The Night Tiger
2019 • 469 pages
Ratings23
Average rating3.7
15
Ratings23
Average rating3.7
The Reese Witherspoon x Hello Sunshine Book Club Pick INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER “A sumptuous garden maze of a novel that immerses readers in a complex, vanished world.” —Kirkus (starred review) An utterly transporting novel set in 1930s colonial Malaysia, perfect for fans of Isabel Allende and Min Jin Lee Quick-witted, ambitious Ji Lin is stuck as an apprentice dressmaker, moonlighting as a dancehall girl to help pay off her mother’s Mahjong debts. But when one of her dance partners accidentally leaves behind a gruesome souvenir, Ji Lin may finally get the adventure she has been longing for. Eleven-year-old houseboy Ren is also on a mission, racing to fulfill his former master’s dying wish: that Ren find the man’s finger, lost years ago in an accident, and bury it with his body. Ren has 49 days to do so, or his master’s soul will wander the earth forever. As the days tick relentlessly by, a series of unexplained deaths racks the district, along with whispers of men who turn into tigers. Ji Lin and Ren’s increasingly dangerous paths crisscross through lush plantations, hospital storage rooms, and ghostly dreamscapes. Yangsze Choo's The Night Tiger pulls us into a world of servants and masters, age-old superstition and modern idealism, sibling rivalry and forbidden love. But anchoring this dazzling, propulsive novel is the intimate coming-of-age of a child and a young woman, each searching for their place in a society that would rather they stay invisible. "A work of incredible beauty... Astoundingly captivating and striking... A transcendent story of courage and connection." —Booklist (starred review)
Reviews with the most likes.
tws: death, dismemberment, disembowelment, animal attack, beheading, assault with a knife
didn't love this as much as the ghost bride, but i'm also not mad at it. i really liked ren and yi as characters and loved following them through the book as their stories converged with ji lin and shin's. not a fan at all of the romance (if you can call it that) between ji lin and shin, and i wish that there had been less talk about potential suitors for ji lin and more of an exploration of possible career paths during that time. but, again, i'm not familiar with the place and setting, so perhaps i'm asking for too much.
??I was curious to explore some magical realism, and it's probably not my cup of tea. It was very slow and too ???dreamy??? for me.?? The premise is intriguing and what kept me going was the mystery about the lost finger and the weretigers. Lots of people losing fingers on this one. It brings interesting cultural elements, with references to mythology and folklore of Malaysia. I feel Magical realism is not my thing. Everything happens in the real world (1930s colonial Malaysia), real places, real cultural references, but at the same time there is this uncanny mysticism and I don???t trust any of the characters. I think my suspension of disbelief doesn???t work well while reading this genre.??
The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo
I think this is probably going to be one of my favourite books of the year. A beautifully written magic realist historical novel set in Malay during the 1930s. The story centres around Ren, a young boy who is given a mission by his British master (who has died) to return his missing finger to his grave, preventing the master from walking the earth in search of it, and Ji Lin, a young woman who works as a dance partner but wishes to become a nurse. Along with Ji Lin's stepbrother Shin, they are mysteriously connected by the Confucian virtues.
A great part of the story is taken up with Chinese traditions and mythology, which is fascinating. The main motif of the story is that there is a were-tiger killing and mauling people, this is part of the magic realist aspect as well as imagery the author uses to describe the reoccurring dreams where Ren and Ji Lin communicate.
The time period and the place are perfectly chosen as you get the amazing imagery of the tiger and the sense that things are changing as the expats live and work in Malay. Another important character is William, who works as a doctor and is Ren's new master. The characters are also very well written and it's the kind of book that you could easily re-read to pick up more of the hints in the story. As readers have found on Quercus's brilliant #NightTigerTogether Twitter book club, it makes for some brilliant discussions and would make a perfect book club read.
4/19/20 - Updating my review and lowering another star because I can't get this out of my head for all the wrong reasons.
Spoilers: Seriously! What was the author thinking? That this romance would be cute? The more I think about it, the more I absolutely HATE the brother. Seriously, what a malicious, controlling, and all around terrible character! Chasing away any potential suiters for his step sister because he wanted her that badly? Ruining her chance at being with someone because HE had to have her? Holy shit, what a red flag! Then going on these adventures and helping her with her project for the sole fact of being with her? And ADMITTING IT? Then trying to seduce her in the hotel? Just wrong on SO many levels. Finally the ending, where they're gonna conveniently run off together to live in Singapore? Honey NO! Just no! This stepbrother is dangerous, controlling, and manipulative. Run girl, run! The fact that they grew up together is even more problematic. ALSO if the father and mother knew about this the entire time, then WHY did they allow them to continue having rooms near each other? Because the son promised he wouldn't do anything? Because the daughter/MC was oblivious to the fact? COME ON! Just because he's sooooo handsome does NOT excuse the behavior!
————Original Review ——–
Really liked the overall mystery and blend of Malasyan mythology/folklore. The way everything was connected, including the 5 names. The plot was a bit stuffed and the romance was completely unnecessary. Also, his attitude was very concerning “You have always been mine”. Uhh creepy. No. Watching and wanting her for all those years? And the way he finally plots to make his move? Then confiding that he never carrier about XX that she has been so interested in?? Girl, I don't care how good looking he is, RUN!
