The Storm We Made: A Novel

One of the most significant elements of Chan’s novel is the decision to focus on a character who fosters the Japanese occupation of Malaya. This hardly paints Cecily Alcantara as a hero, especially as much of the novel temporally distances itself from her actions by presenting those actions in flashback. The consequences of her actions, on the other hand, form part of the narrative present. It is likewise telling that much of Chan’s novel is not only set during the Japanese occupation, but also during its nadir. With the bombing of Nagasaki, the world sees a turn in the tide of the Pacific theater of war. The closing of a years-long conflict is in sight, along with the end of Japan’s dominance of the region. In this sense, The Storm We Made is essentially a novel of resolutions, each one showing that the protagonist had chosen a flawed course of action that led to tragic results. But Cecily’s motivations are also complex, and one might even argue that the logic behind her actions is deeply sympathetic.

Cecily operates from a desire to liberate Malaya from British influence. The colonial power of the Western empire ensures that Cecily and her family members are treated abusively in their own homeland.