The Gift of Rain cover art

The Gift of Rain

 Preview
Try Premium Plus free
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£8.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

The Gift of Rain

By: Tan Twan Eng
Narrated by: Daniel York Loh, Eric Mok
Try Premium Plus free

£8.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £23.99

Buy Now for £23.99

Confirm Purchase
Pay using card ending in
Switch payment method
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.
Cancel

About this listen

LONGLISTED FOR THE MAN BOOKER PRIZE

Penang, 1939. Sixteen-year-old Philip Hutton is a loner. Half English, half Chinese and feeling neither, he discovers a sense of belonging in an unexpected friendship with Hayato Endo, a Japanese diplomat. Philip shows his new friend around his adored island of Penang, and in return Endo trains him in the art and discipline of aikido. But such friendship comes at a terrible price.

Tan Twan Eng's masterful debut novel is a haunting and unforgettable story of betrayal, barbaric cruelty, steadfast courage and enduring love.

©2023 Tan Twan Eng (P)2023 Canongate Books 20th Century Fiction Historical Fiction World Literature Feel-Good China Friendship Imperial Japan

Listeners also enjoyed...

 Wardenclyffe cover art
The Covenant of Water cover art
The Mountains Sing cover art
When God Was a Rabbit cover art
This Thing of Darkness cover art
Rain and Other Stories cover art
Glorious Boy cover art
The World Beyond Our Knowing cover art
The Kite Runner cover art
Jane Eyre cover art
The Water Thief cover art
Chateau of Secrets: A Novel cover art
The Lost Vintage cover art
The Power of One cover art
Where the Lost Wander cover art
The Murmur of Bees cover art
All stars
Most relevant  
I listened to this book having been enchanted by Tans book the house of doors also set in Beautiful Penang. The descriptive nature, brilliant dialogue. The issues of rrlationships, race, culture, politics set in the run up to the Japanese invasion across Asia has given me food for thought. The bravery , torn loyalties made me cry. Having lived in Singapore in the 60s in the shadow of Changi Prison and visiting Penang. it filled me with the smells sights of my child and my contuned love of the this part of the world and all its peoples. Fabulous listen.

outstanding, thought provoking

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Love everything about this book except the brutality of war. Full of wisdom, superb writing.

Brilliant

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I had to start this novel twice before I could understand what it was about, it was so well worth persevering, truly a magnificent tale so expertly narrated.
Don't miss it.

Powerful novel worth the patience it took to get into it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I read and loved the other two books by the same author, They all share a mystical look at life that is oriental and marvelous descriptions of nature, but The gift of rain, with the terrible descriptions of the acts of barbarity that the Japanese did in Malaysia contrasting with the beauty of the soroundings and the surreal connection between the protagonist had an effect in my spirit similar to what the author described his main character Phillip was feeling. A very difficult thing to achieved. Thank you Tan Team Eng.

Excepcional

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Tan Twan Eng is an impressive writer. I found this took me a while to engage, but then I felt really involved. There is a lot about whether our lives are governed by fate or if the choices we make can alter the course of our lives. In this, it reflects the difference in belief of the East from the West. There is a real intensity to the story; the parts around the Japanese occupation of Penang make for a harrowing read.

Takes a while to get into

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Beautiful book almost poetic in the author’s description of light, sea, feelings and Penang Island.
A story of belonging, friendship, love and loyalty.
I would recommend this read to anyone interested in history and culture.

Beautiful listen / read

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I think this is the most beautiful book I have ever listened to. If you want to know more, just read it or listen to it. Breathtakingly deeply moving from beginning to the very end.

Breathtaking

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This book is so beautifully written - it sucked me deep into its imagery and essence. The construction of each sentence is an artwork.

Captivating

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Great narration and an absolute gem of a book for fans of historical fiction (think Arthur Golden/James Clavell)

Excellent

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Shows the complexities of right and wrong, love and hate in war. Nothing is straightforward. Interesting history and insight into Japanese culture

Complexities

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews