The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
geraldinerowe's review against another edition
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A thoroughly engaging story of morality, both of the individual and of the time. There's infidelity, racism, colonialism, classism, homophobia, hypocrisy and more, all loosely based around real events. I loved this book, but it loses half a mark for some jarringly flowery language.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Homophobia, Racism, Classism, Murder, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual assault, and Chronic illness
Moderate: Abandonment
the_literarylinguist's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia and Racism
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
 The House of Doors is a rich multi-layered novel with multiple interwoven threads. Most of the novel is set in the Penang, part of the Straits Settlements, then a British colony and now part of Malaysia, in the 1920s. One of my favourite aspects of the novel was how transportative it was. I felt totally immersed in the Penang of the 1920s - the landscape, the sights and sounds, and most especially the workings of the colonial expat community.
The action really begins with the novelist W Somerset Maugham visiting Robert Hamlyn, an old school friend, and his wife Lesley and from there unspools in several equally intriguing directions. One key thread involves Maugham himself, his sham marriage, his ill-health, relationship with his male secretary, a major financial crisis which falls him, and his desperate need to produce a new book. Another key thread is the story Lesley tells him about her friend Ethel Proudfoot, who was accused of murder after shooting a man she claimed tried to rape her. The courtroom scenes made for compelling reading, especially when I learnt that this was a real case. Another key strand involves Sun Yat Sen’s arrival in Penang, his efforts to drum up support, particular financial, for his plans to overthrow the Chinese emperor and Lesley ‘s involvement in the cause. There is all sorts of forbidden love - love that defied marital bounds, racial boundaries, and accepted gender based sexuality - love that highlights the gaps between public and private selves. The story also showed the relative powerlessness of women. Lesley is expected to bow to the whims of her husband, while the twist in Ethel’s case is shocking and clearly highlights female disempowerment. Tying much of this together was the theme of memory and storytelling - whose memories can we trust and who has the right to tell our stories, questions that are still very relevant today.Â
The action really begins with the novelist W Somerset Maugham visiting Robert Hamlyn, an old school friend, and his wife Lesley and from there unspools in several equally intriguing directions. One key thread involves Maugham himself, his sham marriage, his ill-health, relationship with his male secretary, a major financial crisis which falls him, and his desperate need to produce a new book. Another key thread is the story Lesley tells him about her friend Ethel Proudfoot, who was accused of murder after shooting a man she claimed tried to rape her. The courtroom scenes made for compelling reading, especially when I learnt that this was a real case. Another key strand involves Sun Yat Sen’s arrival in Penang, his efforts to drum up support, particular financial, for his plans to overthrow the Chinese emperor and Lesley ‘s involvement in the cause. There is all sorts of forbidden love - love that defied marital bounds, racial boundaries, and accepted gender based sexuality - love that highlights the gaps between public and private selves. The story also showed the relative powerlessness of women. Lesley is expected to bow to the whims of her husband, while the twist in Ethel’s case is shocking and clearly highlights female disempowerment. Tying much of this together was the theme of memory and storytelling - whose memories can we trust and who has the right to tell our stories, questions that are still very relevant today.Â
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation
Moderate: Murder, Racism, Gun violence, and Homophobia
thesapphiccelticbookworm's review
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Thank you to Netgalley and Canongate for a copy of this book.
In 1920s Pengang, Straits Settlements (modern day Malaysia), lawyer, Robert Hamilton's friend, writer Willie Somerset Maugham comes to stay. Willie and Robert's wife Lesley confide in each other.
Unfortunately the writing style just wasn't for me, so I just couldn't engage with this book, therefore I found what would have otherwise been an otherwise great story dull and boring.
It dealt with some interesting topics and parts of Asian history, so I was disappointed that this book wasn't for me, but I'm sure many others will love it.
In 1920s Pengang, Straits Settlements (modern day Malaysia), lawyer, Robert Hamilton's friend, writer Willie Somerset Maugham comes to stay. Willie and Robert's wife Lesley confide in each other.
Unfortunately the writing style just wasn't for me, so I just couldn't engage with this book, therefore I found what would have otherwise been an otherwise great story dull and boring.
It dealt with some interesting topics and parts of Asian history, so I was disappointed that this book wasn't for me, but I'm sure many others will love it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Rape, Murder, Colonisation, Gun violence, Racism, and Homophobia
Minor: War
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