Title: The Lonely War, 3rd edition
Series: N/A
Author: Alan Chin
Genre: Historical(WWII)/War
Length: Novel (310 pages)
Publisher: DSP Publications (May 19th, 2015
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts
Blurb: The realities of war are brutal for any man, but for a Buddhist like Andrew Waters, they’re unthinkable. And reconciling his serene nature with the savagery of World War II isn’t the only challenge Andrew faces. First, he must overcome the deep prejudice his half-Chinese ancestry evokes from his shipmates, a feat he manages by providing them with the best meals any destroyer crew ever had.
Then he falls in love with his superior officer, and the two men struggle to satisfy their growing passion within the confines of the military code of conduct. In a distracted moment, he reveals his sexuality to the crew, and his effort to serve his country seems doomed.
When the ship is destroyed, Andrew and the crew are interned in Changi, a notorious Japanese POW camp. In order to save the life of the man he loves, Andrew agrees to become the commandant’s whore. He uses his influence with the commandant to help his crew survive the hideous conditions, but will they understand his sacrifice or condemn him as a traitor?
ISBN: 978-1-63216-798-9
Product Link: http://www.dsppublications.com/books/the-lonely-war-by-alan-chin-88-b
Reviewer: Prime
Review: Okay, this is going to be a long review because I really loved this book. It was thought-provoking and intense. In fact, I will go as far as to say that it is one of the most thought-provoking books that I’ve read all year (so far). So I will start with the same warning that I was given, this is not a romance novel, though matters of the heart are more than certainly addressed. This would also be the reason why it was published under DSP Publications.
This is an entirely complex war story, which follows the experience of one young man through World War II. The young man in question is Andrew. He is the son of an American diplomat and a Chinese mother.
The story opens with Andrew (not yet 18) fleeing Saigon in 1940. From there, Andrew’s wartime experience is fraught with the confusion of his emotions, as well as prejudice for his skin colour. Keeping in mind he is a half American, half Chinese person who is now involved in the war in the Pacific against Japan, he doesn’t quite fit properly on either side.
Then there is Mitchell, the man who Andrew falls for – he also happens to be Andrew’s CO. There is tension and longing palpable in the wonderfully descriptive words. Both Mitchell and Andrew are great guys and very relatable as characters. You really do need to keep in mind that this is not a romance at this point, or seeking a happily ever after for these two men who make a deep personal and emotional connection. On top of society’s perceptions at this point in time, “don’t ask, don’t tell” is in full swing in the military.
It is a very gritty and, I assume, somewhat realistic story. Essentially, this is a complex young man in a complex war. I think it might be clear by now that this is one long and intense read. Although, of everything that happens in this book the one thing I wonder on is the ease at which at WWII veteran would visit Japan so soon after the event. But, I suppose, that is neither here nor there.
On a personal note, growing up/being Australian, I think this helped me understand aspects of the actual war itself. I’m not sure about other countries aside from the US, but the war in the Pacific is something that shaped both nations and forged ties between Australia and the US. Also I have a personal and academic interest in this war as my grandfather was a veteran of the Pacific conflicts.
Andrew and Mitchell end up in the infamous Japanese POW camp, Changi, located on the Changi Peninsula in Singapore. Much of southeast Asia was occupied by Japan at this point, the Fall of Singapore itself occurred in February 1942. I have been fascinated by the POW camp Changi and the Thai-Burma Railway for years, which stems from watching an Australian war drama/comedy called Changi.
I am explaining this because this links back to me reading the war diaries of an Australian war veteran and doctor, Edward “Weary” Dunlop. Of course, there is a lot of information about Japanese comfort women (another thing that came to my mind here, some were taken from the Changi women’s POW camp). But here we encounter the most hated term, “sodomy”. But there is a passage in Weary Dunlop’s diary where he recounts convincing the Japanese officers to allow him to get the men to dig pointless trenches so that they were so tired they would not be tempted to have sex.
I apologize for the impromptu history lesson.
I’ll simply end by reiterating that this was a wonderfully intense read. An example of this is the descriptions of the scenery, since I’ve been to Japan I can say for sure that the descriptions were so accurate it was like I was there, except in a different time. For me the vivid descriptions helped me connect to Andrew’s situation – the emotions and the persecution and abuse he suffers.
Take your time because although I did not get confused through the book there was just so much going on. Anyone interested in military history with a bit of personal hardships of the characters will no doubt enjoy this.
For me, anything depicting wars always leads to tears, but in this case they were satisfying tears, in a twisted sense.