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jselliot's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Although I could go into greater detail, two other reviewers essentially captured my thoughts on the book overall and I'll reference their thoughts below.
My Kindle copy also unfortunately had formatting issues, which broke immersion several times throughout the book. I'm not going to hold that against the storyline, though, just making the note of it.
My Kindle copy also unfortunately had formatting issues, which broke immersion several times throughout the book. I'm not going to hold that against the storyline, though, just making the note of it.
siria's review
A really beautiful retelling of a Heian-era Japanese folk-tale, The Fox Woman tells of the intersecting lives of disillusioned nobleman Kaya no Yoshifuji, his wife Shikujo and his fox-wife Kitsune. Johnson uses the story to look at what it is to be human, what it is to be real, what it is to be true to yourself, and manages it with some skill, particularly towards the close of the novel. That said, for some reason I didn't find The Fox Woman to be quite as effective or as affecting as the other novel of Johnson's that I've read, Fudoki; the characters didn't come alive so vividly, and the book was perhaps a quarter again as long as it needed to be. Those flaws aren't enough to make me regret reading it, however, and I do think it makes a good companion to her other works.
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kristi_asleep_dreaming's review
I wanted to love this book, even while reading it. The glimpses of medieval japanese court life were beautifully and delicately done, the characters were strong, the prose was lovely... But it dragged. There was too much of everything. The ten years compressed into a few weeks that Kitsune spent with her lover were like a metaphor of the book: it seemed much longer than it was. And I preferred Kitsune when she was a fox.
I did like the pillow book entries of the wife; I never got tired of her.
sarahjjs's review against another edition
5.0
I've never read anything like this before. It is amazing.
kristi_asleep_dreaming's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted to love this book, even while reading it. The glimpses of medieval japanese court life were beautifully and delicately done, the characters were strong, the prose was lovely... But it dragged. There was too much of everything. The ten years compressed into a few weeks that Kitsune spent with her lover were like a metaphor of the book: it seemed much longer than it was. And I preferred Kitsune when she was a fox.
I did like the pillow book entries of the wife; I never got tired of her.
I did like the pillow book entries of the wife; I never got tired of her.
amandaquotidianbooks's review against another edition
4.0
I think this would have been a five star read had I not read "Fox Magic" from Johnson's short story collection first. This was elegant and beautiful, quiet and slow, full of pain and magic. I loved the themes of humanity and love. At first Kitsune's point of view was my favourite, but I came to really enjoy Shikujo's, which I had not expected to. I'm so pleased I read this and eagerly look forward to Fudoki.
michelle_e_goldsmith's review
5.0
A moving tale of illusion, honesty, identity and humanity.
It is no traditional romance and many other reviews have referred to the sexual content of the book (including promiscuity, fox sex, fox-human sex, incest etc) as uncomfortable. Personally, I thought these scenes were not meant to be erotic and helped capture the uncomfortable nature of these relationships and distinguish the individual worlds and realities of the characters. Besides, promiscuous nobles are hardly rare throughout history and it would have been odd for the foxes to abide by human norms (never mind modern human norms). It's probably just best to be aware what kind of book you are reading or you might get a bit of a surprise. :P
I think Johnson did a very good job of creating flawed but understandable characters and creating non-human(?) characters that felt genuine, yet were still relatable.
It is no traditional romance and many other reviews have referred to the sexual content of the book (including promiscuity, fox sex, fox-human sex, incest etc) as uncomfortable. Personally, I thought these scenes were not meant to be erotic and helped capture the uncomfortable nature of these relationships and distinguish the individual worlds and realities of the characters. Besides, promiscuous nobles are hardly rare throughout history and it would have been odd for the foxes to abide by human norms (never mind modern human norms). It's probably just best to be aware what kind of book you are reading or you might get a bit of a surprise. :P
I think Johnson did a very good job of creating flawed but understandable characters and creating non-human(?) characters that felt genuine, yet were still relatable.
amandar9fa2f's review
4.0
Haunting ménage à trois between a man, his wife and a fox, set in Heian-era (C9th) Japan.
Based on a traditional Japanese fairy tale.
Kaya no Yoshifuji fails to secure a position in the New Year appointments at court and returns with his perfect wife, Shikujo, and young son to their now-dilapidated country estate. The discovery of a family of foxes in residence draws out tensions within the marriage.
The young female fox, Kitsune, is fascinated by the humans and soon falls for Kaya no Yoshifuji.
The Fox Woman takes a while to get going. To an extent, this allows the reader to acclimatize to the culture and time in which the novel is set. It also establishes the existing problems within the marriage: much goes unsaid and/or misunderstood between Kaya no Yoshifuji and Shikujo.
The magic truly begins when Kitsune yearns to be human. Johnson's writing is so vivid, the fox-magic comes alive, nowhere more so than when the reader sees the limits of the enchantment:
Johnson questions whether our truths are real, or only what we choose to believe?
And then, if our belief in ourselves and our world is a fabrication of our making, how much influence do we have over others?
Of course, we re-fabricate ourselves all the time:
Ultimately, is life a yearning for the impossible dream?
The Fox Woman is a worthy addition to the tradition of fox mythology - trickster, boundary-crosser, siren, most often female in the East and male in the West. Other, more recent, publications include [b:Mr. Fox|11093751|Mr. Fox|Helen Oyeyemi|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1362148611l/11093751._SY75_.jpg|15237931] (my review here) and [b:Fox|39712654|Fox|Dubravka Ugrešić|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1522788435l/39712654._SY75_.jpg|57218192]. Author Dubravka Ugrešić discusses her book in the context of the myths of the fox on podcast Between the Covers (1 Oct 2018).
Enchanting.
Based on a traditional Japanese fairy tale.
Kaya no Yoshifuji fails to secure a position in the New Year appointments at court and returns with his perfect wife, Shikujo, and young son to their now-dilapidated country estate. The discovery of a family of foxes in residence draws out tensions within the marriage.
The young female fox, Kitsune, is fascinated by the humans and soon falls for Kaya no Yoshifuji.
The Fox Woman takes a while to get going. To an extent, this allows the reader to acclimatize to the culture and time in which the novel is set. It also establishes the existing problems within the marriage: much goes unsaid and/or misunderstood between Kaya no Yoshifuji and Shikujo.
The magic truly begins when Kitsune yearns to be human. Johnson's writing is so vivid, the fox-magic comes alive, nowhere more so than when the reader sees the limits of the enchantment:
Mother had a flea; I saw fox-her lift a hind leg and scratch behind one ear, and, like a reflection on water over a passing fish, I saw woman-her raise one long hand and discreetly ease herself.
Johnson questions whether our truths are real, or only what we choose to believe?
There were times I felt he saw [beneath the magic] more clearly than any of us, but for some reason did not care.
And then, if our belief in ourselves and our world is a fabrication of our making, how much influence do we have over others?
Even through my disappointment, I felt myself smile. Perhaps only dogs truly came when called.
Of course, we re-fabricate ourselves all the time:
‘Real'? I watched you learn poetry for him, change your body for him. What was ‘real’ about that?” “I had to. I loved him!
Ultimately, is life a yearning for the impossible dream?
And there are times when I wish for the flawless Shikujo. This one, this real Shikujo, has a temper; her hurt over my time with my pretty fox wife lingers.
The Fox Woman is a worthy addition to the tradition of fox mythology - trickster, boundary-crosser, siren, most often female in the East and male in the West. Other, more recent, publications include [b:Mr. Fox|11093751|Mr. Fox|Helen Oyeyemi|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1362148611l/11093751._SY75_.jpg|15237931] (my review here) and [b:Fox|39712654|Fox|Dubravka Ugrešić|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1522788435l/39712654._SY75_.jpg|57218192]. Author Dubravka Ugrešić discusses her book in the context of the myths of the fox on podcast Between the Covers (1 Oct 2018).
Enchanting.
kleonard's review
5.0
A beautiful and dream-like novel about a fox who loves a man, and how her enchantments are used to capture him, if only for a short time.
teawolf's review
5.0
Incredibly well-researched. I studied the Heian period a lot in college and reading this felt so much like reading the old stories, but in a modern voice. Johnson clearly put so much thought and effort into her writing. So much detail, a beautiful writing style that helps develop each character, and then the themes... I felt completely immersed. And I love the way she wrote about the foxes' illusions. What is real? It seems easy to tell, and then you question what 'real' means. In Buddhism, everything is transient and illusory, after all.