
I have been enjoying this book, reading a few pages in bed slowly before falling asleep. The language is beautiful. Hiran’s tale is wonderful, but left me somewhat confused at times – when real life and dreams mixed.
My favourite part, however, didn’t involve Hiran at all, but his adopted son, Douglas. At one point he takes over the story and Hiran is left behind. The shift is so abrupt that it could have been a new book, although it still deals with the opium trade.
This is one of those books that I really wish was great, but then lacks something. And I never quite seem to get those books that mix real life and dreams.