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New

New Beginnings

by Chan Ling Yap
$8.26
Compare to estimated retail price: S$32.56  

The item you've got your eye on is secondhand. You probably already know that, but just in case!

The estimated retail price shown next to any listed item represents the first-hand prices we've seen elsewhere, or the estimated original retail price of a comparable item of the same quality, construction and material offered elsewhere in new condition.

New Beginnings
New Beginnings

Historical fiction of triumph over adversity.

If you're drawn to tales where individuals overcome incredible hardship with resilience and hope, "New Beginnings" can be that inspiring journey. Following a family's saga through the upheavals of 19th-century China to the development of Malaya, you'll get more than just a story; it's a sweep of historical events and personal victories that might leave you reflecting on the human spirit. Chan Ling Yap's rich backdrop and character development make the past come alive, providing a compelling read.

  • POPULAR-The Star Readers’ Choice Awards for Fiction (2014)
Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.
New

New Beginnings

by Chan Ling Yap
$8.26
Compare to estimated retail price: S$32.56  

The item you've got your eye on is secondhand. You probably already know that, but just in case!

The estimated retail price shown next to any listed item represents the first-hand prices we've seen elsewhere, or the estimated original retail price of a comparable item of the same quality, construction and material offered elsewhere in new condition.

ISBN: 9789814408615
Authors: Chan Ling Yap
Publisher: Marshall Cavendish International (Asia)
Date of Publication: 2013-11-07
Format: Paperback
Related Collections: Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction
Related Topics: Literature, Asian Literature, World War II, War
Goodreads rating: 3.96
(rated by 74 readers)

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Description

In the southern Province of Guangxi amidst the turmoil of the Taiping Rebellion and the Opium War, a woman is kidnapped and her husband shipped out as a coolie to Singapore. Yet from despair came good fortune. Seen through the eyes of one family, this is a moving story of the scourge of opium and one man's plight and rise in fortune in British Malaya. Chan Ling Yap's third novel has all the assurance of her first two successes and more. A strong story line, deftly rendered in brief and readable instalments, takes us from the turbulence of a China unmercifully exploited with opium by the western powers in Victorian times, to the race and clan rivalries of an emerging Singapore and Malaya. The beautiful and tragic figure of Hua might serve as a metaphor for the suffering sub-continent; and that of her husband Ngao for the resilience of the Chinese themselves. The refinement and the thuggery of China alike, the bustle of Singapore and the tropical potential of Malaya in those days are all made to feel familiar rather than foreign, the high emotions to be shared rather than differentiate us. The characters are entirely believable, the degree of background colour is perfectly judged, and the pace seductive: don’t be surprised if you find you read this book at a sitting.
Condition guide

Book Condition Guide

Books in Like New Condition

This book may contain very minor cosmetic defects, but it is in pristine condition. There should be no yellowing, no foxing, no water damage, and no annotations of any kind on the cover and the pages. For paperbacks, there should not be any crease marks on the spine. This book is good as new — lucky you!

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Very Good Condition

This book has been used, but it is still in a clean condition. There should be no foxing or annotations of any kind on the inner pages, but a sparse amount may be present on the cover, title pages, or outside edges of the book. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be light crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Good Condition

We do our best to ensure the quality of our books, but there is no escaping the wear and tear that comes with time. Slight foxing and some annotations may be present on the pages and the cover. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be several crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Well Read Condition

This is a well-read book, which means that the previous owner probably really enjoyed it! The cover and pages may include moderate foxing and annotations, but the text is not obscured and still readable. Moderate cosmetic defects and minor water damage may be present on the edges of the book. For paperbacks, there may be multiple crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

 

Find out more about our process here.

 

Historical fiction of triumph over adversity.

If you're drawn to tales where individuals overcome incredible hardship with resilience and hope, "New Beginnings" can be that inspiring journey. Following a family's saga through the upheavals of 19th-century China to the development of Malaya, you'll get more than just a story; it's a sweep of historical events and personal victories that might leave you reflecting on the human spirit. Chan Ling Yap's rich backdrop and character development make the past come alive, providing a compelling read.

  • POPULAR-The Star Readers’ Choice Awards for Fiction (2014)
Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.