The Japanese House: Architecture and Interiors

Noboru Murata and Alexandra Black combine their talents in this richly cultural book, displaying knowledge and photographs of Japanese architecture. From the aesthetics of the Japanese tea room to the unity of modern and ancient living, each thought and each image represented the Japanese way of life with precise reverence. Murata and Black can do no less than win you over with their commitment to such a detailed expression of peaceful artistry.


The Japanese House: Architecture and Interiors by Noboru Murata & Alexandra Black
216 pages
Nonfiction/photography

Brilliance of the Moon

The concluding tale in the Otori saga, Takeo Otori is now married, which has angered and insulted lords scattered across the land. In a move to reclaim his rightful name and position as head of the Otori clan, Takeo finds himself in the midst of a war on all sides. The Tribe wants him dead, a powerful lord refuses to acknowledge the marriage of his wife and seeks her for himself, the Overlord is searching for him due to his insulting disappearance and later marriage, and the Otori clan do not recognize him as an heir and wish to see him dead as well.

An unpopular man, Takeo seeks alliances from unusual places. Outcasts duly rejected from the warrior-emblazoned society, priests who recognize God's hand on him, fishermen cheated by the upper-class, and pirates who bring with them inventions and tokens of spirituality from worlds across the sea are all taken with Takeo's cause. They each prove that everyone has a place in society and each one can fulfill a duty of honour.

By far the most the most inconsistent of the three novels, Brilliance of the Moon is like a karate chop to the head. For a while you might see some pretty stars but when you wake up all you have is a headache. Hearn may have been trying to reach for character growth but all he created was a mercurial character who would change his mind about things for no reason. He was also prone to making really stupid choices. This could also be a familiar tactic for character growth, or even a stitch in his seam, but the problem here is that the author gave the reader the ability of foresight. As a reader I was well aware of how everything would end up, and it mostly turned out badly for Takeo. I was constantly struck with an impulse to hit Takeo everytime he got an idea. I quickly lost my patience with everyone in the story because I knew too much. There was no mystery. No heightened sense of desperation, fear, disloyalty, shock, hatred, honour, or love. Nothing to make me wonder just how everything might unfold. It was all laid out- clean and neat.

The biggest disappointment though was the conclusion. Takeo leads his men in battle to take back his land before facing off against the mighty Overlord. And then it's over. Exactly like that. The final battle begins and ends with little else in between. With a few pages left to describe everyone's fate, the story really goes downhill from there. I was more satisfied after finishing book one.

Hearn still managed to design a mirrored fantastical history of Japan. He seamlessly united the fantasy realm with his knowledge of the samurai feudal system. And in spite of his shortcomings, he did create and manage a large collection of absorbing multi-dimensional characters. At times inconsistent but still vastly intriguing.


Tales of the Otori, Book 3: Brilliance of the Moon by Lian Hearn
330 pages
Fantasy

Grass For His Pillow

Grass For His Pillow is the continuing story of Takeo Otori, beginning not a minute later from where Across the Nightingale Floor ended. Leaving behind his revenge, his name, and the woman he loves he joins the Tribe after making a binding agreement with them. After several months living under the laws of the Tribe he grows to resent what has essentially become a prison sentence. He longs for the life he left behind and has no desire to become the hardened assassin that the Tribe hopes him to be. With thoughts of escape never far away he finally gets the chance when he's ordered to assassinate his former teacher. Armed with Jato, Shigeru's sword, and a prophecy, Takeo begins his plans to revenge the murder of his adoptive father.

The second book in the trilogy takes on a new tone as much of it is now told through the perspective of Kaede Shirakawa, the woman Takeo left behind. She returns home for the first time in eight years to a scene of bitterness, destruction and bareness. She intends to claim what is owed to her and to unite her lands despite the restrictions men insist upon her sex.

It also rolls on a difference pace than its predecessor. It's more relaxed and less in a rush to speed through events. But maybe a little too relaxed. Not much seemed to happen in the middle installment. One thing that hasn't changed is the 'Arthurian legend' aspect. Every action or reaction leaves you with a sense of something bigger looming in the distance, and the characters are a reflection of their actions as the events change them. Grass For His Pillow wasn't the most intense reading it remained a persuasive, ensnaring, and eloquent bridge for book three.

Tales of the Otori, Book 2: Grass For His Pillow by Lian Hearn
292 pages
Fiction

Across the Nightingale Floor

Tomasu is a simple boy born of simple parentage. He lives, secluded, with a secretive clan called the Hidden. A clan which is hated by the ruling warlord of Inuyama. Warlord Iida Sadamu begins a run of pillaging and murder to strike out his enemies and Tomasu's people are no exception. A witness and only survivor of his people's massacre, he runs into Iida before ultimately unhorsing him and making his escape. An insult Iida's not likely to forget. Tomasu then meets Shigeru, a kind, young lord of the Otori clan. Shigeru sees something in Tomasu that speaks of something far more secretive and dangerous than the Hidden would allow. Tomasu leaves behind his clan name in the smoldering ruins of his home and accepts the name Otori Takeo, adopted son of Shigeru. Though Shigeru cares deeply for his new ward it's shortly revealed that he has his own secrets and motives.

It soon becomes clear that Takeo has abilities that belie his simple up-bringing. He is then trained under a member of the Tribe, when his true heritage is revealed and Shigeru discloses his dream of revenge against Lord Iida.

Across the Nightingale Floor is the first book in a condensed epic trilogy but the story telling reads more like an Arthurian legend. At first glance it seems like your standard fantasy story and indeed it does have all of the elements of one. But eventually the threads of convention are ripped apart and in its place is an understanding that there are no boundaries. In an imaginary interpretation of ancient Japan where nothing is sacred Lian Hearn still manages to bring a sense of honor and respect to his story. You could hate an author for killing a character you have come to admire, but wouldn't it just be better to revere him making such a daring decision? At least he leaves us with a sense of necessity. No action goes unbidden with out consequence.

The only thing I could find to complain about was the pacing. It has all of the workings of a 500 page epic but it reined in under 300. The events unfolded quickly leaving no time in between for pause and reflection. It was one thing after another and while you're still stuck on a previously action, the characters are moving on ready for the next chapter in their lives. For example, within the first chapter Tomasu's family is murdered, he comes face to face with his future enemy, he meets Shigeru and a future ally, he travels for many nights under Shigeru's protection, he forsakes his clan name and he settles in for a new life in Shigeru's home. It's a very busy story filled with all of the comings and goings of love, lust, betrayal, revenge, redemption, and death wrapped up in a neat little 200+ page book. More time should have been spent exploring these issues. By the end I had felt like I had run a hundred mile race with no breaks to catch my breath. But though I remained breathless all throughout the tale, I very much look forward to the next chapters.


Tales of the Otori, Book One: Across the Nightingale Floor by Lian Hearn
287 pages
Fiction

Ghost Soldiers

Ghost Soldiers is the amazing account of the U.S. Army 6th Ranger Battalion, which sneaked past enemy lines during World Wars II in the hopes of rescuing hundreds of POWs imprisoned in the Philippines. These men were regaled as heroes but it was the prisoners, veterans of the Bataan Death March, of Cabanatuan prison who really deserved the praise. They survived three years of hell on earth experiencing some of the most inhumane conditions.

I was particularly touched by the spirit and compassion of the Filipinos. They had as much and maybe even more to lose by giving the American army aide but they trod on dangerous grounds without looking back.

It reads like a compelling novel with stories that are so incredible it seems impossible that they could be true. The soldiers experienced intense hunger, fear, torture, and diseases in their most extreme forms. They suffered cruel prison guards but occasionally had the privilege of meeting some equally honourable and kind guards. Hampton Sides composed such a definite and realistic narration that it felt like I was standing in the middle of history itself. Sides made it impossible to forget these heroes this time around.


Ghost Soldiers: The Forgotten Epic Story of World War II's Most Dramatic Mission by Hampton Sides
342 pages
Historical nonfiction

The Hell Screen: A Mystery of Ancient Japan

Though it was what first drew me in, it soon became clear to me that the title wasn't very appropriate. I say this because it drew too much attention to an object that had little to actually do with the story but at the same time had everything to do with the story. I was not impressed with the mystery aspect of the writing. To begin with, the title ruined the suspense. And it was not drawn out well enough- the 'whodunit' was entirely obvious the moment you meet the character and it was frustrating when the main character was so dense that he didn't see it right away as well.

The story, including the mysteries, had appeal. Only the mysteries lacked depth. The conclusions reached were so far fetched and asinine that it really was unbelievable that the mystery wasn't solved by chapter two. I can't even summarize the story because any one word can spoil the entire plot and the plot itself had no organization. Basically the main character is asked to inquire into a murder that turns into a long string of murders that may or may not have anything to do with the first murder. It is the details of the murders themselves which was an intriguing lot- but to explain them would, as I said, spoil the conclusion.

The author took more care to sketch a simple but effective background of ancient Japan and the people who lived then. The stories seemed less about the mystery and more about the people; the rituals of every day life and death, their place in society, family. It was more about the changing lives of Akitada and his family. The Hell Screen wasn't deeply philosophical, or exuberantly bright- it didn't jump out at you with knives, screaming the ideals of Japan's society. But it didn't make any apologies either. Parker created imperfect, unimportant but interesting characters who lived out their roles in society. For once it wasn't a story about a girl who defied hundreds of years of law to join the army, nor was it about a hero who tired of being pushed around by a tyrannical emperor and decided it was time to take a stand. Japan had a way of life and there were no excuses, no 21st century liberal thinking, it just was- and I was still able to enjoy reading it.

Parker could use a few pointers in how to write a mystery, but there were many facets to the novel that still made it an interesting read.

The Hell Screen: A Mystery of Ancient Japan by I. J. Parker
358 pages
Historical fiction/ mystery

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

J.K. Rowling definitely did not disappoint this time around. I say this only because her last book was a little less than enjoyable. She has infused fun back into her story. For a while it was lighter, more jovial than her last addition. And gone, mostly, was Harry's bad attitude. Which is not to suggest that the movie wasn't dark in its own right. The last few chapters were some of the hardest pages I've ever had to read.

There were also some surprises in the story that I was shocked over but deep down I knew it would come to this. And there were other moments that had me exclaiming, 'I knew it!' I'm more relieved to find the bad attitudes replaced by humour again however I dearly missed the Weasley twins. They made an appearance once every so often but it wasn't enough. Also, for once I wish the book was a little longer. Running just under 800 pages, The Order of the Phoenix was just too long for my tastes- it was probably the subject matters. But Half-Blood Prince, less in length than its predecessor, deserved more pages devoted to its great story.

I can't say I'm thrilled with every decision Rowling's made in the story; particularly the last few chapters. But we still have one book to go so I shouldn't judge just yet. Rowling may yet have some spectacular tricks up her sleeve.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J. K. Rowling
652 pages
Fantasy fiction series

Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception

I seem to be reading a lot of Eoin Colfer lately and each time has been a disappointment. I was happy to return to Artemis Fowl since it seemed to be his only work I liked. The Opal Deception is the fourth installment in the Artemis Fowl series. This episode follows Artemis as his assistance is called on once again to save the highly technological People (consisting of Elves, pixies and dwarves) who live deep underground. The last book left child-prodigy and criminal-mastermind Artemis and his loyal bodyguard, Butler, with a memory wipe. They no longer had any memory of the People and they, as well as many readers I imagine, were sure that was the last they would see of the People. But surprise!

Like much of Colfer's latest work, this wasn't his best. But it wasn't his worst either. It was still missing the humour that was so rampant in the first book. And one of the faults of Colfer in this series is that he makes the characters too smart. They always seem to know the next move of the opposition. There's very little mystery to the challenges they face.

I suppose I can now except a fifth book but I think it's time for Colfer to put aside writing for a while. I wouldn't be against another book but I'd rather he take his time and put some extra effort in writing it than quickly etching out a few books in several months. The quality does suffer!

Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception by Eoin Colfer
342 pages
Fantasy fiction