Title: The Samurai's Garden
Author: Gail Tsukiyama
Pages: 211
Published: 1994 St. Martin's Press
Read For: Thursday Night Book Club
My Rating: 3 stars (out of 5)
The Samurai's Garden
captures a season in a young Chinese man's life during the Second World War. Suffering from tuberculosis, Stephan travels from his home in Hong Kong to his family's vacation home in Japan to recuperate. This one year shapes his view of life through learning about the cultural differences between China and Japan, as well as friends he makes, struggles with his healing body, problems in his family, and the overriding concern over Japan's invasion of China.The writing is simple and polite, reflecting the Japanese culture Stephan finds himself in. The book is filled with scents of the ocean and Japanese food, and visions of beautiful Japanese gardens. There is an interesting side story of a leper colony in the mountains near the town were he is staying. Stephan's family's vacation home is taken care of by Matsu, who is a man among men: one to be looked up to. After the story is done, one has a sense that the story, much like the home that he takes care of, belongs more to Matsu than to Stephan.
Nothing really hooked me in this story. Nothing made me long to find out the ending, nothing made me feel attached to the characters. Nothing made me miss it when it was over. It was interesting, but not in the I keep thinking about it or I must find out more sense. It might worth a read if you are interested in the time period, the cultures, and the treatment of lepers in the early 1900s.
I think I'd give this one a try based on the subject matter. I am sorry to see that it doesn't grab one by the hair, but the cultural info sounds great.
ReplyDeleteIt was interesting, just not captivating. I read it right after reading The Good Earth though, so it's possible that overshadowed it. I'm glad I read The Samurai's Garden though, and it really didn't take long.
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