Helpful Score: 3
An insightful book about the changes of cultural Japan from 1856-1929 through the eyes of an American girl who is taken in by a Japanese family who's life work is tea. The relationship between the two main characters is well written and fluctuates with time, which makes it more real. The scenes when tea is served never gives too much information or detail but enough to allow the reader to follow along. Gets a bit long in the end but overall a great read for anyone who likes to take a chance on a new book or author.
Helpful Score: 2
The story takes place in the last half of the 19th century as Japan is opening up to the western world. A 9 year old American girl, just arrived in Japan with her uncle, suddenly finds herself an orphan and is taken in by a 15 year old Japanese girl's family. Gorgeous writing. So enjoyable I didn't want it to end.
Helpful Score: 2
I loved this book. To be honest, unless you are really interested in reading about Japanese culture, with a story mixed into it, you probably won't like this book. I, on the other hand, lovre reading about Japan, no matter what era; and absolutely love learning Japanese traditions and ways through the readings. There was a lot of situations in the story itself that were very surprising, but that was good. And this book actually teaches you about the traditions, rules, and expectations of the Japanese Tea Ceremony, or "temae". On another up hand, you'll learn a lot of Japanese words throughout the book as well.
Helpful Score: 1
The Teahouse Fire offers a sweeping look at a time of tremendous historical upheaval: 19th century Japan emerging from the Tokugawa Shogunate into the Meiji Restoration and opening up to the western world. Aurelia is the first-person fictional memoirist born in New York to a French mother and is brought to Kyoto, Japan by her missionary uncle. By a twist of fate she ends up adopted by the Shin household, masters and teachers of the Japanese tea ceremony. Aurelia, renamed Urako, is a servant-cum-confidante to Yukako as she navigates the family through uncertain times. The story is a bit slow-going at first as Aurelia is confused by the language barrier. Having studied the Japanese tea ceremony, Ellis Avery infuses the story with detailed but relevant accounts of chado. In fact, Avery does a very good job of incorporating the historical moment into the story arc instead functioning as a mere backdrop. There is a large supporting cast of characters, including many strong female characters, but they each have a role to play in this small world. I found the ending a bit contrived, but then so is the entire premise for this moving story about historical change, family obligation, longing, and love.
Helpful Score: 1
"Delicious" is the only way to describe this book. The writing is elegant, the main character's voice is so believable (even though she is in an unbelievable situation), and the attention to detail regarding language, clothing, and food is stunning.
Memoirs of a Geisha and Tales of Murasaki, of course, are the pearls of this genre, but The Teahouse Fire offers a wonderful look at lives centered around the tea ceremony. The life is seen from a variety of perspectives, including the devastation to traditional Japanese families caused by the Meiji Restoration.
The author's knowledge of her subject is impressive, her writing just superb, and the character development is mouth watering. If you enjoy reading a "Western" writer's attempt to introduce a foreign culture so strange to Americans and other Westerners, this is an enjoyable read.
Memoirs of a Geisha and Tales of Murasaki, of course, are the pearls of this genre, but The Teahouse Fire offers a wonderful look at lives centered around the tea ceremony. The life is seen from a variety of perspectives, including the devastation to traditional Japanese families caused by the Meiji Restoration.
The author's knowledge of her subject is impressive, her writing just superb, and the character development is mouth watering. If you enjoy reading a "Western" writer's attempt to introduce a foreign culture so strange to Americans and other Westerners, this is an enjoyable read.
I very much enjoyed this glimpse into Japanese culture, especially surrounding the tea ceremony and class structure. A very interesting and absorbing book.
This novel is set at a time when Japan is cautiously opening its doors to "foreigners." An American girl joins a Japanese teahouse family in a servant's role, and even she is shocked by the changes in the country over her lifetime.
I did not enjoy the book as much as "Memoirs of a Geisha," and found the plotline lacking.
I did not enjoy the book as much as "Memoirs of a Geisha," and found the plotline lacking.
Had been on my list for quite some time and finally read it. Turned out to be very good and I liked it a lot. Learned a lot about Japan during the late 1800's when they were opening up to the Western world and how that influence impacted all facets of life for the Japanese. The story was well told, the characters developed slowly and well. I highly recommend it.
I am giving this book a 3 star, not because I didn't enjoy what I read of it, but I put it down half way through because I became bored by it. The descriptions of life for particular women in feudal Japan was very interesting and eloquently written but the story line didn't move along quickly enough to hold my interest. Since I have devoured all the literature in this genre there were few surprises for me.
As someone who loves reading about Japan, and was interested in Ellis Avery, I thought this book would be perfect. In some ways, it is: informative passages about Japan, descriptions of the meditative quality of the tea ceremony, and insights into family dynamics. In other ways, it's not: the heavy emphasis on the main character's out-of-placeness, her often strange behavior, and the lack of fleshed-out male characters. I did enjoy the larger arc about lesbian life, but not the misplaced longing for someone she had grown up with as a sister.
If you're interested in a story about a foreigner living in Japan, I recommend The Ginger Tree by Oswald Wynd.
If you're interested in a story about a foreigner living in Japan, I recommend The Ginger Tree by Oswald Wynd.
Girl loses her family and flees her missionary uncle in Japan and is adopted by a family that specializes in tea ceremony. Well-researched, interesting story.
