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Parvathi leaves her native Ceylon for Malaya and an arranged marriage to a wealthy businessman. But her father has cheated, supplying a different girl’s photograph, and Kasu Marimuthu, furious, threatens to send her home in disgrace. Gradually husband and wife reach an agreement, and the naïve young girl learns to assume the air of sophisticated mistress of a luxurious estate. She even adopts his love child and treats Rubini as her own daughter – a generous act which is rewarded by a long-wished-for son.
But it is a life without passion, and Parvathi dreams of loving – and being loved – with complete abandon.
When the Japanese invade Malaya, in WW2, they requisition the estate. Marimuthu dies and Parvathi is forced to accept the protection of the Japanese general who has robbed her of her home. For the first time, she experiences sexual passion. And gradually, her sworn enemy becomes the lover she has always yearned for . . .
But it is a life without passion, and Parvathi dreams of loving – and being loved – with complete abandon.
When the Japanese invade Malaya, in WW2, they requisition the estate. Marimuthu dies and Parvathi is forced to accept the protection of the Japanese general who has robbed her of her home. For the first time, she experiences sexual passion. And gradually, her sworn enemy becomes the lover she has always yearned for . . .
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Reviews
Vivid, complex and full of colour, it's a fabulous read.
This unconventional love story is told with great imagination and will transport you to an exotic past bursting with fascinating characters.
A seductive tale of forbidden love
Underlying this Malayan family saga is Rani Manicka's rich prose that brings to life a beautiful house by the sea and the mysterious jungle surrounding it . . . The Rice Mother earned critical respect as should The Japanese Lover.
There is much to enjoy in this book with its exotic setting and its absorbing story . . . the area in which this book shines is its wisdom about the nature of love and transformation . . . rich and satisfying.
Best for hopeless romantics . . . the lush storytelling means you can feel Ceylon dirt under your bare feet. Draws you in and breathes you out.
Rich in vivid tropical settings.