This write is awesome! She really paints a picture with her words. This story really gives great insight into the life of a Chinese boy and his coming of age in the Japanese culture as the Japanese army is invading China. He is sent to his grandfather's beach house to recouperate from an illness and lives with the remaining servant there. This old man teaches him many things and introduces him to the lepers in a nearby colony. The young man learns to think outside himself and feel empathy and compassion for others. I won't tell more about the book because you need to read it!

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This is a soft, bittersweet story about a young Chinese man with tuberculosis who recuperates in Japan during the Japanese sweep of China in 1937. A wonderful story by Gail Tsukiyama. All of her books are beautifully written and unforgetable.

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An extraordinarily graceful and moving novel about goodness and beauty. Tsukimaya is a wise and spellbinding storyteller

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If the word "gentle" could be used to describe a style of writing...
this book is gently written. It's a coming of age story for a 20 yr. old young man sent away to recuperate from tuberculosis. He meets some very interesting people who befriend him.

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Touching and reserved love story between a very reserved Japanese household serving-man and a once lovely disfigured woman, as seen through the eyes of a Chinese boy who has been sent to his summer home in Japan to recover from TB. Takes place just before WWII.

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I just finished reading Gail Tsukiyamas The Samaurais Garden. I can only try to describe how I felt while reading and how I feel now that Ive come to the end. The story is simple but highly thought provoking. As I became comfortable with Ms. Tsukiyamas writing style, which is uncluttered and pure in the Japanese fashion, I found myself calming into an almost meditative state. Her prose flows like a gently babbling brook; or, more accurately, like the movement of the bamboo rake drawn through the pebbles of Sachis, one of the characters, stone garden. It is sparse but completely adequate to convey the characters' messages of gentleness, strength, courage, fortitude and natural beauty.

During the course of reading, when I found it necessary to put the book down for whatever reason, I found myself transformed and would feel the need to regroup, mentally and emotionally, back into my world. Then, when I picked it up to begin reading again I found myself tumbling gently back into the world Ms. Tsukiyama's characters and story had created. I became an an active observer of Stephen, the narrator, Matsu, the caretaker and gardener, and Sachi, the beautiful leper. I was mesmerized by their personalities and wisdom, simplicity and the care they took in living their lives. The book became a form of meditation that stays with me now as I reflect.

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An absolutely gorgeous piece of prose.

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An evocative story that remains with you long after you have finished the last page. Tsukiyama is a fine writer. I have enjoyed all of her books. This one is no exception.

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