(5) = Best; (4) = Better; (3) = Good; (2) = Fair; (1) = OK
These abstracts serve as reminders to myself; they serve to "jog" my memory on what a book was all about. That's all. This is not a literary critique, not a social commentary, and certainly nothing profound to warrant further discussion.
(5) = means that I really enjoyed this book; (1) = means I finished reading it but wonder if my time could have been better spent elsewhere.
The author presents a picture into the culture of medieval Japan 17th century. This is my introduction to Rowland and I am impressed. I will want to read more of her other books.
The Shogun’s concubine is murdered and his trusted servant, Sano, is in charge of the investigation.
Sano just got married to Reiko – a modern young woman who does not fit the cultural expectation of women in medieval Japan. She can read, she is educated, she is intelligent and she has been trained in the martial arts. She can defend herself. She refuses to play the compliant role expected of Japanese wives. She is beautiful. She has a mind of her own. What do you do with a woman like that?
Her father is an influential, powerful Judge who raised her like a boy since she was his only child and her mother had died. The Judge now regrets having educated his daughter as there is no place in society for such a woman. She must get married since when he dies there will be no one to support her. There are no jobs for women! She argues with her father as she will never play the role of a wife in Japan. He arranges marriage partners for her. She rejects them until she meets Sano. He is a good looking Samarai. She is attracted to him, but will he accept an independent, free wheeling wife who will not play the role of an obedient, compliant Japanese wife?
Sano has no idea what kind of woman he married. But he is also attracted to Reiko. As I said - she is beautiful. The murder of the Shogun’s concubine occurs on the day of Sano and Reiko’s wedding so they are propelled into the murder mystery and the political intrigue that surrounds the Shogun. There is no time to consumate their marriage.
The Shogun is a weakling and he has a homosexual relationship with a conniving Vice Chancellor or whatever his title is. Suffice to say this guy has the inside trust of the Shogun and is probably the most powerful man in the fiefdom second only to the Shogun’s mother. He is threatened by Sano whom he perceives as someone who might replace him, and he dislikes the Shogun’s mother who is heavily influenced by her Priest whom he does not trust. He intends to destroy Sano and the mother.
So the tale begins…I leave it up to you to discover the complicated plot. (5)
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