On the Narrow Road: A Journey into Lost Japan

Rating:
Summary: An Unsympathetic Account
Review: As a foreign woman who also lived in Japan for some years, I was interested to read Lesley Downer's book. I was disappointed, however, by the seeming lack of sympathy and "connection" with the Japanese people she met along the way and by her apparent inability or unwillingness in key situations to pay respect by "doing as the Romans do." As a J-E translator, I also wondered about the absence of credits for all the haiku and other quoted English text in the book --- it is clear that not all the translations are hers, yet no one else is referenced.
Her accounts of the northwestern mountains did make me want to visit that area, however. In general, however, I felt the book was overshadowed by a negativity about the Japanese and their values and ways. I wonder if she has ever wished she could rewrite the book with a bit more sympathy.
On a practical note, I think parts of the book are rendered unnecessarily difficult to understand and follow for someone with no Japanese language ability. For example, she continually refers to cicadas as "semis," when the English word would suffice and be clearer.
Nevertheless, I think this book would be interesting for anyone who has spent time in Japan and who has some Japanese language ability.

Rating:
Summary: An Unsympathetic Account
Review: As a foreign woman who also lived in Japan for some years, I was interested to read Lesley Downer's book. I was disappointed, however, by the seeming lack of sympathy and "connection" with the Japanese people she met along the way and by her apparent inability or unwillingness in key situations to pay respect by "doing as the Romans do." As a J-E translator, I also wondered about the absence of credits for all the haiku and other quoted English text in the book --- it is clear that not all the translations are hers, yet no one else is referenced.
Her accounts of the northwestern mountains did make me want to visit that area, however. In general, however, I felt the book was overshadowed by a negativity about the Japanese and their values and ways. I wonder if she has ever wished she could rewrite the book with a bit more sympathy.
On a practical note, I think parts of the book are rendered unnecessarily difficult to understand and follow for someone with no Japanese language ability. For example, she continually refers to cicadas as "semis," when the English word would suffice and be clearer.
Nevertheless, I think this book would be interesting for anyone who has spent time in Japan and who has some Japanese language ability.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent choice for fans of Matsuo Basho and/or haiku
Review: Lesley Downer retraces Matsuo Basho's famed 17th century journey to unknown northern Japan documented in his book "On the Narrow Road to the Deep North." Ms. Downer rediscovers a "lost" Japan. The journey and the writing are well worth the effort.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent choice for fans of Matsuo Basho and/or haiku
Review: Lesley Downer retraces Matsuo Basho's famed 17th century journey to unknown northern Japan documented in his book "On the Narrow Road to the Deep North." Ms. Downer rediscovers a "lost" Japan. The journey and the writing are well worth the effort.