The Strangeness of Beauty
by Lydia Yuri Minatoya
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Description
A Quietly Daring exploration of art, family, culture, and conscience, as three generations of women, American and Japanese, face a strained reunion in pre -- World War II Japan. Etsuko and her six-year-old motherless niece return from jazz-age Seattle to the ancient Japanese household of Etsuko's mysterious samurai mother. With Japanese militarism mounting, the women must learn to make peace in an absorbing tale where mothers are childless, warriors are pacifists, and beauty is found in the show more common and the small. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
This book surprised me, as if I'd been served cheeseburgers & fries by a Sushi chef. All the elements of a traditional chick-lit story are presented with precision, grace and carefully honed absurdity.
A Japanese woman transplanted to America pre-WWII returns to Japan, the mother who abandoned her, and a changing world to raise her niece in traditional Japan. Great insights into what drives the culture; interesting characters, who manage to escape stereotypes; and a very funny take on food.
The pace may be too quiet for some, but if you're used to Japanese lit, it will be comfortable. I wish she's write a sequel as I'd be interested in knowing what happens to these folks after the war.
The pace may be too quiet for some, but if you're used to Japanese lit, it will be comfortable. I wish she's write a sequel as I'd be interested in knowing what happens to these folks after the war.
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Author Information
3+ Works 338 Members
Awards and Honors
Awards
Common Knowledge
- Important places
- Japan
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Statistics
- Members
- 207
- Popularity
- 157,340
- Reviews
- 2
- Rating
- (3.50)
- Languages
- Dutch, English, German
- Media
- Paper
- ISBNs
- 5
