The Girl Who Played Go by Shan Sa

The Girl Who Played Go

(Shan Sa)

Teaser: Just before the Japanese invasion of Manchuria in the early 1930s, a teenage girl is desperately trying to come into her own as she approaches adulthood. Life has great new things to offer her, but she can't seem to deny that all others that have left their childhood behind live in misery. She finds her once easy life crumbling apart and clears her head by playing Go.

A young Japanese man has just left his childhood home to join the Imperial Army. He finds himself detached from the world and surrounding by the horrors of combat. He is given just a brief glance into his old world when he begins a game of Go with a mysterious Chinese girl in the local square. She had no idea that he was just days away from, with his troop, charging a bloody path through her city.

Short Thought: Gritty account leading up into a huge event in Asian history and how it affected people from both sides of the conflict.

Expanded Thoughts: Be warned there may be minor spoilers in this section. I started writing it, and found it increasing difficult to discuss without revealing anything.

This novel was brilliant, but not for the light-hearted or those who wish to escape harsh realities. It held nothing back and made you react.

The story is told from two perspectives. First we are introduced to teenage girl going to school in Manchuria. She is a strange girl who instead of being obsessed with makeup and men loves and excels at the game of Go. Since she was a child, she could be found down in the public square besting experienced players. She frowns on the old Chinese traditions and receives a lot of crooked glances from her peers because of that.

As the story progresses, she begins to enter a little more into adulthood. She gets involved in her first relationship with an older college student, and learns the benefits and the woes that sharing your mind and body with someone brings. She becomes best friends with one of the girls at her school, and learns the blessings and worries that friends bring. All the blissful innocence of her previous life slowly fades, and she is left with a world with short lived joys and heart stopping tragedies as the situation in her country directly affects all the relationships that took her years to come into.

The second perspective in the story is that of a young Japanese soldier who leaves his mother's home to fight in the Imperial Army. He quickly experiences first hand the horrific traumas of the present society and those that war brings. He has no real purpose in life, and doesn't really expect his life to continue for very long. He drowns his troubles and questions in local women and prostitutes with whom he convinces himself to fall in and out of love. While camped outside side of Manchuria awaiting the order to charge a takeover, he hears of a place he can go undercover in the city to play Go a game that allows him to remember his simple life before the army. He begins a series of games against a mysterious Chinese girl who is one of the best go players that he has played against.

This novel deals with some huge taboo issues and portrays them in a way that you will not forget. With out giving too much away, here are some of the issues that I recall from the reading: arranged v. love marriages, abortion, speaking out against your government, prostitution, torture, suicide, selling your virginity, spousal abuse, pedophilia, man's claim over a women's body, and etc. As I said before, it doesn't hold back. It isn't a 'feel-good' novel, it is a 'micro' account of the impact of the period leading up to this bloody coup.

In closing, I was just amazed at how much happened in just 280 pages.

Additional Notes: This is an English translation of the original French text by Shan Sa. Translation was done by Adriana Hunter.

Additional Notes: This novel contains dark themes, violence, and sexual situations.

The Typhoon Lover: Rei Shimura Mysteries 8

The Typhoon Lover

(Sujata Massey)

Teaser: Rei receives an assignment that lands her back in her ol' stompin' grounds investigating an upper tier Japanese collector. A typhoon hits Tokyo while she is there and traps her with the very person who hired her. Meanwhile, Hugh is left waiting back at home waiting for her return.

Short Thought: Totally turned me off from the series for a long while.

Expanded Thoughts: [SPOILER WARNING] I won't lie; I couldn't even finish this book. It was by far the worst of the series. I have the next two books, but they will stay on my shelf for a long while. This book made me disgusted with a main character that I once loved. Perhaps, I should have done what so many other readers have done and read these out of order or treated it as a stand alone novel.

It portrayed her as an entitled, uppity, ungrateful, morally ambiguous woman. (Is it 2 or 3 lovers she cheated on now?) She had lived off of Hugh for years, was engaged to him, got him into countless troublesome situations, and then threw him by the wayside. She stayed with Takeo for months just to feel more Japanese and set about from the Western World and then ripped his heart out. I know this is more realistic than books usually are when it comes to relationships, but, dang, if I wanted to see that I just need to look out my window. Don't build couples up only to throw it away a second time. I get frustrated with a main character whose personality changes like the wind. So inconsistent!

This book was completely inconsistent with the previous ones in the series. If you are reading these books as a series, I recommend stopping at The Pearl Diver and treating the next ones as stand alone novels. I can only hope that my memory will forget this is a part of the series which I feel in love with at the beginning.

Additional Notes: This novel contains scenes of a sexual nature.

Additional Notes: This is the 8th book in the Rei Shimura Mysteries series by Sujata Massey. There are two more books currently out. (Girl in a Box, Shimura Trouble)

The Pearl Diver: Rei Shimura Mysteries 7

Pearl Diver

(Sujata Massey)

Teaser: In The Pearl Diver, Rei is settling into her new life in Washington D.C. with her fiance, the dashing international lawyer Hugh. She continues to grow restless and misses her life in Japan. Fortunately, while at lunch with her cousin, she is offered a job to decorate a Japanese restaurant that will be opening in the neighborhood.

Once again, life is looking up for Rei until her cousin vanishes from the restaurant's opening night party leaving her children behind. Also, terrible things start happening to Rei and her acquaintances when she and her aunt start helping her coworker Andrea locate her long lost Japanese mother. Someone clearly doesn't want anything about Andrea's mother to come to light, and they will stop at nothing to make sure it all stays hidden.

Short Thought: An action-filled addition to the popular series that has some of the brilliance of the series' earlier novels.

Expanded Thoughts: This novel has Rei settling (or rather, re-settling) into a comfortable life with the dashing Hugh. It is once again set in Washington, D.C and centers around Rei and the constant trouble that follows her every move.

So far I have read all of the novels in order except for The Flower Master which isn't currently available.

Okay, this novel was all over the place. It seemed very unfocused and scattered at times and then afflicted with tunnel vision in other parts. I love a complex story line for mystery plot, but this one just wasn't woven together well at all. It has Rei running in all directions (I can think of at least 7 off the top of my head) and being increasingly more annoying and inconsistent.

To go off on a tangent, what happened to Rei? Which is the real Rel? At the beginning of the series, Rei was a humble antiques dealer in the search of a steady flow of clients. She was modern, witty, independent, quick, and interesting. She also desperately wanted to fit in and be Japanese. Now, in this novel, she is a backwards (not familiar with anything current), whiny, and self-centered woman who is a living contradiction. (She portrays herself in a high and mighty fashion, but doesn't live it.) I understand that she struggles with her roots, but she is just presented as an immature woman whose attitude and personality changes like the wind. It just frustrates me because I just loved her in the beginning of the series, and now I can't stand her.

I actually feel like the Aunt actually overshadowed Rei because she was a much more interesting element in the story.

I have another gripe about this novel. The author tries to cram too much of a history lesson (in which the accuracy is up for debate) into the story, and fails to follow through and make it a significant part of the story. It was as if she was trying to shove in as much shocking moments of Eastern history as she could. It would have been a great mystery plot without all the excess bunk thrown in. I know it's possible. It was masterfully done and enriched the story in The Floating Girl (the 4th novel).

This novel was okay, and did have specks of the brilliance of the earlier novels in the series. If you did like this novel, I do recommend reading The Salaryman's Wife, Zen Attitude, and The Floating Girl. In my opinion, they were brilliant and the best of the series.

Additional Notes: The Pearl Diver is the 7th book in the "Rei Shimura Mysteries" series by Sujata Massey.

Additional Notes: This novel contains sexual themes and situations.

The Samurai's Daughter: Rei Shimura Mysteries 6

The Samurai's Daughter

(Sujata Massey)

Teaser: In The Samurai's Daughter, Rei has flown to San Francisco to spend time with her parents and trace the heritage of the Japanese side of her family. However, she isn't the only one staying there. Her parents have been hosting a Japanese exchange student with very traditional values who becomes appalled at the fact that Rei's current and past lover Hugh will be staying there as well.

If it wasn't complicated enough, Hugh is working on a very sensitive case against some Japanese power players and one of his clients turns up dead. Also, the Shimura residence is burglarized, and Hugh's car has all its windows shattered. Rei, once again, finds herself in the thick of a dangerous situation that hits closer to home than she realizes.

Short Thought: A decent addition to the series, not the best, but worth the read.

Expanded Thoughts: So, we finally get to see where Rei grew up. Since the beginning of the series, Rei has portrayed herself as a person who struggles with her finances (she works two jobs in Japan) and was raised humbly. When her childhood home is revealed, we are fed a different story. Rei is freaking loaded, upper class freakin' loaded! (No, seriously.)

It threw me for a loop, because of Rei kind of turning her nose at up Hugh's semi-lavish lifestyle in some of the previous novels. (Hugh was born working class and worked his way up the ladder. I say spend it, brother!) Her mother wears designer clothes and vintage designer clothes, and their house is huge and stately. Her parents definitely have the air of members of the upper tier. It shouldn't have surprised as much as it did, because I then realized that the Shimura's would have had to have been wealthy to allow their daughter to get a college degree in Antiquities.

As for the historical element that Massey usually weaves into her novels, it just wasn't there in this one. Granted there was a lot of historical themes introduced, (the abuse of the Filipino women during the war) but it wasn't easy to understand or woven in well at all. I felt like the author could have just put a 5 page historical note at the end, and it would have been better than the blocky forced back story dialogue in some scenes.

As for the romance, it was pretty good. It was nothing spectacular. It was just the usual, "Hugh is trying to make a living, and Rei butts her head in and complicates it all" scenario. Rei bulldozes over him. He charms back into her good graces, all the while there are dangerous happenings around them.

As for the main character, Rei, I find myself liking her less and less with every novel. I find her to be very self-centered, fake, irresponsible, morally flexible, and just down right annoying. (I know, harsh.) She fancies herself the solution to every problem even if she has no place solving it.

In closing, I have read too many books in this series to stop now, but it definitely isn't near as good as it was in the beginning. However, it's still a great and entertaining mystery, so it's worth a read.

Additional Notes: This novel contains mild violence and sexual situations.

The Bride's Kimono: Rei Shimura Mysteries 5

The Bride's Kimono

(Sujata Massey)

Teaser: In The Bride's Kimono, Rei is given her best job yet; she will be presenting a series of lectures on Japanese kimono at a museum in Washington, D.C. She is also responsible for the transporting of the delicate clothing from Tokyo to the US, so she leaves Takeo to his house renovation and dashes to Washington.

When she arrives in Washington, she is bombarded with a multitude of events. One of the museum's kimono is stolen from her hotel room, her passport is swiped by a fellow Japanese tourist who is found murdered, and, as fate would have it, she finds herself face to face with Hugh once again. Only Rei could go from museum courier to prime murder suspect in a matter of hours and still have time to stress about the love triangle in which she has found herself.

Short Thought: A good addition to the series that is finally getting back to what everyone loved.

Expanded Thoughts: I have mixed thoughts about this novel. I gave it four owls because It seemed that the author was finally getting back on point. There were elements in there that reminded me why I got sucked in the series in the first place.

The author chose Washington, D.C. as the setting for this mystery. I think that it was great to see Rei in her native country. (Although she seems to turn up nose up at it.) We also are given a look at Japanese tourists on American soil. It was a nice complement to the books set in Japan.

Massey also didn't disappoint with her endless tidbits of Japanese and culture. In this novel, we primary are shown some aspects of museum culture and are given an in-depth lesson about kimono are their cultural significance. This author is very good about enriching the reader's knowledge in a straightforward and interesting manner.

My only complaint about the setting is that America is portrayed in an awful manner. When the book was set in Japan, we are treated to these wonderful, helpful, and interesting people. In America, we just get loud, ignorant, and self-absorbed jerk wads that can't listen to reason and mow people down. It was shocking in some instances how biased it was. I guess one could just trumped it up to Rei's snobbish attitude toward the U.S, but it did reddened my face a few shades.

Enough about the intellectual babble, what about the romance and the characters? First off, Rei's parents finally make it into the picture when they meet her in D.C. They are very interesting and as different as oil and water. (Traditional Japanese man and Upper East Side-type debutante). As for Rei's romantic life, it takes a whip lashing turn that gives the reader much more insight into Rei's true nature and attitude. She leaves her very wealthy Japanese boyfriend in Japan as she travels to D.C. In D.C., she runs into Hugh, her former lover. I don't want to give too much away, so I'll just say that I lost a ton of respect for Rei after this book. The way she carries herself is definitely not her true nature.

In conclusion, it was a wonderful addition to the series. Although a bit forced at times, it made for a wonderful romantic mystery.

Additional Notes: This novel contains scenes of a mild sexual nature.

Additional Notes (2): This is the 5th novel in the Rei Shimura Mysteries by Sujata Massey.

The Floating Girl: Rei Shimura Mysteries 4

The Floating Girl

(Sujata Massey)

Teaser: This novel focuses on Shimura Rei's part-time job at a Gaijin (foreigner in Japan) magazine at which she writes a antiques column. The magazine decides to start publishing its pages in a manga-like (comic book style) format. Rei then, with the help of her new beau Takeo, starts doing research on a rare doujinshi (fan made comics about mainstream series) for her article. As Rei begins to track down the artists for interviews, they mysteriously disappear or refuse to answer her questions. What could be so dangerous and sensitive about a comic book?

Short Thought: Complex mystery intertwined with an interesting underground culture.

Expanded Thoughts: If this were a stand-alone novel, I would have rated it much higher. Perhaps, the inconsistencies were due to the fact that I could not get a hold of the 3rd novel (Flower Master, out of print currently), but it has a completely different feel than "Salaryman's Wife" and "Zen Attitude." Also, maybe I'm a little biased because I like her last beau, Hugh, much better.

I enjoyed certain aspects about this novel very much. The inside look at the politics that go on in a Japanese work environment was probably the most interesting layer in the novel. (I have heard horror stories from some of my friends who have worked in one.) Also, I learned a lot about the "manga" culture and artists. I never knew it was so mainstream or taken so seriously. (Oops, my ethnocentrism is showing.) Lastly, the change in the main character's personality and actions as she dates a traditional Japanese man (Her last boyfriend was Scottish) that just adds to the internal heritage (she's half-Japanese and half-American) struggle that is ever present within her.

Additional Notes: This is the 4th book in the Rei Shimura Mysteries by Sujata Massey.

Zen Attitude: Rei Shimura Mysteries 2

Zen Attitude

(Sujata Massey)

Teaser: In Zen Attitude, Rei is back in Tokyo with a new client for her antiques business. An aristocrat, Mrs. Mihori, has given Rei the task of finding a wondrous Tansu (Japanese-style chest) for her home. She finds the tansu, but to her dismay, it is flawed and the seller has disappeared. Even worse, people involved with the tansu are turning up brutally murdered.

Meanwhile, Rei has been enjoying life while staying with her new devoted lover, Hugh, in his fabulous apartment until his unscrupulous, dingy, and band front man little brother Angus comes to stay there as well. With all the new found stress, Rei finds a strange friendship in Mrs. Mihori's world champion martial artist daughter, but even it isn't what it seems and Rei finds herself in her most dangerous situation yet. With her relationship with Hugh on the rocks, who can help her this time?

Short Thought: The plot thickens. Rei is back and better than before. (And in more trouble...)

Expanded Thoughts: This novel was great. The mystery was deep and complex with twists and turns that gave me whiplash. (And I loved it!)

We get to see deeper into characters, and see Rei and Hugh try to maintain a long term relationship.

I love the relationship between Hugh and Rei, because it highlights Rei's main issue--her struggle with her Eastern and Western heritages. Rei has been desperately trying to throw away her American side and become an accepted member of Japanese society for these two novels. Hugh is as Western as Western gets. (A Scottish man who doesn't know Japanese, lives large, and consumes copious amounts of meat.) We see how Hugh's comfort in himself begins to frustrate confused Rei. It's something that I'm very curious to see where it goes.

Additional Notes: This novel contains scenes of a mild sexual nature.

Additional Notes: This is the 2nd novel of the Rei Shimura Mysteries by Sujata Massey.

The Salaryman's Wife: Rei Shimura Mysteries 1

The Salaryman's Wife

(Sujata Massey)

Teaser: In The Salaryman's Wife, we are introduced to Shimura Rei, who has moved to Tokyo from San Fransisco to pursue a career in the trade of Japanese antiques. She relishes life in Japan with its understated beauty and politeness, and she seemingly turns her nose up at the lifestyle of brashness she left behind in America. Her determination to fit in as a native Japanese gets sideswiped as she encounters a dashing Scotsman by the name of Hugh on a vacation at a ryokan (Japanese style inn). Not only does Rei begin to fight internally about her heritage, but she finds herself "smack-in-the-middle" of a murder investigation of one of inn's guests.

Short Thought: Wonderful mystery with a perfect mix of Eastern and Western cultures.

Expanded Thoughts: I have had this on my reading queue for awhile, but I have held off becuase I usually pick the historical pieces set in Japan over contemporary ones. It was one of the best murder mysteries that I have read in awhile.

There are a lot of things that I absolutely love. One thing in particular, Massey uses a ryokan (Japanese Style Inn) as the setting for this murder. It can sound a bit intimidating for readers who are unfamiliar with Japanese culture, architecture, and customs, but she portrays the story in such a way that everyone can easily understand and picture it. Also, those readers with some working knowledge of Japanese culture also find new and interesting details around every corner.

Another thing that I love is the 'east v. west' theme. Rei, the main character, is half American and half Japanese. She looks like she could be a full Japanese, and strives to meld into the Japanese culture. Unfortunately, her 'bull in a china shop' American attitude doesn't mix well with the delicate and beautiful Japanese traditions. She also finds herself in a relationship with a Scotman who is as Western as they come. It's this inner struggle of hers that brings another dimension to the novel.

Additional Notes: This novel contains scenes of a mild sexual nature.

Additional Notes(2): This is the first novel in the Rei Shimura Mysteries by Sujata Massey.

The Fire Kimono: Sano Ichiro Novels 13

The Fire Kimono
(Laura Joh Rowland)

Teaser: Tensions are high between Sano and Matsudaira (and Yanagisawa). Sano is making preparations to go to war when a murder attempt is made on Reiko and their two children. But it, and his issues with Matsudaira get put on hold when a skeleton belonging to a long lost cousin of the emperor is discovered.

Matters are made worse when Sano's mother becomes the prime suspect and refuses to speak up against the charge. Just when Sano was close to being rid of Matsudaira, his family and he are sentenced to death by execution if he cannot clear his mother's name.

Short Thought: The best in historical mystery. Tense, gripping, rich, and ever-developing.

Expanded Thoughts: What can I say? I have been following this series for years now and will continue to in the future. Though, I am curious to see where the story will go from here. The characters all have grown to different stages in their lives, but the tensions and dangers are ever present. I can't wait to find out!

Additional Notes: This is the 13th novel in the Sano Ichiro Mysteries. (The other books from the beginning are: Shinji, Bundori, The Way of the Traitor, The Samurai's Wife, The Concubine's Tattoo, Black Lotus, The Pillow Book of Lady Wisteria, The Dragon King's Palace, The Perfumed Sleeve, The Assassin's Touch, Red Chrysanthemum, and The Snow Empress)

The Sound of Waves by Yukio Mishima

The Sound of Waves
(Yukio Mishima)

Teaser: Sometimes described as the Japanese version of Romeo and Juliet, this novel centers around the budding relationship of two teens in a remote fishing village off the coast of Japan. It brings the reader back to the time of their teenage years when they embarked upon their 'first love.'

One day, Shinji, a poor teenage fisherman, spots a beautiful pearl diver out on the beach. The girl gets stuck in his thoughts, and Shinji finds himself 'head-over-heels' in love with her. Hatsue, the beautiful pearl diver and daughter to the town leader, finds that she has the same feelings for Shinji but her family disapproves. Soon, awful rumors start spreading about Shinji, and it seems that they have to fight to pursue their love for each other.

Short Thought: The imagery is beautiful, the characters are great, and the message is there.

Expanded Thoughts: This story is a classic, coming-of-age, love story. It's a true teenage love vs. the world. It is a very enjoyable, simple, and short read by a fantastic and notable author.

Additional Notes: This read was actually very special to me. I originally read this book in the fifth grade (checked it out when I visited the High school library). It was one of the books that got me interested in Japanese language and culture. For years, I had forgotten the name of it (I only remembered the fish on the cover) until one day I happened on it on amazon.com while searching for another book. I ordered it immediately.

The Tokaido Road by Lucia St. Clair Robson

The Tokaido Road
(Lucia St. Clair Robson)

TEASER: Kat is a former noblewoman who now spends her days as a courtesan of the Floating World selling her body to pay her family's debts. She accepts this way of life, but she always keeps a close eye on those around in fear that the man who murdered her father may send someone for her life.

So when one of her clients dies from fugu poisoning that had been intended for her, she makes her escape and travels the Tokaido Road to meet up with one of late father's retainers to finally get revenge for her father. The journey is very dangerous as Kat has a hefty bounty on her head and encounters trouble at every corner. She dresses as a male monk, and prays that it will be enough to get her through the numerous guard stations along the road.

Short Thought: Adventure-filled plot, wonderfully rendered setting, just enough romance, and enough twists and turns to make it genius.

Extended Thoughts: I originally read this some time back in 2005-2006 and loved it so much I decided to read it again. The Tokaido Road was a pedestrian road that went from Tokyo to Kyoto and had tons of guarded stop stations (is that the term?) throughout the whole thing. It is one of my favorite topics of Japanese history. It has it all: adventure, romance, class conflict, revenge, and mystery.

Additional Notes: This is a stand-alone novel.

The Tattoo Murder Case by Akimitsu Takagi

The Tattoo Murder Case (Soho crime)
(Akimitsu Takagi)

Teaser: Set in Post WWII Tokyo, this novel gives us an inside look at one of Japan's most fascinating underground cultures--the intricate and genius art of the yakuza-style Japanese tattoo and the people who lend their bodies as canvases.

One such canvas is found mutilated along with the torso of the unfortunate victim. Kenzo Matsushita, a medical prodigy and newer member to the police force, is stuck with the most challenging puzzle he has ever faced. There's no shortage of possible suspects, motives, or secrets. Was the victim murdered for the tattoo or just made to look that way?

Short Thought: Gritty, tense, wonderful, and I can't wait to read it again.

Expanded Thoughts: Wow, this novel was written back in 1947, but it reads like a contemporary masterpiece with a 'film-noir' vibe.

I have read a lot of mysteries, but never any quite like this one. It had me hooked from the murder discovery on.

The setting was probably the most interesting to me. (Because of my educational background.) It was amazing to me to see just how western everything seemed not too long after the Pacific War. There was a 'East v. West' (or perhaps, 'Old Japan' v. 'New Japan') contrast throughout that made the novel into something more than just the characters or the murder.

I honestly can't say enough good points about it. In fact, I'm putting it back on my reading queue tonight.

Recommended Especially For: Fans of Crime Drama (CSI, Law & Order, etc.), Fans of Japanese Culture or Tattoo Culture, Historical Mystery Buffs

Additional Notes: This novel is a little gritty. It contains a mild amount of gore and descriptions of violence.