After Reading: MAN TIGER by Eka Kurniawan

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

A slim, wry story set in an unnamed town near the Indian Ocean, Man Tiger tells the story of two interlinked and tormented families, and of Margio, an ordinary half-city, half-rural youngster who also happens to be half-man, half-supernatural female white tiger (in many parts of Indonesia, magical tigers protect good villages and families). (Goodreads)

The synopsis above does little to explain the depth and power of this novel. Slim though it may be, it's story is captivating and winds through the lives of interrelated members of a family and their struggles. It's a glimpse into their world, how they came to be the way they are, and how their relationships have influenced them. It starts with a murder, and one that is described in quite graphic detail later on, but as the story unfolds it slowly starts to make sense in the larger picture. And it's on the very last line that it all clicks together, in total perfection. I loved reading this book, and witnessing what life was like for the characters. It drew me in and still lingers in my mind, days after having finished. I definitely recommend this one to anyone looking for a fascinating story of human nature and the way we are all intricately intermeshed in one another's lives.

Anyone read any of Kurniawan's work?

And don't forget: PAPERBACKS :)