This collection of short stories focuses on Japanese culture and life. Last month I reviewed the first story in this collection, Havana by Suzanne Kamata. I said, “ The writing is bright and poetic and the character development was excellent for such a short story. I can tell already, that Suzanne Kamata is a true artist of the short story.”
Let me tell you, I did not judge too soon! It is rare to have a even 4 star collection of shorts. I give this collection a solid 4!
Most of the stories took place in Japan but had American Expats in them. Many of them women, married to Japanese men. This made for quite a comparison between the cultures, especially on how each culture deals with family tragedy.
From about the middle of the book up until the end, the stories dealt with premature labor and babies. Also what could happen as the babies grow up. They almost seemed connected. They weren’t really connected but I wish they had been. I found my self a bit confused, at first thinking a story was a continuation of the one before but figuring out that it wasn’t. They just had the same them that carried information forward. That is the only qualm I had with this collection.
Suzanne Kamata knows how to weave a short story with well developed plot, characters, and a conclusion that is not abrupt. She is a true artist of the short story!
4/5
Thanks to Shelf Awareness and Nancy of Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing for the electronic galley.
Did you review this book? Please leave your link in the comments.
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