The Piano Teacher

What I liked most about this book was how it covered the topic of WWII from the fringes. The story takes place in Hong Kong and as Lee alternates between two time frames leading up to and including WWII and then about 10 years later, the two main characters lives are brought together and bound by pre-war events. It is a fascinating look at the role the Japanese played in WWII and how the ex-pats (particularly the British) were treated. Beyond all this is a strange love affair that I had a hard time buying into but was paramount in tying the two plot lines together. Overall, a very interesting read both for historical fiction and for the supporting characters’ roles as well as a look at the human condition and morality during times of duress and power.