The Pearl Diver

Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: I telling story about the victims of leprosy in the not too distant past that is highly recommended. Compassionate and lyrical.

Rating:
Summary: The Pearl Diver
Review: I was fascinated by the subject of this book because I had just finished reading Moloka'i by Alan Brennert, which is about a young Hawaiian girl who contracts leprosy and is sent to the island of Moloka'i. I think Moloka'i is better by far, beautifully written with an uplifting story about a young girl finding happiness amidst overwhelming obstacles. If you're going to buy one, choose Moloka'i.

Rating:
Summary: A brief, poetic glimpse into leprosy
Review: Rebeccasreads recommends THE PEARL DIVER as a sad, strange, exquisitely written if disjointed glimpse into the Japanese treatment of people infected with leprosy in a time when the medical community did not understand the disease & was filled with shame & prejudice. The only redemption & humanity in this tale is found in the compassion of the internees in the colony.

Could not put it down!

Rating:
Summary: The Pearl Diver
Review: The Pearl Diver is an extraodinary read. It is a slim, spare, exquisitly written volume that is HUGE in content, story and significance. It reads like a poem.

Rating:
Summary: Unforgettable!
Review: The story of The Pearl Diver allows us to follow "Miss Fuji" into a world she must enter when she learns that she has leprosy. From the moment her disease becomes known to her family and community, she must endure devastating cruelties.

Once she reaches her exile, the island of Nagashima, she moves amongst her fellow victims with great dignity, purpose and kindness.

Miss Fuji was to me an illuminating force and after turning the last page, I didn't want to let her go.

Rating:
Summary: A little gross
Review: This book is beautifully written, and full of life, but they lost me when the descriptions of people's fingers being eaten by rats at night!

Rating:
Summary: The best book of the year
Review: This is affecting and elegantly written. It's a small masterpiece.

Rating:
Summary: Mesmerizing
Review: What a beautiful book.
The main character, a strong young woman who is just learning the arduous trade of a Pearl Diver finds spots on her arm that can only be leprosy. She is disowned, and banished to a leprosorium. Forced to chose a new identity, as "Miss Fuji" she cares for other more severely affected patients.
The bulk of the story is told from her perspective, as she looks through objects found in the closed leprosorium.
The writing is beautiful, and instantly transports you to another world.
Every word is carefully, sparely placed.
The author's powers of description, and ability to create mood are remarkable.
Savor reading this, do not skim.
Amazing that this is a first novel!
I am recommending this to everyone I know, and plan to discuss this with my book clubs.

This book feels inspired by one of my favorite books of all time, The Samurai's Garden by Gail Tsukiyama.