Rating: 
Summary: Cloud of Sparrows is a great first novel.
Review: This is a very good read. I was very impressed with the quality of this book. I grew quickly attached to the charcters and found the story to be captivating. Some compared it to Shogun, and I have found the comparission to be a good one. While not as grand as Shogun the story and the charcters are so exceptional that I found myself thinking it may be a better book in many ways. I am highly anticipating the sequel Autumn Bridge which was recently released.
Rating:
Summary: A very good debut
Review: This was a thoroughly enjoyable book and an excellent inaugural effort by author Takashi Matsuoka. Though the frequent flashbacks and scene cuts were a bit distracting, the overall story captivated me and I was eager to keep reading further and further. Lord Genji, Great Lord of Akaoka, as his ancestors before him, has the gift of prophecy. Among other things, he has seen that an outsider will save his life. Coincidentally (or perhaps not?), three Americans have arrived in Japan to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of Japan. But are their true intentions to spread the word of God or do they have ulterior motives? At the same time, the Shogun's secret police chief has been plotting Genji's death because of an ancestral feud started centuries ago. Moreover, civil war seems all but inevitable as clans begin to question the Shogun's power and judgment with the impending outsider invasion. Samurai, geisha, ninja, revenge, love, honor, deceit abound. What's not to like? I look forward to future works from Takashi Matsuoka and I highly recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: Unique and Unforgettable
Review: Written with a light touch and a great deal of grace, the story takes place in a feudal Japan of 1860. In addition to all the battles of honor and reputation within Japan, however, there is a new threat posed by The Outsiders. Amidst these intrigues, American missionaries Emily, Matthew and Zephaniah are hosted by Genji, the last lord of the Okanashi clan, reknowned for their great gifts of prophecy and foresight. Takashi Matsuoka's Cloud of Sparrows is unique and unforgettable: in fact, I don't think I've ever read anything quite like it. Matsuoka provides genuine insight into feudal Japanese culture and more importantly, allows us to see our own culture through the eyes of others. The Americans are very much The Outsiders in this novel, and their actions become almost as foreign to the reader as they are to the Japanese. A wonderful read.
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