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Summary: A hazy glimpse into a pseudo-Japan
Review: I was anxiously awaiting the release of this book for several months, being quite the enthusiast for feudal Japan. However, my expectations of an intense enmity between shrewd warlords soared far above the actual text. The story plods along at a decent pace, and the insight into Japanese culture and mythology (at least what little the author actually delved into) is fairly accurate, but the character development is plainly dull and the only reason I continued reading was to reach the epic climax of revenge, which itself didn't really live up to its own pretense.If you're looking for some hardcore samurai action interspersed with bits of philisophy and battle hardened wisdom, I suggest picking up Cloud of Sparrows by Takashi Matsuoka.
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Summary: The best book I've ever read
Review: Five minutes ago I read the last page of this book and never have I been in love with a book such as this. It is utterly amazing. I honestly don't know how to express the emotions it raises. Even if the storyline was ignored, the use of language was masterful, I paused to simple admire the beauty of the sentence I just read and I have never been a person like that. Then the storyline itself is magic. I tried to slow my reading of the book because I knew I didn't want to say farewell to the characters before the second book of the trilogy came out, yet I could not prevent my self from reading it at any opportunity. Buy, borrow or beg but please read this book.
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Summary: Intrigue, mysticism, star crossed lovers spice this fantasy
Review: Not usually a fan of fantasy, I thoroughly enjoyed this story of feudal Japanese lords, battles for honor, love and loyalty. I was intrigued by the title as I visited Nijo Castle in Kyoto and walked across the nightingale floor designed to "chirp" to alert the lord to possible intruders. The period of Japanese history where feudal lords demanded tribute and battled each other for supremacy is the setting for this fantasy involving a 16 year old boy, rescued by Lord Shigeru, a member of the Otori family, when the boy's village is ransacked and plundered. Owing his life to his lord, the boy, now named Takeo after Shigeru's late brother, is adopted and works with his Lord to seek revenge for the death of both Shigeru's brother, and Takeo's murdered family. Takeo discovers he has mystical powers from his father, who was a member of the Tribe, and has unusual hearing and can make himself invisible, among other things. These gifts turn out to be invaluable when rescuing victims from the evil Lord Iida. Iida has also taken hostage Lady Kaede Shirakawa, the daughter of an enemy. Kaede has been treated as a servant for 8 years, since she was 7. Kaede is betrothed to Shigeru but falls for young Takeo, who falls for her as well. Their love cannot be, as she is duty bound to honor the betrotha. Meanwhile, Lord Shigeru is also in love with Kaede's older cousin. I couldn't wait to find out what happened in the story which ended in a satisfying but in a "to be continued" way as this is book one of a trilogy. ... I found the amount of detail just right and the book was just at 300 pages was an easy read. I look forward to resuming the story in Book 2.
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Summary: Great Read!!
Review: Across the Nightingale Floor by Lian Hearn. 2002 by Riverhead Books (PenguinPutnam). ISBN 1-57322-225-9.
This is a thoroughly entertaining and beautifully written novel. It was first brought to my attention by a review in Book magazine. Classified as either young adult or fantasy (depending on the reviews), I thought it was neither. I am far from my 'young adult' years and there are no trolls, dragons, wizards or witches; no hobbits nor elves; not even, as the September 2002 issue of Locus magazine review of the book may suggest, magic. It is an adventure; a coming of age story taking place in the likes of feudal Japan. As is the author's name, Across the Nightingale Floor is simply fiction. Perhaps borderline Speculative Fiction, and perhaps not so simple. The only magiks are those of the Tribe, a secret sect who now hire themselves out assassins to the highest bidder.
This is a wonderful read. Hearn's prose is compact yet extremely visual. You can set the book aside, reluctantly, for a few days, return to it and the entire story leaps back to mind and imagination. There is hardly a single paragraph that does not elicit a dramatic image. I marveled at Hearn's ability as a writer to conjure such images so vividly. I will not reveal any of the storyline, but suffice it to say Across the Nightingale Floor was very satisfying. The conclusion was complete, though surprising, and enough 'loose ends' remain to make me wait for the next installment as soon as it comes out. R.D.Kedd. A.B.Normal Books.
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Summary: most excellent
Review: how wonderful to find a well crafted story, literary and entrancing while limning characters with grace and style. can't wait for the next in the series.
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Summary: Finally! Fantasy reading that's made fun to read
Review: I found that I became an avid fantasy enthusiast after reading the Lord of the Rings Trilogy and The Hobbit. There was an endless search I went through for a book with a similar appeal Tolkien was able to generate through his style of writing. I never thought I would enjoy that kind of adventure again. But I did! I think everyone can agree that authors who take on such a project will have many difficulties building the proper atmosphere and characters a fantasy book/series should have. This is ofcourse what I beleive either makes or breaks the story. Lian Hearn has accomplished that and made this story into an exciting and fun fantasy where the characters lives become your own. I truly enjoyed this book and I am anxious to read the next two books Hearn plans on releasing. If you enjoy a great fantasy book that takes you off to places your eyes will never see, then buying this book will be the right choice.
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Summary: Excellent Story!
Review: This book is among my favorite books that I've ever read. The characters are interesting, most with some form of torn loyalty. The action in the book is very well written and paced, and the story seems to simply draw the reader more and more into it as events happen. I really can't wait for the next one to come out.
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Summary: MY BOOK OF THE YEAR
Review: Unusually for a book with so many characters, several with strange-sounding names, Across The Nightingale Floor is remarkably easy to follow. The main narrative is rich and eventful and I for one was attracted by the incident and intrigue that was delivered early on in the opening few pages. The setting is authentic and beautiful, familiar in many ways, yet new and mysterious in others. It's a fascinating landscape and the story quite riveting. It's genuinely very difficult to put down once you've started it. The writing is exceptional, with very few words out of place. Smooth and easy to read, the author's style is generous enough to paint the characters and scenery very well, yet clipped enough to keep the plot moving along at a steady pace. Importantly, there are no slow patches! The book does not flinch from adult content and is certainly a mature read. It appears pitched at an adult and young adult audience simultaneously. There are numerous deaths - several beheadings, torture, cruelty and other violence. All, however, are within context and not out of place. The strong story, appealing characters and Japanesesque setting combine incredibly strongly within Across The Nightingale Floor to produce a highly readable book that should appeal to many different-aged readers.
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Summary: Great Job Lian Hearn
Review: Those of us who appreciate fantasy, and are fed up waiting for either George RR Martin to complete the next installment of ASOI&F or the dross that passes for it today (witches,dragons,nasty people and a journey through blah, blah blah) can breathe a sigh of relief.
Lian Hearn has composed a beautiful, poignant fable of love, honour,betrayel,bravery & loyalty. A fantasy story set in a not quite japan, though exquisitely detailed and reproduced. A cast of characters as good as anything created by Martin,Hobb,or dare i say it Tolkein. (gasp). The tale starts off slow but you find yourself unable to stop,suddenly you are are treading the singing floor, Jato sings in our hands and tears threaten to flow like rain down Shigeru's face.
As satisfying read as i have had all year, a story that lingers in the memory, like a first kiss.
OJNE FINAL POINT I disagree with some of the reviews here, (romance!...Clavell!...) if you need a comparison try Martin crossed with John Irving.
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Summary: Mediocre at best
Review: While it's not necessarily a bad book, it doesn't even begin to live up to the hype surrounding it. Book magazine had a small and glowing review of the book as did the Book Sense 76 list for September and October. Several independent bookstores are giving it prominent shelf position - often with staff recommendations. I generally put a lot of stock in the reviews of these two publications, but I was very disappointed this time. The plot itself had a lot of promise, but none of the possibilities touched upon were ever fully fleshed out. The story was begging for a book three times as long with three times the detail. If some of the other reviewers are correct in their assertions that the author primarily writes children's books, it explains quite a bit about the simplistic (and to be honest, quite bland) prose. Buy it for your preteen kid(s) - or better yet, borrow it from the library.
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