Customer Reviews

Across the Nightingale Floor, Episode 1: The Sword of the Warrior (Tales of the Otori)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

One mark of a great book is that you come to see the world as the characters do; the rhythms of the sentences become the rhythms of your own thoughts, and the prevailing mood of the book becomes your own. The knowledge and wisdom of the writer comes to life in you as if conceived in your own imagination.

Because of this, TALES OF THE OTORI (this is the first book in that series) easily ranks with any major work of fiction in the last century -- most directly "Lord of the Rings" (another trilogy, which Auden said exceeded "Paradise Lost" in its grasp of evil). Deceptively simple, the prose expertly mimics the cadences of classic adventure tales, evoking a time and place where the incredible is possible -- in this case, a mythical, medieval Japan. Characters develop literally fantastic powers, but still must live within a recognizable world with rigid rules, struggling both to understand and to conquer their own limitations. The main character is Otori Takeo, a boy on the cusp on knowledge. The main journey is the book is his -- but equal to him is Shirakawa Kaede, a girl who resists being dominated by men in a time and place where men have almost complete domination. Her wiles and will are counterpart to Takeo's ability and determination, and their story is utterly, completely captivating. But it is the telling of it that makes it especially compelling: the prose is that peculiar mix of majesty and melancholy characteristic of much Japanese art, whether painting (Sesshu is referenced many times in the text) or poetry, and Hearn describes the world she creates with tremendous energy and economy.

It's a fantastic adventure, absolutely, full of riveting action and written with page-turning verve...but the mood of the book stays with you long after the last page is turned, and when you awake, it is as if from one the characters' own fever dreams: everything seems a little clearer, more precious, more beautiful and fragile. That is the true gift of any writer, in any time. I've read the series twice, and look forward to reading it again and again in years to come.

This novel was an utter delight to read, in my opinion. The characters, while stioc, were believable for the culture the author emulated. The subtlety of the political sparing and planning was excelent and I felt the sharp difference between the emotions felt by teh characters and what they showed in thier actions and words were portrayed quite well.
The classic peasant hero figure, found in Takeo, is a universal symbol and is made especially poigniant in the context of the feudal society he is set in. The truely intruiging aspect to me was his conection to the Tribe, a form of outsider class that is both respected for it's abilities and reviled for it's lack of adherance to political mores of society. It made for a wonderful internal conflict with in Takeo that was mirrored beautifuly in the external struggles of the characters competing for Takeo's loyalty.
I strongly recommend this book to any one that is intersted in political warfare, complex characters, or just a good rich reading experiance. I know i can't wait to get my hands on the rest of the series.

Oft is told the tale of the Bildungsroman. Here we have the quintessential coming of age story, albeit tinged with a bit of ornate Japanese elements.

This book will take you into feudal Japan, beset with Lords, servants, obeisance, and tyranny. But, be ever watchful for bright expressions of honor and nobility. The writing is at times colorful, but aimed more at conveying the story than taxing the reader with having to resort to linguistic gymnastics.

If you're looking for a pleasant escape to the land of the rising sun, during a period fraught with political intrigue, warrior nobility, and enough sword slashing to please any Shogun fan, then this is certainly a read (non too difficult mind you) that you shall enjoy.

I bought this book as a present for a friend's young daughter, and she raved about it so much I thought I'd read it too. The adventures of Tomasu were so captivating that I was transported in a way that I haven't been since I was little, and reading C.S. Lewis and Tolkien. Anyone (kid or grown-up) who is willing to let their imagination run wild will devour Lian Hearn's books!

Plot Summary: Set in a fictional land resembling feudal Japan, a teenage boy is the only survivor after a warlord invades his isolated village. Rescued by Lord Otori and renamed Takeo, he becomes the lord's adopted son, and undertakes training to become a warrior. In a parallel story, we learn about Lady Kaede Shirakawa, who has been held hostage since she was a young girl. Kaede has developed into a beautiful young teenager and her negligent guardian has decided to marry her off. She's obedient on the outside, but inside she's miserable and rebellious.

I think Lian Hearn did something really smart with Across the Nightingale Floor. She based it upon a period and a culture that were fascinating to her - feudal Japan - but she didn't bog herself down with actual history, and instead she invented her own setting. There are three countries on an island nation nominally ruled by an Emperor, but friction between fiefdoms and clan wars are a way of life. So are Japanese customs like honor, family, and obedience, which means that these characters can't say `to hell with this' at any point and rebel. Everyone is constrained by unspoken rules and customs, which sets up perplexing problems down the road.

This is a young adult series, which is fitting because the two lead characters, Takeo and Kaede are both teenagers themselves. So far, Takeo was fairly straightforward and predictable, but Kaede is a seething volcano of teenage angst mixed with very real fears for her own future. I found her far more interesting of the two, although Takeo is the one with the superman-like, ninja powers. He's the kind of character who is seemingly invincible, and he is his own worst enemy. I'm curious to see where Ms. Hearn takes this in the next book.

I am completely confused by the structure of the series. From what I understand, there are five books in the Tales of the Otori series, but each `book' is split into two episodes. So what I'm reviewing now is episode one of book one. Next week I'll review episode two of book one. I'm not sure why they felt the need to divvy it up this way, but I will say that the little books are enchanting to hold. The paperback is very small, about the size of my hand, with tissue-thin paper, and it lends itself well to the content of the story.

This is a fun series. I don't see why they split the books up, though. Get the original format!

It exceeded my expectations. I love books set in a feudal Japanese context and this evokes the period wonderfully although it features an intriguing fantasy element. A wonderful find and I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.

Very interesting book. Gives you a better understanding of the warrior class and women's role in the Japanese society during that period. Looking forward to to Liam Hearn's future books.

The book opens with Takeo talking about his mother, and his life in the village he called home. Little time passes before Lord Iida Sadamu oh the Tohan and attacks the peaceful village of the Hidden, slaughtering it's people.Takeo, the soul survivor runs for his life and is saved by Otori Shigeru who takes him in.

It is easy to be swept away by the story that takes place in long ago Feudal Japan. Lian vividly describes the beauty of the land. The characters are strong, willed people who are brought to life with great traditional story telling.
The entire series is fast moving, taking you from when Takeo was just a boy who knew little about the art of fighting, to fulfilling a prophecy spoken of by a blind woman. This is a terrific book to read on a rainy day. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys vivid scenes.

I'm not sure what that other reviewer is talking about, but to each his own. This book is well-written, gripping, moving, intriguing and full of life and mystery. I love the whole series. My boyfriend and I read it aloud, for which it is particularly suited.