Scan barcode
moth_dance's review against another edition
4.0
This book is like the cherry blossom: subtle, soft, special.
I'm wildly appreciative of such a touching but informative story that doesn't read like a dry textbook about Collingwood, cherry blossoms, and Japan. Everything is researched and written thoughtfully and with emotional clarity.
And it's so fitting; I started reading this at the earliest sakura bloom this year and ended on Earth Day towards the last blossoms in the states. I only wish there were a few more photos and drawings.
I'm wildly appreciative of such a touching but informative story that doesn't read like a dry textbook about Collingwood, cherry blossoms, and Japan. Everything is researched and written thoughtfully and with emotional clarity.
And it's so fitting; I started reading this at the earliest sakura bloom this year and ended on Earth Day towards the last blossoms in the states. I only wish there were a few more photos and drawings.
rcgrimes's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
5.0
undergroundlibrary's review against another edition
5.0
very interesting reading into the history of the cherry blossom. mistakenly thought that there would be more of a focus on botany, but i was not disappointed.
chaosandbooks's review against another edition
4.0
The Sakura Obsession tells the story of Collingwood "Cherry" Ingram, an avid bird watcher and nature lover. In his youth, he visited Japan and fell in love with the cherry blossom trees of the country and their precious symbolism to its people. A time progressed, he dedicated his later years to bring about each individual species to Britain and cultivating the beloved tree. Upon his return to Japan following the war, he had hoped to find missing species for his collection. Instead, he found that the trees were n danger our being homogenized due to the country's Westernization and lack of interest in the cherry blossom tree they once loved. He went on to dedicate the rest of his life to ensuring that extinct species returned to Japan and saving others from going extinct.
I have to say that I admire Ingram's love for the cherry blossom tree and its importance to Japan. It's a beautiful story to see how he appreciated the country's culture and symbol so much that he wanted to ensure it survived the disinterest implemented during and after the war.
Abe weaves a great timeline of her own culture, memories and experiences in Japan into the story and it's filled with drawings and photos that aide the reader. The prose itself is very digestible and elegant as it retells Ingram's life and the events that lead up to his manifesto.
I often try to read nonfiction, but find that I have a hard time trudging through the slow pacing and heavy amount of fact. However, it's clear that Abe's time as a journalist allowed her to craft the story in a way that got straight to the point but still held the poignancy of a book detailing the history of the cherry blossom tree in Japan.
I have to say that I admire Ingram's love for the cherry blossom tree and its importance to Japan. It's a beautiful story to see how he appreciated the country's culture and symbol so much that he wanted to ensure it survived the disinterest implemented during and after the war.
Abe weaves a great timeline of her own culture, memories and experiences in Japan into the story and it's filled with drawings and photos that aide the reader. The prose itself is very digestible and elegant as it retells Ingram's life and the events that lead up to his manifesto.
I often try to read nonfiction, but find that I have a hard time trudging through the slow pacing and heavy amount of fact. However, it's clear that Abe's time as a journalist allowed her to craft the story in a way that got straight to the point but still held the poignancy of a book detailing the history of the cherry blossom tree in Japan.