The Harmony Silk Factory

Tash Aw's debut novel, The Harmony Silk Factory (2006) is an impressive beginning. It is a complex historical-based novel set in Malaysia that showcases a skill in creating a number of distinct storytelling voices. It is a complex story with the enigmatic Malaysian Chinese communist/collaborator/businessman Johnny Lim at the forefront of a story told from three separate points of view. Lim, is linked to all three characters intimately, but none of them really know him or connect with him. The first part of the story "Johnny" is told from the point of view of his only son, Jasper, who survived a difficult childbirth that took the life of his mother. Jasper's story is told from the perspective of a journalist who has heavily researched his subject. His father remains a cypher at his death. Part Two: "1941" is essentially Snow's diary which records the events of 1941, prior to the Japanese occupation of Malaya, in which she is wed to Johnny and takes a vacation/honeymoon with Johnny, his best friend Peter Wormwood (an eccentric Englishman), Honey (a typical colonial Englishman who owns a tin mine), and the suave and later diabolical Kunichika. They travel to some uninhabited islands and their lives are forever changed by the events that take place there. Part Three, "The Garden," is told from the point of view of Peter who alternates from his present as an again old man planning a garden at his rest home and the events of the past in which all of the characters were inextricably entwined. I like how Aw uses the novel to describe pre-WWII Malaya and life in the Kinta Valley. All in all quite a mature work fiction and I look forward to reading his subsequent novels: Map of the Invisible World and Five Star Billionaire.

In as much as I want to praise a fellow Chinese, I can't. Simply because I haven't got my money's worth. For a start, the story is boring. Nothing interesting happens in the book. Not that narratives are boring per ser but Tash doesn't have the same literary prowess as Anthony Burgess or Valdimir Nabokov to wring out lyrical exposition. In fact, many parts of the prose read like essays written by English 'O' level students (equivalent of American high school.) Next, where's the conflict? Where's the suspense and tension? If this book is judged according to the LOCK system of writing instructor James Scott Bell, it shouldn't get past the editors for publication.The dialogue is also hopeless. For example, on pages 141/2, the author writes: 'It was in the middle of the monsoon season...And then he came into view, splashing through the puddles on the muddy track through the plantation. Blah, blah, blah.." Fine, we are told it's raining. Wait till you read the next sentence. ' "It is raining," he said.' Why is the character -- already soaking wet -- saying the obvious?Apart from geographical errors as pointed out by another reviewer, there are also several factual errors. On page 142, for example, the author writes: "...and walk barefoot over glowing embers of coal..." This is nonsense. Hindus celebrating Thaipusam in Malaysia don't walk on burning coals. There is also mention of Tiger Tan dealing in songket. During that era, I'm dead sure no Chinaman ever traded in songket which is produced by Malays, and worn by them on special occasions.Now, the choice of Kampar as the setting of the story is really silly. Up till the 1970's, Kampar was a one-road town. So, imagine how dead it was in the 1940's? It's certainly impossible for Tiger Tan to do a roaring business with his textile shop in Kampar, even with Johnny doing canvassing on bicycle. Next point concerns the epic Battle of Kampar in 1941, which is not mentioned in the book. Finally, the cultural elements in several scenes (the shadow puppet play, for example) don't blend naturally into the story but appear like they are forced into it to teach the reader something.Don't you believe any of the rave reviews on the back and front covers of the book. They were just engineered by the publisher as sales gimmicks. And in the blurb, they even have the gall to compare the author with Joseph Conrad, Somerset Maugham and Anthony Burgess. Tash Aw is nowhere near them.

Laughably bad writing mixed with some evocative imagery makes this an odd read. Unable to leave unfinished any book, no matter how bad, I got through this one by sheer will power.Three voices have a part in telling some aspect of the life of Johnny the pre-Malay Independence-era ethnic Chinese gangster. One, Johnny's son Jasper, is very poorly thought-out and realized (he's part omniscient narrator who knows all kinds of facts like a mass murder in a cave and yet, like a second person, ends his story because he would rather go for a swim than open gifts which will undoubtedly resolve his narrative). The second, the daughter of a wealthy Chinese landowner (Johnny's wife Snow), is told in diary form bordering on the ridiculous and hilarious (see Shamela). The third is the most interesting, a romantic dandy named Peter who becomes Johnny's best friend. But it doesn't save the story.The novel's greatest flaw is the lack of believability of both the contemporary behavior of Snow (an aristocratic young woman like her would never have behaved the way she did... both sexually and living rough in the aftermath of a failed sea crossing) and her voice as written on the page was just NOT a pampered young woman of her era.Not historic in feel, except for some of the atmospheric descriptions of landscape and setting by Jasper and Peter. There have GOT to be better writings set in colonial Malaya.

I am a somewhat disappointed in the book - The Harmoney Silk Road. Not what I was led to believe as the bit of a picture of the country of Malaysia. I am very familary with the country and with some of it's very interesting history. The story was from a very Chinese perspective; does not touch on colonialism, does not mention the rich and deep culture of the Malays or the variety of indigenous people. In addition, it could have given some depth and story re the British, and or the Dutch and their role in shaping of that time period.

Having spent in my early career a decade working and living in South East Asia I enjoyed reading The Harmony Silk Factory very much. It brought back vivid memories of my time in Malaysia. In my mind I could again experience the sights, sounds and smells of the rain forest, the kampungs and the people.

I was travelling to Malaysia and this book gave me background to help me shape the history this country.

Though occasionally uneven, this was a brilliant debut novel. The hero's relationship with his criminally ruthless and ambitious father is the initial driver.But about half-way through the scene changes completely, and becomes a surreal journey to a semi-mythical island by a honeymooning couple and two odd male friends. The complex inter-relationships are delicately built up, with hints of mystery, shame, colonial intrigue - and war, for this is 1941.The best parts are not spoken or described, but alluded to, below the surface. And all the while Japanese troops are taking over south-east Asia.

Read this for my Book group. Its a rambling story and slightly confusing at times as to who was talking or Author was talking about. This is Malaya 1941But about half-way through the scene changes completely, and becomes rather surreal .We find ourselves on a semi-mythical island with a honeymooning couple and two odd male friends.Persevered hoping it would change. Missed the point.

There’s not much I can say about this book, other than I couldn’t make head nor tail of it. A big disappointment, given that I only bought it because I’d enjoyed ‘Five Star Billionaire’ so very much. The Harmony Silk Factory is a great title, but it doesn’t deliver. Sorry. I've given it 3 stars because, although the story is confusing, the writing is good.

I loved the way the characters interacted with one another, and how each told their story.This is a must read book by an incredibly talented and brilliant young author.Highly recommended.