Plot Summary

The Garden of Evening Mists

Tan Twan Eng
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The Garden of Evening Mists

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2012

Book Brief

Tan Twan Eng

The Garden of Evening Mists

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2012
Book Details
Pages

352

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Malaya • 1950s

Publication Year

2012

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

The Garden of Evening Mists by Tan Twan Eng follows Judge Teoh Yun Ling, who battles a degenerative neurological condition as she retires in the 1980s. Flashbacks reveal her traumatic experiences as a World War II prisoner and her post-war years apprenticing with a Japanese gardener, Aritomo, to create a garden in memory of her lost sister. The narrative intertwines themes of memory, cultural expectations, and forgiveness. The book depicts the cruel treatment of prisoners during wartime occupation.

Contemplative

Melancholic

Mysterious

Serene

Bittersweet

Reviews & Readership

4.3

34,938 ratings

81%

Loved it

14%

Mixed feelings

5%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

The Garden of Evening Mists by Tan Twan Eng is a beautifully written historical novel with lush, evocative prose. Readers praise its intricate plot and deep exploration of memory and trauma. However, some find its pacing slow and narrative complex. Nonetheless, it remains a compelling, poignant story that resonates with emotional depth.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Garden of Evening Mists?

Fans of literary fiction and historical novels will appreciate The Garden of Evening Mists by Tan Twan Eng. Set in post-WWII Malaysia, its lush prose and exploration of memory and trauma will appeal to readers of The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro and Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden.

4.3

34,938 ratings

81%

Loved it

14%

Mixed feelings

5%

Not a fan

Fun Facts

The Garden of Evening Mists was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2012, showcasing its international recognition and literary acclaim.

The author, Tan Twan Eng, spent several years living in various countries, including South Africa, which influenced his understanding of cultural diversity—a theme subtly woven into his writing.

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The novel won the Man Asian Literary Prize in 2012, making Tan Twan Eng the first Malaysian author to win this prestigious award.

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Book Details
Pages

352

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Malaya • 1950s

Publication Year

2012

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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