Helpful Score: 2
Not my usual sort of novel, but I always really enjoy Cruz Smith's writing... the Arkady Renko books hooked me, I have to admit!
December 6 (published as Tokyo Station in the UK) is a historical novel focusing on a wheeler-dealer type, Harry Niles, in Tokyo in the days leading up to the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the outbreak of war between Japan and the US. Harry is the son of American missionaries, but, neglected by them as a child, he has always, culturally, felt more Japanese. But in a Japan that is increasingly more hostile toward gaijin, he is torn between the two - with both a Japanese mistress and a British one, conflicting political loyalties... and as well, a conflict between his risk-running, gambling nature, and the desire to save his own skin...
There's some spy action, samurai violence, betrayals and loyalty, plenty of drama - excellent characterization, but the setting really made the book, with its vivid depiction of an unusual, transitory and fragile time in Japan...
December 6 (published as Tokyo Station in the UK) is a historical novel focusing on a wheeler-dealer type, Harry Niles, in Tokyo in the days leading up to the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the outbreak of war between Japan and the US. Harry is the son of American missionaries, but, neglected by them as a child, he has always, culturally, felt more Japanese. But in a Japan that is increasingly more hostile toward gaijin, he is torn between the two - with both a Japanese mistress and a British one, conflicting political loyalties... and as well, a conflict between his risk-running, gambling nature, and the desire to save his own skin...
There's some spy action, samurai violence, betrayals and loyalty, plenty of drama - excellent characterization, but the setting really made the book, with its vivid depiction of an unusual, transitory and fragile time in Japan...
Helpful Score: 1
One of Cruz's best book. Harry Niles is a great anti-hero. Very insightful description of Japan pre-Pearl Harbor.
Helpful Score: 1
An interesting background story of the events in Japan leading up to Pearl Harbor. Gives a good perspective.
Hard to put down!
This author of "Gorky Park" chooses Tokyo as his locale in "December 6." A love affair with a Japanese mistress causes Harry Niles to fear for his life. On the eve of Pearl Harbor, the protagonist has to decide where his true allegiance lies. An excellent author.
Martin Cruz Smith is an amazingly different writer. He tells a story with great detail. He gives you insight into his characters such that you know them almost intimately. I really loved this book and highly recommend it.
must read
I loved it when it first came out, but kind of hard to believe an Anglo could be walking around Japan like that.
