The House of Doors: Longlisted for the Booker Prize 2023 Paperback – 7 Mar. 2024

A story finely told, and sometimes based on real events, allowing the fiction to meld indistinguishably with the facts. Tan Twan Eng writes with such wonderful grace.

It was a book club choice and at the meeting there were a variety of opinions which always make for a better discussion. Some members found that they did not like any of the characters and found following the three different strands of the story overdone. Other people loved the writing and the descriptions of Malaya in the early 20 th century very compelling and it seemed very real.

Mr. Tan has written a masterpiece. I was engaged and enmeshed from the first chapter in his subtle weave of elegant prose and vivid recreation of the 1920s: its rigid prejudices and pretences, the contrasts of colonial privilege and deprivation, the superficial glamour and tawdry realities.I loved the recreation of Penang’s cultures, a heady mix of races and religions, and the sense of impending tragedies both small and personal and earth shaking. Rebellions in China, the fall of the last emperor and his court, the ripples of discontent widening, deepening, pushing against the crumbling walls of British Imperial arrogance and power.All this has been woven with such skill and beautiful use of English language to reveal the misalliances, crises, love affairs and losses in the life of Somerset Maugham and a handful of his friends and acquaintances. Wonderfully researched, cunningly crafted. One cannot but ache for every flawed character, even the most transparently selfish.I feel that I was allowed to visit another time, another place, and observe that fleeting, enchanted world unraveling thread by zigzagging thread, like a patterned silk gown being pulled apart by forces to great to resist. I did not want this book to end. I did not want to leave the poignant, vividtableau this masterful author had opened to me through his House of Doors.

A beautifully written book with wonderfully interwoven characters both real and imagined. One of those very rare (for me) books I will read again.

Loved this book. Very descriptive. The stories of the people who lived in Penang and its history very informative and entertaining.

I love Eng's novels. His stories are so different - there's an intimacy around the everyday moments that he creates so beautifully and he writes characters that are navigating their own human frailties. The House of Doors includes a wonderful tribute to Somerset 'Willie' Maughan too. It is quietly glorious.

I read this book with high expectations but felt a bit let down.The Sun Wen, Somerset Maugham and murder stories don't really cohere. What are we left with? Colonialism is bad? There was homophobia between the Wars?I think we kinda knew that.

Tan Twan Eng is for me, one of the best authors writing today. He writes from the heart with poetic wisdom, insight and love. Thank you!

If you love lyricism and storytelling, this is your book.

Author Tan Twan Eng has written three novels, and all have made it onto the Man Booker Prize list, either long or short. To make that list, the book must be not only very well written, but also unusual—even a little strange. “The House of Doors” gets 5/5 on both counts. Probably the most unusual element is that W. Somerset Maugham is a principal character in the book and much of what happens in the span of the novel leads to Maugham writing a book of short stories which he really did write. Most of the novel takes place in Penang, Maylaysia before and after WWl. Many interesting and well developed characters people the story, some real and others created as needed. While many novels build to a climax and get resolved in a denouement, “House of Doors” is more Chekhovian in structure. You will sometimes wonder: “Where is Tan going with this?” But he sustains your interest, and when you finally do get there, you will find a most satisfying conclusion.

This one completely blew my mind away. What a superb storytelling, such intricately woven and detailed with the right mix of history and culture. A true delight for someone who enjoys fiction.

The books of Malaysian author Tan Twan Eng are truly special. They transport the reader to the historical worlds of Penang and a fascinating cast of characters. The House of Doors takes place during WW I era Penang and is centered around Robert and Lesley, two long-time Penang residents who become involved with the most interesting visitors to Penang. The tale involves both Sun Yat Sen and W. Somerset Maugham. Although the book starts slow it rapidly becomes more and more absorbing.

Tan Twang writing is so elegant and precise that allows us to follow him through those events in Malaysia and the days of Somerset Maugham. Beautiful!