Thoughts 
The Samurai’s Garden by Gail Tsukiyama, St. Martin’s Griffin 1994, 211 pages.
FIRST SENTENCE: ”I wanted to find my own way this morning so I persuaded my father to let me travel alone from his apartment in Kobe to my grandfather’s beach house in Tarumi.”
MOTIVATION for READING: My friend Holly enthusiastically recommended this and since it is set in Japan, I selected it for the Asia component of my Global Reading Challenge. And since I gave up on my original choice for Place in the What’s in a Name 3 Challenge, I’m substituting this one.
WHAT’s it ABOUT: A young Chinese man is sent to the family’s vacation home to recuperate from an illness. It is the eve of World War II; Japan is invading China, and our protagonist learns about life and relationships from the wise caretaker of the house.
WHAT’s GOOD/NOT so GOOD: In quiet beautiful prose, we are taken on a slow journey as we learn along with Stephen about family and friendship, goals and dreams, duty and love. The descriptions are vivid and create a serene sense of place and time amid the tragedies of war, disease and misunderstandings. Early on, I was struck by a few sentences that explained more than necessary and a few that lacked but this is very minor compared to how lush the writing was most of the time.
FINAL THOUGHTS: I enjoyed this slowly unfolding novel (when I told myself to not be impatient for something big to happen.) It’s richness is not in the action but the careful progression of the relationships. It’s lovely. I’m quite surprised I didn’t find more reviews — it seems to be on many lists, though.
RATING: Three slices of pie.
OTHER REVIEWS: BookGirl’s Nightstand, ??? Anyone else?
POEM BETWEEN the DEDICATION and the ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:
No one spoke,
The host, the guest,
The white chrysanthemums.
ZZZZZZZZZZ- Ryóta
HIdeinWhitetoSkipLine
I wonder if there would be enough action for me. I have to be in the right mood to read a book that doesn’t progress very quickly. Great review.
Me, too. Thanks for the compliment.
It sounds as if this one is strong on sense of place rather than pace.
NB: I have fixed the challenge link.
I like that expression: sense of place rather than pace. Or, it was paced just fine but just not fast!
Thanks for linking my review Care. I’m glad to hear you liked it. I really want to read more by this author and actually have another of her books but I think it might be a sequel to another? I need to double check as you know me, gotta read the books in order
You bet, you wrote a great review! My friend who rec'd this is on a mission to read ALL of Tsukiyama's books now.
This sounds like it could be a beautiful read. Like Kathy (Bermudaonion) I need to be in a certain mood for a slow paced read…. I swear sometimes I have some sort of book ADD…. catch and hold y attention while you can or I move on to something else on the shelf
Yes, certain books fit certain moods. It’s also fun to mix it up and go from slower to action-packed reads right after.
I read Tsukiyama’s Street of a Thousand Blossoms and felt the same way about her writing. I’m going to have to keep an eye out for this one.
I did find a few reviews of her other works. The Thousand Blossoms and Women of Silk was mentioned often.
This is a book I would have to be in the mood for. thanks for the review.
SOme books are like that, yes? I guess each book tends to require a certain mood. Which is why I usually want to know NOTHING when I start a book – if it’s good and it’s different than I expect (right or wrong) then I just love the experience more.
I think I would have to be in the right mood to read this book, but if I am it sounds like a lovely read.
I have not read enough Japanese Lit but I’m wondering if they do tend to have this quiet gentleness to them. I hate thinking that – sounds like I’m stereotyping! ugh.
Have you read her other books-I quite enjoy her books-especially Women of the Silk.
I have not but do want to read more. She is very talented but I’m not sure her style is my favorite. Which is why I need to read more!
I have enjoyed all of her books.
I’ve been meaning to try this author. I don’t mind waiting for something to happen, especially when I know it’s a slow novel from the start. I hope it’s okay to link to your review on War Through the Generations.