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anusha_reads 's review for:
The House of Doors
by Tan Twan Eng
BOOK 4: THE HOUSE OF DOORS, by TAN TWAN ENG #bookerprize2023
‘FACT AND FICTION ARE SO INTERMINGLED IN MY WORK THAT NOW, LOOKING BACK ON IT, I CAN HARDLY DISTINGUISH ONE FROM THE OTHER.’- SOMERSET MAUGHAM, THE SUMMING UP.
True to this epigraph, the story has elements of reality and elements of amazing imagination. Going by the definition of a story, it has a series of events, a brilliant plot, and evokes emotion too.
Tan Twan Eng has woven this tale using real people: Somerset Maugham, Sun Yat Sen, Ethel Proudlock; some real facts, some real events and an amazing novel that only feels real.
The house behind every door has a story and a door often represents transitions, changes or opportunities. Curiosity to unravel what is behind the door makes us embrace even the unfamiliar.
The book was inspired by Somerset's Play The Letter, which was also made into a film.
The whole story takes place in Penang, Malaysia. Lesley is the wife of a lawyer named Robert. Robert and Willie(Somerset Maugham ) are friends. They invite Willie over to their house. Lesley starts telling Willie about Sun Yat Sen and Ethel Proudlock, which in turn helps him write great books. Robert warns Lesley that she shouldn’t tell Willie about personal incidents as they could chance upon the stories in one of his books. The story unfolds revealing a lot of secrets, deceit, homophobia, infidelities, political turmoil, concealed sexuality, and gender bias. The book prominently highlights the problems faced by gay people in that era.
I felt that Lesley was the most prominent character in the book, though the book is about Somerset Maugham.
Its a layered novel with narratives moving between Willie and Lesley.I thought that the whole idea of weaving a story around this author is brilliant.
Tan Twan Eng’s debut novel The Gift of Rain was nominated for Booker long list in 2007 and his novel The Garden Of Evening Mists won the @walterscottprize 2013 and was shortlisted for the Booker Prize 2012.
‘FACT AND FICTION ARE SO INTERMINGLED IN MY WORK THAT NOW, LOOKING BACK ON IT, I CAN HARDLY DISTINGUISH ONE FROM THE OTHER.’- SOMERSET MAUGHAM, THE SUMMING UP.
True to this epigraph, the story has elements of reality and elements of amazing imagination. Going by the definition of a story, it has a series of events, a brilliant plot, and evokes emotion too.
Tan Twan Eng has woven this tale using real people: Somerset Maugham, Sun Yat Sen, Ethel Proudlock; some real facts, some real events and an amazing novel that only feels real.
The house behind every door has a story and a door often represents transitions, changes or opportunities. Curiosity to unravel what is behind the door makes us embrace even the unfamiliar.
The book was inspired by Somerset's Play The Letter, which was also made into a film.
The whole story takes place in Penang, Malaysia. Lesley is the wife of a lawyer named Robert. Robert and Willie(Somerset Maugham ) are friends. They invite Willie over to their house. Lesley starts telling Willie about Sun Yat Sen and Ethel Proudlock, which in turn helps him write great books. Robert warns Lesley that she shouldn’t tell Willie about personal incidents as they could chance upon the stories in one of his books. The story unfolds revealing a lot of secrets, deceit, homophobia, infidelities, political turmoil, concealed sexuality, and gender bias. The book prominently highlights the problems faced by gay people in that era.
I felt that Lesley was the most prominent character in the book, though the book is about Somerset Maugham.
Its a layered novel with narratives moving between Willie and Lesley.I thought that the whole idea of weaving a story around this author is brilliant.
Tan Twan Eng’s debut novel The Gift of Rain was nominated for Booker long list in 2007 and his novel The Garden Of Evening Mists won the @walterscottprize 2013 and was shortlisted for the Booker Prize 2012.