The Samurai's Garden : A Novel

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Summary: An enticing delicate story
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Ms. Tsukiyama's graceful writing allowed me to instantly connect and feel compassion for each character. It is a delicate story of love, acceptance, and strength in the face of adversity. I particularly enjoyed the descriptions of Japanese gardens!

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Summary: A beautiful, quiet piece of art
Review: What I enjoyed most about this book was its ability to transport me to a place I've never been. A place of peace and tranquility in the midst of turmoil. I also learned that it is possible, even when facing seemingly overwhelming odds, for love and acceptance to endure. For me, watching the love story of Matsu and Sachi unfold was one of my greatest reading experiences ever.

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Summary: A story of personal discovery set in Japan.
Review: Gail Tsukiyama has written a charming tale of growing up and acceptance. The story is set in a small, coastal village in Japan during the time the Japanese army was driving through China. The main Character,a college age boy recovering from TB, has gone there to be near his father, a businessman who works mostly in Japan. The boy meets first the caretaker of the family house, then a man in town who runs a tea house, and lastly, a woman afflicted by leprosy. The three have a long history and much of the story is a gentle revelation of that history and the young man's involvement with the three older people. A further complication is the relationship between the boy's father and mother which has taken a turn. Ms Tsukiyama never pushes the tale so that one settles into it gently as one would into a favorite camping spot after many days. Her family includes both Japanese and Chinese branches and she reveals shadings of both in the story. I wished the story had been longer...like Tanizaki's "The Makioka Sisters." However that is selfishness on my part.

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Summary: A multi-layered story told in true Japanese flavor
Review: A novel of disease, struggle, beauty, and love told in such a way that the reader feels as though they are part of the tranquil Japanese setting. A young man goes to Japan to recover from tuberculosis and in the process of his recovery discovers new relationships. The author uses a diary-style to tell the story and the reader watches the relationships develop against the background of the seasons. A beautifully crafted, well-developed story.

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Summary: Hard to put down
Review: A wonderfully written book, very fluid. Like a bonsai, this book has been crafted, not written. Enjoy for yourself, and see if you don't pass it on.

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Summary: A perfect gift for a friend
Review: Having read "Women of the Silk," I was so hoping that Gail Tsukiyama had written at least one other book. I loved "The Samurai's Garden," from start to finish. And like others, I too, hung back to savor each word as I watched with dread the end of the story draw nigh. I lent it to a friend who called from her vacation to share her joy and love of this wonderful story. The imagery is superb... the descriptions are flawless. I can smell the eucalyptus and feel the skin of Sachi. I can't wait for my friend to return so that I can read again The Samurai's Garden. Thank you, Gail Tsukiyama, for the gift of a beautiful story. May you be inspired to continue to share your obvious treasure of story telling.

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Summary: One of my all-time favorite books!
Review: A wonderfully written book. Characters are very well developed. An excellent story to tell. One cannot help but feel uplifted by the characters in the story. Highly recommended.

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Summary: Reminiscent of fine Oriental Art
Review: Reminiscent of fine Oriental art, the author of The Samurai's Garden has created an exquisite pre-WWII story about a young man and his companions. As the story begins, a young Chinese man is journeying to his family's seaside retreat in Japan for recovery from tuberculosis. Although quite simple on the surface, the story becomes more complex when the main character meets four local residents. The haunting tale of the three companions becomes a story within a story. Tsukiyama skillfully weaves a coming of age tale in which the young man's recovery parallels the seasons in the Japanese caretaker's garden. Repeated in several layers is the story of comflict, pain, and eventual growth in human relationships that result from the meeting of persons from two different cultures. Crystal clear descriptions of the seashore, the garden, the preparation of meals, and the beach house combined with the wonderful insight into the human condition make this a wonderful, peaceful reading experience!

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Summary: Mist came gently to my eyes as the book gently ended.
Review: With anticipation and dread, I rose each morning to read this book before my family woke and I had to prepare for the day ahead. As I opened the page where I had left off the morning before, I knew I would quickly be back in the Japanese village among gentle people who had silent histories I longed to hear. At the same time, however, I knew that to turn each page was to come closer to the end of the book. When that time arrived, the story finished on a gentle note; and tears came to my eyes - tears of joy mixed with tears of sadness. If you like a story that reminds you that there is still the faint scent of ecalyptus in the air if you slow down to savor the experience, this is the book for you. The words are simple and direct and full of beauty. You'll find yourself re-reading passages to keep you in the moment. The book is only 210 pages. I could have read a thousand more.

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Summary: This is a beautiful book
Review: Have you ever read something that was so delicious that you couldn't stand for it to end, yet you had to devour every word and page? That is this book. The characters are gently unveiled and explained as if the reader were the one to meet the character. We do not get to see inside the head of the character, only to see and hear what the 'narrator' sees and hears. The story is about the beauty of human relationships in the midst of tragedy - so be prepared for some low moments.