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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I bought 100 of these books this Christmas to give away, it's that good.
John's memoirs are written in a very natural format - the entire book is composed of letters to his father and his best friend, and diary entries. It is interesting - he tries in his letters to evoke the sights and smells of a very alien Malaysia at the time to his friend and family at home, so it's perfectly written for the modern day reader. He also comes across as a supremely charming and lovely man - I felt I had lost a friend when I finished the book. He perfectly brings to life the world of a colonial rubber planter, the lifestyle and challenges thereof. In the threefold manner of his narrative, he deals with factual stuff (to his father, who asks many questions), a small degree of macho boasting and social descriptions (to his friend), and his emotions and the real truth on the macho stuff (in his diary), so the whole picture comes across nicely. The period is interesting too - they had just come out of The Emergency and Malaysia was just gaining her independence.
I myself am half Malaysian and the problem with memoirs of this era is often the inherently racist attitudes of the time, which are apparent at places in the book, but luckily Mr. Dodd does not appear to suffer from this affliction so in many ways it's much easier to assimilate for the modern day reader. Indeed, his affection for the people grows over the time he spends there and I believe he still lives there to this day. If you want another similar recommendation, do try to track down Austin Coates's "Myself a Mandarin", which is sadly out of print now.
Thank you very much, Mr. Dodd, for such a wonderful book and legacy you have left us all.
John's memoirs are written in a very natural format - the entire book is composed of letters to his father and his best friend, and diary entries. It is interesting - he tries in his letters to evoke the sights and smells of a very alien Malaysia at the time to his friend and family at home, so it's perfectly written for the modern day reader. He also comes across as a supremely charming and lovely man - I felt I had lost a friend when I finished the book. He perfectly brings to life the world of a colonial rubber planter, the lifestyle and challenges thereof. In the threefold manner of his narrative, he deals with factual stuff (to his father, who asks many questions), a small degree of macho boasting and social descriptions (to his friend), and his emotions and the real truth on the macho stuff (in his diary), so the whole picture comes across nicely. The period is interesting too - they had just come out of The Emergency and Malaysia was just gaining her independence.
I myself am half Malaysian and the problem with memoirs of this era is often the inherently racist attitudes of the time, which are apparent at places in the book, but luckily Mr. Dodd does not appear to suffer from this affliction so in many ways it's much easier to assimilate for the modern day reader. Indeed, his affection for the people grows over the time he spends there and I believe he still lives there to this day. If you want another similar recommendation, do try to track down Austin Coates's "Myself a Mandarin", which is sadly out of print now.
Thank you very much, Mr. Dodd, for such a wonderful book and legacy you have left us all.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Really enjoyed this book and its unique format - letters to his Dad and best friend, and diary entries. There was a bit of overlap between them, but nothing heavy. Dodd was a much more engaging writer than I thought he might be, and some of the stories of high-jinks or tropical oddities are neatly captured.
But then, I must declare an interest. I am half Malaysian (like the reviewer above) and I suspect I was much more interested in colonialism, plantation life and late 50s Malaysia than the lay reader will be. The latter could be bored by the repetition towards the end, and too many thin descrpiptions of endless expats, some of whom get difficult to remember.
A bit more detail on The Emergency, and Dodd's personal life would also have been good, but it's important to remember these are the thoughts of a very young man at the start of his adult life. If you're interested in colonial Malaysia then give it a try, I'm glad I read it.
But then, I must declare an interest. I am half Malaysian (like the reviewer above) and I suspect I was much more interested in colonialism, plantation life and late 50s Malaysia than the lay reader will be. The latter could be bored by the repetition towards the end, and too many thin descrpiptions of endless expats, some of whom get difficult to remember.
A bit more detail on The Emergency, and Dodd's personal life would also have been good, but it's important to remember these are the thoughts of a very young man at the start of his adult life. If you're interested in colonial Malaysia then give it a try, I'm glad I read it.
Format:Paperback
I really loved this book. Even if you have never been to Malaya/Malaysia don't be put off. A fine, evocative account of a bygone era told with humour should appeal to a wide readership.
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