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Under the Pong Pong Tree

Hal Levey

liked it 3.00 · Rating details · 8 ratings · 5 reviews

"The Japanese invasion of Singapore sets the backdrop for this World War II saga of loyalty, love, and the promise of liberation. Under the Pong Pong Tree by Hal Levey delves into the brutality of foreign occupation from a woman's perspective, allowing a candid portrayal of a war victim to emerge from the pages of this gritty chronicle. ...The prose is sensitive, knowledge ...more

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Paperback, 256 pages

Published November 11th 2015 by iUniverse

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Mar 01, 2016 Rosie Amber rated it liked it

Under The Pong Pong Tree begins in 1941 with the Japanese invasion of Malaysia and the taking of Singapore. Early in the storyline we are introduced to Captain Hodo a vicious member of the Japanese army who beheads Mr Tan and takes over his estate which produces rubber. Colonel Kosaka a member of the Japanese secret police is left in charge of the estate.

In Singapore the Japanese send families to their death or Changi Prison. But pretty young women are sent to serve in "Comfort Houses" as prosti Under The Pong Pong Tree begins in 1941 with the Japanese invasion of Malaysia and the taking of Singapore. Early in the storyline we are introduced to Captain Hodo a vicious member of the Japanese army who beheads Mr Tan and takes over his estate which produces rubber. Colonel Kosaka a member of the Japanese secret police is left in charge of the estate.

In Singapore the Japanese send families to their death or Changi Prison. But pretty young women are sent to serve in "Comfort Houses" as prostitutes. Li Lian is just sixteen and is forced to live in one of these "Comfort Houses". Later a pregnant Li Lian is smuggled away, she leaves her baby in the care of Malays and joins the Red Army resistance.

When the war ends many of the resistance turn to fight the British oppressors and they become the Malayan Communist Party, but Li Lian doesn't wish to be part of this. She takes over ownership of Mr Tan's rubber plantation and with it his alternative source of income. They make and sell heroine. When the price of rubber falls they also turn to producing Palm oil.

When the Americans are fighting in Vietnam, they come to Singapore for R&R. There is much talk about the ease with which the soldiers can get drugs and how they are turning into addicts. Mike Cagle is given the job of finding and cutting some of the drug supply lines. His investigations lead him to Maimunah and her mother Li Lian.

The events of the war, occupation, drug running and the Vietnam drug problems were all interesting, however the style of writing often read like a newspaper report or an encyclopaedia entry. It was full of facts often told through lengthy dialogue, but there was very little depth to the writing. The many characters were just names and difficult to imagine or differentiate by their mannerisms or dialogue. I wanted more emotion, more time spent on the important points. I was actually desperate for descriptive passages which took me into the sweltering mosquito ridden jungle, I needed to feel the desperation of the drug addict and I needed to get inside the minds of the main characters. At the moment the reader is just on the outside looking through the window of a fast moving train, catching glimpses but not being able to participate in what they are reading. ...more

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Feb 11, 2016 Namrata Ganti rated it really liked it

The story brings out the truths behind what people faced during the WWII when the Japanese invaded Singapore. It is both horrifying and brutally honest. The author does not hesitate describe the events in great detail with no sugar coating to make it seem less horrific.

The story told from the perspective of a female protagonist is strong and highlights her life and what she has faced. the story is phased out in two parts; the first from Li Lian's childhood until she takes over the rubber plantat The story brings out the truths behind what people faced during the WWII when the Japanese invaded Singapore. It is both horrifying and brutally honest. The author does not hesitate describe the events in great detail with no sugar coating to make it seem less horrific.

The story told from the perspective of a female protagonist is strong and highlights her life and what she has faced. the story is phased out in two parts; the first from Li Lian's childhood until she takes over the rubber plantations and the second is when her daughter Maimunah comes back into her life along with the introduction of Mike Cagle, an american who only seems to add to the charm of the various characters present.

There are a lot of characters involved in the story, but the beauty lies in the way they all come together at the end. Each one has a specific role to play and they each bring with them a part of the story. The strength of the story lies in the plot and the style of narration.

The author intersperses the deeper relationships of friendship and family along with the more superficial ones. He brings out the feelings of misery, hatred as well as love amidst the backdrop of the war. The underlying message is that of trust and loyalty as well as to stick to one's beliefs.

Li Lian may have been through a lot in the story as well as done a lot, however we are shown that she was human. She was not always right and even she accepted it. She meets a lot of people in her journey, many who help her and many who don't and she forms bonds that remain for life. This is the beauty of the narration and character sketches. The characters are very well developed and have various shades to them some even coming across as vibrant. A peep into our history in a fresh way is a good way to describe this book.

If I continue typing I may just give away the entire story as it is still fresh in my mind. To prevent that, I will stop with my raving and say that I strongly recommend this book to all bookworms out there. This is a refreshing read and a breath taking, heart stopping account of life faced during the WWII, and a look at a smaller war that most would not comment on. ...more

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Jan 22, 2016 Blueink Review added it

This utterly compelling historical novel revolves around several characters whose lives have been irrevocably changed and, for the most part, damaged, by the WWII Japanese invasion of Singapore.

The story begins with brutal scenes of torture, murder and rape, but soon focuses on the “beautiful” 16-year-old Goh Li Lian, whose father Goh Kok An owns a small shipping line. As the Japanese invasion appears imminent, Kok An gathers his small family and announces they will leave Singapore and take have ...more

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Apr 05, 2016 Polly Krize rated it liked it

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Sensitively written, yet brutally honest, this is the story of the Japanese invasion of Singapore in WWII. The treatment of the Chinese population was horrendous, either with them being shipped off to death camps or, in the case of Li Lian, to comfort (read brothel) houses for Japanese officers. The descriptions of drug running and the Japanese occupation are a little sparse, but on the whole this is an intriguing book.

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