Rating: 
Summary: not horrible, not great
Review: Pretty interesting concept of a story, even if it is re-hashed a bit from "To kill a mockingbird" or "romeo and juliet." What i found most unappealing at first was the very abrupt ending, but after reflecting, i liked wondering just what became of the characters. I'm certain that racial tension and mistrust remained, and that there were still difficult feelings for many of the characters -- especially Susan Marie Heine, whose husband remained dead regardless of the trial's outcome. But couldn't help wondering what happened to the Miyamotos, or to Ishmael, or the land that was in question. The book made me care about those things.Guterson is a very descriptive author and paints well, whether it's the shape and appearance of the land,the physical attributes of his characters, or the details of a character's activities. The war scenes are especially vivid and colorful. Sometimes this attention to details is very welcome, and sometimes it just makes the story drag. Compared to the movie, the book was much better and less B-O-R-I-N-G. Really, the movie is a big dud...but the text was okay. Finished it in around eight days despite its size.
Rating: 
Summary: Captivating and real
Review: World War II sets the stage for this compelling and different tale. It's the 1950s, in Washington state, and the tensions between the Japanese and Americans is still thick in the air. What's so amazing about this book is not the premise (which alone would make it worth reading), but rather its combination of genres. The only two other books that come to mind--books that combine genres so successfully--are Capote's IN COLD BLOOD, and McCrae's BARK OF THE DOGWOOD. Capote's book, at the time it was written, was a combination of mystery, fiction, fact, and superb gray area thrown in for good measure. The result was a hybrid novel. In McCrae's BARK OF THE DOGWOOD, he combines styles and voices effectively. This, along with the hybridization of genres (mystery, fiction, history, literary,humor) makes it one of the most unique books out there, something akin to SNOW FALLING ON CEDARS. And in Guterson's book, a similar effect is achieved. It's part mystery, part history, part romance, and certainly great literature. Then there is the racism theme (again, similar to McCrae, Harper Lee's TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, or even the more recent SECRET LIFE OF BEES) which never really goes out of style. But the most intriguing aspect of SNOW is that of character development and its relation to the plot. Rarely has an author so deftly woven the fabric of people, place, and history so well together. This, accompanied by the fact that not a lot of novels are set in this area of the country--the Pacific Northwest--makes it an interesting reall all-round. This is one book you'll want to read more than once--it's not only entertaining, but a pleasure to curl up with. Do yourself a favor and buy it. And the movie ain't half bad either . . . Also recommended: McCrae's BARK OF THE DOGWOOD
Rating: 
Summary: Not commercial pacing, but lingering and thought provoking.
Review: The setting is an island off the Washington Coast during the 1950's. I thoroughly enjoyed the beautifully descriptive passages of the landscape and the snowy setting. I was especially enchanted by the childhood explorations of Ishmael and his friend Hatsue into the natural world of the shores and forests of the Pacific Northwest. However, I often found the pace of the novel too slow and the flashbacks confusing. At points in the story, I struggled to continue reading and I thought I would give this book a lower rating. But I found myself thinking about Snow Falling on Cedars long after I'd read it. I read a lot of books and the lingering impression merits a higher mark. The story opens with the discovery of the corpse of one of the town's fisherman. Hatsue, the wife of the accused murderer and Ishmael, now the town journalist covering the courtroom events, were romantically involved in high school before WWII separated them. The ensuing murder trial is interspersed with a series of flashbacks revealing the evolution of Ishmael and Hatsue's friendship into a secret romance, the family's expectation that Hatsue marry a man of Japanese heritage and the personal consequences if she does not, the treatment of Japanese Americans during WWII, Ishmael's combat experiences and the community's hidden undercurrent of racism by both the Caucasians and the Japanese. After I finished the book, I found myself thinking of Ishmael's love for Hatsue, the demands of family, the cost of love, prejudice, jealousy and the effect of closure on one's ability to move forward in life. Was Ishmael and Hatsue's relationship really stunted by the influence of family and society or was the love one-sided? The issues were dealt with in a manner too similar to real life to provide instant gratification - jumbled memories, resolutions that are difficult to figure out for yourself even if obvious to others, the past can be hard to let go of, sometimes you never really know how another person viewed the same situation, there are no easy answers... If you are looking for a fast paced entertaining novel, don't read this book. Watch the movie instead. It does a great job capturing the overall tone and effect of the book and is faithful to the events of the novel. But if you are up for a challenge, the quiet tone together with the thought provoking issues make Snow Falling on Cedars worthwhile.
Rating:
Summary: Strawberry time
Review: I was bored at Borders one time, so I decided to pick up the book. I had heard it was an "read once, forget" kinda of book. But, nope! Not at all! :) The book is about a murder mystery. A "who-dunit" but with a rich and full background on how exactly people felt this way. A japanese man, Kabuo, has been accused of killing another man San Piedro. Carl, the deceased, is thought to have been killed over a strawberry land dispute. But it's so much more than that. Gutterson weaves history and present in suprising clairity. Not only does the reader understand how the people of the island feel about the Japanese, but why as well. The book itself probes how the war affected everyone. But in San Piedro, strawberries are not the only thing that is grown, love is planted and fertilized as well. Part the book describes a love story between a beautiful nisei girl, Hatsue, and an American boy, Ishmael. It's sad and beautifully woven as a side tale that explains just how much the war had hit the peaceful island. I read the tale and I was spellbound. Except for the end. I think that Gutterson could have told us...well, if I tell you, how could you enjoy the book? Four stars for a beautifully crafted novel of the side-effects of war. Definetely a gorgeous snowy day tale. :)
Rating:
Summary: Subtle, subtle, sneaks up on you
Review: This was a well-written book. The plot was intriguing and held my interest. The characters were developed enough to make me THINK I knew them, but then when they surprised me... I smiled, instead of thinking "NO, they wouldn't do that." Very subtle book. A quiet tale that overtakes you and before you realize it... You're invested in what's going on. Very nicely done.
Rating:
Summary: Average Book for a Bored Person
Review: Overall, this book was not as bad as I had heard, but it definiately was not one of the best books I have ever read before. Some scenes are described in great detail which were slightly disturbing andthe beginning was so incredibly slow. The basic plot was average, I have definately read better. If you're a hopeless romantic then it wasn't too bad, but in my opinion, most people would find this boring if it was for pleasure. I had no choice because I had to read this for my English class.
Rating:
Summary: A Bookshelf Keeper
Review: "Snow Falling on Cedars" has all the elements of great literary fiction. It's tender, poetic, and tragic. One of my alltime favorite books. -- Sophie Simonet, ACT OF LOVE, a romantic suspense novel (www.fictionwise.com)
Rating: 
Summary: lies, lies, and more damn lies (suggested title)
Review: i battled with this book and finally, after about 15 tries, made it all the way through it, although i am not sure i am any better for it. i had to slowly drag myself through half the book before i actually began to take even a slight interest in it. i still don't see how it merits the acclaim it has somehow garnered.
Rating:
Summary: Romantic historical fiction: Snow Falling on Cedars
Review: I thought that this was an excellent story of love, betrayal, integrity, and community. The characters were very realistic, and the story was believable, with acurate historical evidence. I thought that the story of Kabuyo Miyamoto was sad, yet heart warming in the end, with all of his love confessions and deep thoughts.
Another heart-breaking reality that you come face-to-face with is the harsh racial boundaries and segregations in the American community, eventhough that war has long since past. it's amazing how people can continue to be so racist and cruel to their own neighbors.
Overall, I thought that this was a very good book, with inspiring emotions, and good supporting evidence. I give it 4 stars.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: It took me four times to get through this book. I just couldn't get through the first few chapters, it was so slow. Then I made a commitment to finish it since it was a gift from my husband. I didn't find it to be a gripping story like I was told it was. I wanted something to happen between Hatsue and Ishmael. I found most of the characters pathetic and boring.
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