This book is beautifully written. The characters are complex and drawn with such skill and intimacy that by the end of the book you feel as though you have truly known each one of them and seen into a piece of their world. Moving and poignant, but not dark, the story and the characters will stay with you long after you finish the book.

This book is beautifully written. The characters are complex and drawn with such skill and intimacy that by the end of the book you feel as though you have truly known each one of them and seen into a piece of their world. Moving and poignant, but not dark, the story and the characters will stay with you long after you finish the book.

Pleasurable read. She has a nice flow to her writing, the story was interesting.

This story was simplistic and wonderful. I read it in two days and was mesmerized by the rich culture. The best book I've read in a long time

The plot of this book makes a terrific outline: A young Chinese man recuperating in Japan from tuberculosis while Japanese troops are slaughtering his Chinese contemporaries in the pre-World War Two invasion; a quiet but strong and wise caretaker who lives to rescue victims of leprosy, including a woman spurned by his best friend; a marriage crisis for the Chinese man's parents; a Romeo/Juliet type love story between the Chinese man and a young Japanese woman. Should be socko.

Instead, it's sedating. Whether it's the passive nature of Stephen, the young Chinese man, or the very pedestrian writing style of the author, I found this book consistently tepid. She shows off her new knowledge about Japanese culture, giving detailed descriptions of every meal and every kimono.

She tells the story through Stephen when the caretaker, Matsu, is the central character. Because Matsu is strong and silent, we don't get inside his character development.

Nevertheless, it's an interesting look at Japan before WWII: religion, relationship and customs.

A delightful story of a chinese teen, sent to japan on the eve of WW2 to recuperate after getting tuberculosis. He meets his father's servant who he gets to know and the locals, finding them friendly and welcoming even with the war. He finds the simple way of life, instead of being boring, fills his days and he is bereft when the war forces him to leave.

A wonderful piece of prose, this haunting story of the simple people and their tragic lives is a page turner.

Reviews of the Samurai's Garden seem to fall into two camps. The "Oh my God, I loved it-best book evers" and the "Are you kidding me? This book stunk category!"

My problem with those in the latter category is that (with a few exceptions) readers who did not like this book tend to mount some moral literary high horse. They relish insulting other reviewers, as in "Anyone with any discerning taste and one scintilla of brain cells would NEVER like this book, ergo if you do you, I hate to break this to you, but you are a stupid, simple, idiot." Listen to yourselves! I wonder what it must feel like to these people to know everything?

Anyway. I did not particularly love this book, but I really can see how many did. The case can definitely be made that there were many layers of beautiful, intertwining lessons in this seemingly simple, yet really more-complex-than-it-looks book. In that sense, it kind of reminds me of the polarizing effect of the Ladies' Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith.

My biggest problem with this book was that I don't think I was in the mood for it. I read it at a time when I had a lot going on, and couldn't sufficiently savor it. This is a book to be savored in peace. For most of my read of it, I wasn't in a peaceful frame of mind as a reader. My personal restlessness wanted more action, less bean cake eating. A few times, however, despite myself, I was caught flat-footed with awe by something in the story. The one thing I took away was to never forget that everyone has a story that helps define them. You just have to be still and listen.

Languish for a while in the Tsukiyama's Japanese garden and you may never want to leave. The serenity created in Matsu's little haven is contradicted by the military domination of the Japanese over the Chinese and the reclusive leper colony struggling for a peaceful existence in a realm beyond that of war. It is to this environment that a young Chinese boy enters into in search of healthier air and soothing salt of the sea . As his body begins healing, his emotions are delicately fractured by all that he learns of war, leprosy, first love, his family secrets, and the servant Matsu - who is truly a master of wisdom, honor, and faith. I wanted to walk through this garden again and again.

Languish for a while in the Tsukiyama's Japanese garden and you may never want to leave. The serenity created in Matsu's little haven is contradicted by the military domination of the Japanese over the Chinese and the reclusive leper colony struggling for a peaceful existence in a realm beyond that of war. It is to this environment that a young Chinese boy enters into in search of healthier air and soothing salt of the sea . As his body begins healing, his emotions are delicately fractured by all that he learns of war, leprosy, first love, his family secrets, and the servant Matsu - who is truly a master of wisdom, honor, and faith. I wanted to walk through this garden again and again.

Beautiful story. I was most amazed at how Ms. Tsukiyama was able to achieve such a masterful story with such simple prose. She develops characters of interest that keep you wanting to know more. In regards to the review about inconsistencies, I would say that it is a book, a fantasy; sit back and enjoy.

Beautiful story. I was most amazed at how Ms. Tsukiyama was able to achieve such a masterful story with such simple prose. She develops characters of interest that keep you wanting to know more. In regards to the review about inconsistencies, I would say that it is a book, a fantasy; sit back and enjoy.

My mother is Japanese and moved to the U.S. fifty or more years ago. She read this book and savored it, rereading passages over and over. She delighted in recalling the symbolism and rituals of long forgotten traditions that were explained in this book. After hearing her delight in the story and its characters, I could not wait to read it. She gave the book to me with the promise that I would return it so she could continue to re-read it. It was a quick and captivating read for me. My only disappointment was reaching the end of the novel and wanting more.

I cannot say enough about this book. I fell in love with the characters. I'm not sure if it's because my mother is Japanese and being stationed in Japan that I felt a connection.
She made us know the characters on an intimate level. I couldn't put the book down. I cried for their losses, disappointments and like a baby at the end.
I would highly recommend it!

I loved this book! I became a fan of Gail Tsukiyama after reading Women of the Silk and I continue to be a fan at the end of this book. It is so purely and sweetly written. There is not a character that I didnt enjoy. The customs of old Japan was fascinating too. She really captured the aches and the longing of these long suffering people, but it wasn't written with sadness, but hope. This would make a great book club selection!

I think I would have liked this book if I had read it when I was 14 or 15. Sweet, dreamy, simplistic. But I am much older and I was struck by the inconsistencies: The young man with turberculosis who hikes around kissing people; the garden 'destroyed by the storm and swamped by the waves' that was completely restored and in full bloom a couple of months later - I lost track of how many black pines these people planted in that garden but it must have looked like a forest; the empty beach with an abandoned plastic shovel (in 1938??). Then there was the secretive, silent, and very private gardener who suddenly talked and talked.

I was disappointed in this book.

I really loved this book. I loved it so much that I bought copies for family members to read. I was really touched by the theme of inner strength and hidden strength. The devolopment of the characters has grace and beauty to it. The idea that beauty is not on the outside, but on the inside is an important theme in literature. I would recommend this book to any person who wants to think about the meaning of life and the values we place on beauty and accomplishment in the world.

One of my favorite epithets is "the child is father to the man," referring not to the obvious persistence of personality, but to the profound impact of child-rearing on adult character. This is the theme of Gail Tsukiyama's wonderful novel, "The Samurai's Garden."

The novel tells the story of the relationship that develops between Matsu, a Japanese gardener, and his young Chinese ward, Stephen. Tsukiyama skillfully presents both sides of the story through Stephen's first-person narration.

As a bonus, Tsukiyama gives us a beautiful introduction to Japanese culture. From the narrator's Chinese perspective, Japanese ways are at once fascinating and accessible.

This is the best novel that I have read in a long while. On every level, it delivers much more than it promises. In its afterglow, I would vote for Gail Tsukiyama as the best author writing in America today.

I loved the simple way the writer presented the unfolding stories of each character. The history of the times was very compelling and appeared to be well researched. The story itself was a lovely commentary on beauty, character and endurance.

This is a beautiful story. It is best to read this book slowly in order to savor and appreciate its wisdom and beauty. Simply written but with great depth and meaning. The characters and the the time and place, (pre-war, pre-westernization, Japan) will stay with you long after you have closed this book. I recommended it to everyone.

This is a book that is best read slowly. Not because it has a difficult plot to follow but simply because it is beautifully written. The author has used eloquent prose to tell a story that is layered with personal stories and events that are delicately woven through the words of the narrator.

Stephen is a young adult who in the course of the book develops his first truly adult relationships with people beyond his own family. During his period of recuperation from TB he is removed from his usual environment into one that is both known and yet essentially foreign. One of the achievements of this book is to allow the reader to share Stephen's experiences as a young Chinese man becoming more familiar with Japanese culture and the four people who become important to him during his year in the village.

Set against the backdrop of the Japanese invasion of China the story sways between the changing world beyond the village and the intricate patterns of life that he observes and participates in daily. This is a book that offers the reader a window into a world where politeness, honour and silence are important but beyond which the characters live richly textured lives.

If you enjoy human drama rich in warmth and compassion then this is a book to cherish.