King Rat

Septiyani Wafda                                109014000077                                                VB

Book response form

Book title        : King Rat

Author             : James Clavell’s

Publisher         : Coronet Books

Date published: 1945                                      number of pages          : 447

Genre              : Epic

            Actually I got this novel from my friend. She suggests me to read this novel. When I was read the chapter, I was curious with this book. And when I read the comments from someone in the back of this book, I decided to read this book. Because this novel was one of the best five books in that year. So, I continue reading.

            The main character of this novel is the King (an American corporal, who has become the successful businessman the black market in Changi), Peter Marlowe (a young British flight lieutenant, can speak Malay because he ever stay in Java for six month), and Robin Grey (a British officer who want King get violence because his black market). In this novel also there are some characters, like Mac and Tex (Marlows’ friend).

            The most part of the story that is interesting for me is when the King saw Marlow for the first time. He saw Marlow was speaking Malay with someone. So, he called Marlow and when he asked Marlow why he can speak Malay, Marlow said that actually he ever stay in Java for six months. And Marlow told about his experience when he stays in Java. He said that the people were kind and welcome. I like this part because me as a citizen in Indonesia, I proud my country have been a good country.

            The part that makes me confuse is when the King asked cooperation with Marlow to work in black market. Marlow easily accept the offer from the King and wanted to work with him although he is never meet with the King before.

            The part of the story that I dislike most is when The King, Marlow, Max, and Tex was staying in Java. They saw rat in their room, so the King ordered Max and Tax to catch the rat. After they got the rat, they breed the rat and wanted to sell it in the market but they didn’t tell the buyer that actually the meet is the meet of the rat. I dislike this part because I think because of their attitude many Indonesian follow their way. We can show in the news many people change the chicken meet with the meet of the rat.

            Actually, I have no some experiences that related to this novel. Because ths novel is about war and black market. And I have never been in that situation. But I think this story is very good because it give us some information about the war in Changi.

            I like the end of this story because finally the war is over and the black market also over. The King went back to Los Angeles and never seen Marlow again. And Marlow also went back to his country British.

            The larger issue that raised by the story is about survival life of the prisoner that have been cage by the troops of Japan in the middle of war in Changi.  This novel also told about the black market that done by the King and Marlow.

            The experience while I read this novel is I always feel sleepy when read it. Because reading this novel is such as read a historical subject and it makes me feel sleepy when I read it.