Spirit of the Tiger is a collection
of three novellas all based on actual events in Singapore at different times in
its history. There are links between the three stories in the characters but
not the story lines.
I loved all three of these beautifully
written stories and learned a lot about the country, its history and its people.
First story is about the author’s
maternal great grandfather. It begins with the main character, Yahng,
performing a ritual requested by his dying father. He does not believe in black
magic, or for that matter any form of magic but he had promised his father so
he sees it through.
Yahng unsuccessfully challenges the
deep superstition of his community and his evil brother but is supported by the
wise man of the village, Jenang.
After moving to Singapore, Yahng is
required to act as guide for a tiger hunt. It is a role he is not comfortable
with knowing the tiger will be shot at the end of the day. The final outcome is
touching.
The Afterword to this story poignantly
draws a comparison between superstition and the present day culture of misinformation.
It is a piece I will read and re-read again.
The second story is based on the
author’s father’s exploits in World War II and gives the reader an insight into
a little known aspect of the war in Singapore when a young man and his mentor
form a resistance group to fight the Japanese.
The final story opens with a
beautiful description of a sad, decaying but once happy home.
Two families, one rich one poor, are brought
together through the courtship of three brothers and three sisters. Following a
murder the families are unable to come to grips with the thought that one of
them may be a killer. The investigation also
reveals that some of the family members are not who they were thought to be.
My rating 5*
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