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Title: Across the Nightingale Floor: Tales of the Otori, Book One by Lian Hearn ISBN: 1-57322-225-9 Publisher: Riverhead Books Pub. Date: 22 August, 2002 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.33 (76 reviews)
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: 5
Summary: Amazing, lush, absorbing.
Comment: Across The Nightingale Floor is a young-adult crossover novel with some fantasy, but the supernatural is used with a VERY deft & sparing hand.
A young man (Takeo) whose entire village is wiped out by feudal warlord finds out that there is more to his parentage, and his talents, than he could have guessed. The writing is lush, the story set in feudal Japan, and the characters are both charming & believable. Best of all, it doesn't fall into the common trap of "historical non-Western people behaving just like 21st century Western characters." Takeo has a strong sense of honor and obligation that makes you admire him even when he's making hasty or frighteningly selfless decisions. There is a very strong sense of both place and time, and beauty in the middle of horror and violence. The action doesn't stop in this book; it will completely draw you in. As I said, I'm in love.
This is not a story for very young children, as it contains many scenes of violent death, descriptions of torture, and also a couple of very tastefully done sex scenes. Nothing is superfluous or sensationalistic, but the reader is not shielded from the realities of feudal life and war. Although this book is the first in a series, it ends satisfyingly enough. I believe that with the quality of both writing and storytelling, this book & its sequels will become young-adult favorites, like The Earthsea books or His Dark Materials.
Rating: 2
Summary: Imagination and execution
Comment: Just because an idea is good doesn't mean that it will be handled well. Lian Hearn, in "Across The Nightingale Floor," is clearly brimming over with wonderful ideas, but the characters are pretty cold and the dramatic tension is nil.
In the Three Countries, a young boy named Tomasu discovers that his family has been cruelly slaughtered by Lord Iida; he's only saved by the semi-mysterious Lord of the Otori, Shigeru. Given the name of Takeo, he becomes Otori's ward, and learns that he is a member of the Tribe, a people with mysterious powers and abilities. As he learns his new skills, he learns more of his past.
But Shigeru has problems of his own when he's betrothed to Kaede, a beautiful young girl who is said to bring death to any guy who falls for her. To make things worse, Shigeru is in love with Lady Maruyama, a powerful relative of Kaede's. At the center of the betrothal is more political plotting and devious scheming, that will put Takeo to the test as he tries to kill Iida, who sleeps every night in the Nightingale Floor...
Japanese history and folklore are a much-underused fantasy source, compared to Anglo or Celtic fantasy, which is used in every other fantasy novel you come across. Hearn has definitely done his research, and he seamlessly integrates fantasy elements into a medieval Japanese setting. Concepts such as the Tribe, the complicated political strife and the Nightingale Floor (a floor that squeaks loudly at the slightest touch) are fantastic.
What's wrong with the book? The writing. While Hearn has the basic descriptions down, nothing comes alive. Tense, dramatic, action-filled scenes are flat and rather slow; one scene has Takeo creeping along to some dying condemned men, but there's no sense of urgency. The sudden passion Kaede and Takeo have is laughable. And when two major characters die tragic deaths, I felt completely unmoved. The good guys are utterly noble in all things, while the bad guys are evil through 'n' through.
Takeo in particular seems passionless and kinda dull. He goes through all sorts of harrowing experiences, but doesn't seem to feel anything. Shigeru was so noble and distant that I found it hard to care much about him. Kaede alone, with her growing sense of desperation, was a compelling character.
While the idea itself is twisty and intriguing to watch unfold, the execution is definitely lacking. Those hoping for a sort of Japanese "Lord of the Rings" won't find the richness they were looking for.
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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: The Dragon King's Palace: A Novel by Laura Joh Rowland ISBN: 0312282664 Publisher: St. Martin's Minotaur Pub. Date: April, 2003 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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Title: The Pillow Book of Lady Wisteria by Laura Joh Rowland ISBN: 0312983786 Publisher: St. Martin's Press Pub. Date: April, 2003 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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Title: Rashomon Gate by I. J. Parker ISBN: 0312287984 Publisher: St. Martin's Minotaur Pub. Date: July, 2002 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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