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Malayan #2
When the Future Comes Too Soon
In Japanese-occupied Malaya, lives are shattered and a woman discovers her inner strength in a world ravaged by war.
Following the death of their matriarch, the lives of Chye Hoon’s family turned upside down. Now that the British have fled and the Japanese have conquered, their once-benign world changes overnight.
Amid the turmoil, Chye Hoon’s daughter-in-law, Mei Foong, must fend for her family as her husband, Weng Yu, becomes increasingly embittered. Challenged in ways she never could have imagined and forced into hiding, Mei Foong finds a deep reservoir of resilience she did not know she had and soon draws the attentions of another man.
Is Mei Foong’s resolve enough to save herself, her marriage, and her family? Only when peace returns to Malaya will she learn the full price she must pay for survival.
Following the death of their matriarch, the lives of Chye Hoon’s family turned upside down. Now that the British have fled and the Japanese have conquered, their once-benign world changes overnight.
Amid the turmoil, Chye Hoon’s daughter-in-law, Mei Foong, must fend for her family as her husband, Weng Yu, becomes increasingly embittered. Challenged in ways she never could have imagined and forced into hiding, Mei Foong finds a deep reservoir of resilience she did not know she had and soon draws the attentions of another man.
Is Mei Foong’s resolve enough to save herself, her marriage, and her family? Only when peace returns to Malaya will she learn the full price she must pay for survival.
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 18, 2017
500 people are currently reading
1364 people want to read
About the author
Selina Siak Chin Yoke
4 books116 followersOf Malaysian-Chinese heritage, Selina Siak Chin Yoke (石清玉) grew up listening to family stories and ancient legends. She always knew that one day, she would write. After an eclectic life as a physicist, banker and trader in London, the heavens intervened. In 2009 Siak was diagnosed with cancer. While recovering, she decided not to delay her dream of writing any longer. Her first novel,
The Woman Who Breathed Two Worlds
, was published on November 1, 2016 and made an immediate emotional connection with readers. It debuted as an Amazon best-seller in historical fiction, was named by Goodreads as one of the 6 best books of November 2016 and has been compared to the work of Pearl S. Buck and Amy Tan.
Her second novel, When the Future Comes Too Soon – an emotional exploration of betrayal, survival and what courage means – was published on July 18, 2017. It has been described as “intensely visceral”, “atmospheric” and “thoughtfully written with a very human touch”. Following the novel’s release, Siak was invited to be a guest on the BBC World Service, Talk Radio Europe and CBS Boston Radio. She has also appeared in the Guardian, Independent and National Geographic Traveller. In addition, she is a book reviewer, events speaker and blogs at http://siakchinyoke.com/blog.
Her second novel, When the Future Comes Too Soon – an emotional exploration of betrayal, survival and what courage means – was published on July 18, 2017. It has been described as “intensely visceral”, “atmospheric” and “thoughtfully written with a very human touch”. Following the novel’s release, Siak was invited to be a guest on the BBC World Service, Talk Radio Europe and CBS Boston Radio. She has also appeared in the Guardian, Independent and National Geographic Traveller. In addition, she is a book reviewer, events speaker and blogs at http://siakchinyoke.com/blog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
January 4, 2020
The drawn-out style of writing is not to my liking. Therefore, I’m not the right reviewer for this book.
March 31, 2018
Of course, I did not do anything of the kind. I let the moment come and go, the same way all the moments of my life have come and gone; with utter indifference, each oblivious to the fact of its passing.
2.5 stars The above quote nicely summarizes the theme of the novel. In the simplest of terms, if, after reading the quote, you are interested in reading the book, then I certainly recommend you do. If, after reading the quote, you are not sure you'd like to read the book, then I'd ask whether you enjoyed the first book in the Malayan series, The Woman Who Breathed Two Worlds. If you thought it was okay, but wanted more action, then you will likely enjoy this book. This book starts at the end of the first book, when Japan invades Malaya, giving a greater sense of urgency to the novel than the first in the series. Malayan #2 also covers a shorter time period, which overcomes some of the problems of the first book. In some ways, this book addresses many of the short-comings of the first book, but this is not always ideal. For example, I would have preferred more than just a short epilogue to cover the last 30 years of the book. But on the whole, this is a stronger book than The Woman Who Breathed Two Worlds.
The biggest complaint I have of When the Future Comes Too Soon is how weak a person Mei Foong is compared to her mother-in-law, Chye Hoon, in The Woman Who Breathed Two Worlds. Chye Hoon was a formidiable woman who stood on her own and this made reading The Woman Who Breathed Two Worlds worth it, even admist the problems with how slowly the book moved, because it was refreshing to see a strong woman at a time and in a place where such women were not the norm. To swing to a protagonist that is so very different from Chye Hoon, especially in trying ways, made this a much harder book to get into. I needed more strength from Mei Foong and it just wasn't there.
I will say that if you read the book, read to the very last sentence. I honestly had a moment where I wanted to throw in the towel right at the end, but thankfully, the last few sentences made it worth sticking with the last few pages. I haven't bailed on a book before well past the 50% mark and I doubt many will consider doing so at 99%, but once you get there, you might undertstand why I almost did so.
I had hoped to more highly recommend this book as I felt there were many good things to build off of in the first book. And many of the pitfalls of the first book were addressed. Unfortunately, the character this book chose to focus on was too starkly different from the last book and thus, those of us who enjoyed the first book because of the main character will be left with much to be desired in reading When the Future Comes Too Soon.
I received an eARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you publisher AmazonCrossing and Selina Siak Chin Yoke for the opportunity to read this book. For this review, I listened to the audiobook version offered through Kindle Unlimited and did not read the eARC.
June 4, 2017
Last year I was able to review Selina Siak Chin Yoke’s first novel that followed the entrepreneurial Chye Hoon. Mei Foong, Chye Hoon’s Chinese daughter-in-law, is the star of this book, and it is every inch the powerful female tale the first installment was.
You ever feel like you’ve lost your voice? Not literally, but have you found yourself in situations in which you could have fought back, but had to swallow it instead? This is not an uncommon situation for women, ancient and modern. And it is the underlying struggle of our heroine.
Her journey to know that she and what she thinks matters is heart-breaking and set against the problems of an occupied population. WWII has brought Japanese to take over Malaya, and their previous occupants, the British, have fled. Violence, bombs, poverty become everyday predators, and Mei Foong weathers these like a mother would, like a warrior. And against all of that, this is her story of slow rising and realization.
I’d recommend this is any historical fiction fan, especially since Malaysian tales are in short supply. All the details will transport you to the land where the sun can heat your hair warm to the touch in the early afternoons in no time at all.
But, more than that, this should be read by women who have felt silenced. Silenced by fate, by bad company, by circumstance. I was moved to crying twice while reading it, and that is not something that often happens. The previous book, too, contained such painfully familiar trauma that you can’t help but weep. But that is a good thing and the mark of a story that is telling something important.
Don’t miss this one.
It bears mentioning that you won’t be lost if you grab this novel first before book one. “When the Future Comes Too Soon” can stand on its own without any trouble. It was extra special to read the continuing story of this amazing family when I recognized a few of the memories, but I think you could start with either.
With book one, I found a quote from the text that really summed up the feeling of the story, the impact it had on me. So, I’ll do the same here, with book two.
“I know now that I was simply pretending. I pretended to be strong and, in the act of pretending, discovered a reservoir of strength I never realised I had.” -Mei Foong
You ever feel like you’ve lost your voice? Not literally, but have you found yourself in situations in which you could have fought back, but had to swallow it instead? This is not an uncommon situation for women, ancient and modern. And it is the underlying struggle of our heroine.
Her journey to know that she and what she thinks matters is heart-breaking and set against the problems of an occupied population. WWII has brought Japanese to take over Malaya, and their previous occupants, the British, have fled. Violence, bombs, poverty become everyday predators, and Mei Foong weathers these like a mother would, like a warrior. And against all of that, this is her story of slow rising and realization.
I’d recommend this is any historical fiction fan, especially since Malaysian tales are in short supply. All the details will transport you to the land where the sun can heat your hair warm to the touch in the early afternoons in no time at all.
But, more than that, this should be read by women who have felt silenced. Silenced by fate, by bad company, by circumstance. I was moved to crying twice while reading it, and that is not something that often happens. The previous book, too, contained such painfully familiar trauma that you can’t help but weep. But that is a good thing and the mark of a story that is telling something important.
Don’t miss this one.
It bears mentioning that you won’t be lost if you grab this novel first before book one. “When the Future Comes Too Soon” can stand on its own without any trouble. It was extra special to read the continuing story of this amazing family when I recognized a few of the memories, but I think you could start with either.
With book one, I found a quote from the text that really summed up the feeling of the story, the impact it had on me. So, I’ll do the same here, with book two.
“I know now that I was simply pretending. I pretended to be strong and, in the act of pretending, discovered a reservoir of strength I never realised I had.” -Mei Foong
July 18, 2017
Everything I liked about the first book--the strong, stubborn female characters, the detailed descriptions, the memoir-like childhood-to-death scope of the story--was missing here. The main character is passive, her narration barely mentions the world around her except as it relates to her own immediate needs, and the story skims over a few years of World War II and then abruptly ends (with an unsatisfying epilogue). I forced myself to finish it and wish I hadn't bothered.
August 26, 2017
The protagonist in this book, seems to not be able to live in the moment. Her journey begins in Ipoh , Malaysia in the early years of WW II. The Nippon Troops begin bombing the general population and the British start to evacuate their troops and citizens. The Ethnic Chinese who have lived in Malaysia for several generations, suffer the most upon The arrival of the Japanese.
Thus,begins the journey of Mai Foong, during the Japanese Occupation. She stands like a tower of strength, while the country endures food shortages, triple digit inflation and tortuous conditions. Her Father helps her find the strength to keep the family fed , by planting extensive gardens, shrewd dealing with shady people and strength of character. Her husband on the other hand, cannot stand the sight of blood and does not share her concerns about the survival of the family.
But as the years pass, the going gets tougher, despite her Suave self centered husband getting a job with Nippon Civil Service. They pay him a penance. Which doesn't cover the expenses needed to feed the family.
During this time,he starts spending more and more time at the Nippon sponsored gambling parlor. It becomes an addiction where he loses needed money to support the family.
As the last third of the book begins, her husband Weng Yu, becomes deathly ill with Pneumonia and is placed in a hospital in another town where the only antibiotics can be found. The situation worsens, as the pills will cost $25 per pill.
She does whatever is necessary to keep her husband alive. To make matters worse, she is also pregnant. Her life quickly goes downhill as the war comes to an end. At this point her life as she knows it , will end , as the once strong woman, falters one time after the other.
Many years later, she still mourns the life she once lived. She plays her life over and over again, wondering why she didn't fight harder for her Wong children. A second chance appears that may give her the recourse she had always wanted. Can she pull her self up to make it happen or will revenge pull her down again.
As I read this tragic ending, I kept rooting for her to overcome her weak and meek manner. I think the author, perhaps weakening the book by making her a mute woman with no voice, waiting for some spirit to make things right. Or at least , explain why she didn't stand up for her rights.
This should have been a 5* rating. but still, a good read. Perhaps, another reader would I've loved ending.
Thus,begins the journey of Mai Foong, during the Japanese Occupation. She stands like a tower of strength, while the country endures food shortages, triple digit inflation and tortuous conditions. Her Father helps her find the strength to keep the family fed , by planting extensive gardens, shrewd dealing with shady people and strength of character. Her husband on the other hand, cannot stand the sight of blood and does not share her concerns about the survival of the family.
But as the years pass, the going gets tougher, despite her Suave self centered husband getting a job with Nippon Civil Service. They pay him a penance. Which doesn't cover the expenses needed to feed the family.
During this time,he starts spending more and more time at the Nippon sponsored gambling parlor. It becomes an addiction where he loses needed money to support the family.
As the last third of the book begins, her husband Weng Yu, becomes deathly ill with Pneumonia and is placed in a hospital in another town where the only antibiotics can be found. The situation worsens, as the pills will cost $25 per pill.
She does whatever is necessary to keep her husband alive. To make matters worse, she is also pregnant. Her life quickly goes downhill as the war comes to an end. At this point her life as she knows it , will end , as the once strong woman, falters one time after the other.
Many years later, she still mourns the life she once lived. She plays her life over and over again, wondering why she didn't fight harder for her Wong children. A second chance appears that may give her the recourse she had always wanted. Can she pull her self up to make it happen or will revenge pull her down again.
As I read this tragic ending, I kept rooting for her to overcome her weak and meek manner. I think the author, perhaps weakening the book by making her a mute woman with no voice, waiting for some spirit to make things right. Or at least , explain why she didn't stand up for her rights.
This should have been a 5* rating. but still, a good read. Perhaps, another reader would I've loved ending.
September 9, 2020
This is so different from the previous book and the synopsis that I almost feel cheated.
The main character's behaviour went completely against the grain with me, even though I understand that the time and culture is so different, her narration and thoughts left me perplexed. All her fights seem to have happened only within her mind, outwardly she is mostly left speechless letting the moment come and go - that is really the motto of her life. And then the ending and some kind of an epilogue comes and it's nothing but would have's and should have's. She blames the war and occupation for most of her problems going so far as to say that had there been no occupation, her marriage might have taken a different turn, but I failed to see problems that might not have occured in any other circumstances (be it illnesses, marital problems, food or money shortage). Whenever she tries to characterize her husband, it is "a handsome British-trained engineer with chiselled cheekbones" - I guess, if that's all she has to say about him, then it bodes their marriage no good.
As for the war theme - and I'll try to phrase it as mildly as I can because was is war and suffering, losses and devastation cannot be compared - but remembering some other books I read about the same region, this one was sort of subdued in its description of it. It seemed to have melted into the background - some other city is bombed, other people are arrested, one of the most heart-wrenching moments involving her brother-in-law is narrated second hand.
In general, I think I just expected more edge to the story.
The main character's behaviour went completely against the grain with me, even though I understand that the time and culture is so different, her narration and thoughts left me perplexed. All her fights seem to have happened only within her mind, outwardly she is mostly left speechless letting the moment come and go - that is really the motto of her life. And then the ending and some kind of an epilogue comes and it's nothing but would have's and should have's. She blames the war and occupation for most of her problems going so far as to say that had there been no occupation, her marriage might have taken a different turn, but I failed to see problems that might not have occured in any other circumstances (be it illnesses, marital problems, food or money shortage). Whenever she tries to characterize her husband, it is "a handsome British-trained engineer with chiselled cheekbones" - I guess, if that's all she has to say about him, then it bodes their marriage no good.
As for the war theme - and I'll try to phrase it as mildly as I can because was is war and suffering, losses and devastation cannot be compared - but remembering some other books I read about the same region, this one was sort of subdued in its description of it. It seemed to have melted into the background - some other city is bombed, other people are arrested, one of the most heart-wrenching moments involving her brother-in-law is narrated second hand.
In general, I think I just expected more edge to the story.
August 31, 2017
Now when I think about it I can not say if I have ever read a book set in Malaysia. So a first for everything then. And of course it was an interesting time period too, well interesting is not the right word for the turmoil and pain it caused.
Mei is happily married. She has 4 children and life is good. Until the Japanese come closer, until all the British just leave over night. The occupation has begun. At first they will hide as bombs fall and then they return to a occupied city.
The book was actually kind of nice. Yes it they did talk about this horrific massacre, but other than that not much was shown. Bullying tactics and bending the knee to their new masters yes, but other than that. Have I read too many war books that I thought more horror? So at the moment I do not know if the author wanted to spare her characters or if the Japanese was kinder in that town. Since I do have a friend in Singapore and she still hates the Japanese...
Anyway I am glad the characters were spared and did not go through too much. Instead now they did their best to go on with their lives. To find food and to serve their new lords the best they could.
But there are other conflicts too. Conflicts within the family. Anger, resentment and all things that grow when things get hard.
An interesting book. I saw that she has written a book that was about Mei's mother in law, and that one would be interesting to read too. So much changed during these years and it is something different to read about for sure.
Mei is happily married. She has 4 children and life is good. Until the Japanese come closer, until all the British just leave over night. The occupation has begun. At first they will hide as bombs fall and then they return to a occupied city.
The book was actually kind of nice. Yes it they did talk about this horrific massacre, but other than that not much was shown. Bullying tactics and bending the knee to their new masters yes, but other than that. Have I read too many war books that I thought more horror? So at the moment I do not know if the author wanted to spare her characters or if the Japanese was kinder in that town. Since I do have a friend in Singapore and she still hates the Japanese...
Anyway I am glad the characters were spared and did not go through too much. Instead now they did their best to go on with their lives. To find food and to serve their new lords the best they could.
But there are other conflicts too. Conflicts within the family. Anger, resentment and all things that grow when things get hard.
An interesting book. I saw that she has written a book that was about Mei's mother in law, and that one would be interesting to read too. So much changed during these years and it is something different to read about for sure.
May 16, 2017
"The Woman Who Breathed Two Worlds" followed the life of Chye Hoon, a strong-willed Nyonya girl who becomes the matriarch of her mixed-heritage family in early 20th-century Malaysia. "When the Future Comes Too Soon" picks up shortly after where "The Woman Who Breathed Two Worlds" left off, with the death of Chye Hoon. Now the family's story is narrated by Mei Foong, Chye Hoon's refined, upper-class Chinese daughter-in-law, who married Chye's oldest son, Weng Yu, the one who held such promise but has turned out to be something more like a failure, or at least, utterly unsuited for the life he has been forced to live. Now it is up to Mei Foong to preserve the family during the WWII Japanese occupation.
Although "When the Future Comes Too Soon" is an immediate sequel to "The Woman Who Breathed Two Worlds," it is not a copy of it. Mei Foong has a very different narrative voice than Chye Hoon, and their circumstances are utterly different as well. While Chye Hoon was a rebellious girl who learned to appreciate her native culture, which was rich, unique, and slowly disappearing, and who become a successful entrepreneur and an imposing matriarch following the death of her husband, Mei Foong was a delicately beautiful highborn Chinese maiden who was brought into the family as much as a status symbol as anything else. Chye Hoon's story was one of a woman trying to present the beauties of her culture to others, and was comparatively slow-moving, full of the scents and sights of turn-of-the-century Malaysia, as Chye described her Nyonya cooking and her attempts to peddle kueh cakes. Mei Foong's story is sparer and faster-paced, jumping in immediately into the action of the first Japanese bombardment of the island, and following the family's scramble to find each other, flee to the countryside, return back to the city, and figure out how to live under material privation and Japanese occupation. While both books are at their heart tales of survival, physical and cultural, the survival is of a different nature in each.
Mei Foong's struggles to keep her family alive and together are riveting, as she deals with impoverishment and physical danger while taking care of an unreliable husband, an aging father, and multiple small children. Her struggles to understand her culture and her stance towards it, though, are perhaps more important in a deeper sense. As a Malaysian-born Chinese woman, educated in both Chinese and British culture, she, like her husband, is torn between her heritage and her education. She speaks English and admires many of the advances the British brought Malaysia, including things like modern medicine and the education of women to work outside the home. At the same time, she, like many, is horrified when the British abandon Malaysia and its people at the first sign of Japanese attack. And although the Japanese can be harsh masters, they also work to foster pan-Asian feelings and make a point of putting Asians in positions of authority, something the British would never have even considered. The Malaysian characters finding themselves occupied and subjugated once again, and have to ask themselves: is one master really any better than the other? Do the benefits of British civilization outweigh its racism?
These are heavy questions, but they don't weigh down the story: the main focus is always Mei Foong's feelings, her family, her marriage, and her growing attraction to another man. The ending, like that of the first book, is bittersweet: bitter because Mei Foong regrets the chances she let slip, and sweet because of the chances she did take. "When the Future Comes Too Soon" is a rich and compelling story, filled with realistic and sympathetic characters, about a complex and multifaceted culture that comes to life on the page.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Although "When the Future Comes Too Soon" is an immediate sequel to "The Woman Who Breathed Two Worlds," it is not a copy of it. Mei Foong has a very different narrative voice than Chye Hoon, and their circumstances are utterly different as well. While Chye Hoon was a rebellious girl who learned to appreciate her native culture, which was rich, unique, and slowly disappearing, and who become a successful entrepreneur and an imposing matriarch following the death of her husband, Mei Foong was a delicately beautiful highborn Chinese maiden who was brought into the family as much as a status symbol as anything else. Chye Hoon's story was one of a woman trying to present the beauties of her culture to others, and was comparatively slow-moving, full of the scents and sights of turn-of-the-century Malaysia, as Chye described her Nyonya cooking and her attempts to peddle kueh cakes. Mei Foong's story is sparer and faster-paced, jumping in immediately into the action of the first Japanese bombardment of the island, and following the family's scramble to find each other, flee to the countryside, return back to the city, and figure out how to live under material privation and Japanese occupation. While both books are at their heart tales of survival, physical and cultural, the survival is of a different nature in each.
Mei Foong's struggles to keep her family alive and together are riveting, as she deals with impoverishment and physical danger while taking care of an unreliable husband, an aging father, and multiple small children. Her struggles to understand her culture and her stance towards it, though, are perhaps more important in a deeper sense. As a Malaysian-born Chinese woman, educated in both Chinese and British culture, she, like her husband, is torn between her heritage and her education. She speaks English and admires many of the advances the British brought Malaysia, including things like modern medicine and the education of women to work outside the home. At the same time, she, like many, is horrified when the British abandon Malaysia and its people at the first sign of Japanese attack. And although the Japanese can be harsh masters, they also work to foster pan-Asian feelings and make a point of putting Asians in positions of authority, something the British would never have even considered. The Malaysian characters finding themselves occupied and subjugated once again, and have to ask themselves: is one master really any better than the other? Do the benefits of British civilization outweigh its racism?
These are heavy questions, but they don't weigh down the story: the main focus is always Mei Foong's feelings, her family, her marriage, and her growing attraction to another man. The ending, like that of the first book, is bittersweet: bitter because Mei Foong regrets the chances she let slip, and sweet because of the chances she did take. "When the Future Comes Too Soon" is a rich and compelling story, filled with realistic and sympathetic characters, about a complex and multifaceted culture that comes to life on the page.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
September 5, 2017
Japanese attack and occupation of Malaya.
On 15 December 1941 Mei Foong’s daughter shouts “Eggs falling on the ground”. Unfortunately, what she is seeing is the first load of bombs that the Japanese dropped not only on Ipoh but all of Malaya. It was the start of their occupation of the country which lasted until they were forced to surrender in 1945.
In these years of occupation, Mei Foong must change from being the meek and obedient wife of Weng Yu to standing up to the challenges that present themselves for her and her children to stay alive.
She is married to Weng Yu, an English educated engineer. They have four children and a fifth child is born during the occupation. Like many other Chinese, they have followed a tradition which sees the eldest returning to his family home with his wife. Weng Yu’s mother is deceased. However, her influence and advice help Mei Foong to make some of the difficult decisions she must take during the war.
Being a wealthy Chinese family, they have many servants, mostly Malays, who live and work for the family. It is with the help of several of the loyal servants that Mei Foong can change the formal garden, filled with roses, into raised beds growing enough vegetables to sustain them while they are under siege.
This story was a complete eye-opener for me. I had obviously heard of Malays, as many moved to South Africa bringing their special herbs and spices and traditional recipes with them but I don’t think I’d ever stopped to wonder where they had originated. Thanks to the author writing it in the style of how this well -educated couple would speak and behave, I was taken on a journey with this Chinese family as they had to try to survive under the command of Japanese.
What shines through the book is the transformation of Mei Foong from this dedicated wife under the control of her unyielding (traditional) husband, who expected her to always be his possession and follow his commands, into a woman who must take drastic measures to ensure that the family have enough food to save them from starvation, especially as inflation has caused the prices of commodities to rise to levels where it was impossible to be able to pay for basic foodstuffs.
Mei Foong’s father lives with them and their relationship is a warm and deeply loving one, based on her father’s acceptance of her intelligence which is a trait that her husband can’t see at all. He never notices how it’s her input that changes the once formal garden into raised beds growing the vegetables that keep them from starvation. His self-centred lack of caring for anyone but himself, pushes her further away into realising that there must be a deeper meaning to marriage and bearing children.
A truly remarkable work of fiction and so worth reading. It’s the kind of book that not only has a brilliant storyline but has left a feeling that my general knowledge has been enriched by a very capable author.
Treebeard
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
On 15 December 1941 Mei Foong’s daughter shouts “Eggs falling on the ground”. Unfortunately, what she is seeing is the first load of bombs that the Japanese dropped not only on Ipoh but all of Malaya. It was the start of their occupation of the country which lasted until they were forced to surrender in 1945.
In these years of occupation, Mei Foong must change from being the meek and obedient wife of Weng Yu to standing up to the challenges that present themselves for her and her children to stay alive.
She is married to Weng Yu, an English educated engineer. They have four children and a fifth child is born during the occupation. Like many other Chinese, they have followed a tradition which sees the eldest returning to his family home with his wife. Weng Yu’s mother is deceased. However, her influence and advice help Mei Foong to make some of the difficult decisions she must take during the war.
Being a wealthy Chinese family, they have many servants, mostly Malays, who live and work for the family. It is with the help of several of the loyal servants that Mei Foong can change the formal garden, filled with roses, into raised beds growing enough vegetables to sustain them while they are under siege.
This story was a complete eye-opener for me. I had obviously heard of Malays, as many moved to South Africa bringing their special herbs and spices and traditional recipes with them but I don’t think I’d ever stopped to wonder where they had originated. Thanks to the author writing it in the style of how this well -educated couple would speak and behave, I was taken on a journey with this Chinese family as they had to try to survive under the command of Japanese.
What shines through the book is the transformation of Mei Foong from this dedicated wife under the control of her unyielding (traditional) husband, who expected her to always be his possession and follow his commands, into a woman who must take drastic measures to ensure that the family have enough food to save them from starvation, especially as inflation has caused the prices of commodities to rise to levels where it was impossible to be able to pay for basic foodstuffs.
Mei Foong’s father lives with them and their relationship is a warm and deeply loving one, based on her father’s acceptance of her intelligence which is a trait that her husband can’t see at all. He never notices how it’s her input that changes the once formal garden into raised beds growing the vegetables that keep them from starvation. His self-centred lack of caring for anyone but himself, pushes her further away into realising that there must be a deeper meaning to marriage and bearing children.
A truly remarkable work of fiction and so worth reading. It’s the kind of book that not only has a brilliant storyline but has left a feeling that my general knowledge has been enriched by a very capable author.
Treebeard
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
August 29, 2017
Novel set in WW2 Ipoh, MALAYA
There is much more written about the effect of WW2 on Europe, the States, and perhaps from an English perspective about the effect on Singapore, so it was very interesting to read a little more about the Japanese invasion of Malaysia through the eyes of Mei Foong, her husband Weng Yu and her family. The Malaysian peninsula endured so much more than being a simple route to Singapore from Japan, which the Japanese, as is well known, navigated on bicycles to get south.
The story starts in 1942, the Japanese Imperial Year of 2602, with the Japanese invasion of Malaya, as it was called then. It is a story of family and fear and how gradually the Malayan culture became subsumed by the Japanese – or as this author calls them, the “Japs” – as they beavered away to impose Japanese culture and mores on an unwilling populace, riding roughshod over the largely acquiescent people. Traitors’ heads were spiked above the market as a warning to others, the local currency had to be traded for Japanese Dollars on a one to one ratio, inflation was rampant, and all the while the people were being edged towards blind obedience to the Japanese Emperor.
Food, locale and culture are all central to the narrative, and observations from the era often feel really pertinent. The family’s lifeline for news – and of the British departure as the Japanese invade – was their Philco wireless set, which they soon had to give up. There is good detail in many aspects. In fact the book is written as one would imagine language to have been spoken at the time, BBC English, formal and slightly clipped, and although this is perhaps era correct, it can leave the prose feeling a little wooden and impersonal. I struggled to hear the individual voice of the author, and phrases such: “She had caught my interaction … and took in my fluster” lent the narrative at times an old-fashioned edge.
Overall a read that will expose the terrible times in Malaya in World War II, a read that is at times as colourful as it is visceral.
There is much more written about the effect of WW2 on Europe, the States, and perhaps from an English perspective about the effect on Singapore, so it was very interesting to read a little more about the Japanese invasion of Malaysia through the eyes of Mei Foong, her husband Weng Yu and her family. The Malaysian peninsula endured so much more than being a simple route to Singapore from Japan, which the Japanese, as is well known, navigated on bicycles to get south.
The story starts in 1942, the Japanese Imperial Year of 2602, with the Japanese invasion of Malaya, as it was called then. It is a story of family and fear and how gradually the Malayan culture became subsumed by the Japanese – or as this author calls them, the “Japs” – as they beavered away to impose Japanese culture and mores on an unwilling populace, riding roughshod over the largely acquiescent people. Traitors’ heads were spiked above the market as a warning to others, the local currency had to be traded for Japanese Dollars on a one to one ratio, inflation was rampant, and all the while the people were being edged towards blind obedience to the Japanese Emperor.
Food, locale and culture are all central to the narrative, and observations from the era often feel really pertinent. The family’s lifeline for news – and of the British departure as the Japanese invade – was their Philco wireless set, which they soon had to give up. There is good detail in many aspects. In fact the book is written as one would imagine language to have been spoken at the time, BBC English, formal and slightly clipped, and although this is perhaps era correct, it can leave the prose feeling a little wooden and impersonal. I struggled to hear the individual voice of the author, and phrases such: “She had caught my interaction … and took in my fluster” lent the narrative at times an old-fashioned edge.
Overall a read that will expose the terrible times in Malaya in World War II, a read that is at times as colourful as it is visceral.
June 24, 2025
Siak concocts a tale of an affluent Chinese-Malaysian lady in tin mining rich Ipoh during the days of Japanese occupation in British Malaya. In doing so she melds the many stories of Japanese treatment of Chinese in Malaya and the sacrifices and everlasting impacts stemming from the changes of power structures and influence even after their departure.
I wanted to enjoy this book more, especially since it covers topic of interest to me, historical fiction and Malaysia but I felt the delivery flat. I couldn’t quite make out the point of Mei Foong’s story, she quietly suffered had no empowerment and fell from grace despite all she did. As though that was life then and she just had to accept it. Not quite a tragedy to a point I have to wonder if she’s a reliable narrator just trying to reframe the past.
I wanted to enjoy this book more, especially since it covers topic of interest to me, historical fiction and Malaysia but I felt the delivery flat. I couldn’t quite make out the point of Mei Foong’s story, she quietly suffered had no empowerment and fell from grace despite all she did. As though that was life then and she just had to accept it. Not quite a tragedy to a point I have to wonder if she’s a reliable narrator just trying to reframe the past.
July 7, 2017
When the Future Comes to Soon is a gripping story that takes place during WWII when the Japanese occupied Malaysia. Although I enjoyed the story very much, I found that it was bogged down by adjectives and adverbs. A writer can get by with saying "narrow eyes" or "pencil lips" once, but when adjectives and adverbs are over used they lose their power. There were a few disconnects in the story, but since this is an advanced reader copy, I imagine they will be streamlined in the final version. Aside from those things, the prose was good and the story kept me interested. I won this book from GoodReads!
July 25, 2019
1.5 stars. Barely enjoyed this novel for it read largely like a history textbook. Also, the character development of protagonist wasn't as convincing as I expected it to be. In fact, the manner the author executed it was rather convenient which made Mei Foong an unrounded character whom I couldn't engage with at all.
July 22, 2017
Incredible story.
April 14, 2018
Fascinating read about how Malaysian life was like during the Japanese occupation from someone living in the thick of it. That in itself is an interesting hook since a poor mother's perspective from this setting is often overlooked in English material for WWII. I appreciated the acknowledgements section for including her source material too. Hopefully, I can find a copy of that too.
For the fictional parts, I enjoyed the memoir-like approach. The writing was wordy yet brief enough to be close to the spoken word, as if this were your own grandmother telling you how her life was like. To me, that helped characterized the mountain of frustrations and paranoia that Mei Foong went through just to protect her five children with some sense of security. Especially when she is traditionally conservative in expressing her opinions. I know many people may be annoyed by her apparent passiveness from a modern cultural perspective, and that's okay if they feel that way. But I thought that Mei Foong was another effective avatar that helped personify the setting, where a single act of "disrespect" was enough to risk everything. This is not a Hollywood wonderland where courage rewards the just; it's skating on an ice-covered lake without knowing if the ice is solid enough to support your weight. And Mei Foong does have her moments of aggressiveness, so she isn't a timid sheep.
While I think When the Future Comes Too Soon is detached enough to serve as a decent stand-alone, I can't compare to how this book is to The Woman Who Breathed Two Worlds. Callbacks to previous characters and the significance of past events flew over my head. So many names, and not all of them are relevant to the events taking place in this story. Mei Foong is sentimental to her mother-in-law, her family, and her friends, but I'm not sure how that helped the flow.
The reason I did not love the story as much as I wanted to was because I wasn't a huge fan of the romance in the story. Rather than highlighting Mei Foong's emotional struggle, I thought the conclusion was too obvious. Like the build up wasn't at all necessary and only included for world-building. I did enjoy it more towards the end of the story, if only because it made the ending filled with bittersweet regret. Part of me wishes that it could have ended differently, but another part of me is fine with it. Those type of endings always intrigue me.
Mei Foong is no Rosie the Riveter or Christine Jorgensen, but her survival story still appealed to me. If you want to try another sort of WWII-themed book in a country that is often not written about in English, give this book a try.
I received the book for free through Goodreads Giveaways.
For the fictional parts, I enjoyed the memoir-like approach. The writing was wordy yet brief enough to be close to the spoken word, as if this were your own grandmother telling you how her life was like. To me, that helped characterized the mountain of frustrations and paranoia that Mei Foong went through just to protect her five children with some sense of security. Especially when she is traditionally conservative in expressing her opinions. I know many people may be annoyed by her apparent passiveness from a modern cultural perspective, and that's okay if they feel that way. But I thought that Mei Foong was another effective avatar that helped personify the setting, where a single act of "disrespect" was enough to risk everything. This is not a Hollywood wonderland where courage rewards the just; it's skating on an ice-covered lake without knowing if the ice is solid enough to support your weight. And Mei Foong does have her moments of aggressiveness, so she isn't a timid sheep.
While I think When the Future Comes Too Soon is detached enough to serve as a decent stand-alone, I can't compare to how this book is to The Woman Who Breathed Two Worlds. Callbacks to previous characters and the significance of past events flew over my head. So many names, and not all of them are relevant to the events taking place in this story. Mei Foong is sentimental to her mother-in-law, her family, and her friends, but I'm not sure how that helped the flow.
The reason I did not love the story as much as I wanted to was because I wasn't a huge fan of the romance in the story. Rather than highlighting Mei Foong's emotional struggle, I thought the conclusion was too obvious. Like the build up wasn't at all necessary and only included for world-building. I did enjoy it more towards the end of the story, if only because it made the ending filled with bittersweet regret. Part of me wishes that it could have ended differently, but another part of me is fine with it. Those type of endings always intrigue me.
Mei Foong is no Rosie the Riveter or Christine Jorgensen, but her survival story still appealed to me. If you want to try another sort of WWII-themed book in a country that is often not written about in English, give this book a try.
I received the book for free through Goodreads Giveaways.
August 19, 2017
I absolutely loved the first book in this series, The Woman Who Breathed Two Worlds. In fact, it was my favourite book of 2016 and I completely fan-girled over it, to an embarrassing degree. So, you can imagine how excited I was for the second book in the series. I had a reminder set for the release date and I stayed up til midnight to get the book as soon as I could from the Kindle store. Trust me - I've not done this since Harry Potter where I waited outside WH Smiths for 2 hours.
Everything I loved about the first book was absent in this one. I am so disappointed and I feel that this book was rushed in comparison to SSCY's debut.
What I liked
I would be lying if I said I hated everything about this book. It does have some good elements, which should be celebrated.
I am not knowledgeable at all about the Japanese treatment of the Chinese and Malay's during WWII, though I knew that the Japanese were quite ruthless towards POWs and so assumed they wouldn't be the best occupiers of Malaysia. SSCY has a fantastic way of weaving history and real life events into her stories, to frame them in some context. I learnt a lot about the treatment of people living in Malaysia at this time and how it impacted their lives for the years they were under Japanese control.
SSCY also focuses on the lives of the ordinary people and does not focus wholly on historical events, so history is brought to life.
What I didn't like
The story was slow and really lacked direction. I know this was meant to be a love story, but it really was not. In fact, the story I actually would want to read about is all contained in the last chapter and was so rushed that it lacked any depth.
The characters were not believable. There was some insta-love which really amounted to nothing. The actions and personality of the main character did not correlate and used language that was not believable.
Everything I loved about the first book was absent in this one. I am so disappointed and I feel that this book was rushed in comparison to SSCY's debut.
What I liked
I would be lying if I said I hated everything about this book. It does have some good elements, which should be celebrated.
I am not knowledgeable at all about the Japanese treatment of the Chinese and Malay's during WWII, though I knew that the Japanese were quite ruthless towards POWs and so assumed they wouldn't be the best occupiers of Malaysia. SSCY has a fantastic way of weaving history and real life events into her stories, to frame them in some context. I learnt a lot about the treatment of people living in Malaysia at this time and how it impacted their lives for the years they were under Japanese control.
SSCY also focuses on the lives of the ordinary people and does not focus wholly on historical events, so history is brought to life.
What I didn't like
The story was slow and really lacked direction. I know this was meant to be a love story, but it really was not. In fact, the story I actually would want to read about is all contained in the last chapter and was so rushed that it lacked any depth.
The characters were not believable. There was some insta-love which really amounted to nothing. The actions and personality of the main character did not correlate and used language that was not believable.
October 9, 2017
I wish I could rate this book four and a half stars... I feel that four stars are too few but yet this part of the saga did not have quite the same impact on me as the first one. I assume the reason is that the first book's heroine Chye Hoon was such a strong unforgettable character while, while Mei Foong isn't quite as compelling. The descriptions of war-time Malaysia were also not as strong and interesting for me as the old pre-war Nyonya culture that was so vividly brought alive in the first book. Nonetheless it still felt like returning to spend some time with old friends and I can't wait for the third and last part to come out!
July 27, 2017
I learned a lot about the occupation of Malaya by the Japanese during WWII, the difficulties for the Malayan people, and especially for women raising families during a time of war and scarcity. The Chinese-Malayan women in the Malayan Series, two novels, show their strength and resilience during times of change and conflict and are well drawn characters in the novels.
My full review: https://bookdilettante.blogspot.com/2...
My full review: https://bookdilettante.blogspot.com/2...
August 3, 2017
I never realised that this was the 2nd book in a series, but it didn't spoil my enjoyment. I enjoyed everything about this book from the plot, the characters and even the book cover. It was certainly a page turner and shall be looking out for the 1st book soon. Highly recommended.
My thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers for my copy.
My thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers for my copy.
August 8, 2017
https://novelsandnonfiction.com/2017/...
What I Liked
A more exciting plot line. Though I really enjoyed the first book in Selina Siak Chin Yoke’s Malaysian series, there was a quietness and intimacy to the plot that made it somewhat less exciting than this second novel. When The Future Comes To Soon starts at the beginning of World War II, when the Japanese invade Malaysia and drive the British out. With a new female protagonist at the center of the plot – Mei Foong, one of Chye Hoon’s daughters in law – we see our characters grapple with much more fundamental changes in their lives than those experienced within the first novel. From bombings, to extreme food shortages, violence perpetrated from the new Japanese conquerors on their Malaysian subjects (especially the ones of Chinese descent), racism and loss of life, this second novel is dramatic right from the beginning. I also felt the author’s writing gained in complexity in this second novel, with more beautiful and evocative descriptions than in the first, and much less repetition.
A female protagonist with more complexity. While Chye Hoon was an indomitable figure with whose will her children constantly clashed, our second heroine Mei Foong has a quieter type of strength. Unlike Chye Hoon, she is not always able to speak up for herself and it was sometimes frustrating to see her put up with terrible treatment from her husband or others in the novel. However, I liked the ways in which Mei Foong is portrayed as more flawed than Chye Hoon. To some degree, Chye Hoon felt more one-dimensional in the way she was characterized by the author as this unremitting juggernaut of a woman, in front of whom all difficulties eventually yielded. Mei Foong may be weaker and less decisive at times, but she somehow feels even more relatable and realistic. It was also interesting to me that the author decided to pick a character that was not technically a Nyonya for her second protagonist, which allows the narrative to depart a bit from a discussion of Nyonya traditions that was already covered in the first novel.
The surprising ending. Towards the end of the book I thought it was going to close with a relatively expected ending. I believed I was one chapter away from finishing, when in reality there was an additional chapter left. Thinking that a significant story line in the novel would be left unresolved in favor of a simpler conclusion, I was ready to be somewhat disappointed. Instead, the final chapter turns everything on its head, almost in the vein of the plot twists in thrillers I’ve read recently (okay, maybe a little less so). Without plot spoilers, Mei Foong ends up in a completely different situation than you might have thought. I particularly liked that the author jumped to present time in an Epilogue to the novel, showing Mei Foong as a grandmother coping with the dramatic changes she experienced in her life at the end of the novel. We see her reflect on what she would have done differently and on her regrets – if any – and think about her various children and their destinies. It made me wonder whether there would be a third book in the series. Apparently, the author is working on another novel, but I’m not sure if it’s connected to this saga or on an entirely new story line. Either way, I’ll be reading it!
What I Didn’t Like
Slightly caricatured villain. The central villain in this novel is Mei Foong’s husband and the eldest son of Chye Hoon – Weng Yu. By the end of the novel, he has grown to the status of a super villain, and unfortunately his character comes off as having very little nuance to it. Whether he is indulging in his addiction for gambling, selfishly showing very little interest in his wife or children, reminiscing about his prior love interests or being extremely cowardly (and this is mentioned many times), there is basically nothing redeeming to his character. I think eventually Weng Yu becomes a foil for all the struggles that Mei Foong is up against. He loses his humanity as an actual character and turns into a shell of a person who always responds in predictable (and negative) ways to the events of the novel. I wouldn’t say this doesn’t work, but I think more moments in which Weng Yu’s nuances of morality emerge would have made the relationship between the two central characters more complex and interesting for the reader.
Final Verdict
The second novel in this saga is beautifully written and jam-packed with action and history, as Mei Foong and her family struggle to survive against the backdrop of World War II and Japanese invasion of Malaysia.
What I Liked
A more exciting plot line. Though I really enjoyed the first book in Selina Siak Chin Yoke’s Malaysian series, there was a quietness and intimacy to the plot that made it somewhat less exciting than this second novel. When The Future Comes To Soon starts at the beginning of World War II, when the Japanese invade Malaysia and drive the British out. With a new female protagonist at the center of the plot – Mei Foong, one of Chye Hoon’s daughters in law – we see our characters grapple with much more fundamental changes in their lives than those experienced within the first novel. From bombings, to extreme food shortages, violence perpetrated from the new Japanese conquerors on their Malaysian subjects (especially the ones of Chinese descent), racism and loss of life, this second novel is dramatic right from the beginning. I also felt the author’s writing gained in complexity in this second novel, with more beautiful and evocative descriptions than in the first, and much less repetition.
A female protagonist with more complexity. While Chye Hoon was an indomitable figure with whose will her children constantly clashed, our second heroine Mei Foong has a quieter type of strength. Unlike Chye Hoon, she is not always able to speak up for herself and it was sometimes frustrating to see her put up with terrible treatment from her husband or others in the novel. However, I liked the ways in which Mei Foong is portrayed as more flawed than Chye Hoon. To some degree, Chye Hoon felt more one-dimensional in the way she was characterized by the author as this unremitting juggernaut of a woman, in front of whom all difficulties eventually yielded. Mei Foong may be weaker and less decisive at times, but she somehow feels even more relatable and realistic. It was also interesting to me that the author decided to pick a character that was not technically a Nyonya for her second protagonist, which allows the narrative to depart a bit from a discussion of Nyonya traditions that was already covered in the first novel.
The surprising ending. Towards the end of the book I thought it was going to close with a relatively expected ending. I believed I was one chapter away from finishing, when in reality there was an additional chapter left. Thinking that a significant story line in the novel would be left unresolved in favor of a simpler conclusion, I was ready to be somewhat disappointed. Instead, the final chapter turns everything on its head, almost in the vein of the plot twists in thrillers I’ve read recently (okay, maybe a little less so). Without plot spoilers, Mei Foong ends up in a completely different situation than you might have thought. I particularly liked that the author jumped to present time in an Epilogue to the novel, showing Mei Foong as a grandmother coping with the dramatic changes she experienced in her life at the end of the novel. We see her reflect on what she would have done differently and on her regrets – if any – and think about her various children and their destinies. It made me wonder whether there would be a third book in the series. Apparently, the author is working on another novel, but I’m not sure if it’s connected to this saga or on an entirely new story line. Either way, I’ll be reading it!
What I Didn’t Like
Slightly caricatured villain. The central villain in this novel is Mei Foong’s husband and the eldest son of Chye Hoon – Weng Yu. By the end of the novel, he has grown to the status of a super villain, and unfortunately his character comes off as having very little nuance to it. Whether he is indulging in his addiction for gambling, selfishly showing very little interest in his wife or children, reminiscing about his prior love interests or being extremely cowardly (and this is mentioned many times), there is basically nothing redeeming to his character. I think eventually Weng Yu becomes a foil for all the struggles that Mei Foong is up against. He loses his humanity as an actual character and turns into a shell of a person who always responds in predictable (and negative) ways to the events of the novel. I wouldn’t say this doesn’t work, but I think more moments in which Weng Yu’s nuances of morality emerge would have made the relationship between the two central characters more complex and interesting for the reader.
Final Verdict
The second novel in this saga is beautifully written and jam-packed with action and history, as Mei Foong and her family struggle to survive against the backdrop of World War II and Japanese invasion of Malaysia.
July 21, 2017
*Full review also on my site, www.judgingbooksbycovers.com*
I was first made aware of Selina Siak Chin Yoke’s novel, When the Future Comes Too Soon by JKS Communications, who were kind enough to send me a copy of the novel before its release on July 11th. As soon as I opened the novel to the dedication page, I knew I would be in for more than just a novel – I would be getting an important history lesson as well.
So on that note, buckle-up boys and girls – we’re about to do some learning. This novel takes place in Malaya and follows the end of the British occupation into the Japanese occupation of the small country. So, my first thought was, “where in the world in Malaya?” I was hesitant to assume it was Malaysia (that seemed almost too easy). But, after a quick Google search, I learned that Malaya was the Malayan Union, which existed under British control. Later, in 1963, Malaya united with North Borneo, Sarawak, and Singapore to become Malaysia. This was when it first hit me just how undereducated I was about this region of the world. I actually had to Google a country, because I had no idea it had existed under that name.
Before even starting the novel, there are two pages of Author’s Notes that are well worth the read. After running through them, a ridiculous amount of stuff I had read or heard in the past suddenly made sense. You see, growing up I had a friend whose family came over from China. She was forever calling random women Aunty and her mother would often add a loud ‘-lah’! after exasperated sentences. I always just rolled with the punches and never really thought much about it – but after reading Yoke’s Author’s Note, things started to click.
Yoke shares with the reader that Malayans use traditional forms of addressing people meaning that my Dad’s youngest sister would be my Smallest Paternal Aunt. Also, Aunty and Uncle are polite terms to use with people not related to you (aha!). Native Malayans also use patronymic names (which I was familiar with from living in Russia) and due to the Chinese heritage prevalent there, ‘-lah’ is often used as a suffix with exclamations.
Okay, so now to the novel itself. If I’m being honest, the writing put me off at a few points, but the story always kept me going. The author lives in London, and I noticed some British spellings that really threw me off of my game and drove me to Google thinking, ‘is that really how you spell that?’ (foetus, diarrhoea). That is something you never want in a novel – it is so disrupting to have to pull yourself out of the story for any reason. Also, some of the descriptions at the beginning of the novel were confusing – her description of bombs had me reading it over twice, but overall these are small criticisms.
Yoke’s novel does a beautiful job of taking her grandmother’s story and turning it into a novel you want to stay up late devouring. I found myself getting a lesson in culture and history as well as reading about a strong woman with real flaws. The protagonist of the story is beautifully balanced – you want to scream at her to change her ways, all while respecting how strong she is in the face of a war and a truly terrible husband. Her poise and resiliency saves her family when her husband can do nothing more than pout about their situation.
Without spoiling the ending, I will just say I loved how things turned out. It is real – not some fairytale ending where everything works out and the princess meets her prince and all is well. It is gritty and shows that happiness isn’t always clean-cut, but that peace doesn’t necessarily require overwhelming happiness. I read the ending and knew instantly that I wanted another novel.
Overall, I would give this novel a 4/5. I rarely give a book a 5/5, but this one would have been close if the language would have been cleaned up a bit. All I know is that I will be following Selina Siak Chin Yoke closely to see what she comes up with next. It is not very often that a strong Asian, female, LGBTQ voice (what a combo, right?) breaks through the noise – but I’m glad it did, and that I got to hear it.
I was first made aware of Selina Siak Chin Yoke’s novel, When the Future Comes Too Soon by JKS Communications, who were kind enough to send me a copy of the novel before its release on July 11th. As soon as I opened the novel to the dedication page, I knew I would be in for more than just a novel – I would be getting an important history lesson as well.
So on that note, buckle-up boys and girls – we’re about to do some learning. This novel takes place in Malaya and follows the end of the British occupation into the Japanese occupation of the small country. So, my first thought was, “where in the world in Malaya?” I was hesitant to assume it was Malaysia (that seemed almost too easy). But, after a quick Google search, I learned that Malaya was the Malayan Union, which existed under British control. Later, in 1963, Malaya united with North Borneo, Sarawak, and Singapore to become Malaysia. This was when it first hit me just how undereducated I was about this region of the world. I actually had to Google a country, because I had no idea it had existed under that name.
Before even starting the novel, there are two pages of Author’s Notes that are well worth the read. After running through them, a ridiculous amount of stuff I had read or heard in the past suddenly made sense. You see, growing up I had a friend whose family came over from China. She was forever calling random women Aunty and her mother would often add a loud ‘-lah’! after exasperated sentences. I always just rolled with the punches and never really thought much about it – but after reading Yoke’s Author’s Note, things started to click.
Yoke shares with the reader that Malayans use traditional forms of addressing people meaning that my Dad’s youngest sister would be my Smallest Paternal Aunt. Also, Aunty and Uncle are polite terms to use with people not related to you (aha!). Native Malayans also use patronymic names (which I was familiar with from living in Russia) and due to the Chinese heritage prevalent there, ‘-lah’ is often used as a suffix with exclamations.
Okay, so now to the novel itself. If I’m being honest, the writing put me off at a few points, but the story always kept me going. The author lives in London, and I noticed some British spellings that really threw me off of my game and drove me to Google thinking, ‘is that really how you spell that?’ (foetus, diarrhoea). That is something you never want in a novel – it is so disrupting to have to pull yourself out of the story for any reason. Also, some of the descriptions at the beginning of the novel were confusing – her description of bombs had me reading it over twice, but overall these are small criticisms.
Yoke’s novel does a beautiful job of taking her grandmother’s story and turning it into a novel you want to stay up late devouring. I found myself getting a lesson in culture and history as well as reading about a strong woman with real flaws. The protagonist of the story is beautifully balanced – you want to scream at her to change her ways, all while respecting how strong she is in the face of a war and a truly terrible husband. Her poise and resiliency saves her family when her husband can do nothing more than pout about their situation.
Without spoiling the ending, I will just say I loved how things turned out. It is real – not some fairytale ending where everything works out and the princess meets her prince and all is well. It is gritty and shows that happiness isn’t always clean-cut, but that peace doesn’t necessarily require overwhelming happiness. I read the ending and knew instantly that I wanted another novel.
Overall, I would give this novel a 4/5. I rarely give a book a 5/5, but this one would have been close if the language would have been cleaned up a bit. All I know is that I will be following Selina Siak Chin Yoke closely to see what she comes up with next. It is not very often that a strong Asian, female, LGBTQ voice (what a combo, right?) breaks through the noise – but I’m glad it did, and that I got to hear it.
June 13, 2017
This is the sequel to The Woman Who Breathed Two Worlds and I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I really loved The Woman Who Breathed Two Worlds and I was a bit wary about the sequel because I felt like I would always be comparing the two and it wouldn't be me judging the book on its own merits, rather in comparison to the first book in the series.
This book was very different to the first book in some ways and similar as well. Mei Foong was a completely different person to Chye Hoon and her voice and her decisions made sense for her characters, as aggravating as they could be for me as a reader. One thing I really loved about this book, which was the same as the first book, was how real it felt. Mei Foong didn't make the sensible decision or the decision you wished she would make and the ending definitely wasn't a 'happily ever after' for her but that made it even more realistic for me. Considering this book was written as Mei Foong looking back on her life, there were several events where she said she outright regretted how she acted and I loved that. It didn't fit in the usual narrative and it's one of the charms of this series. The characters all felt really realistic and you could understand their motivations even though you didn't agree with them.
This book was set firmly in the real world, from the talk about real life passing to the historical research, right down to how the Japanese would look on their defeats in the war and the rate of inflation. I love the author's writing style, I feel like it really suits the story she tells. I really liked reading about the time period this was set in, how Mei Foong's feelings towards the British and the Japanese were complicated and how she was trying to keep her family together, at the same time as wanting the Japanese out of her home.
That being said, compared to the first book in the series, I didn't like this one as much. It didn't go as quickly for me. I think this opinion is personal to me but I preferred the character of Chye Hoon to Mei Foong and I preferred the narrative style of birth to death which was the style in the first book, as well as the slow-moving nature of the first book. On the other hand, I really liked how this sequel showed us another side of Chye Hoon and her various friends and relatives. I am so glad that this sequel followed Chye Hoon's daughter-in-law, rather than any of her biological children, as well as following another woman, rather than a male character. Women were very limited in their choices and Mei Foong was different to Chye Hoon, as well as being married to someone a lot different to her father-in-law. It was an interesting flip to see how Mei Foong did her best for her and her family to survive in a world where her opinion was not respected as much as her husband's, because it was so different to what Chye Hoon would have done and they had very different situations.
As a standalone book, I would probably give this four and a half stars and I would definitely recommend it. Since I can't give it four and a half stars, I would round it up to five stars because I would still buy a hard copy of this book if I get the chance and if another story is posted in this series, I would jump on it without a second thought.
This book was very different to the first book in some ways and similar as well. Mei Foong was a completely different person to Chye Hoon and her voice and her decisions made sense for her characters, as aggravating as they could be for me as a reader. One thing I really loved about this book, which was the same as the first book, was how real it felt. Mei Foong didn't make the sensible decision or the decision you wished she would make and the ending definitely wasn't a 'happily ever after' for her but that made it even more realistic for me. Considering this book was written as Mei Foong looking back on her life, there were several events where she said she outright regretted how she acted and I loved that. It didn't fit in the usual narrative and it's one of the charms of this series. The characters all felt really realistic and you could understand their motivations even though you didn't agree with them.
This book was set firmly in the real world, from the talk about real life passing to the historical research, right down to how the Japanese would look on their defeats in the war and the rate of inflation. I love the author's writing style, I feel like it really suits the story she tells. I really liked reading about the time period this was set in, how Mei Foong's feelings towards the British and the Japanese were complicated and how she was trying to keep her family together, at the same time as wanting the Japanese out of her home.
That being said, compared to the first book in the series, I didn't like this one as much. It didn't go as quickly for me. I think this opinion is personal to me but I preferred the character of Chye Hoon to Mei Foong and I preferred the narrative style of birth to death which was the style in the first book, as well as the slow-moving nature of the first book. On the other hand, I really liked how this sequel showed us another side of Chye Hoon and her various friends and relatives. I am so glad that this sequel followed Chye Hoon's daughter-in-law, rather than any of her biological children, as well as following another woman, rather than a male character. Women were very limited in their choices and Mei Foong was different to Chye Hoon, as well as being married to someone a lot different to her father-in-law. It was an interesting flip to see how Mei Foong did her best for her and her family to survive in a world where her opinion was not respected as much as her husband's, because it was so different to what Chye Hoon would have done and they had very different situations.
As a standalone book, I would probably give this four and a half stars and I would definitely recommend it. Since I can't give it four and a half stars, I would round it up to five stars because I would still buy a hard copy of this book if I get the chance and if another story is posted in this series, I would jump on it without a second thought.
July 27, 2017
I loved the first book in this series - The Woman Who Breathed Two Worlds. That was the story of a woman in Malaya who witnesses the change of her area when the British colonize. Her oldest son is educated in England and she has huge hopes for him that he fails to live up to. He marries a Chinese girl to please his mother. This book picks up immediately after the death of the protagonist of the first book. Her Chinese daughter-in-law tells the story of how they survived the Japanese occupation of World War II.
I was a bit reluctant to pick this book up because of the time period. I know that Japanese occupations in Asia were brutal. This book does talk about one massacre but overall it keeps a much narrower focus. It looks at how this one family survived the war. They know people in the resistance but that isn't talked about much.
One of the conflicts was knowing how to react to the Japanese. They were invaders and they could be cruel but they also allowed Asian people into high ranking jobs that the British establishment would have never allowed. Our narrator Mei Foong's husband, Weng Yu is given a job that he has always wanted by the Japanese. She has learned that her husband is a coward. He would head to bomb shelters first before helping her or their children. She has lost a lot of respect for him. He is in turns indifferent and cruel to her. Mei Foong learns to grow her own food and sells her mother's jewelry in order for her family to be able to eat. The family basically keeps their heads down and does what they have to do to survive unnoticed.
"If anyone had called me a collaborator to my face, I would have recoiled. As far as I was concerned, we were only giving the Japs our unwilling cooperation."
This is a shorter book than the first one. It only covers the years of the war. It mostly the story of the disintegration of a marriage and a woman's finding strength in herself that she didn't know she had set against a backdrop of war instead of a novel about the war. It isn't necessary to read the first book before picking this one up but it adds to your background knowledge of the area and the characters.
I would recommend this to anyone who likes historical fiction. Mei Foong is a great character. She grows from a shy, pampered, upper class bride into a woman who knows her worth and is able to take care of herself.This review was originally posted on Based On A True Story
September 26, 2017
When the Future Comes Too Soon picks up where The Woman Who Breathed Two Worlds left off. Shortly after Chye Hoon’s death, the Japanese bombed Malaya. Mei Foong, Chye Hoon’s daughter-in-law, must make the decision to flee the city of Ipoh and escape into the countryside. In the meantime, her husband, Weng Yu, is facing depression and becomes weak. Mei Foong must fight to keep her family safe and alive. They flee the city, but they find that they are in equal danger. Can Mei Foong be strong enough to save her marriage and her family?
I liked Mei Foong, but not as much as Chye Hoon. Mei Foong is different from her mother-in-law, who is feisty and strong-willed. Mei Foong is quieter, weaker, and more indecisive. I really did not like that she let many men walk over her.` I also didn’t like how her husband treated her. He mostly ignored her and was rude to her. Instead of expressing her emotions, Mei Foong just accepts it meekly. This is pretty much the problem I had with her. Unlike Chye Hoon, Mei Foong never shows her emotions unless we get inside her head. Therefore, it was harder to like and relate to Mei Foong as a character.
Overall, this book is about survival, family, and identity. I found most of the characters to be frustrating. Mei Foong’s husband is portrayed as a weak coward. I did like what the supporting characters thought about Mei’s mother-in-law. When the Future Comes Too Soon is a much shorter and faster pace novel than The Woman Who Breathed Two Worlds. Still, I found this sequel not as good as the first. I also thought the ending was a bit of a letdown. The book is very well-written, and I liked the historical setting of Japanese occupied Malaya. Despite these negative aspects, When the Future Comes Too Soon was mostly an enjoyable novel. I recommend this novel for fans of The Diplomat’s Daughter, The Moonlight Palace, and The White Pearl.
(Note: I read an ARC copy of this book in courtesy of Netgalley.)
I liked Mei Foong, but not as much as Chye Hoon. Mei Foong is different from her mother-in-law, who is feisty and strong-willed. Mei Foong is quieter, weaker, and more indecisive. I really did not like that she let many men walk over her.` I also didn’t like how her husband treated her. He mostly ignored her and was rude to her. Instead of expressing her emotions, Mei Foong just accepts it meekly. This is pretty much the problem I had with her. Unlike Chye Hoon, Mei Foong never shows her emotions unless we get inside her head. Therefore, it was harder to like and relate to Mei Foong as a character.
Overall, this book is about survival, family, and identity. I found most of the characters to be frustrating. Mei Foong’s husband is portrayed as a weak coward. I did like what the supporting characters thought about Mei’s mother-in-law. When the Future Comes Too Soon is a much shorter and faster pace novel than The Woman Who Breathed Two Worlds. Still, I found this sequel not as good as the first. I also thought the ending was a bit of a letdown. The book is very well-written, and I liked the historical setting of Japanese occupied Malaya. Despite these negative aspects, When the Future Comes Too Soon was mostly an enjoyable novel. I recommend this novel for fans of The Diplomat’s Daughter, The Moonlight Palace, and The White Pearl.
(Note: I read an ARC copy of this book in courtesy of Netgalley.)
January 13, 2021
After the first book, I just had to find out what happens to the Wong clan or I wouldn't be able to sleep without it being in my dreams. Also, I had to find out more about Weng Yu because he is just a disaster waiting to happen. A part of me wanted to finally know whether he can ultimately have redemption or not. His character is such an accurate portrayal of a typical Chinese old-fashioned male who developed sourly - this should serve as a warning tale for us all.
As for the book, the narrator now shifts to Mei Foong, the daughter-in-law of the previous book's narrator. The era also shifts to a Japan-occupied, war-ridden Malaya. As so, this time period was not as colorful and vivid as the previous book. Further, due to Mei Foong's subdued, demure personality, the story has a submissive undertone. This all made sense given her privileged upbringing of "class" that is not really suited for enduring war, harsher times. Even when she fought and struggled, she had stunted adaptability and had lack of resilience to the life she was handed. She endured her husband's irate and volatility, the war's toll on the household, and even a miscarriage.
Still, the writing is as skillful as before. I was constantly rooting for Mei Foong, frustrated when she wouldn't fight back, even sympathising the complex attraction for an affair. As a woman, I also fear for her when she had to continually placate her husband's rage as I've seen many women doing to their entitled, ungrateful, crabby husbands. I wanted to lecture and whack her despicable husband for her too.
I am guessing book #3 will shift the narrator to her daughter, Lai Hin who will carry us into the modern, present age? Can't wait.
As for the book, the narrator now shifts to Mei Foong, the daughter-in-law of the previous book's narrator. The era also shifts to a Japan-occupied, war-ridden Malaya. As so, this time period was not as colorful and vivid as the previous book. Further, due to Mei Foong's subdued, demure personality, the story has a submissive undertone. This all made sense given her privileged upbringing of "class" that is not really suited for enduring war, harsher times. Even when she fought and struggled, she had stunted adaptability and had lack of resilience to the life she was handed. She endured her husband's irate and volatility, the war's toll on the household, and even a miscarriage.
Still, the writing is as skillful as before. I was constantly rooting for Mei Foong, frustrated when she wouldn't fight back, even sympathising the complex attraction for an affair. As a woman, I also fear for her when she had to continually placate her husband's rage as I've seen many women doing to their entitled, ungrateful, crabby husbands. I wanted to lecture and whack her despicable husband for her too.
I am guessing book #3 will shift the narrator to her daughter, Lai Hin who will carry us into the modern, present age? Can't wait.
September 3, 2017
I was profoundly moved emotionally by this novel which gives a real insight into the effects of the war in Asia, a subject about which I am woefully lacking and even though I frequently read novels set during WW2, this most vital chunk of war time history seems to have passed me by.
The story is complex and as such needs careful reading so as not to miss any of the finer points which are narrated by Mei Foong, a young woman who goes to desperate lengths to ensure her family's survival, when everything around her has changed beyond recognition.
The author writes with an authoritative voice and whilst she allows the cultures and the clashes of the time to speak most eloquently, she never loses sight of the important issues, or of the effect on people as they try to go about their daily lives. The connection to the place and its people is written with remarkable insight and I felt immediately drawn to the characters and to their situations.
Whilst When The future Comes Too Soon follows The Woman Who Breathed Two Worlds in the Malayan series, it can comfortably be read as a stand alone story and is no less powerful.
The story is complex and as such needs careful reading so as not to miss any of the finer points which are narrated by Mei Foong, a young woman who goes to desperate lengths to ensure her family's survival, when everything around her has changed beyond recognition.
The author writes with an authoritative voice and whilst she allows the cultures and the clashes of the time to speak most eloquently, she never loses sight of the important issues, or of the effect on people as they try to go about their daily lives. The connection to the place and its people is written with remarkable insight and I felt immediately drawn to the characters and to their situations.
Whilst When The future Comes Too Soon follows The Woman Who Breathed Two Worlds in the Malayan series, it can comfortably be read as a stand alone story and is no less powerful.
June 23, 2017
After reading The Woman Who Breathed Two Worlds the first book in the series, I jumped at the opportunity to read this second book. It continues the history of Malaya from the next generation dealing with WWII. It gave me a perspective I hadn't had before of what happened to that part of the world. My education seems rather USA restrictive. It seems if you are teaching history that it should be more global. They are called World Wars.
Though I miss the main character of the first book, we are introduced to a new generation dealing with new governments and loyalties. I found the new main character equally engaging.
The author uses some words or phrases to help the reader feel the ambiance of the time and place without it causing a distraction. And to get to hear about the female point of view on both of these books is so rewarding. I love Herstory! There is not enough of it out there!
Though I miss the main character of the first book, we are introduced to a new generation dealing with new governments and loyalties. I found the new main character equally engaging.
The author uses some words or phrases to help the reader feel the ambiance of the time and place without it causing a distraction. And to get to hear about the female point of view on both of these books is so rewarding. I love Herstory! There is not enough of it out there!
December 5, 2017
I haven't read the previous book in the series but it didn't seem to matter as the story stands alone. I found it interesting to read the story of Malaya in WWII as I have read a few books written from the European viewpoint.
I found it hard work remembering the Chinese names and won't remember the for long as they mean little to me but I coped in the book giving a face to each name.
The book is set in Ipoh which I know well so I also enjoyed reading about rod names and places I knew and found it hard to read about how they had suffered in the war with the Japanese in charge there.
I found the characters believable and the descriptions of the landscape etc to be true to life.
I felt so sorry for the led character who was a strong and capable woman treated in a very traditional Chinese way by a rater pathetic and weak man. I wanted to slap him and tell him to appreciate his lovely wife. The way he treated her in the end was unforgivable.
I found it hard work remembering the Chinese names and won't remember the for long as they mean little to me but I coped in the book giving a face to each name.
The book is set in Ipoh which I know well so I also enjoyed reading about rod names and places I knew and found it hard to read about how they had suffered in the war with the Japanese in charge there.
I found the characters believable and the descriptions of the landscape etc to be true to life.
I felt so sorry for the led character who was a strong and capable woman treated in a very traditional Chinese way by a rater pathetic and weak man. I wanted to slap him and tell him to appreciate his lovely wife. The way he treated her in the end was unforgivable.
August 3, 2020
Wonderful Continuation of a Southeast Asian Family Saga
When was the last time you read about the Nyonga culture? Have you ever read about the Nyonga culture? Do you know what the Nyonga culture is? Without doing a doctoral dissertation that would do justice to the Nyonga, I will describe in a nutshell that they are the descendants of Chinese traders who settled in Malaysia. Their cuisine and style of dress is a fusion of the surrounding cultures.
Keeping that in mind, the second book of this series focuses on Wong Mei Foong, the daughter-in-law of the protagonist of "The Woman Who Breathed Two Worlds." As a traditional wife, Mei Foong feels at first, especially with the onset of the World War 2 and the ensuing Japanese occupation of her country, that she has few, if any, choices in her life. However, despite personal tragedy, she finds inner resources of strength she never knew she had!
When was the last time you read about the Nyonga culture? Have you ever read about the Nyonga culture? Do you know what the Nyonga culture is? Without doing a doctoral dissertation that would do justice to the Nyonga, I will describe in a nutshell that they are the descendants of Chinese traders who settled in Malaysia. Their cuisine and style of dress is a fusion of the surrounding cultures.
Keeping that in mind, the second book of this series focuses on Wong Mei Foong, the daughter-in-law of the protagonist of "The Woman Who Breathed Two Worlds." As a traditional wife, Mei Foong feels at first, especially with the onset of the World War 2 and the ensuing Japanese occupation of her country, that she has few, if any, choices in her life. However, despite personal tragedy, she finds inner resources of strength she never knew she had!
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