Rating: 
Summary: Superb
Review: A gentle story of a Chinese man's discovery of himself in 1939 Japan. A book that will stay with you not because it is disturbing but because it holds you within the story. I only put it down when I HAD to and when I was finished. One of the best books I have read in since The Red Tent. I have purchased all of the other books by Gail Tsukiyama and am currently enthralled with The Language of Threads. Again Ms. Tsukiyama surrounds you with the story and the characters and you do not want to let go.
Rating: 
Summary: Untitled
Review: Even in times of war, one can find love. Stephen does just that. A foreigner, alone in a hostile country. For him, every day is a burden. Stricken with tuberculosis and far from his family and friends, Stephen's only joy comes from his paintings. Then he meets Matsu and Sachi, and the story begins to unfold into a beautiful work of art. By mixing colorful characters with a vivid story, Gail Tsukiyama creates a timeless classic that readers of all ages can enjoy. But not only is this book enjoyable, it also carries a message. Stephen, a young Chinese artist living in Japan during World War II, establishes deep connections with his japanese caretaker and the leper-woman Sachi. Matsu and Sachi become Stephen's two closest friends, even while their people are invading Stephen's homeland and killing his countrymen. Using her book as a tool, Tsukiyama shows us that friendship knows no bounds, and that even natural enemies are capable of putting aside their differences and loving one another. I give this book four stars.
Rating:
Summary: The Samurai's Garden
Review: A young Chinese man, Stephen, was sent Tarumi, Japan when he was diagnosis with tuberculosis. There he discover the story that involved three people: Sachi, Kenzo, Matsu, and the forbidden town, Yamaguchi. Stephen also meets a young beautiful girl, Keiko.
In Samurai's Garden, the author, Gail Tsukiyama illustrate the value of friendship; and although harsh obstacles may cross your path, the power of friendship will always prevail.
Rating:
Summary: A Book to Be Savored
Review: Towards the end of The Samurai's Garden by Gail Tsukiyama, Matsu one of the main characters says, "Beauty can be found in most places." And as I read this sentence, I thought no better words than beauty could be applied to this book. For sometime I have been told by many readers how much they enjoyed this book and now I wonder why it took me so long to pick up this title. Now I can only agree wholeheartedly with these readers and add my grateful appreciation to this author for writing such a wonderful book. Beginning in prewar China, we travel with Stephen a 20 year old man recuperating from tuberculosis, to his grandfathers beach house in Japan. Isolated from his family and friends in Hong Kong and his studies at the University, Stephens sole companion in Japan is Matsu, caretaker and gardener of the beach house. At first there relationship is strained and they have little in common. But as Stephen begins to paint and Matsu works in the garden, they begin to interact with one another and eventually become the best of friends. As Matsu introduces Stephen to the surrounding villages of Tarumi and Yamaguchi, Stephen also becomes acquainted with Matsu's friends which include Sachi and Kenzo. And as Stephen becomes more familiar with them he also learns more about their lives and entanglements and we as readers are first intrigued by these three people and then become enchanted as their stories unfold. Ultimately we learn as Stephen does about life, loyalty to family and friends, betrayal, attachments but most of all unconditional love. We watch as Stephen becomes more and more ingrained in the daily lives surrounding the beach house while Japan begins to invade China and Stephen's own family is going through their own eprsoanl upheavals. All too soon, with his health restored, Stephen knows he will need to leave this solitary life at Tarumi. The approaching war and distance leaves both him and readers to wonder if he will ever see these people again. Gail Tsukiyama has crafted a marvelous novel with layers placed upon layers to tell the story of extraordinary friendships. I found that when I read this book it was as if I was a next door neighbor to the beach hosue and priuvy to all that happened in these people's lives. And as I closed the book I had a profound sense of loneliness that my visit with them had come to an end. Although I seldom yearn for a sequel, I would love to know how life treated these characters in the future.
Rating: 
Summary: Some minor quibbles
Review: I enjoyed reading this book for our couples book club. It was an agreable little story, stretched a bit thin. It might do for an initial introduction to life in Japan, but I agree with other reviewers that there are many other more detailed books that do a more interesting job. I usually appreciate books that purport to explore the inner spirit, so I was disappointed that the young protagonist, neither by action nor thought, convinced me of the attraction he had for the two older people. The natural setting, yes, but not the people. The "crisp, clean writing" (as advertised on the cover)struck me as merely simple. It worries me that slim books of this sort might pass as spiritual books.
Rating: 
Summary: Not quite.....
Review: I'm glad so many readers adore this book. However, I'm wondering if for most of them this was one of the first books they've read set in Japan or China. I was very disappointed by the writing and the story. I agree completely with the reviewer who said that this is more like a wonderful short story that was expanded a bit too far. Instead of resonating like a haiku, The Samurai's Garden charges ahead, telling too much and revealing too little. The lack of action, which troubled some reviewers, is not the problem. For me, the real problem is that the stoic, silent Samurai Matsu of the first pages becomes a veritable fountain of words in short order. His quick transition seemed bizarre, and underscored the off-kilter tone of the book. I hope the readers who loved this book will go on to read more of the wonderful books available about Japan and China, or by writers of Asian descent. If The Samurai's Garden leads readers to discover more of the beauty and wonder of Asian cultures, then I thank Gail Tsukiyama for opening their eyes.
Rating:
Summary: mini vacation
Review: I loved the Samuria's Garden. This book gave me a chance to get away from my hectic life. It was a mini vacation. Tsukiyama makes you feel as if youi are actually there in the leapor village and on the beach. It was very well written and seemed to soothe the soul. This book is a life changing book. I would recccomened this book to anyone needing a quick break from life, which is everyone.
Rating:
Summary: samurais garden
Review: This book didn't have a alot of action but keeped the reader interested with complex interpersonal relationships. A good book even though I read it for school.
Rating:
Summary: Tranquility within turbulence.
Review: Even at the start of the book, it was simple to slip into the tale. There are no great action scenes, no dramatic entrances, just the calm events of lives mingling and friendships being built. Even so, there are events that will surprise you, and scenes that will touch you. I was taken to a time of Japan and China at war. At the same time, these events were only a backdrop for the story set to develop. The characters were all quite likeable, and had no trouble expanding as the story progressed. I also gained a deeper understanding of Japanese honor. An excellent lesson from a cultural standpoint, the book kept me interested and wishing for more. At the end, I was reminded of a similar experience I had when I was on exchange for two weeks in Japan. I wish there were a sequal to this story!
Rating:
Summary: A little slow
Review: This book is definitely well-written, and because of that, I've given it 4 stars, rather than 3. This experience reminded me of the time I read "The Remains of the Day" by Kazuo Ishiguro - the book and the author received much acclaim, but I really wish I had skipped over the book and watched the movie instead. The words do flow off the page quite gracefully, but there just wasn't enough 'action' to keep me interested - I ended up finishing it because I was reading it for a book group. If I hadn't had a motive, I might have just dropped it and moved on to something more exciting. I've heard it being compared, to "Memoirs of a Geisha", which I loved, and because of that, I decided to pick it up. I tend to enjoy dialog a lot more than description, which there might have been too much of in this book. I wish I could 'savor' poetic writing, as Oprah does, but I guess it's just not my thing. If you also prefer more action, you might want to pick up another book instead of this one. The reviews in my book group so far have been fairly mixed. Everyone seems to have either loved it or set it aside for the same reasons I mentioned. My expectations might have been too high, or maybe I'm just in a big hurry to move on to the next book, as I have a couple more I need to finish by a deadline that is fast approaching. Whatever the reason, I'm so glad that I borrowed a copy, rather than spending any money on it. A nice book, but not one that will stand out in my mind in years to come.
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