THE GARDEN OF EVENING MISTS by Tan Twan Eng (fic)

Along with Hilary Mantel's "Bring Up the Bodies," I was rooting for Tan Twan Eng's book, "The Garden of Evening Mists," to win the Booker Prize this year.  This is such a different and interesting book; it is quietly mesmerizing. 
The art of a Japanese garden is personal and private, a reflection of the inner soul of the gardener which brings a sense of spirituality and quietude to the viewer.  There is no riot of color, just the drawing on nature in its simplest form providing the solace of self-reflection in its form and discipline. 
Judge Yun Ling Teoh diagnosed with the fearful certainty of memory loss returns to a Japanese Garden in the Cameron Highlands of Malaysia where she spent some years after World War II recovering from her imprisonment and torture at the hands of the Japanese. This return rekindles the memories of her recovery while she is learning the art of the Japanese garden from Aritomo, the ex-gardener of the Imperial Gardens of the Japanese Emperor.  Aritomo is a fascinating and mysterious character.  He should represent all that she hates and fears from her war experiences and the loss of her sister at the hands of the Japanese.  In a strange way these two characters, so very different in their experience, are strangely alike.  Both have pasts to escape, both remain a mystery until the climax of the book.  Both communicate with others bluntly and curtly, and both find their humanity through the exacting work of maintaining the symmetry and beauty of the garden.
At the time of Teoh's return, Aritomo has long been dead.  She finds the garden in disrepair and sets about to restore it to its former glory.  At the same time, she is recording her story and Aritomo's story before all memory is gone. Aritomo was also famous for his wood block prints. An art historian arrives to catalogue and prepare a book for the publication of the prints.  His arrival brings other revelations which may surprise the reader.  There are other characters who enter the tale all having a purpose and meaning in Teoh's life. 
I highly recommend this book as an interesting story, beautifully written. The characters are interesting and well-drawn.  It is also an excellent book club pick for discussion.