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Title: Across the Nightingale Floor (Hearn, Lian. Tales of the Otori, Bk. 1.) by Lian Hearn, Kevin Gray, Aiko Nakasone ISBN: 1-56511-710-7 Publisher: Penguin Audiobooks Pub. Date: 22 August, 2002 Format: Audio Cassette Volumes: 6 List Price(USD): $34.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.38 (89 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Light on the Fantasy, but an excellent story.
Comment: What a great book! I'm so pleased to have discovered a new Sci-Fi Fantasy author. If you're into the heavy version of the Fantasy genre, this book may not be for you, as there's not a lot of fantasy, but there's enough that it can't be classified as just fiction. I'd say it's rather like a King Arthur novel in that sense. The story is set in feudal Japan, but there's not much historical background in the book. There really doesn't need to be, as the story could have been set in feudal anywhere, but some of the details work best in Japan (such as the Nightingale Floor). Our hero, Takeo, is found living quietly in a remote mountain village. After the villagers are massacred by Lord Iida's men, Takeo (Tomasu at this point) meets up with Shigeru, Lord of the Otori clan. Takeo goes to live with Shigeru, takes lessons in many subjects (including writing, art and swordplay among other things), learns of his true background and the abilities he has because of his background, and is eventually adopted by Shigeru as his heir.
In the meantime, a lovely young woman named Kaede is being held by Lord Noguchi as a hostage. She is being treated badly, even though she is nobility. Noguchi is allied with Lord Iida, the most evil guy around. Eventually, Noguchi decides that Kaede would be most useful as a pawn and she is betrothed to Shigeru. Sadly, Shigeru is in love with Lady Maruyama. It's a nice underlying love story to go with the adventure.
Takeo, it turns out, is a member of the Tribe. The Tribe has magical abilities that are passed on genetically. Takeo's father was of the Tribe. In Takeo, the powers are strong (Does this surprise anyone? If they were weak, we probably wouldn't have much of a story...Luke I am your Father...but I digress). The Tribe's abilities include super hearing, invisibility, and splitting into two, among other things.
Everyone in the story seems to feel that all the world's problems would be solved if only Lord Iida were dead. Trouble is that he's quite powerful and pretty paranoid. He's had a Nightingale Floor built in his quarters. The floor has been built to be extra squeaky, so that no one can walk across it without making noise. But, perhaps Takeo, with his magical abilities can take care of this for us...
All in all, I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the two sequels.
Rating: 4
Summary: Much Different Than I Had Expected
Comment: I just finished reading Across the Nightingale Floor - Tales of the Otori (Book 1) and am left wanting more - can't wait for the next release! I mistakingly expected the book to be very Harry Potterish with mystical creatures and magic, but found it to be much more - with true romance, much adventure, and a good amount of mystery, as well - always leaving you wondering what's coming up next or what just happened, making you suspicious of characters that you had previously grown to trust and adore. I found all of the pages filled with details that enabled me to totally visualize the setting - like I was a part of the events rather than just reading about them. Her depth and imagery was incredible - I could close my eyes and see the story unfolding in my imagination. Great book - a touch of Romeo & Juliet with a "Castles, Lords & Ladies" twist. P.S. - I thought it was cool that at the end of the book the author, Lion Hearn, gives you a "preview" of the upcoming book "Grass for His Pillow" due to be released in August!
Rating: 4
Summary: Elegant and to the point
Comment: Just finished the book last night. I liked it a lot. There is a lot to be said for being able to write a coherent story and have strong characters who evolve before you and not spend 600 pages doing it. However, my own personal taste is to immerse myself in the world that I'm reading. I like a lot of detail. This book, by its simple length, couldn't offer that, so if you're looking for world-building, look elsewhere. This is about the characters and only the characters. In some markets, it is being billed as YA. I think that is clearly wrong. It was too gritty with too much violence. The author didn't pull any punches about how gruesome life in feudal Japan or a Japan-like nation would have been for the vast majority of people. Or the flaws of cruelty and brutality that infused the samurai. And of course, the temporary place of women, who lived at the whim of their masters, the men.
All in all, a fine read.
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Title: Grass for His Pillow: Tales of the Otori, Book 2 by Lian Hearn ISBN: 1573222518 Publisher: Riverhead Books Pub. Date: August, 2003 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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Title: Cloud of Sparrows by Takashi Matsuoka ISBN: 0385336403 Publisher: Delacorte Press Pub. Date: 01 October, 2002 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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Title: Brilliance of the Moon (Hearn, Lian. Tales of the Otori, Bk. 3.) by Lian Hearn ISBN: 1573222704 Publisher: Riverhead Books Pub. Date: 07 June, 2004 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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Title: Rain Fall by Barry Eisler ISBN: 045120915X Publisher: Signet Pub. Date: 01 July, 2003 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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Title: Rashomon Gate : A Mystery of Ancient Japan by Ingrid J. Parker ISBN: 0312287984 Publisher: St. Martin's Minotaur Pub. Date: 31 July, 2002 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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