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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, January 5, 2003

Strolling through 'Samurai's Garden'

 •  Complete text of readers' comments

By Wanda A. Adams
Advertiser Books Editor

Gail Tsukiyama's "The Samurai's Garden," the fifth selection of The Advertiser Book Club, was a particularly popular one because many of our most faithful club readers were already Tsukiyama fans.

Many already had read this, the second of her five books, about a young man who goes to the country to recuperate from an illness. Stephen spends a year maturing and growing through his relationships with, among others, the family retainer Matsu and his love, Sachi. But quite a few people took the opportunity to read it again, and fans quickly filled the seats for a reading and conversation with Tsukiyama hosted by the Advertiser last month.

Perhaps because so many participated in that discussion, we got fewer comments than usual this time.

"I had read 'Samurai's Garden' shortly after its publication date. Because I am such an advocate of the book, its subtle beauty as well as its lovely imagery, I've loaned it out until it is dog-eared. ... One of the themes that is strongly communicated is that beauty lies in many places, both on the surface but more importantly below the surface. Sachi is the manifestation of beauty (on the surface) that has been marred but also beauty that has matured (from labors below the surface) ... The most endearing character, however, is Matsu-san. By all descriptions, he has never been handsome and somehow knew that from an early age. So he became an in-the-background person ... while honing his own inner beauty."

— Lillian M. Jeskey-Lubag, Mililani

"For a Japanese American like myself ... (this book is) a testament to the ability of an Asian-American writer to eloquently capture so much of the essence of Japanese culture. Having been born and raised on the Mainland and having lived in Japan for only 2 1/2 years, I am in no way an expert in what it truly is to be Japanese; however, much of it was subtly instilled in me by my nisei, Hawai'i-born parents. 'What is not said' is so much a part of everyday life that it was often quite shocking to visit my friends' homes and witness a much different style of interaction. I found myself comparing Gaby of 'American Fuji' and Stephen of 'The Samurai's Garden,' who are both foreigners in Japan. Gaby believes she understands 'what is left unsaid,' and seems to take pride in this knowledge, but at the end she realizes how much she hasn't really understood. Stephen, on the other hand, keenly observes and learns to appreciate and even, he believes, acquires the sense of this quietness."

— Christine Guro, Ka'a'awa

"I have turned the final page and I must say I am pleasantly surprised. While I have been wondering about the 'club' reading a male voice (since up until this point, all have been female points of view), I was very skeptical about a male voice in fiction done by a female author. However, Tsukiyama does an excellent job. Her prose is fluid and lyric, easy to read and intriguing. I kept finding myself saying, 'Just one more entry — I'll read just one more before I go to bed.' Needless to say I got little sleep during the period I was reading the novel."

— Jenn Martin, Mililani

" 'The Samurai's Garden' is a beautiful book, just like Matsu's garden, Sachi's garden and Stephen's paintings. I wanted to savor every page as it unfolded the secrets of each person's life and helped me to understand my own. ... Who is the samurai in the story? Matsu? Sachi? Stephen? Or is it EACH OF US in our own way? Domo arigato gozaimasu. I am honored to be able to share with you."

— Marilyn Morikawa, Pukalani, Maui

"The book is well-written, but I did not enjoy it as much as the previous choices. While it was interesting, I did not get drawn into the characters and therefore didn't really care about them ... but book choices are subjective, and each book wouldn't be the choice of every reader."

— Geoff Kragen, Roseville, Calif.

"What a thought-provoking read! The vivid descriptions used in 'The Samurai's Garden' by Gail Tsukiyama made reading it an enjoyable experience. It was like watching a movie, but instead with only the use of my mind's eye. ... The transformation that ... (Matsu's) symbolic garden made during the passing of his year in Tarumi left me wanting more. I kept flipping through the last pages in disbelief. My journey was at an end, and I didn't want it to be. This selection was a great one that has helped me conclude that, 'It takes greater courage to live' (Matsu whispered these words to Sachi at an important time in her life). ... After spending the year with Matsu and Sachi, I feel that Stephen was more than ready to work at cultivating his very own garden, which in time would hopefully reap great benefits (hint for sequel, please). It is my hope that I can muster up the courage necessary to continue to cultivate the garden that should matter most to me, my own."

— Theresa Tanya Hirakawa, 'Ewa Beach