Winner of the E.M. Forster Award and shortlistedfor the Booker Prize, this brutal and beautifulnarration of the guerrilla war against theIndonesians in Timor, praised by Fretilin ForeignMinister and Nobel prize-winner Jose Ramos-Hortafor its 'perfect authenticity', reappears now inthis handsome edition at a topical moment inhistory as Timor fully joins the UN at last."'Magnificent" - The Spectator"A marvellous tour de force" - Evening Standard"A brilliant novel, written with precision andtenderness" - Guardian
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By Huck Flynn
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Mo is a major talent and his prose style always impressive. Put that together with a highly charged war novel and political "thriller" and one of the most engaging narrators you'll meet and you get a tremendous read. Based loosely (or perhaps not that loosely) on the invasion of East Timor by Indonesia in 1975 it describes the struggles of a once colonial nation towards, if not democrasy, at least independence under the threat of re-colonization and political oppression. The main themes explored are about national identity, loyalty, and the courage of one's convictions against expediency, self preservation and humanity. Many distinctions are blurred by the guerilla war / terrorist attacks of (gay) hero Adolph Ng's rebel band of defenders and as well as the bloody (and graphic) military struggle there is the spin, politics and propaganda war that cause you to re-evaluate the rights and wrongs of the situation, question motives, tactics and decisions. Osvaldo, the charismatic leader of the rebels is another unsettling character - some times heroic, at other times a Saddam-like tyrant. It's a white knuckle read but with important political messages, Catch 22 with hints of Siege of krishnapur and Heart of Darkness. Masterpiece? Probably.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A brilliant book. Particularly relevant with what's going on in East Timor now. Simmering with understated anger. Evocative. And gripping. It takes you to a place and a time you never knew existed, and makes you feel as if you have lived there all your life. I strongly urge you to read this book.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
a simply fantastic book. after a brutal beginning the book settles down to consider the occupation of East Timor by Indonisia. Not for the faint hearted, if you can survive the first 20 pages then you will be rewarded with one of the most beautiful books that you can ever read. How this book failed to win the Booker prize, or indeed recive international recognition I will never know. Brilliant.
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Why can all books be like this?
A late 20th century classic. I like my central characters rounded and flawed and despite being landed in a time and place few of us can comprehend the basically honourable and... Read more
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At the end of this sometimes moving often desperately enthralling novel the narrator says of himself, "I wandered bizarrely, often with that feeling of standing outside myself as a... Read more
Published on 3 May 2011 by Eileen Shaw
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