 | | |
| The Samurai's Garden: A Novel | 
| List Price: $13.95
Buy New: $0.01
You Save: $13.94 (100%)
Buy New/Used/Collectible from $0.01
Avg. Customer Rating:  (based on 119 reviews)
Sales Rank: 23097
Category: Book
Author: Gail Tsukiyama
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Studio: St. Martin's Griffin
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin
Label: St. Martin's Griffin
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 224
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 8.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
ISBN: 0312144075
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780312144074
ASIN: 0312144075
Publication Date: May 4, 1996
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
|
| Customer Reviews:
 Beautiful August 15, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
A delightful story of a chinese teen, sent to japan on the eve of WW2 to recuperate after getting tuberculosis. He meets his father's servant who he gets to know and the locals, finding them friendly and welcoming even with the war. He finds the simple way of life, instead of being boring, fills his days and he is bereft when the war forces him to leave.
A wonderful piece of prose, this haunting story of the simple people and their tragic lives is a page turner.
 Read this book when feeling calm May 21, 2007
10 out of 11 found this review helpful
Reviews of the Samurai's Garden seem to fall into two camps. The "Oh my God, I loved it-best book evers" and the "Are you kidding me? This book stunk category!"
My problem with those in the latter category is that (with a few exceptions) readers who did not like this book tend to mount some moral literary high horse. They relish insulting other reviewers, as in "Anyone with any discerning taste and one scintilla of brain cells would NEVER like this book, ergo if you do you, I hate to break this to you, but you are a stupid, simple, idiot." Listen to yourselves! I wonder what it must feel like to these people to know everything?
Anyway. I did not particularly love this book, but I really can see how many did. The case can definitely be made that there were many layers of beautiful, intertwining lessons in this seemingly simple, yet really more-complex-than-it-looks book. In that sense, it kind of reminds me of the polarizing effect of the Ladies' Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith.
My biggest problem with this book was that I don't think I was in the mood for it. I read it at a time when I had a lot going on, and couldn't sufficiently savor it. This is a book to be savored in peace. For most of my read of it, I wasn't in a peaceful frame of mind as a reader. My personal restlessness wanted more action, less bean cake eating. A few times, however, despite myself, I was caught flat-footed with awe by something in the story. The one thing I took away was to never forget that everyone has a story that helps define them. You just have to be still and listen.
 Gorgeous Prose February 11, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Languish for a while in the Tsukiyama's Japanese garden and you may never want to leave. The serenity created in Matsu's little haven is contradicted by the military domination of the Japanese over the Chinese and the reclusive leper colony struggling for a peaceful existence in a realm beyond that of war. It is to this environment that a young Chinese boy enters into in search of healthier air and soothing salt of the sea . As his body begins healing, his emotions are delicately fractured by all that he learns of war, leprosy, first love, his family secrets, and the servant Matsu - who is truly a master of wisdom, honor, and faith. I wanted to walk through this garden again and again.
Simple and Elegant January 8, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Beautiful story. I was most amazed at how Ms. Tsukiyama was able to achieve such a masterful story with such simple prose. She develops characters of interest that keep you wanting to know more. In regards to the review about inconsistencies, I would say that it is a book, a fantasy; sit back and enjoy.
Wonderful development of characters, traditions, and societal values September 10, 2006
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
My mother is Japanese and moved to the U.S. fifty or more years ago. She read this book and savored it, rereading passages over and over. She delighted in recalling the symbolism and rituals of long forgotten traditions that were explained in this book. After hearing her delight in the story and its characters, I could not wait to read it. She gave the book to me with the promise that I would return it so she could continue to re-read it. It was a quick and captivating read for me. My only disappointment was reaching the end of the novel and wanting more.
|
|
|
Design Copyright ©2005 bonsaiTALK.com in association with Amazon. All rights reserved | | |
