A 3.5 for me, but rounding down for a missed opportunity. There is much to like here – very atmospheric with some memorable characters and moments, but a less than cohesive whole. THE NIGHT TIGER is an interesting book, and I like the author's style of writing. I bought her other book, THE GHOST BRIDE, relatively recently and I'm hoping it'll be better than this one. I didn't hate THE NIGHT TIGER, but it has all the good ideas/less than optimal execution dichotomies and pacing issues of a debut novel, and since this isn't a debut novel, that isn't good. Still, it's great to see #OwnVoices historical fiction that explores time periods and situations that aren't getting as much representation as, say, Tudor England or British/American-fought WWII, so kudos for that. Much of the book centers around superstitions: mythical creatures, conversations with the dead and the Five Virtues of Confucius. Let’s discuss each of these areas:

Crisscrossing Ren’s tale are those of William Acton, a philandering surgeon who becomes Ren’s new employer, and Ji Lin, a young woman chafing under her limited horizons as a dressmaker’s apprentice. Time and again, the missing finger passes among them: surfacing, then becoming lost again, then found, then stolen, then buried, and finally reburied. A tale of love, loyalty, food and perhaps even weretigers gives insight into Malay/Chinese traditions and folk legends (Gail B). I love a novel that pulls me into an unfamiliar time period, geographical area and/or culture. This one did all of that! (Kathryn F). The writing is beautiful, the story line multi-layered, and the main characters are richly developed (Carole P)... continued Ren, a young houseboy, is an orphan and has also suffered the loss of his twin. Alone and with complete loyalty to his dying master, Ren has accepted his final task to find his master's missing amputated finger and bury it with him in his grave before the 49 days of his soul are over. The soul cannot rest in peace if the body is not made whole again at death, and 49 days is a long time to wander the earth. Ren is a 13 year old, he is an orphan and has suffered with the loss of his twin, also he worked for an English physician! I loved the atmBut it is Ji Lin, along with Ren, who will carry this storyline. Both characters have been short-changed by life suppressed by colonial times. The two possess analytical skills and intelligence beyond their stations. Yangsze Choo will position these characters to cross paths again and again. She imparts prolific dreams that will visit them in the night with profound meaning. Yet neither will feel the slamming impact until the very end. The stripes on its brilliant coat ripple; the yellow eyes glare like lanterns. Ren can only drop his gaze. The tiger makes a deep hrff sound. Then it turns and walks away, with deliberate tread that's heavy and delicate at the same time. Where is it going?" In this riveting and immersive novel, bestselling author Thrity Umrigar tells the story of two couples and the sometimes dangerous and heartbreaking challenges of love across a cultural divide.

It’s just a normal morning when Anna's husband announces that he's leaving her for her best friend and taking their two daughters with him. In 2022, The Night Tiger was included on the Big Jubilee Read, a list of 70 books by Commonwealth authors produced to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee. I tried to visit as many as I could. When you're inside an old house, you realize its character. You think: How many people came down these stairs? Why is the third stair worn away? Did people stop here to listen? Many of the buildings have now fallen into disrepair, and there's something very melancholy about these old houses that are just falling to pieces. Sometimes you can see them by the side of the road, and other times you can ask people permission to visit the house. Oftentimes the book mentions that Ren feels a “tingle, like the twitch of cat whiskers, as though Yi is still with him.” What did you think about this? Do you believe he could feel Yi and a sense of danger that was to come?Kamal, Intan Maizura Ahmad (7 November 2021). "History and hantu are the ingredients behind Malaysian master storyteller, Yangsze Choo's recipe for literary success!". New Straits Times . Retrieved 5 May 2022.

The dreaming aspect was fascinating as I've always been interested in the meaning of certain dreams and if they are some kind of message. The book follows two main characters: Ji Lin, a dressmaker by day and dancehall girl by night who dreams of becoming a doctor (if only her stepfather would let her); and Ren, a kindhearted houseboy so loyal to his late master that he’ll stop at nothing to reunite the man’s missing finger with his body. They also happen to be complete strangers who are somehow linked by a mysterious force—one that connects them with others (both dead and alive) who might just cause them harm. Throughout everything, there’s a murder mystery. Were you surprised that there were two killers: Koh Beng and Lydia? Sherwood, Harriet (18 April 2022). "The God of Small Things to Shuggie Bain: the Queen's jubilee book list". The Guardian . Retrieved 30 April 2022.The story was about a severed finger that needed to make its way to the right place and five individuals tied together to the mystery of this severed finger and the death trails it creates. An utterly transporting novel set in 1930s colonial Malaysia, perfect for fans of Isabel Allende and Min Jin Lee