3 out of 4 stars
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War is never pretty, and its effects are both devastating and far-reaching. The Japanese invasion of Southeast Asia in World War II was an especially brutal time for the native populations of Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. Distracted by fighting in Europe and other regions, the colonial powers failed to adequately defend these island nations. After the terrifying war years, the nations of Southeast Asia declared their independence and began establishing new economies, governments, and social policies. In the chaos of this aftermath, the birth of nations was accompanied by widespread political corruption, communism, nationalism, distrust, and drug trafficking. Compounded by conflict first in Korea and then in Viet Nam, mid-twentieth century Asia was undoubtedly a very complicated place to build a life.
It is through this minefield of political intrigues, dangerous drug lords, and suspicious government officials that the characters of Hal Levey’s historical fiction novel Under the Pong Pong Tree must carefully tread. Goh Li Lian, an ethnic Chinese woman raised in Singapore, learns the hard way to watch out for herself and make the best of her options and resources. Each choice leads to another twist in her path, and a metaphorical stumble could literally cost her livelihood or her life. Meanwhile, Li Lian’s daughter Maimunah grows up with an entirely different set of pressures, struggles, and choices through which she eventually crosses paths with Mike Cagle, an American Air Force pilot assigned to a covert mission at the United States embassy in Singapore. When all three finally meet up, their intertwined lives will never be the same again.
There is a plethora of quality history included in this novel. The circumstances are real, and though the time is remembered vividly in the region, many people in Western society have forgotten the impact of war on the peoples of Southeast Asia. The author provides a feasible scenario for the novel and a vivid setting. As someone who lived in this region for a few years, I could immediately recognize many familiar features in the described landscapes, people, and cultures. The author also includes many words and phrases in local languages. These are nearly always explained at the time of use, and there is a glossary in the back of the book if a meaning is unclear.
The writing style is the off-note in this literary symphony. The tone is very matter-of-fact throughout the book. Sometimes this is a relief, since the reader would surely be brought either to tears or nausea by some of the events if the characters were emoting freely. However, it does stifle the ability of the reader to fully relate to the characters and bond with them. Sometimes there are minor events that seem like they should have more impact on characters. For example, when Mike contracts Dengue fever, it is only mentioned. The author uses a character to explain that there will be excruciating pain and that no real medical relief is possible, but Mike has virtually no reaction to this news. Dengue can kill people, and it often comes in waves of high fevers and horrendous pain! Mike calmly receives the news, and there is no further mention of it. In addition, the dialogue feels very stilted at times, probably due largely to the general absence of emotion in the writing.
My rating for Hal Levey’s book Under the Pong Pong Tree is 3 out of 4 stars. It is complicated, exciting, and very gripping. In addition, the book is informative and portrays the historical context vividly. If the author’s writing style had shown more than told the story, I would probably have given it the maximum rating. Instead, the relatively emotionless style placed a barrier between the reader and the characters, and this resulted in a slightly lowered rating. Nevertheless, I would encourage anyone to read this book in order to better appreciate the struggle that gripped a frequently overlooked part of the world.
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Under the Pong Pong Tree
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