Helpful Score: 1
This book left me wanting to know more. I hope the writer continues with the series.
"Riveting... the adventure chasing spirit of James Clavell lives on this triumphant debut novel," raved People about Takashi Matsuoka's Cloud of Sparrows. Now this gifted writer takes us back to that rich, exotic world-and beyond-in a bold new novel that brings dozens of unforgettable characters to life and sweeps us from the violence and majesty of feudal Japan to the teeming streets of 19th-Century San Francisco.
Since I spent 18 months in Japan I love to read books about it. This book is a work of fiction that is the follow up to "A Cloud of Sparrows" although you would read this alone. Its a bit slow and it does jump around from ancient times to more modern times 1300s to 1860s when Japan was changing from a feudal times (samurai) to modern time (after civil war). It centers around Lord Genji, a samurai lord, who is straddling and old and new world and the American woman missionary, Emily. There is a love between them that has been prophesied by a witch, Lady Shizuka, who died 500 years before the story takes place. He life weaves around all the main characters. If you love Japan then this is a book you'll enjoy reading.
Toggles between Japan in 1300s and a very changed Japan in the mid 1800s. Epic, mysterious, sexy, seizing . . . . I really liked it.
