Customer Reviews

Tanamera (Paragon Softcover Large Print Books)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The best historical fiction ever written about the II World War and the action of the allied and axis forces in the Pacific. A MUST read for every one who is interested in this part of the XXth Century.

THE NOVEL REFLECTS THE SENTIMENTS OF THE 30'S AND 40'S ABOUT INTER-RACIAL RELATIONSHIPS IN SINGAPORE SOCIETY. IT SHOWS THAT TRUE LOVE, DESPITE THE WAR AND SOCIETAL NORMS, HAS NO BOUNDARIES. THE NOVEL HAVE THE SCENIC BACKGROUND OF MARGARET MITCHELL'S "GONE WITH THE WIND" COMBINED WITH THE MYSTICISM OF THE SOUTHEAST AND THE PASSIONATE ROMANCE OF SHAKESPEARE'S "ROMEO AND JULIET." ____________________

"TANAMERA" --- along with "TAI-PAN", "SHOGUN", and "THE THORN BIRDS" --- is one of the best "epic" novels I've ever read. This is a novel you simply will not be able to put down! Noel Barber gives the reader a rich, earthy feel and insight into the history, culture, and development of Singapore from the late 19th century up to the late 1950s through the interconnected lives of 2 families - the Dexters and the Soongs.

Mainly "TANAMERA" is a tale of a constant and abiding love between John Dexter and Julie Soong and the struggles and pain they endure through war and separation. In reading about their lives, I felt deeply for them and the world as it was changing around them.

Barber is a consummate writer who knows his subject well. In "TANAMERA", you experience life vicariously, its ups and down, its joys and sorrows. Never a paragraph is wasted.

The plot was very exciting and fun to read. It also gave you good insight into the character of the region at that point in history, It was an excellent historical fiction novel. I wish other books by the author were not out of print.

This book shows the state of the world in the 1930's, before the outbreak of WWII.
A great love story and after all sorts of setbacks and disappointments, true love finally prevailed.
It was written after all the convulsive changes had taken place -
the end of British rule in Asia; the lessening of racial bigotry between whites and non-whites; the eroding of tension between Malays and Chinese. All these had gradually taken place after end of WWII.
It had a retrospective look but it was done marvellously well.
I am somewhat surprised that the author was not really a novelist but a journalist. He did a great job in producing this novel

One can tell Noel Barber thoroughly knows his Malayian history. I was excited to read about a place and time in history I hadn't found in any other novels. It is set before, during, and after WW2 in Singapore. It focuses on two wealthy families, the Dexters-British and the Soongs-Chinese. John Dexter and Julie Soong fall in love. Although the families are quite good friends, Singapore still has a racial line that makes their love forbidden.

This story has been told many times, many ways, but what sets Tanamera apart is the historical background. Mr. Barber takes you through Singapore before the war, during the war, and the effort to reclaim Singapore from the Japanese. He makes you feel like you have a vested interest in the characters. The characters are well written and multi dimensional.

Highly recommended.

This classic romance a la "Romeo and Juliet" is set in
the Singapore of the 1940s. A Chinese and a British are
not an acceptable couple even if they have shared their
childhood. The backdrop is the most interesting portion
of the novel. It is well researched and revealing of the
history and culture of Singapore.

Great epic story about the Dexters' generation in Singapore before, during and after World War II. Besides the historical background and the well-depicted characters and relations, the passion between John Dexter and Julie Soong makes the book very much worth reading.

Joyce Akesson, author of Love's Thrilling Dimensions and The Invitation

Besides the fact that it undermines its own claims to cross-cultural understanding (in the marriage of the main character with the [of course] beautiful Chinese daughter of [what else?] a local tycoon) by turning pretty much the whole Malayan revolution into the attempted rape of his 'beautiful white' sister by 'ugly yellow-brown' Chinese Commies--and by seeing to it that the Dexter heritage goes into the hands of a purely British son, moreover--this oversized pile of schlock is so badly written that it should be read only for laugh-out-loud comedy.