which I thought was interesting. Conversations that I've had with people who were alive at the time have always included some sort of statement about how everyone knew the Japanese would invade (to a certain extent). Not that I'm arguing with it--I thought this was an interesting twist on things.
Oh, and there were a couple references to how Johnny was the only one who thought that the Japanese would invade, which I thought was interesting. Conversations that I've had with people who were alive at the time have always included some sort of statement about how everyone knew the Japanese would invade (to a certain extent). Not that I'm arguing with it--I thought this was an interesting twist on things.
kaneebli's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Racism, and War
Minor: Child abuse
lauren_endnotes's review against another edition
4.0
"People who enter our worlds from the outside are always more fascinating than the ones close to us, but in the end we always see sense."
From THE HARMONY SILK FACTORY by Tash Aw, 2005.
#ReadTheWorld21
From THE HARMONY SILK FACTORY by Tash Aw, 2005.
#ReadTheWorld21
thebookishepicure's review
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
shukriabdullah's review against another edition
challenging
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0