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卮噩乇丞 丕賱噩丕賰丕乇丕賳丿丕
鬲鬲賳丕賵賱 卮噩乇丞 丕賱噩丕賰丕乇丕賳丿丕 賴乇賵亘 賲噩賲賵毓丞 賲賳 丕賱賳丕爻 賲賳 亘賵乇賲丕 廿賱賶 丕賱賴賳丿 兀孬賳丕亍 丕賱丨乇亘 丕賱毓丕賱賲賷丞 丕賱孬丕賳賷丞 賱丿賶 賯賷丕賲 丕賱噩賷卮 丕賱賷丕亘丕賳賷 亘卮賳 賴噩賵賲賴.
340 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1949
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About the author
H.E. Bates
207听books188听followersHerbert Ernest Bates, CBE is widely recognised as one of the finest short story writers of his generation, with more than 20 story collections published in his lifetime. It should not be overlooked, however, that he also wrote some outstanding novels, starting with The Two Sisters through to A Moment in Time, with such works as Love For Lydia, Fair Stood the Wind for France and The Scarlet Sword earning high praise from the critics. His study of the Modern Short Story is considered one of the best ever written on the subject.
He was born in Rushden, Northamptonshire and was educated at Kettering Grammar School. After leaving school, he was briefly a newspaper reporter and a warehouse clerk, but his heart was always in writing and his dream to be able to make a living by his pen.
Many of his stories depict life in the rural Midlands of England, particularly his native Northamptonshire. Bates was partial to taking long midnight walks around the Northamptonshire countryside - and this often provided the inspiration for his stories. Bates was a great lover of the countryside and its people and this is exemplified in two volumes of essays entitled Through the Woods and Down the River.
In 1931, he married Madge Cox, his sweetheart from the next road in his native Rushden. They moved to the village of Little Chart in Kent and bought an old granary and this together with an acre of garden they converted into a home. It was in this phase of his life that he found the inspiration for the Larkins series of novels -The Darling Buds of May, A Breath of French Air, When the Green Woods Laugh, etc. - and the Uncle Silas tales. Not surprisingly, these highly successful novels inspired television series that were immensely popular.
His collection of stories written while serving in the RAF during World War II, best known by the title The Stories of Flying Officer X, but previously published as Something in the Air (a compilation of his two wartime collections under the pseudonym 'Flying Officer X' and titled The Greatest People in the World and How Sleep the Brave), deserve particular attention. By the end of the war he had achieved the rank of Squadron Leader.
Bates was influenced by Chekhov in particular, and his knowledge of the history of the short story is obvious from the famous study he produced on the subject. He also wrote his autobiography in three volumes (each delightfully illustrated) which were subsequently published in a one-volume Autobiography.
Bates was a keen and knowledgeable gardener and wrote numerous books on flowers. The Granary remained their home for the whole of their married life. After the death of H. E Bates, Madge moved to a bungalow, which had originally been a cow byre, next to the Granary. She died in 2004 at age 95. They raised two sons and two daughters.
primarily from Wikipedia, with additions by Keith Farnsworth
He was born in Rushden, Northamptonshire and was educated at Kettering Grammar School. After leaving school, he was briefly a newspaper reporter and a warehouse clerk, but his heart was always in writing and his dream to be able to make a living by his pen.
Many of his stories depict life in the rural Midlands of England, particularly his native Northamptonshire. Bates was partial to taking long midnight walks around the Northamptonshire countryside - and this often provided the inspiration for his stories. Bates was a great lover of the countryside and its people and this is exemplified in two volumes of essays entitled Through the Woods and Down the River.
In 1931, he married Madge Cox, his sweetheart from the next road in his native Rushden. They moved to the village of Little Chart in Kent and bought an old granary and this together with an acre of garden they converted into a home. It was in this phase of his life that he found the inspiration for the Larkins series of novels -The Darling Buds of May, A Breath of French Air, When the Green Woods Laugh, etc. - and the Uncle Silas tales. Not surprisingly, these highly successful novels inspired television series that were immensely popular.
His collection of stories written while serving in the RAF during World War II, best known by the title The Stories of Flying Officer X, but previously published as Something in the Air (a compilation of his two wartime collections under the pseudonym 'Flying Officer X' and titled The Greatest People in the World and How Sleep the Brave), deserve particular attention. By the end of the war he had achieved the rank of Squadron Leader.
Bates was influenced by Chekhov in particular, and his knowledge of the history of the short story is obvious from the famous study he produced on the subject. He also wrote his autobiography in three volumes (each delightfully illustrated) which were subsequently published in a one-volume Autobiography.
Bates was a keen and knowledgeable gardener and wrote numerous books on flowers. The Granary remained their home for the whole of their married life. After the death of H. E Bates, Madge moved to a bungalow, which had originally been a cow byre, next to the Granary. She died in 2004 at age 95. They raised two sons and two daughters.
primarily from Wikipedia, with additions by Keith Farnsworth
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March 18, 2021
賱丕 賷賵噩丿 兀賯賵賶 賲賳 丕賱丨乇亘 賵丕賱禺賵賮 賱丕馗賴丕乇 丕賱賵噩賴 丕賱丨賯賷賯賷 賱賱亘毓囟貙 賵丕禺鬲亘丕乇 毓賵丕胤賮賳丕 賵賲卮丕毓乇 丕賱丕賳鬲賲丕亍 丕賱丨賯賷賯賷丞
賲噩賲賵毓丞 賲鬲亘丕賷賳丞 賲賳 丕賱亘乇賷胤丕賳賷賷賳 丕賱毓丕賱賯賷賳 賮賷 亘賵乇賲丕 賷賯乇乇賵賳 丕賱賮乇丕乇 賲鬲兀禺乇丕 亘毓丿 睾夭賵 丕賱賷丕亘丕賳賷賷賳 賱賱亘賱丕丿
鬲賳卮兀 丕賱禺賱丕賮丕鬲 亘賷賳賴賲貙 鬲胤賮賵 賲卮丕毓乇 丕賱睾賷乇丞 賵丕賱丕囟胤乇丕亘 丕賱賰丕賲賳丞 賮賷 丕賱賳賮賵爻貙 賵鬲馗賴乇 賳賲丕匕噩 兀禺乇賶 卮丿賷丿丞 丕賱丕賳爻丕賳賷丞貙 賵兀禺乇賶 鬲賮囟賱 丕賱亘賯丕亍 賮賷 丕賱賵胤賳 丕賱匕賷 賯囟賵丕 亘賷賳 噩賳亘丕鬲賴 賲毓馗賲 丨賷丕鬲賴賲 毓賵囟丕 毓賳 丕賱賮乇丕乇 廿賱賶 賵胤賳賴賲 丕賱兀氐賱賷
丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 賰丕賳 賷賲賰賳 兀賳 鬲賰賵賳 兀賮囟賱 賲賳 匕賱賰貙 賱賲 兀賮賴賲 爻亘亘 鬲爻賲賷鬲賴丕 亘卮噩乇丞 丕賱噩丕賰丕乇丕賳丿丕貙 賱賲 賷賰賳 賴賳丕賰 賲睾夭賶 乇賲夭賷 賯賵賷 賵乇丕亍 丕賱毓賳賵丕賳貙 丕賱賵氐賮 賰丕賳 噩賷丿丕 賮賷 亘毓囟 兀賯爻丕賲 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞貙 賯賱賷賱丕 噩丿丕 賵賱丕 賷卮亘毓 丕賱賮囟賵賱 賮賷 兀賯爻丕賲 兀禺乇賶貙 賵賱毓賱 匕賱賰 亘爻亘亘 丕賱鬲乇噩賲丞 丕賱賲禺鬲氐乇丞 丕賱鬲賷 丕賮賯丿鬲 丕賱毓賲賱 丕賱賰孬賷乇 賲賳 噩丕匕亘賷鬲賴貙 丨鬲賶 兀賳賳丕 賳乇賶 賲賳 丨賷賳 賱丌禺乇 賯賮夭丕鬲 賮賷 丕賱兀丨丿丕孬 鬲乇亘賰 丕賱賯丕乇卅
乇賵丕賷丞 賲鬲賵爻胤丞 丕賱賲爻鬲賵賶 毓賱賶 兀賷 丨丕賱 乇亘賲丕 賲賷夭鬲賴丕 丕賱賮乇賷丿丞 兀賳賴丕 鬲賯丿賲 賳賲丕匕噩 賲禺鬲賱賮丞 賲賳 丕賱亘卮乇 亘卮賰賱 賲賲賷夭
賲噩賲賵毓丞 賲鬲亘丕賷賳丞 賲賳 丕賱亘乇賷胤丕賳賷賷賳 丕賱毓丕賱賯賷賳 賮賷 亘賵乇賲丕 賷賯乇乇賵賳 丕賱賮乇丕乇 賲鬲兀禺乇丕 亘毓丿 睾夭賵 丕賱賷丕亘丕賳賷賷賳 賱賱亘賱丕丿
鬲賳卮兀 丕賱禺賱丕賮丕鬲 亘賷賳賴賲貙 鬲胤賮賵 賲卮丕毓乇 丕賱睾賷乇丞 賵丕賱丕囟胤乇丕亘 丕賱賰丕賲賳丞 賮賷 丕賱賳賮賵爻貙 賵鬲馗賴乇 賳賲丕匕噩 兀禺乇賶 卮丿賷丿丞 丕賱丕賳爻丕賳賷丞貙 賵兀禺乇賶 鬲賮囟賱 丕賱亘賯丕亍 賮賷 丕賱賵胤賳 丕賱匕賷 賯囟賵丕 亘賷賳 噩賳亘丕鬲賴 賲毓馗賲 丨賷丕鬲賴賲 毓賵囟丕 毓賳 丕賱賮乇丕乇 廿賱賶 賵胤賳賴賲 丕賱兀氐賱賷
丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 賰丕賳 賷賲賰賳 兀賳 鬲賰賵賳 兀賮囟賱 賲賳 匕賱賰貙 賱賲 兀賮賴賲 爻亘亘 鬲爻賲賷鬲賴丕 亘卮噩乇丞 丕賱噩丕賰丕乇丕賳丿丕貙 賱賲 賷賰賳 賴賳丕賰 賲睾夭賶 乇賲夭賷 賯賵賷 賵乇丕亍 丕賱毓賳賵丕賳貙 丕賱賵氐賮 賰丕賳 噩賷丿丕 賮賷 亘毓囟 兀賯爻丕賲 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞貙 賯賱賷賱丕 噩丿丕 賵賱丕 賷卮亘毓 丕賱賮囟賵賱 賮賷 兀賯爻丕賲 兀禺乇賶貙 賵賱毓賱 匕賱賰 亘爻亘亘 丕賱鬲乇噩賲丞 丕賱賲禺鬲氐乇丞 丕賱鬲賷 丕賮賯丿鬲 丕賱毓賲賱 丕賱賰孬賷乇 賲賳 噩丕匕亘賷鬲賴貙 丨鬲賶 兀賳賳丕 賳乇賶 賲賳 丨賷賳 賱丌禺乇 賯賮夭丕鬲 賮賷 丕賱兀丨丿丕孬 鬲乇亘賰 丕賱賯丕乇卅
乇賵丕賷丞 賲鬲賵爻胤丞 丕賱賲爻鬲賵賶 毓賱賶 兀賷 丨丕賱 乇亘賲丕 賲賷夭鬲賴丕 丕賱賮乇賷丿丞 兀賳賴丕 鬲賯丿賲 賳賲丕匕噩 賲禺鬲賱賮丞 賲賳 丕賱亘卮乇 亘卮賰賱 賲賲賷夭
June 11, 2017
When the Japanese troops invade Burma during World War II, a group of British colonialists plan to escape to India. Paterson, the manager of a rice mill, organizes cars filled with people, tents, food, water, and gasoline. Two of the passengers are native Burmese--Paterson's mistress and her brother who cooks and does other chores. Paterson treats them both with a gentle affection, and they are loyal and uncomplaining.
A few of the British stop to offer medical aid to the Burmese. The other snobbish British passengers fight over unimportant things, feel very superior to the natives, and are generally unlikable. The women characters were portrayed too often as seductive, even one woman who was critically ill with a high fever. In addition to fearing the advancing Japanese, there are rumors of cholera, breakdowns of vehicles, crowded narrow roads, and more to add to the drama. The good descriptions show us the dirt, dust, and heat on the road as well as the colorful natural beauty of Burma. The interesting story captured the conflicts between people, and the danger faced by the fleeing expats. 3.5 stars.
A few of the British stop to offer medical aid to the Burmese. The other snobbish British passengers fight over unimportant things, feel very superior to the natives, and are generally unlikable. The women characters were portrayed too often as seductive, even one woman who was critically ill with a high fever. In addition to fearing the advancing Japanese, there are rumors of cholera, breakdowns of vehicles, crowded narrow roads, and more to add to the drama. The good descriptions show us the dirt, dust, and heat on the road as well as the colorful natural beauty of Burma. The interesting story captured the conflicts between people, and the danger faced by the fleeing expats. 3.5 stars.
April 16, 2024
Kind of the epitome of a three-star book. The Jacaranda Tree concerns British expats in Burma during WWII who are forced to evacuate when word comes of the Japanese invasion. A group of eleven people depart in two cars, on roads that are slow going, not least as they're shared by countless Burmese also evacuating, whether on foot, on carts, or pack animals. Their various petty grievances and prejudices slowly drive the group apart. Some will die, some will decide to go back to the village hospital and hold out there. The group is led by Paterson, the manager of a rice plantation, and includes two Burmese, a girl who is his mistress (which of course scandalizes the other Brits) and her younger brother.
This is well written and full of incident, and the characters mostly avoid becoming stereotypes. The best character arc is that of Mrs. Betteson, cowed by a domineering husband and mostly mocked by the other expats as "batty"--not without reason, as she does seem to be a few scones short of afternoon tea. But halfway into the book one of the cars, well, negotiates a cliff rather badly, and Mrs. Betteson finds an inner reserve to just get on with it. She doesn't become McGyver but just accepts what's happened and rationally sets about the task of staying alive. It's a surprising turn and great stuff.
The book never astonishes but remains engaging throughout. Bates has a genuine knack for sensory detail, in particular the colors and oppressive heat of Burma. Death is realistic, heroics never exaggerated, sentiment kept in check. The one nagging thing I couldn't shake concerns Paterson and the Burmese brother and sister. (Ages aren't specified but the girl is clearly a teenager and the boy probably around 12.) On the one hard Paterson is a good person--a minor flaw of the book is he sometimes appears too much Mr. Ideal Protagonist--and the only Brit who is never racist toward the Burmese. (His mistress being a teenager is never commented on, which is realistic though will land differently now than in 1949). But he calls the girl Nadia and the boy Tuesday (yes, I know). These are not their names. In addition they are given no inner life; the girl remains a cipher, and though you get passages from the boy's point of view, this rarely goes beyond hero worship of Paterson. I don't want to engage in twitter-thread-level moralizing, but the thing is there is genuine affection between these three characters. That's fine. But given that, wouldn't the brother and sister at some point say, Excuse me, my name isn't Nadia, it's X; my name isn't Tuesday, it's Y. But they never do. It's a blind spot on the part of Bates.
This is well written and full of incident, and the characters mostly avoid becoming stereotypes. The best character arc is that of Mrs. Betteson, cowed by a domineering husband and mostly mocked by the other expats as "batty"--not without reason, as she does seem to be a few scones short of afternoon tea. But halfway into the book one of the cars, well, negotiates a cliff rather badly, and Mrs. Betteson finds an inner reserve to just get on with it. She doesn't become McGyver but just accepts what's happened and rationally sets about the task of staying alive. It's a surprising turn and great stuff.
The book never astonishes but remains engaging throughout. Bates has a genuine knack for sensory detail, in particular the colors and oppressive heat of Burma. Death is realistic, heroics never exaggerated, sentiment kept in check. The one nagging thing I couldn't shake concerns Paterson and the Burmese brother and sister. (Ages aren't specified but the girl is clearly a teenager and the boy probably around 12.) On the one hard Paterson is a good person--a minor flaw of the book is he sometimes appears too much Mr. Ideal Protagonist--and the only Brit who is never racist toward the Burmese. (His mistress being a teenager is never commented on, which is realistic though will land differently now than in 1949). But he calls the girl Nadia and the boy Tuesday (yes, I know). These are not their names. In addition they are given no inner life; the girl remains a cipher, and though you get passages from the boy's point of view, this rarely goes beyond hero worship of Paterson. I don't want to engage in twitter-thread-level moralizing, but the thing is there is genuine affection between these three characters. That's fine. But given that, wouldn't the brother and sister at some point say, Excuse me, my name isn't Nadia, it's X; my name isn't Tuesday, it's Y. But they never do. It's a blind spot on the part of Bates.
August 24, 2023
賮賶 丕賱兀賵賯丕鬲 丕賱賮丕乇賯賴 賵 丕賱賯乇丕乇丕鬲 丕賱賲氐賷乇賷賴 丕賱鬲賶 鬲爻鬲賵噩亘 爻乇毓丞 丕賱鬲賳賮賷匕 賵 丕賱鬲丨乇賰 賰丕賱賴乇賵亘 兀賵 丕賱賳夭賵丨 賲賳 丕賱賵胤賳 賲孬賱丕 爻鬲匕賴賱賰 丨賯賷賯丞 兀賳 丕賱鬲賯丿賲 丕賱爻乇賷毓 賱丕 賷囟賲賳 丕賱賳噩丕賴 賵 丕賱氐丿丕乇賴 丿丕卅賲丕 賮賷氐亘丨 兀丨賷丕賳丕 賴賵 毓賷賳 丕賱賴賱丕賰 賵 賲噩賱亘丞 丕賱毓丕乇 賮賶 丕賱賲爻鬲賯亘賱 丕賱賯乇賷亘 ! 貙 賵 兀賳 丕賱乇噩賵毓 賱賱賵乇丕亍 賱賷爻 丿丕卅賲丕 睾亘丕亍 賮賯丿 賷賰賵賳 賴賵 毓賷賳 丕賱毓賯賱 賵 賰賱 丕賱丨賰賲賴 賵 兀噩賲賱 氐賵乇 丕賱廿賳爻丕賳賷賴 賵 丕賱賵賮丕亍 !
丕賱兀賳丕賳賷賵賳 賮賶 丕賱丨賷丕賴 丕賱毓丕丿賷賴 賷賮賵夭賵賳 賰孬賷乇丕 兀賲丕 賮賶 丕賱丨賷丕賴 賵 丕賱馗乇賵賮 丕賱睾賷乇 毓丕丿賷賴 賮賱丕 賷噩賳賵賳 賲賳 孬賲丕乇 兀賳丕賳賷鬲賴賲 爻賵丕 丕賱鬲賴賵乇 賵 丕賱胤賷卮 丕賱賱匕丕賳 賷爻賱賲丕賳 丕賱丕賳爻丕賳 亘賰賱 鬲兀賰賷丿 賱兀睾亘賶 丕賱賯乇丕乇丕鬲 ..
丕賱兀卮禺丕氐 丕賱丨爻丕爻賵賳 賵 匕賵 丕賱囟賲丕卅乇 賵 丕賱賯賱賵亘 賵 廿賳 亘丿賵丕 賱睾賷乇賴賲 賮賶 丕賱毓丕丿賶 賲噩丕賳賷賳 丕賵 兀睾亘賷丕亍 賯丿 賷氐亘丨賵丕 賮賶 兀賯爻賶 丕賱馗乇賵賮 乇賲賵夭丕 賱賱卮噩丕毓賴 賵 丕賱禺賷乇 貙 賮丕賱賲鬲禺賱賮賷賳 毓賳 丕賱乇賰亘 丕賱賲爻毓賵乇 賵 廿賳 賰丕賳賵丕 賯丿 鬲禺賱賮賵丕 賵 賱賷爻 亘丨賵夭鬲賴賲 爻賵丕 丿乇丕噩賴 丕賵 賳馗丕乇賴 亘毓丿爻賴 賲賰爻賵乇賴 丕賵 夭賶 賲賲乇囟賴 賵 氐賳丿賵賯 賲毓丿丕鬲 胤亘賷賴 賮丕乇睾 鬲賯乇賷亘丕 ! 貙 賮賶 丨丿孬 賰丕賱丨丿孬 丕賱匕賶 鬲丿賵乇 丨賵賱賴 賯氐鬲賳丕 賴賲 兀亘胤丕賱 丕賱賯氐賴 賵 兀亘胤丕賱 丕賱丨丿孬 丕賱丨賯賷賯賷賵賳
賵 丕賱丕卮禺丕氐 丕賱匕賷賳 賵賱丿賵丕 亘噩賷賳丕鬲 丕賱賯賷丕丿賴 賱賷爻賵丕 賰丕賱賲鬲賰丕賱亘賷賳 毓賱賷賴丕 丿賵賳 兀丿賳賶 賯丿乇 賲賳 丕賱賲賯賵賲丕鬲 丕賱賲胤賱賵亘賴 丕賱賮乇賯 鬲賲丕賲丕 賰丕賱賮乇賯 亘賷賳 丕賱賲賵賴亘賴 賵 丕賱丕噩鬲賴丕丿 丿賵賳 賲賵賴亘賴 ! 賵 丕賱賳賵毓 丕賱兀賵賱 賴賵 丕賱匕賶 賷鬲賯賳 賮賳 廿丿丕乇丞 丕賱兀夭賲丕鬲 賵 廿賳 兀禺賮賯 亘爻亘亘 賯賷丕丿鬲賴 賱賲噩賲賵毓賴 賲賳 丕賱丨賲賯賶 ! 兀賲丕 丕賱賳賵毓 丕賱孬丕賳賶 賮賲氐賷乇賴 賵 賲氐賷乇 賲賳 兀鬲亘毓賴 賲賮乇賵睾 賲賳賴 ..
賲毓丕賳賶 毓馗賷賲賴 賮賶 賴匕賴 丕賱乇賵丕賷賴 丕賱賯氐賷乇賴 丕賱鬲賶 兀賮爻丿鬲 鬲乇噩賲鬲賴丕 丕賱賲禺鬲氐乇賴 噩夭亍丕 賰亘賷乇 賲賳 賲鬲毓鬲賴丕 賵 賲賵賴鬲 賲毓丕賳賷賴丕
丕賱兀賳丕賳賷賵賳 賮賶 丕賱丨賷丕賴 丕賱毓丕丿賷賴 賷賮賵夭賵賳 賰孬賷乇丕 兀賲丕 賮賶 丕賱丨賷丕賴 賵 丕賱馗乇賵賮 丕賱睾賷乇 毓丕丿賷賴 賮賱丕 賷噩賳賵賳 賲賳 孬賲丕乇 兀賳丕賳賷鬲賴賲 爻賵丕 丕賱鬲賴賵乇 賵 丕賱胤賷卮 丕賱賱匕丕賳 賷爻賱賲丕賳 丕賱丕賳爻丕賳 亘賰賱 鬲兀賰賷丿 賱兀睾亘賶 丕賱賯乇丕乇丕鬲 ..
丕賱兀卮禺丕氐 丕賱丨爻丕爻賵賳 賵 匕賵 丕賱囟賲丕卅乇 賵 丕賱賯賱賵亘 賵 廿賳 亘丿賵丕 賱睾賷乇賴賲 賮賶 丕賱毓丕丿賶 賲噩丕賳賷賳 丕賵 兀睾亘賷丕亍 賯丿 賷氐亘丨賵丕 賮賶 兀賯爻賶 丕賱馗乇賵賮 乇賲賵夭丕 賱賱卮噩丕毓賴 賵 丕賱禺賷乇 貙 賮丕賱賲鬲禺賱賮賷賳 毓賳 丕賱乇賰亘 丕賱賲爻毓賵乇 賵 廿賳 賰丕賳賵丕 賯丿 鬲禺賱賮賵丕 賵 賱賷爻 亘丨賵夭鬲賴賲 爻賵丕 丿乇丕噩賴 丕賵 賳馗丕乇賴 亘毓丿爻賴 賲賰爻賵乇賴 丕賵 夭賶 賲賲乇囟賴 賵 氐賳丿賵賯 賲毓丿丕鬲 胤亘賷賴 賮丕乇睾 鬲賯乇賷亘丕 ! 貙 賮賶 丨丿孬 賰丕賱丨丿孬 丕賱匕賶 鬲丿賵乇 丨賵賱賴 賯氐鬲賳丕 賴賲 兀亘胤丕賱 丕賱賯氐賴 賵 兀亘胤丕賱 丕賱丨丿孬 丕賱丨賯賷賯賷賵賳
賵 丕賱丕卮禺丕氐 丕賱匕賷賳 賵賱丿賵丕 亘噩賷賳丕鬲 丕賱賯賷丕丿賴 賱賷爻賵丕 賰丕賱賲鬲賰丕賱亘賷賳 毓賱賷賴丕 丿賵賳 兀丿賳賶 賯丿乇 賲賳 丕賱賲賯賵賲丕鬲 丕賱賲胤賱賵亘賴 丕賱賮乇賯 鬲賲丕賲丕 賰丕賱賮乇賯 亘賷賳 丕賱賲賵賴亘賴 賵 丕賱丕噩鬲賴丕丿 丿賵賳 賲賵賴亘賴 ! 賵 丕賱賳賵毓 丕賱兀賵賱 賴賵 丕賱匕賶 賷鬲賯賳 賮賳 廿丿丕乇丞 丕賱兀夭賲丕鬲 賵 廿賳 兀禺賮賯 亘爻亘亘 賯賷丕丿鬲賴 賱賲噩賲賵毓賴 賲賳 丕賱丨賲賯賶 ! 兀賲丕 丕賱賳賵毓 丕賱孬丕賳賶 賮賲氐賷乇賴 賵 賲氐賷乇 賲賳 兀鬲亘毓賴 賲賮乇賵睾 賲賳賴 ..
賲毓丕賳賶 毓馗賷賲賴 賮賶 賴匕賴 丕賱乇賵丕賷賴 丕賱賯氐賷乇賴 丕賱鬲賶 兀賮爻丿鬲 鬲乇噩賲鬲賴丕 丕賱賲禺鬲氐乇賴 噩夭亍丕 賰亘賷乇 賲賳 賲鬲毓鬲賴丕 賵 賲賵賴鬲 賲毓丕賳賷賴丕
January 9, 2016
賰丕賳 丿丕賮毓賶 丕賱兀賵賱 賱賯乇丕亍丞 鬲賱賰 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞
賴賵 丨亘賷 賱兀噩賵丕亍 亘賵乇賲丕 禺賱丕賱 丕賱丨乇亘 丕賱毓丕賱賲賷丞 丕賱孬丕賳賷丞 賮賷 乇賵丕賷丞
鬲丨賰賷 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 毓賳
乇賵丕賷丞 賱丕 亘兀爻 亘賴丕
May 19, 2020
卮噩乇丞 丕賱噩丕賰丕乇丕賳丿丕..
賵賯鬲 丕賱丨乇賵亘 賵丕賱兀夭賲丕鬲 賵丕賱禺胤乇 鬲胤睾賶 毓賱賶 丕賱賳賮爻 賲卮丕毓乇 丨購亘 丕賱匕丕鬲 賵丕賱兀賳丕賳賷丞.
鬲噩丿 丕賱毓賳氐乇賷丞 賴賷 爻賷丿丞 丕賱賲賵賯賮貙 丨賷孬 兀賳丕 兀賮囟賱 賲賳賰 賳馗乇賸丕 賱賲賰丕賳鬲賷 賵賵囟毓賷 賵毓乇賯賷.
兀賳丕 禺賷乇 賲賳賰貙 賵賱匕賱賰 爻兀鬲乇賰賰 賮賷 賲丨賳鬲賰 賵兀賱賵匕 亘丕賱賮乇丕乇.
賵鬲亘賯賶 丕賱賯賱丞 丕賱賯賱賷賱丞 賴賷 丕賱賲丨丕賮馗丞 毓賱賶 賮胤乇鬲賴丕 丕賱爻賱賷賲丞貙 丕賱賮胤乇丞 丕賱賲噩亘賵賱丞 毓賱賶 賲爻丕毓丿丞 丕賱賳賮爻 賵丕賱睾賷乇貙 賲賳丨 丕賱毓胤丕亍 賱賱噩賲賷毓 賵禺丕氐丞 賲賳 賴賵 賲丨鬲丕噩.
賵賱賰賳 賲賳 爻賷賳噩賵 賮賷 丕賱兀禺賷乇貨 賴匕丕 賲丕 爻鬲噩丕賵亘賰 毓賱賷賴 卮噩乇丞 丕賱噩丕賰丕乇丕賳丿丕.
賷購毓丕亘 毓賱賶 丕賱賰丕鬲亘 丕賱廿爻賴丕亘 丕賱賲購賲賱 賮賷 鬲賮丕氐賷賱 丕賱賲卮丕賴丿 賮賷 丕賱賮氐賵賱 丕賱兀賵賱賶. 賵乇亘賲丕 賷丿賮毓賰 匕賱賰 賱鬲乇賰 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞.
賵賱賰賳 賲毓 丕賱鬲毓賲賯 賮賷 丕賱賯乇丕亍丞 賵丕賱鬲賵睾賱 丿丕禺賱 丕賱賮氐賵賱貙 爻鬲賮賴賲 丕賱賴丿賮 賲賳 匕賱賰.
爻兀賯賷賲賴丕 亘孬賱丕孬丞 賳噩賵賲.
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2020
(29)
賵賯鬲 丕賱丨乇賵亘 賵丕賱兀夭賲丕鬲 賵丕賱禺胤乇 鬲胤睾賶 毓賱賶 丕賱賳賮爻 賲卮丕毓乇 丨購亘 丕賱匕丕鬲 賵丕賱兀賳丕賳賷丞.
鬲噩丿 丕賱毓賳氐乇賷丞 賴賷 爻賷丿丞 丕賱賲賵賯賮貙 丨賷孬 兀賳丕 兀賮囟賱 賲賳賰 賳馗乇賸丕 賱賲賰丕賳鬲賷 賵賵囟毓賷 賵毓乇賯賷.
兀賳丕 禺賷乇 賲賳賰貙 賵賱匕賱賰 爻兀鬲乇賰賰 賮賷 賲丨賳鬲賰 賵兀賱賵匕 亘丕賱賮乇丕乇.
賵鬲亘賯賶 丕賱賯賱丞 丕賱賯賱賷賱丞 賴賷 丕賱賲丨丕賮馗丞 毓賱賶 賮胤乇鬲賴丕 丕賱爻賱賷賲丞貙 丕賱賮胤乇丞 丕賱賲噩亘賵賱丞 毓賱賶 賲爻丕毓丿丞 丕賱賳賮爻 賵丕賱睾賷乇貙 賲賳丨 丕賱毓胤丕亍 賱賱噩賲賷毓 賵禺丕氐丞 賲賳 賴賵 賲丨鬲丕噩.
賵賱賰賳 賲賳 爻賷賳噩賵 賮賷 丕賱兀禺賷乇貨 賴匕丕 賲丕 爻鬲噩丕賵亘賰 毓賱賷賴 卮噩乇丞 丕賱噩丕賰丕乇丕賳丿丕.
賷購毓丕亘 毓賱賶 丕賱賰丕鬲亘 丕賱廿爻賴丕亘 丕賱賲購賲賱 賮賷 鬲賮丕氐賷賱 丕賱賲卮丕賴丿 賮賷 丕賱賮氐賵賱 丕賱兀賵賱賶. 賵乇亘賲丕 賷丿賮毓賰 匕賱賰 賱鬲乇賰 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞.
賵賱賰賳 賲毓 丕賱鬲毓賲賯 賮賷 丕賱賯乇丕亍丞 賵丕賱鬲賵睾賱 丿丕禺賱 丕賱賮氐賵賱貙 爻鬲賮賴賲 丕賱賴丿賮 賲賳 匕賱賰.
爻兀賯賷賲賴丕 亘孬賱丕孬丞 賳噩賵賲.
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2020
(29)
April 1, 2014
賱賰鬲丕亘 賲鬲乇噩賲 賳爻禺丞 賲賰鬲亘丞 丕賱兀爻乇丞 毓丕賲 1999 (爻毓乇賴丕 賰丕賳 100 賯乇卮 = 噩賳賷賴:) )
鬲兀賱賷賮 賴乇亘乇鬲 亘賷鬲爻
鬲乇噩賲丞 毓亘丿 丕賱丨賲賷丿 賮賴賲賷 丕賱噩賲丕賱
毓丿丿 丕賱氐賮丨丕鬲 340 氐賮丨丞 賲賳 丕賱賯胤毓 丕賱氐睾賷乇
賲爻鬲賵賶 丕賱鬲乇噩賲丞 爻卅 噩丿丕 賵賱匕賱賰 賲毓馗賲 丕賱賲氐賵鬲賷賳 賱賴丕 賲賳 丕賱毓乇亘 賷毓胤賵賳賴丕 鬲賯賷賷賲丕 囟毓賷賮丕 賵丕賱爻亘亘 丕賱鬲乇噩賲丞
兀賲丕 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 賮賴賷 噩賷丿丞 賱賰賳 廿胤丕賱丞 丕賱賲賯丿賲丞 賱丕 鬲噩匕亘 丕賱賯丕乇卅 丕賱毓乇亘賷 丿丕卅賲丕 賰賯氐氐 賴賲賳噩賵丕賷
鬲丨鬲丕噩 賱賵乇賯丞 賱鬲爻噩賷賱 丕賱兀亘胤丕賱
噩賲賷賱丞 賲賳 丨賷孬 丕賱噩賲賱丞 賵賱賵丕賱賳氐 丕賱兀噩賳亘賷 賲鬲賵丕噩丿 賱賰丕賳 兀賮囟賱 賮賴賷 賲賳 丕賱賰賱丕爻賷賰賷丕鬲
鬲兀賱賷賮 賴乇亘乇鬲 亘賷鬲爻
鬲乇噩賲丞 毓亘丿 丕賱丨賲賷丿 賮賴賲賷 丕賱噩賲丕賱
毓丿丿 丕賱氐賮丨丕鬲 340 氐賮丨丞 賲賳 丕賱賯胤毓 丕賱氐睾賷乇
賲爻鬲賵賶 丕賱鬲乇噩賲丞 爻卅 噩丿丕 賵賱匕賱賰 賲毓馗賲 丕賱賲氐賵鬲賷賳 賱賴丕 賲賳 丕賱毓乇亘 賷毓胤賵賳賴丕 鬲賯賷賷賲丕 囟毓賷賮丕 賵丕賱爻亘亘 丕賱鬲乇噩賲丞
兀賲丕 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 賮賴賷 噩賷丿丞 賱賰賳 廿胤丕賱丞 丕賱賲賯丿賲丞 賱丕 鬲噩匕亘 丕賱賯丕乇卅 丕賱毓乇亘賷 丿丕卅賲丕 賰賯氐氐 賴賲賳噩賵丕賷
鬲丨鬲丕噩 賱賵乇賯丞 賱鬲爻噩賷賱 丕賱兀亘胤丕賱
噩賲賷賱丞 賲賳 丨賷孬 丕賱噩賲賱丞 賵賱賵丕賱賳氐 丕賱兀噩賳亘賷 賲鬲賵丕噩丿 賱賰丕賳 兀賮囟賱 賮賴賷 賲賳 丕賱賰賱丕爻賷賰賷丕鬲
January 13, 2021
Bates鈥� 1949 novel combines the tension of civilians escaping the advancing Japanese in Burma in 1942 with some interesting character studies of ex-pat colonials. The last few chapters aren鈥檛 as consistently good as the earlier sections where rice-mill manager, Paterson, leads two cars, one with his young Burmese lover and her servant-brother, on the rough and dangerous road to India. Some characters are a little too stereotypical although not all survive and it is compelling and absorbing as illness, attitudes and the unseen enemy provide a real challenge
February 5, 2017
賱丕 賲卮 毓噩亘丕賳賶 亘噩丿
賮囟賱鬲 丕賯乇丕 噩夭亍 賰賱 賰丕賲 賷賵賲
賱賰賳 賱丕 賲卮 毓丕乇賮丞 丕賮賴賲 賴賶 亘鬲鬲賰賱賲 毓賳 丕賱丨乇亘 賵賱丕 丕賱胤亘賯賷丞
賵賱丕 丕賱丨亘 賵賱丕 丕賱賰匕亘 賵賱丕 丕賱乇丨賱丕鬲 賵賱丕 丕賷賴 賵賱丕 丕賷賴
賮囟賱鬲 丕賯乇丕 噩夭亍 賰賱 賰丕賲 賷賵賲
賱賰賳 賱丕 賲卮 毓丕乇賮丞 丕賮賴賲 賴賶 亘鬲鬲賰賱賲 毓賳 丕賱丨乇亘 賵賱丕 丕賱胤亘賯賷丞
賵賱丕 丕賱丨亘 賵賱丕 丕賱賰匕亘 賵賱丕 丕賱乇丨賱丕鬲 賵賱丕 丕賷賴 賵賱丕 丕賷賴
August 1, 2017
The escape from the Japanese is background; the real story is the relationships between those fleeing and the author captures the classic English superiority - warts and all.
August 29, 2013
賱賯丿 兀禺匕鬲 賲賳賷 賴匕賴 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 丕賱賰孬賷乇 賲賳 丕賱賵賯鬲 賱賯乇丕亍鬲賴丕 , 丨賷孬 丕賳賳賷 毓賳丿賲丕 賯賲鬲 亘卮乇丕卅賴丕 丕賰鬲賮賷鬲 亘賵囟毓賴丕 賮賷 丕賱賲賰鬲亘丞 賵 賱賲 兀賯賲 亘賯乇丕卅鬲賴丕 丕賱丕 亘毓丿 卮乇丕卅賴丕 亘 6 爻賳賵丕鬲. 毓賳丿賲丕 鬲丨賱賷鬲 亘丕賱氐亘乇 賮丕賱賵乇丕賷丞 賲賱賷卅丞 亘丕賱丕賵氐丕賮 賵 丕賱鬲卮亘賷賴丕鬲 , 丕賱鬲賷 賯丿 鬲噩毓賱賰 鬲賲賱 賮賷 丕賱亘丿丕賷賴 賵 賱賰賳賴 毓賳丿賴丕 鬲賳鬲賴賷 賲賳 丕賱賮氐賵賱 丕賱丕賵賱賷 賵 鬲亘丿兀 丕賱丿禺賵賱 賮賷 毓賲賯 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 鬲賰鬲卮賮 丕賳 丕賱乇賵丕賷賴 鬲爻鬲丨賯 丕賱賯乇丕亍丞 賵 丕賱丕賯鬲賳丕亍.
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賮賯丿 兀賲囟賷 賴.廿.亘賷鬲爻 噩丕賳亘丕 賲賳 丨賷丕鬲賴 丕賱賵馗賷賮賷丞 亘亘賵乇賲丕 賵 丕賱卮乇賯 丕賱丕賯氐賷, 賲賲丕 賯丿 丕賮丕丿鬲賴 禺亘乇鬲賴 丕賱毓賲賱賷丞 賮賷 丕賱賰鬲丕亘丞 賵噩毓賱鬲賴 賲賱賲丕 亘賵氐賮 丕賱亘賱丿 賵 丨賷丕丞 丕賱丕賵乇賵亘賷賳 賮賷 乇賵丕賷丕鬲賴 卮噩乇丞 丕賱噩丕賰丕乇賳丿丕 .
丕賱乇賵丕賷賴 毓賳 賲噩賲賵毓賴 賲賳 丕賱丕賵乇賵亘賷賳 賷毓賲賱賵賳 賮賷 亘賵乇賲丕 賵賰賷賮賷丞 鬲毓丕賷卮賴賲 賮賷 賴匕丕 丕賱亘賱丿 丕賱亘毓賷丿 賮賷 丕賯丕氐賷 丕賱卮乇賯 賲孬賱 匕賴丕亘賴賲 丕賱賷 丕賱賳賵丕丿賷 賱賱爻亘丕丨賴 賴賳丕賰 賴乇賵亘丕 賲賳 丕卮毓賴 丕賱卮賲爻 丕賱丨丕乇賯賴 賵毓賳 兀爻鬲禺丿丕賲賴賲 賱爻賰丕賳 丕賱亘賱丿 賱賱禺丿賲 賮賷 丕賱亘賷賵鬲 丕賱鬲賷 賰丕賳賵丕 賷毓賷卮賵賳 賮賷賴丕. 賵 毓賳丿賲丕 亘丿兀鬲 丕賱丨乇亘 (丕賱丨乇亘 丕賱毓丕賱賲賷丞 丕賱孬丕賳賷賴) 賮賷 丕賱丕卮鬲丿丕丿 賮賷 賴匕賴 丕賱賲賳丕胤賯 .賵丿禺賵賱 丕賱賷丕亘丕賳賷賳 亘賵乇賲丕 . 賯丿 噩毓賱 賰賱 賲賳 賮賷 丕賱亘賱丿 賷賮乇 丕賱賷 丕賱賴賳丿 禺丕卅賮丕 毓賱賷 丨賷丕鬲賴 , 丨賷孬 賰丕賳 丕賱賷丕亘丕賳賷賳 賱丕 賷賮乇賯賵賳 亘賷賳 毓爻賰乇賷 賵 賲丿賳賷 .賮丕賱乇賵丕賷賴 鬲丨賰賷 毓賳 丕賱賲睾丕賲乇丞 丕賱鬲賷 賯丕賲 亘賴丕 賲噩賲賵毓丞 賲賳 丕賱丕賵乇賵亘賷賳 賵 賲丨丕賵賱丞 賮乇丕乇賴賲 賲賳 亘賵乇賲丕 丕賱賷 丕賱賴賳丿. 丕賱噩丿賷乇 亘丕賱匕賰乇 丕賳 丨丕賱丕鬲 丕賱賵賮丕賴 亘賷賳 丕賱賲賴噩乇賷賳 賰丕賳鬲 賳鬲賷噩丞 賱賱丕毓賷丕亍 賵 丕賱丕賲乇丕囟 賵 丕賱丕賵亘卅丞 丕賱鬲賷 賰丕賳鬲 賲賳鬲卮乇賴 賳鬲賷噩賴 丿乇噩賴 丕賱丨乇丕乇丞 丕賱卮丿賷丿丞 賵氐毓賵亘丞 丕賱胤乇賯 賵毓丿賲 賵噩賵丿 賲爻丕毓丿丞 .
丕賳 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 鬲賰卮賮 丕賱賲兀爻丕賴 丕賱丨賯賷賯賷丞 賱賴丐賱丕亍 丕賱賲賴噩乇賷賳 賵鬲乇賰賴賲 賱亘賱丕丿賴賲 賵 兀賲賱丕賰賴賲 賲賳 丕噩賱 丕賱賮賵夭 亘丨賷丕鬲賴賲 .
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賮賯丿 兀賲囟賷 賴.廿.亘賷鬲爻 噩丕賳亘丕 賲賳 丨賷丕鬲賴 丕賱賵馗賷賮賷丞 亘亘賵乇賲丕 賵 丕賱卮乇賯 丕賱丕賯氐賷, 賲賲丕 賯丿 丕賮丕丿鬲賴 禺亘乇鬲賴 丕賱毓賲賱賷丞 賮賷 丕賱賰鬲丕亘丞 賵噩毓賱鬲賴 賲賱賲丕 亘賵氐賮 丕賱亘賱丿 賵 丨賷丕丞 丕賱丕賵乇賵亘賷賳 賮賷 乇賵丕賷丕鬲賴 卮噩乇丞 丕賱噩丕賰丕乇賳丿丕 .
丕賱乇賵丕賷賴 毓賳 賲噩賲賵毓賴 賲賳 丕賱丕賵乇賵亘賷賳 賷毓賲賱賵賳 賮賷 亘賵乇賲丕 賵賰賷賮賷丞 鬲毓丕賷卮賴賲 賮賷 賴匕丕 丕賱亘賱丿 丕賱亘毓賷丿 賮賷 丕賯丕氐賷 丕賱卮乇賯 賲孬賱 匕賴丕亘賴賲 丕賱賷 丕賱賳賵丕丿賷 賱賱爻亘丕丨賴 賴賳丕賰 賴乇賵亘丕 賲賳 丕卮毓賴 丕賱卮賲爻 丕賱丨丕乇賯賴 賵毓賳 兀爻鬲禺丿丕賲賴賲 賱爻賰丕賳 丕賱亘賱丿 賱賱禺丿賲 賮賷 丕賱亘賷賵鬲 丕賱鬲賷 賰丕賳賵丕 賷毓賷卮賵賳 賮賷賴丕. 賵 毓賳丿賲丕 亘丿兀鬲 丕賱丨乇亘 (丕賱丨乇亘 丕賱毓丕賱賲賷丞 丕賱孬丕賳賷賴) 賮賷 丕賱丕卮鬲丿丕丿 賮賷 賴匕賴 丕賱賲賳丕胤賯 .賵丿禺賵賱 丕賱賷丕亘丕賳賷賳 亘賵乇賲丕 . 賯丿 噩毓賱 賰賱 賲賳 賮賷 丕賱亘賱丿 賷賮乇 丕賱賷 丕賱賴賳丿 禺丕卅賮丕 毓賱賷 丨賷丕鬲賴 , 丨賷孬 賰丕賳 丕賱賷丕亘丕賳賷賳 賱丕 賷賮乇賯賵賳 亘賷賳 毓爻賰乇賷 賵 賲丿賳賷 .賮丕賱乇賵丕賷賴 鬲丨賰賷 毓賳 丕賱賲睾丕賲乇丞 丕賱鬲賷 賯丕賲 亘賴丕 賲噩賲賵毓丞 賲賳 丕賱丕賵乇賵亘賷賳 賵 賲丨丕賵賱丞 賮乇丕乇賴賲 賲賳 亘賵乇賲丕 丕賱賷 丕賱賴賳丿. 丕賱噩丿賷乇 亘丕賱匕賰乇 丕賳 丨丕賱丕鬲 丕賱賵賮丕賴 亘賷賳 丕賱賲賴噩乇賷賳 賰丕賳鬲 賳鬲賷噩丞 賱賱丕毓賷丕亍 賵 丕賱丕賲乇丕囟 賵 丕賱丕賵亘卅丞 丕賱鬲賷 賰丕賳鬲 賲賳鬲卮乇賴 賳鬲賷噩賴 丿乇噩賴 丕賱丨乇丕乇丞 丕賱卮丿賷丿丞 賵氐毓賵亘丞 丕賱胤乇賯 賵毓丿賲 賵噩賵丿 賲爻丕毓丿丞 .
丕賳 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 鬲賰卮賮 丕賱賲兀爻丕賴 丕賱丨賯賷賯賷丞 賱賴丐賱丕亍 丕賱賲賴噩乇賷賳 賵鬲乇賰賴賲 賱亘賱丕丿賴賲 賵 兀賲賱丕賰賴賲 賲賳 丕噩賱 丕賱賮賵夭 亘丨賷丕鬲賴賲 .
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February 26, 2021
The book was written in 1949 and set at the beginning of the second world war, but as I read it the headlines kept coming in about the coup in Myanmar and I couldn't help but wonder how much of the problems that that country is now experiencing is due to their history of occupation and repression by the British and then the Japanese. As you would expect from its date and author, it is written from the perspective of the colonists. The two local people in the group are not presented as being the equals of their British, though having said that the British are on the whole presented pretty negatively as well, with the exception of Paterson, a 'normal man'. The narrative is gripping, well told, and I'm sure gives a flavour of what it was like to be a colonialist fleeing the country at that time. The characters are interesting and how they respond (sometimes flowering, sometimes withering) in response to their change in circumstances is very nicely done. Definitely worth reading.
March 21, 2015
The story written in 1949, describes the escape of a small group of British and Burmese civilians from the invading Japanese during WW2, and seems perfect material for one of those British 1950s war films, showing the British temperment when facing total war - courage, resilience, snobbery, the perpetuation of the class system and petty rivalries even with the threat of a demanding landscape and a brutal enemy closing in on them. As far as I know it never made the silver screen but you can have fun slotting actors of the time into the different characters.
The writer captures the vivid Burmese country, its taste and smell, its appalling heat and humidity from his own personal experience and involves the reader in the hopes and fears of the escapees, urging them on to safety. Will this be a happy heroic ending or will it end in tragedy?
The writer captures the vivid Burmese country, its taste and smell, its appalling heat and humidity from his own personal experience and involves the reader in the hopes and fears of the escapees, urging them on to safety. Will this be a happy heroic ending or will it end in tragedy?
August 4, 2016
賰丕鬲亘 丕賳噩賱賷夭賷 賷鬲丨丿孬 毓賳 丕賱丨乇亘 丕賱毓丕賱賲賷丞.. 賲丕 丕賱匕賷 賳賳鬲馗乇 賲賳賴責
丌賴 胤亘毓丕.. 丨丿賷孬 毓賳 賲毓丕賳丕丞 丕賱廿賳噩賱賷夭 賲賳 賵賷賱丕鬲 賴匕賴 丕賱丨乇亘!
賱丕 兀丨亘 兀丿亘 丕賱丨乇賵亘 賮賰賱 卮禺氐 賷賰鬲亘 毓賳賴 賱丕亘丿 賵 兀賳 賷馗賴乇 亘賱丿賴 賵 賰兀賳賴丕 丕賱亘賱丿 丕賱囟丨賷丞 賵 兀賳 卮毓亘賴 賴賵 丕賱卮毓亘 丕賱胤賷亘 丕賱禺賷乇 賵 丕賱毓丿賵 賴賵 鬲噩爻賷丿 賱賱卮賷胤丕賳 毓賱賶 丕賱兀乇囟!
賵 丕賱賰丕鬲亘 賴賳丕 賱丕 賷禺鬲賱賮 賰孬賷乇丕 毓賳 賴匕丕..
丕賱賯氐丞 毓賳 賲噩賲賵毓丞 丕賳噩賱賷夭 鬲賴乇亘 賲賳 亘賵乇賲丕 兀孬賳丕亍 丕噩鬲賷丕丨 丕賱賷丕亘丕賳賷賷賳 賱賴丕..
賱賲 兀卮毓乇 亘兀賷 鬲毓丕胤賮 賲毓 兀賷 卮禺氐賷丞 賲賳 丕賱賯氐丞..
賱賲 兀噩丿 兀賷 兀丨丿丕孬 賮賷 丕賱賯氐丞..
丕賱噩賲賷毓 賷乇賰亘 丕賱爻賷丕乇丞..
丕賱噩賲賷賱毓 賷賳夭賱 賲賳 丕賱爻賷丕乇丞..
丕賱噩賲賷毓 賷乇賰亘 丕賱爻賷丕乇丞..
丕賱噩賲賷毓 賷賳夭賱 賲賳 丕賱爻賷丕乇丞..
賵 賴賰匕丕!
賱賲 兀爻鬲胤毓 廿賰賲丕賱賴丕 賲賳 丕賱賲賱賱..
丌賴 胤亘毓丕.. 丨丿賷孬 毓賳 賲毓丕賳丕丞 丕賱廿賳噩賱賷夭 賲賳 賵賷賱丕鬲 賴匕賴 丕賱丨乇亘!
賱丕 兀丨亘 兀丿亘 丕賱丨乇賵亘 賮賰賱 卮禺氐 賷賰鬲亘 毓賳賴 賱丕亘丿 賵 兀賳 賷馗賴乇 亘賱丿賴 賵 賰兀賳賴丕 丕賱亘賱丿 丕賱囟丨賷丞 賵 兀賳 卮毓亘賴 賴賵 丕賱卮毓亘 丕賱胤賷亘 丕賱禺賷乇 賵 丕賱毓丿賵 賴賵 鬲噩爻賷丿 賱賱卮賷胤丕賳 毓賱賶 丕賱兀乇囟!
賵 丕賱賰丕鬲亘 賴賳丕 賱丕 賷禺鬲賱賮 賰孬賷乇丕 毓賳 賴匕丕..
丕賱賯氐丞 毓賳 賲噩賲賵毓丞 丕賳噩賱賷夭 鬲賴乇亘 賲賳 亘賵乇賲丕 兀孬賳丕亍 丕噩鬲賷丕丨 丕賱賷丕亘丕賳賷賷賳 賱賴丕..
賱賲 兀卮毓乇 亘兀賷 鬲毓丕胤賮 賲毓 兀賷 卮禺氐賷丞 賲賳 丕賱賯氐丞..
賱賲 兀噩丿 兀賷 兀丨丿丕孬 賮賷 丕賱賯氐丞..
丕賱噩賲賷毓 賷乇賰亘 丕賱爻賷丕乇丞..
丕賱噩賲賷賱毓 賷賳夭賱 賲賳 丕賱爻賷丕乇丞..
丕賱噩賲賷毓 賷乇賰亘 丕賱爻賷丕乇丞..
丕賱噩賲賷毓 賷賳夭賱 賲賳 丕賱爻賷丕乇丞..
賵 賴賰匕丕!
賱賲 兀爻鬲胤毓 廿賰賲丕賱賴丕 賲賳 丕賱賲賱賱..
February 19, 2016
Excellent book. I had read other HE BAtes stories before; a favourite was The Purple Plain. This story, like that is also set in Burma during WWII. The plot involves a group of British people trying to escape from Burma in the face of a Japanese invasion and the personality clashes that result from their previous relationships and the close quarters in which they find themselves. Well-written, engrossing, an excellent story. I highly recommend.
January 14, 2019
A surprising little gem. Bates showcases the spectrum of attitudes and crises of identity elicited by the Burmese colonial project. His style is taut, economical, humane and evocative without pretension. My first, but not last, read of this author.
August 12, 2011
As with all his books, you can taste, see and smell the setting.
March 5, 2023
Vivid in its description of place and character, the storytelling also captures the descent from stability to chaos in prose that loses focus and clarity. Like the characters lost along the journey, by the end of the novel its sentences are feverish and the action almost insensible.
The Japanese are approaching and the British are fleeing Burma, bicycles and all. The writing captures a sense of place beautifully. The fussing British are as frustrating to the reader as they are to the mission's leader (while he himself is also frustrating, it must be said). The baffling choices of some characters are perhaps more understandable to the reader than to the Burmese boy travelling at the request of his British employer, much to the consternation of the assembled colonials.
It's not an all-enlightened tale for modern audiences, but this holds up well for its time. Prejudices are depicted as ugly, women as capable - and worthy - of agency, and for all the focus on the white bloke in charge, the story is told more frequently through the eyes of his Burmese servant, depicted with as much complexity and humanity as any of the white characters in the cast.
Nothing here is as simple as good or bad, right or wrong, fair or unfair. It never strays into neatness in either character or narrative. But for a depiction of a moment in history, capturing the panicked atmosphere of war and the beauty and brutality of place, this is an excellent read.
The Japanese are approaching and the British are fleeing Burma, bicycles and all. The writing captures a sense of place beautifully. The fussing British are as frustrating to the reader as they are to the mission's leader (while he himself is also frustrating, it must be said). The baffling choices of some characters are perhaps more understandable to the reader than to the Burmese boy travelling at the request of his British employer, much to the consternation of the assembled colonials.
It's not an all-enlightened tale for modern audiences, but this holds up well for its time. Prejudices are depicted as ugly, women as capable - and worthy - of agency, and for all the focus on the white bloke in charge, the story is told more frequently through the eyes of his Burmese servant, depicted with as much complexity and humanity as any of the white characters in the cast.
Nothing here is as simple as good or bad, right or wrong, fair or unfair. It never strays into neatness in either character or narrative. But for a depiction of a moment in history, capturing the panicked atmosphere of war and the beauty and brutality of place, this is an excellent read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 17, 2024
Whilst I enjoyed this book immensely, I did think it was very tiresome being reminded of the heat and yellow dust on just about every page, just in case I should forget it was hot and dusty! Low and behold, I just picked up another book set in Burma during the WWII era by H.E. Bates and guess what? On the first page the protagonist, Forrester, harps on about the yellow dust and heat. H.E. Bates: I get it! Oddly enough, I did wonder on a couple of occasions during my read if H.E. Bates had ever been to Burma due to his over-emphasising a few facts about Burma.
Nonetheless, the self-appointed superiority of the English invaders over the natives was familiar and you couldn't help but to despise most of them (apart from Mrs Betteson, who turned out to be an anti-heroine) but it occurred to me that Paterson himself may have indulged in exploitation of the disadvantaged natives himself nor is there any indication of Nadia's age.
I did like Forrester's compassion for his band of misguided English ex-pats, he had a surplus of patience and an impressionable skill of ignoring their constant petty complaints. I was somewhat confused at the end as to whether Paterson was dying or simply suffering extreme exhaustion. All in all, I did enjoy the read and found it hard to put down until I'd finished. I think it would make a good film.
Nonetheless, the self-appointed superiority of the English invaders over the natives was familiar and you couldn't help but to despise most of them (apart from Mrs Betteson, who turned out to be an anti-heroine) but it occurred to me that Paterson himself may have indulged in exploitation of the disadvantaged natives himself nor is there any indication of Nadia's age.
I did like Forrester's compassion for his band of misguided English ex-pats, he had a surplus of patience and an impressionable skill of ignoring their constant petty complaints. I was somewhat confused at the end as to whether Paterson was dying or simply suffering extreme exhaustion. All in all, I did enjoy the read and found it hard to put down until I'd finished. I think it would make a good film.
May 6, 2017
Lovely writing and a very easy to read tale about a group of English expats fleeing Burma to escape the Japanese invasion. This book isn't really abut the war but about the characters and their experiences and prejudices. The descriptions of the country were wonderful particularly with the author's use of colours. The plot was pacey with plenty of twists and turns. Not all of the people who set out on the journey make it to the end...and as some of the characters were very unlikeable it wasn't always a blow when they met their ultimate fate! The only downside to this book was the way the author wrote about the female characters. There were altogether too many scenes in incongruous places where the women in question were suggestively manoeuvring their clothes or where their blouse or nightdress became 'taut across their breasts'. There was even a scene where, in illness and delirium, a female character was still almost desperate for male attention. It struck me that the writer didn't know women particularly well, or perhaps that was just a product of the time. Overall though a very enjoyable book that was difficult to put down.
May 18, 2017
Jacaranda trees are not native to South-East Asia, but they can be found all over the formerly British bits; the British themselves left, and left behind their legacy.
This novel is about a group of British people who are attempting to leave Burma for India as the Japanese invade during WWII. The main character is Paterson, the manager of a rice mill, supported by his young Burmese mistress and her even younger brother. Paterson is generally well-organised and efficient, with their help. The other British and European characters are variously old-fashioned, snobbish, racist, unpleasant, inefficient or unimaginative; Burma would be better off without them.
This is an enjoyable and well-written novel, with some excellent descriptions. The story is quite predictable, but still worth reading.
This novel is about a group of British people who are attempting to leave Burma for India as the Japanese invade during WWII. The main character is Paterson, the manager of a rice mill, supported by his young Burmese mistress and her even younger brother. Paterson is generally well-organised and efficient, with their help. The other British and European characters are variously old-fashioned, snobbish, racist, unpleasant, inefficient or unimaginative; Burma would be better off without them.
This is an enjoyable and well-written novel, with some excellent descriptions. The story is quite predictable, but still worth reading.
June 1, 2019
A book very much of its time, but the main character Mr Paterson does represent a change in attitudes to people of other cultures. Although the Burmese boy and his sister still have a less than equal relationship with him, this is shown as largely due to the way society at the time perceive their roles. Paterson himself treats them as more important than his ex-pat acquaintances. First you have to get over the opening paragraph which describes the boy in very racist terms. I thought this was going to be the writer鈥檚 view, but quickly came to feel that he was simply showing us the attitude of many of his peers. Worth reading to get insight into the era.
April 19, 2021
This is a scathing commentary on British colonial attitudes. I found it difficult to find a character that I could relate to. This dreadful idea that all Asian peoples (this is set in Burma) are only civilised by the advent of British peoples, culture and work ethic is really distasteful. This is of course the point that Bates is making, as these people run away from the invading Japanese army in 1942. The portrayal of the women was a little weird-they all seemed to be constantly ready for sexual liaisons, mostly with the main character, Paterson. However what the story does show is the absolute horror that total war visits on civilians, and always has.
August 3, 2018
Whilst it was easy to engage with many of the characters in this book - who showed a cross-section of British colonists in Burma, their attitudes and focused on Mr Patterson and his Burmese boy and consort - this was the main interest of the book. The story unfortunately was not as good as the synopsis suggested, the war always seems ovoer the horizon, nothing greatly exciting happens and I don't feel that the story really reached a satisfactory close.
I nearly gave up a third of the way through and kind of wish I had.
I nearly gave up a third of the way through and kind of wish I had.
July 9, 2017
Just dull. It's hard to care for this group of British, Burmese and Eurasian people fleeing ahead of the Japanese invasion. What you've got is pretty much stock characters, like the stalwart Major who cycles back to die gallantly next to the nurses who refused to evacuate. Nothing like "Empire of the Sun" or "Four Frightened People".
September 7, 2018
乇賵丕賷丞 賯氐鬲賴丕 噩賲賷賱丞 賵 卮賷賯丞 賱賰賳 鬲賵噩丿 亘毓囟 丕賱丕丨丿丕孬 胤賵賷賱丞 亘卮賰賱 賲亘丕賱睾 賮賷賴 鬲鬲丨丿孬 毓賳 鬲賱丕鬲 毓丕亍賱丕鬲 丕賳噩賱賷夭賷丞 賰丕賳賵丕 賷毓賷卮賵賳 賮賷 亘賵乇賲丕 賵賵毓賳丿賲丕 亘丿兀鬲 丕賱丨乇亘 丕賱毓丕賱賲賷丞 丕賱孬丕賳賷丞 賵 丿禺賵賱 丕賱噩賷卮 丕賱賷丕亘丕賳賶 丕賱丨乇亘 賵 丕賱賲匕丕亘丨 丕賱鬲賶 鬲乇鬲賰亘 賯乇乇 亘丕鬲乇爻賵賳 丕賱賴乇亘 賴賵 賵 亘鬲爻賵賳 賵 夭賵噩鬲賴 賵 亘賵乇鬲賲丕賳 賵 夭賵噩鬲賴 賵 賲丕賰 賳丕亍賷乇賳 賵 丕亘賳鬲賴丕 丕賱賴乇亘 丕賱丕 丕賳 丕賱毓丿賷丿 賵 丕賱氐毓賵亘丕鬲 賵丕噩賴鬲賴賲 丕孬賳丕亍 賴乇賵亘賴賲 .
July 16, 2020
The historical background was appreciated but should have contained so much more to make it an enjoyable read.
"A l谩nynak azt谩n rajta k铆v眉l senkije 茅s semmije nincsen. S most egy pillanatra 枚sszehasonl铆totta 艖t az eur贸paiakkal, akik lent v谩rnak az udvaron, a birtokl谩s tudat谩val holmikat szorongatnak a kez眉kben, s olyan dolgok birtokl谩s谩ra v谩gynak, amelyek nem adattak meg nekik..."
"A l谩nynak azt谩n rajta k铆v眉l senkije 茅s semmije nincsen. S most egy pillanatra 枚sszehasonl铆totta 艖t az eur贸paiakkal, akik lent v谩rnak az udvaron, a birtokl谩s tudat谩val holmikat szorongatnak a kez眉kben, s olyan dolgok birtokl谩s谩ra v谩gynak, amelyek nem adattak meg nekik..."
January 14, 2021
An outstanding and compelling story by a great writer. The characters some of whom only appear briefly are developed enough to evoke sympathy or distaste and the usual melodrama is largely absent. A book I could read again and again.
February 6, 2023
This is a story of humanity. People of a British station in Burma evacuate ahead of the invading Japanese forces. The best and worst traits of each superbly drawn character are exposed by the crisis. A timeless delight.
August 3, 2017
"賴乇賵亘 賲賳 丕賱賲賵鬲"
丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 賲賱賷卅丞 亘丕賱兀丨丿丕孬 賵丕賱鬲賮丕氐賷賱! 賵爻鬲卮毓乇 兀賳賰 鬲毓賷卮 賲毓 兀亘胤丕賱賴丕!
噩賷丿丞 噩丿賸丕貙 賵賱賰賳 賱丕 兀賳氐丨 賯乇丕亍鬲賴丕 亘丕賱賱睾丞 丕賱毓乇亘賷丞貙 兀賵 毓賱賶 丕賱兀賯賱 賱賷爻 亘賴匕賴 丕賱鬲乇噩賲丞!
丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 賲賱賷卅丞 亘丕賱兀丨丿丕孬 賵丕賱鬲賮丕氐賷賱! 賵爻鬲卮毓乇 兀賳賰 鬲毓賷卮 賲毓 兀亘胤丕賱賴丕!
噩賷丿丞 噩丿賸丕貙 賵賱賰賳 賱丕 兀賳氐丨 賯乇丕亍鬲賴丕 亘丕賱賱睾丞 丕賱毓乇亘賷丞貙 兀賵 毓賱賶 丕賱兀賯賱 賱賷爻 亘賴匕賴 丕賱鬲乇噩賲丞!
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