Scan barcode
sillykitty's review
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
pennin's review against another edition
2.0
This book wasn't bad but it was so much longer than it has to be, the plot was too drawn out and it became very repetitive . The book included so many unnecessary filler scenes of the characters just travelling around and waiting for something to happen. The book would benefit so much from just omitting things that weren't actually relevant to the 'plot' (and I use that term very lightly).
If you were to plot the graph of the tension in this book, it would be a straight horizontal line. For most of the book, it felt like the plot was just going nowhere. There's no real overarching goal the characters were working towards (apart from surviving, which isn't enough) and nothing for readers to look forward to. Instead the Sachi was just moving from one trivial goal to another one over and over again. This kind of story that involves a seemingly never-ending journey can work, but for that there needs something to make the me want to continue reading. Interesting characters who I care about, relationships I'm rooting for, a high stakes plot that keeps me on the edge of my seat...this book has none of that. Everything just felt flat.
I think the book would have benefitted from also including Shinzaemon's perspective. It would help developed his character further beyond just being this hot-headed samurai with a cool tattoo and reading from his perspective during a battle would be much more interesting and high stakes than reading about Sachi just waiting around not really doing anything.
I will say that I do appreciate how the author stayed true to the standards of those times. Most historical fiction authors can be tempted to apply modern day social standards to characters that are supposed to be living in the past, which can come off as contrived when not done right. However, while I can understand that Sachi is operating by a different norm as we are nowadays, reading her condescending judgements towards people who are supposedly 'lower' in social class than her is not going to make me like her. Given that she came from a poor rural village, I wouldn't hurt to make her more empathetic towards other people's circumstance.
It doesn't help that Sachi's character was also as flat as a paper and being reminded of her pale skin (colourism says hi), oval face, small nose, pretty lips and green eyes over and over again also got annoying real fast. We get it. Once is enough to illustrate that point. Also, where did the green eyes come from? Why can't it just be brown like every other Asian person out there. It literally doesn't make any sense and doesn't add anything to the story. This kind of thing always makes me mad because I have to wonder if the author just added this because green eyes, a Western trait, is supposedly more 'attractive' than brown eyes, an Asian one. That is a load of bullshit right there. [b: Memoirs of a Geisha|929|Memoirs of a Geisha|Arthur Golden|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1409595968l/929._SY75_.jpg|1558965] also did this but with grey eyes and guess what, it's also written by a white author.
Props to Lesley Downer for all the research she did for this book though, I always love reading her afterword where she would clarify which parts of the novel were historically accurate and which parts were changed to fit the story. I think that this should be something included in every historical fiction novels to avoid any misconceptions that can potentially arise.
Spoiler
to the point where there were literally three identical scenes of the female characters being attacked by the 'lowly southeners' and then fighting them off without any real difficultiesSpoiler
For example, what was the point of Edward's character apart from being the obligatory white character? You can literally take him out of the story, have Daisuke replace his role in helping Sachi, and the story would not change in any meaningful way. Even more so, what was the point of the romance between Sachi and Edward? The only thing it did was make Sachi's love for Shinzaemon come off as fickle. Edward's character didn't create any conflict, didn't offer any new insights into the story, his character was meaningless.If you were to plot the graph of the tension in this book, it would be a straight horizontal line. For most of the book, it felt like the plot was just going nowhere. There's no real overarching goal the characters were working towards (apart from surviving, which isn't enough) and nothing for readers to look forward to. Instead the Sachi was just moving from one trivial goal to another one over and over again. This kind of story that involves a seemingly never-ending journey can work, but for that there needs something to make the me want to continue reading. Interesting characters who I care about, relationships I'm rooting for, a high stakes plot that keeps me on the edge of my seat...this book has none of that. Everything just felt flat.
I think the book would have benefitted from also including Shinzaemon's perspective. It would help developed his character further beyond just being this hot-headed samurai with a cool tattoo and reading from his perspective during a battle would be much more interesting and high stakes than reading about Sachi just waiting around not really doing anything.
I will say that I do appreciate how the author stayed true to the standards of those times. Most historical fiction authors can be tempted to apply modern day social standards to characters that are supposed to be living in the past, which can come off as contrived when not done right. However, while I can understand that Sachi is operating by a different norm as we are nowadays, reading her condescending judgements towards people who are supposedly 'lower' in social class than her is not going to make me like her. Given that she came from a poor rural village, I wouldn't hurt to make her more empathetic towards other people's circumstance.
It doesn't help that Sachi's character was also as flat as a paper and being reminded of her pale skin (colourism says hi), oval face, small nose, pretty lips and green eyes over and over again also got annoying real fast. We get it. Once is enough to illustrate that point. Also, where did the green eyes come from? Why can't it just be brown like every other Asian person out there. It literally doesn't make any sense and doesn't add anything to the story. This kind of thing always makes me mad because I have to wonder if the author just added this because green eyes, a Western trait, is supposedly more 'attractive' than brown eyes, an Asian one. That is a load of bullshit right there. [b: Memoirs of a Geisha|929|Memoirs of a Geisha|Arthur Golden|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1409595968l/929._SY75_.jpg|1558965] also did this but with grey eyes and guess what, it's also written by a white author.
Props to Lesley Downer for all the research she did for this book though, I always love reading her afterword where she would clarify which parts of the novel were historically accurate and which parts were changed to fit the story. I think that this should be something included in every historical fiction novels to avoid any misconceptions that can potentially arise.
gillis's review against another edition
3.0
Een aangename verrassing, dit boek. Vooral om wille van het kijkje dat het biedt in de Japanse cultuur van eind 19de eeuw.
In het begin had ik het wel wat moeilijk om me te verliezen in die vreemd aanvoelende Japanse wereld. Ik heb het boek zelfs een paar maanden aan de kant gelegd, ervan overtuigd dat het niets voor mij was. Maar toen ik het terug opnam en verder vorderde in het boek wist het verhaal mij te intrigeren. Ik betrapte me erop dat ik regelmatig internet consulteerde om meer te weten te komen over deze inmiddels verloren Japanse cultuur en om zo het verhaal wat beter te begrijpen.
Blijkt dat het verhaal gebaseerd is op waargebeurde feiten en dat de historische kennis over deze cultuur eerder beperkt is en dat maakt dit-zij het fictieve- kijkje in deze leefwereld des te waardevoller.
Ik ben blij via dit boek te hebben mogen kennis maken met deze vreemde wereld.
Klein minpuntje: het boek is voorzien van een kaart van het oude Japan. Normaal gezien zou je zo als lezer kunnen meevolgen waar het verhaal zich afspeelt. Helaas staat een heel groot deel van de plaatsjes die door de personages worden aangedaan niet vermeld op deze kaart.
In het begin had ik het wel wat moeilijk om me te verliezen in die vreemd aanvoelende Japanse wereld. Ik heb het boek zelfs een paar maanden aan de kant gelegd, ervan overtuigd dat het niets voor mij was. Maar toen ik het terug opnam en verder vorderde in het boek wist het verhaal mij te intrigeren. Ik betrapte me erop dat ik regelmatig internet consulteerde om meer te weten te komen over deze inmiddels verloren Japanse cultuur en om zo het verhaal wat beter te begrijpen.
Blijkt dat het verhaal gebaseerd is op waargebeurde feiten en dat de historische kennis over deze cultuur eerder beperkt is en dat maakt dit-zij het fictieve- kijkje in deze leefwereld des te waardevoller.
Ik ben blij via dit boek te hebben mogen kennis maken met deze vreemde wereld.
Klein minpuntje: het boek is voorzien van een kaart van het oude Japan. Normaal gezien zou je zo als lezer kunnen meevolgen waar het verhaal zich afspeelt. Helaas staat een heel groot deel van de plaatsjes die door de personages worden aangedaan niet vermeld op deze kaart.
xsassypants's review against another edition
5.0
Un libro bellissimo, letto in brevissimo tempo... Uno dei miei libri preferiti, che spero di poter rileggere presto!!
nvrmndiv's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
pixieauthoress's review
5.0
Read while in Germany, June 2009.
Comments:
* fascinating time period to read about
* made me want to find out more about Japan at this time
* perhaps requires a little bit of prior knowledge about the history of Japan
* very realistic characters
* interesting to read about Japan's attitude towards love at this time e.g. the main character not understanding her feelings and refering to her love towards a man as "obsession"
* very well written although the language was quite simple and sometimes had a "fable" feel to it - although I didn't notice the simplicity once I got into the book
I love all historical fiction and this was no exception! 10/10
Comments:
* fascinating time period to read about
* made me want to find out more about Japan at this time
* perhaps requires a little bit of prior knowledge about the history of Japan
* very realistic characters
* interesting to read about Japan's attitude towards love at this time e.g. the main character not understanding her feelings and refering to her love towards a man as "obsession"
* very well written although the language was quite simple and sometimes had a "fable" feel to it - although I didn't notice the simplicity once I got into the book
I love all historical fiction and this was no exception! 10/10
mumblebee's review
5.0
Fantastic book! This had all the things I love most about historical fiction set in foreign cultures! It's well written, captivating, true to the reality while still being an enchanting story, and I learned things I didn't know before.
epictetsocrate's review against another edition
3.0
— Shita ni iyo! Shita ni iyo! Shita ni... Shita ni... In genunchi! în genunchi!... Jos... Jos...
Strigătul se auzi ca un ecou prin vale, atât de slab, de parcă ar fi fost doar foşnetul frunzelor bătute de vânt. La capătul trecătorii, acolo unde drumul cobora spre sat, patru copilaşi ciufuliţi, înfăşuraţi strâns în chimonouri peticite, ascultau cu atenţie. Era o zi de toamnă târzie, când totul părea că-ncremenise în aşteptare. Pinii care mărgineau drumul mare erau neobişnuit de nemişcaţi, iar cea mai uşoară adiere a brizei abia dacă mai ridica de pe jos frunzele galbene şi roşii, strânse în maldăre îngrijite, departe de borduri. Un erete se rotea alene şi, pentru o clipă, un cârd de gâşte sălbatice acoperiră cerul cu aripile lor. La o cotitură a drumului, mirosul familiar de lemn ars, amestecat
cu duhoarea balegii de cal, a excrementelor omeneşti şi cu mireasma îmbietoare a supei miso- se răspândea în aer. La răstimpuri, un cocoş cânta, iar câinii satului îi răspundeau cu un cor de lătrături. De obicei drumul mare era înţesat de lume, de palanchine şi de cai, cât vedeai cu ochii. în acea zi era pustiu.
Strigătul se auzi ca un ecou prin vale, atât de slab, de parcă ar fi fost doar foşnetul frunzelor bătute de vânt. La capătul trecătorii, acolo unde drumul cobora spre sat, patru copilaşi ciufuliţi, înfăşuraţi strâns în chimonouri peticite, ascultau cu atenţie. Era o zi de toamnă târzie, când totul părea că-ncremenise în aşteptare. Pinii care mărgineau drumul mare erau neobişnuit de nemişcaţi, iar cea mai uşoară adiere a brizei abia dacă mai ridica de pe jos frunzele galbene şi roşii, strânse în maldăre îngrijite, departe de borduri. Un erete se rotea alene şi, pentru o clipă, un cârd de gâşte sălbatice acoperiră cerul cu aripile lor. La o cotitură a drumului, mirosul familiar de lemn ars, amestecat
cu duhoarea balegii de cal, a excrementelor omeneşti şi cu mireasma îmbietoare a supei miso- se răspândea în aer. La răstimpuri, un cocoş cânta, iar câinii satului îi răspundeau cu un cor de lătrături. De obicei drumul mare era înţesat de lume, de palanchine şi de cai, cât vedeai cu ochii. în acea zi era pustiu.
geodora's review against another edition
4.0
As a lover of Japanese language and the culture of Japan, I can say that this book satisfied my needs to learn more about historical Japan. It was well written and quite an emotional rollercoaster. In fact, it was my very first about-Japan-and-concubines book and I'm glad it was.
I have chosen it for its pretty nice cover and didn't regret it.
I have chosen it for its pretty nice cover and didn't regret it.