An interesting take on the Japanese view of Americans. I really enjoyed reading this book.
Helpful Score: 4
The intersecting stories of two Americans in Japan: one an expat academic forced to make a living selling tricked-out funerals, the other a grieving parent on a mission to discover how his son died. A little bit of mystery, a little bit of comedy, the potential for an odd romance, and a wonderfully wry view of everyday life in Japan.
Helpful Score: 3
Lots of good information about the differences an American finds in Japan. I enjoyed the easy learning through the story of both an American woman who wanted to be there, and an American man who didn't, and found himself completely helpless without the help of other Americans. A nice bit of romance with a realistic twist. All in all, a good read for anyone who is interested in different cultures but wants the information wrapped up in the familiar setting of a novel story.
Helpful Score: 3
American Fujiis a delightful novel that's part Japanese cultural guide, part fictionalized autobiography, part mystery, and part commentary on the state of American health care. American expat Gaby Stanton, inflicted with a 'shameful' chronic condition, stays in Japan for the health insurance coverage, working as a salesperson in a fantasy funeral company after having inexplicably lost her professorship at Shizuoka University. A forged invoice from her new company--"Gone with the Wind"--brings Alex Thorn into her life. Psychologist Alex Thorn comes to Japan on a book tour, but mainly to uncover the circumstances of his exchange student son Cody's death one year ago. With Gaby playing guide, both Alex and the reader get some perspective on the sometimes comical, quirky differences between American and Japanese culture. An entertaining cast of Japanese and gaijin characters populate their suspenseful efforts to get to the truth about Cody's death. Were the yakuza (Japanese mafia) involved? Ultimately, it's also a heartfelt novel about acceptance, and a fitting tribute to the time Sara Backer spent in Japan as a visiting English professor at Shizuoka University.
Helpful Score: 2
I loved this book! One of the best I've read this year, it also slips in a lot about Japanese culture. Brought back fond memories of my three years in the Land of the Rising Sun.
Interesting! I liked learning a bit about Japanese culture while reading a pretty good mystery.
The author, being an American who lived in Japan for some years, provided some interesting details about routine things regarding daily life in Japan (paying your bus fare, hanging the futon over the balcony). These little things wouldn't be noteworthy to a Japanese native, but are the kind of tidbits a foreigner would notice when visiting the country.
There are many cultural differences that are identified throughout the story. I felt that they were presented very negatively, in a bitter tone that I couldn't help but think would offend Japanese people.
And if you are offended by details about ulcerative colitis, you wouldn't want to read this book. I have to assume this particular medical condition is included in the story in order to help fight the stigma surrounding it, as was mentioned several times while the character was suffering.
This book has mystery, suspense, a hint of romance, personal loss, and adventure. I would like to climb Mt. Fuji now!
The author, being an American who lived in Japan for some years, provided some interesting details about routine things regarding daily life in Japan (paying your bus fare, hanging the futon over the balcony). These little things wouldn't be noteworthy to a Japanese native, but are the kind of tidbits a foreigner would notice when visiting the country.
There are many cultural differences that are identified throughout the story. I felt that they were presented very negatively, in a bitter tone that I couldn't help but think would offend Japanese people.
And if you are offended by details about ulcerative colitis, you wouldn't want to read this book. I have to assume this particular medical condition is included in the story in order to help fight the stigma surrounding it, as was mentioned several times while the character was suffering.
This book has mystery, suspense, a hint of romance, personal loss, and adventure. I would like to climb Mt. Fuji now!
Set in Japan, a story of two Americans. A novel that combines comedy, romance and mystery
This was a fun read. It was both a thriller and a romance of sorts and I really enjoyed it.
What a delightful book! An American professor living in Japan crosses paths with another American searching for answers on how and why his son died in Japan. The book gives you some insight into Japanese culture. A little bit of mystery, romance, and suspense all rolled into one.
I had a hard time putting this book down. Has made me want to read more books about the Japanese.
I had a hard time putting this book down. Has made me want to read more books about the Japanese.
This is an excellent story about people from different walks of life that are drawn together over a few events that lead you, the reader, through coincidences and perceptions and misconceptions that bring the people closer. While language can be a barrier, one finds the meaning of friends, expect the unexpected and head in clouds, feet in ground. I didn't like the way it started, but the give the read a few pages and you will find it difficult to stop reading. As I read, I continued to discover things about Japan and how the people and their systems differ from Americans.
I really enjoyed this novel of Japan. It's about an American psychologist, Alex Thorn, who is in Japan to find out what happened to his son, Cody, an exchange student at Shizuyama University, who was killed in an accident. Cody's body was shipped back to the States with no explanation as to what happened to him or who had paid any medical bills for him. All Alex had to go on was a bill from "Gone With the Wind" funeral services for shipment of the body. And when the body was received, it had had its heart surgically removed. So what had happened to Cody and why? Alex's quest leads him to Gaby Stanton, a professor who was fired from Shizuyama and is now working for "Gone With the Wind" selling extravagant fantasy funerals to older Japanese. Gaby insists that the funeral company did not ship the body back to the States and she has no knowledge of what happened. So Gaby ends up helping Alex get to the bottom of the mystery. This leads to finding that Cody may have met up with members of the Japanese mafia, the yakuza, which then leads to questions about the people Gaby is working for. And how does this all relate to her getting fired from the university and a somewhat questionable professor there? Gaby tells Alex to expect the unexpected and to try to understand what is not being said. As Alex is drawn to Gaby, she is reluctant to get into a relationship because of a medical condition which she feels keeps her as an outsider especially in the States.
I thought this novel really gave the reader a sense for life in Japan showing how the Japanese feel about Americans or gaijin and the many differences between the two cultures. The book also discusses the Japanese medical system which appears to be a universal system where all are treated without insurance. This seemed very relevant to the debates going on in Congress about Medicare for all or a universal health care system in the U.S. The novel also contained many interesting characters that were well developed and added to the storyline. One of the most interesting was Mr. Eguchi, Gaby's boss at "Gone With the Wind", who could only communicate in English using Beatles lyrics. I have never spent time in Japan other than being stationed in Okinawa during the 70s which was very Americanized at the time. I will probably never get to go there so this book was a good substitute for a Japanese experience.
I thought this novel really gave the reader a sense for life in Japan showing how the Japanese feel about Americans or gaijin and the many differences between the two cultures. The book also discusses the Japanese medical system which appears to be a universal system where all are treated without insurance. This seemed very relevant to the debates going on in Congress about Medicare for all or a universal health care system in the U.S. The novel also contained many interesting characters that were well developed and added to the storyline. One of the most interesting was Mr. Eguchi, Gaby's boss at "Gone With the Wind", who could only communicate in English using Beatles lyrics. I have never spent time in Japan other than being stationed in Okinawa during the 70s which was very Americanized at the time. I will probably never get to go there so this book was a good substitute for a Japanese experience.
I really enjoyed this book. Even though it is a work of fiction the concepts of how Japan "is" ring true.
