Customer Reviews

Bundori

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is my second Laura Joh Rowland book and like the one I read before (Perfumed Sleeve), I found this book to be pretty interesting and its murder-mystery premises to be entertaining and easy to follow. Once more, Sano Ichiro goes forth against all evil to overcome and solved the crime.

I think this is a pretty decent book and it could have been better if the main villian wasn't so one dimensional. The Yanagisawa character proves to be very cardboard like in its characterization. Once more, I think that the author's understanding of Tokugawa politics appears to be very limited. Nobody with Yanagisawa's personality and tact as described in the book would last very long in samurai politics. Another thing is that the author seem to think that homosexual politics was paramount within the Tokugawa bakufu. Unfortunately for the author, homosexual activities in Japan was no more and probably no less then those in Europe. Why an all powerful Yanagisawa would ever fear a relatively nobody just because the Shogun seem to be mildy fond of him proves to be totally illogical. Another interesting oversight was the fact that Sano wears a Tokugawa crest when he works. That crest alone, would historically give him almost unlimited powers. No mere police officials would stand in his way or anyone's way if that individual was wearing the Tokugawa crest on his back. It appears that the author seem to be putting artifical elements in her story to created artifical dangers for her hero.

While good reading overall, the writing proves to be relatively lightweight in material and plot.

Bundori is the 2nd installment in Laura Joh Rowland's Sano Ichiro series. Having secured shogun Tsunayoshi's favor in the first book, Sano has been elevated to "sosakan" level, kind of the chief investigator to the court. The main mystery plot involves a killer who is collecting "bundori" war trophies based on a century-old betrayal of the first shogun, Oda Nobunaga.
Sano must find the killer, while avoiding the wrath of the jealous chamberlain Yanagisawa, the allure of the mysterious priestess/ninja Aoi, and a host of uncooperative samurai and citizens.
Strengths:
Throughout the book are colorful descriptions of old Edo (now Tokyo) that give a sense of place. Rowland evokes the five senses, as well as inner senses with respect to atmosphere. I liked that there was action in the city aside from the investigation, such as the riots and resulting fire that burned throughout the latter portion of the book. This gave me the idea that there were other things happening outside the life of Sano. Rowland gives detailed physical descriptions of characters. Her use of history and cultural notes pulls one into the period. I also liked the sexual tension between Sano and Aoi, with love interest possibilities, plus the addition of the loyal Hirata as a sidekick.
Work areas:
The mystery ends up not nearly as compelling as the numerous subplots that surround it. As an antagonist, Yanagisawa basically has no redeeming qualities. There were times when Sano, an educated and intelligent man, acted so thickheaded that I wanted to throttle him. While the sensual details worked, Rowland needs work on showing emotions rather than telling them. There were also instances of someone saying something in Japanese, then translating it themselves into English, such as "Okashii ridiculous." I also can't let slide this gem of dialogue: "Dirty saboteur! Who are you working for, you agent of evil and darkness?"

Still, I enjoyed the period detail and the pacing was gripping, keeping me moving the story. I'm looking forward to watching these characters grow and eager to find out what happens next.

This book seemed to explore too many avenues and had the usual formula to cover up the "who did it" scenario in a murder mystery. Sometimes I was quite disturbed with the sexual subject matter. The authour did spend sometime researching and giving fantastic imagery to medieval Japan. So I felt I was enlightened in that respect. The ending is really rushed and not conventional. I thought is was weak and the overall story was robbed because of it.

I read a lot of the reviews before buying this and I can see why the audience is split. Some find this engrossing, some just tedious. My MOR ruling is that it is indeed tedious in places but captivating in others. The historical 'feel' is good, the character tensions enough to keep the plot moving, and the sex scenes provide the necessary interludes. My criticism is that in striving for an antique feel, the author slips into antique language [my favourite was a ghost who talks about 'making dung'] and this can be quite jarring [especially in the sexual interludes, where characters are large of member, dark of nipple].
All in all, acceptable for a plane ride but I don't see collecting the entire set.

Laura Joh Rowland's "Bundori" continues the saga of young Sano Ichiro, hero of her earlier novel "Shinju." While "Bundori" opens with Sano enjoying the fruits of his successful murder investigation in the earlier novel, he finds his enjoyment tempered by several burdens.

First and foremost, Sano has advanced through the ranks to become a valued-but-low-ranking member of the Shogun's vast entourage. While to an outsider, such a station would be an unmitigated pleasure, particularly in the hyper-class-conscious culture of Japan under the Tokugawa Shoguns. Unfortunately, the rigid code of Bushido, which all samurai must honor with their very lives, demands that a subordinate can never contradict a superior official . . . and Sano is now surrounded by superior officials.

The strictures of Bushido are difficult to bear under the most hum-drum of circumstances, but the code becomes quite the lodestone for Sano when he is assigned by the Shogun as the chief investigator of a recent murder. An aged, loyal aide to the Shogun has been horribly murdered, decapitated with one sword cut. The lopped-off head has been put on a spike as a seeming war trophy -- a "bundori" -- with an obscure name attached to it on a scrap of paper. As a famous investigator, Sano is charged with discovering the murderer.

But this task is made just about impossible by the fact that several of the suspects are Sano's superiors, including the jealous, all-powerful chamberlain - second only to the Shogun in terms of temporal power. Not only is the chamberlain a suspect, he fosters an outright hatred of Sano and seems to be actively opposing the investigation, although his motives for his hatred aren't clear.

In a brief novel (340-odd pages, but with a big font), Rowland keeps things going at a quick pace. Themes of duty and honor predominate, but Rowland still finds time for torrid romance, quick humor, and several chilling passages where we lurk inside the mind of the murderer, a horrifying killer whose murderous fantasies involve battles and slights from over 100 years in the past. Rowland's Japan comes through with clarity and with beauty on every single page.

While perhaps a pedestrian mystery (something along the lines of Sharon Kay Penman's medieval mysteries), "Bundori" is still a darn good read and a worthy sequel to her highly enjoyable "Shinju." I'm definitely looking forward to diving into the later works in this series.

In BUNDORI, Sano Ichiro takes on his next official assignment as the Shogun's Most Honorable Investigator of Events, Situations, and People. This time he's searching for a bizarre serial killer who seems to be living in the past, presenting the heads of his slain enemies as "war trophies" in tribute to his lord. Once again, as in SHINJU, Rowland gives us a terrific read -- more thriller than whodunit. And she gives us a lot of info on society and everyday life in medieval Japan. She creates an AMAZING sense of place, combining the societal info with her excellent descriptions: "A haze of pale foliage added brightness and life to the city's drab brown thatched or tiled roofs. Cherry trees, in full blossom now, spread rosy clouds over the banks of the many canals, formed solid bands of radiant color along the broad, muddy Sumida River, and turned the hills beyond the castle into a breathtaking wash of pink and green. Their fragrance scented the air with an elusive, poignant sweetness. In the distance, high above the city to the west, rose Mount Fuji's serene, snowcapped peak."

I found the detailed sex scenes a bit distasteful, but they did contribute to the sense of character and to the tension. These books are a tremendous amount of work. Rowland can be very proud. Great entertainment. These books are very well done.

Having started the stories of Sano Ichiro with Shinju, I decided to progress onto the second book instead of jumping around in the series. I found the book to be enjoyable in both its changes and simularites.

The story takes place just a couple of months after Shinju. Sano is learning his way around the ways of Edo Castle and his new lord, Tokugawa. When the Bundori killings begin (bundori is the ritual preparation of the head of one's enemy in the time of war. A war trophy), Sano is assigned to arrest the murdered.

Not only does the murder plot, steeped in the history of one of the most notorious generals in the rise of the Tokugawa dynasty, engage the reader and keep the reader off guard, the polical development of the story is rich and shows the venonous trends of life in Edo Castle.

The story adds a number of interesting characters to the tapestry of Rowland's Edo. Hirata is competent and a good potential assistant to Sano. Aoi adds a new dynamic to the entire setting. She is strong and has her internal conflicts than carry on through the story.

There is more to the book than plot and an interesting setting though, the end of the story sees a genuine change in the character. I definitely look forward to reading Way of the Traitor to see how that change is carried on to the next story.
The book is a good and entertaining read.

I usually don't read mysteries, but I had recently purchased another one of the Sano Ichiro books. I lent it to a friend while I was reading another story, and she gave it high praises, so I decided to purchase more of Laura Joh Rowland's books. This one was one of them. I was at first suprised to find so much detail as to the gore and sexual exploits of some of the situations. I just couldn't put the book down. The twists and turns that Mrs. Rowland takes you through in order to get to the killer had me rivoted to the pages. I would highly recommend any of Mrs. Rowland's books regarding Sano Ichiro to anyone.

I have to say that I was disappointed in this book after reading all the wonderful reviews the publisher reprinted inside my copy. It just did not match up to all the praise heaped upon it.
The plot was unimaginative, and the characters stereotyped. Despite the way the other characters praised him, Sano's supposed drive for justice did not shine through, and there were times when he seemed downright thick. Or maybe we've all read too many detective novels by now . . . But I am pretty sure his habit of explaining what he has discovered in his investigation to everyone he happens to meet is not a good thing to do. And I could not believe that he and Aoi loved each other. Like so many things in this book, that just came out of nowhere, and then disappeared again. And do we foresee trouble on the horizon when Sano is caught between Reiko and Aoi? Yawn.
I did enjoy the setting, because it was so different to anything I have read about before; though I'm unclear about whether some aspects, such as the ninja, should be taken with a grain of salt. A historical note at the end would have been much appreciated. My enjoyment of the setting was undercut, though, by Rowland's over-explanation of every single point that today's audience might be expected to have a little difficulty with. Just letting the action and conversations flow and keeping the explanations to a minimum would have been a far more effective way to evoke the period. I do understand that warts-and-all evocation of times gone by would result in characters a modern audience would find it difficult to sympathise with, but I sometimes thought Rowland went a little too far in her appeal to a modern sensibility - e.g. the doctor's attitudes, Sano's immediate acceptance of and respect for Aoi's intellect, his questioning of Bushido at the end.
I'm not sure if I will read any more of Rowland's books. I'm tempted to, because of the setting and because I like to give authors another chance. However, the sexual nastiness in Bundori was gratuitous and offensive, and I'm not sure I could take any more of it. Quite apart from that, how can we respect an investigator who supposedly has a drive for justice yet tries to rape a woman just because he's angry with her?

The Denver Post reviewed "Bundori" saying, "Sano may carry a sword and wear a kimono, but you'll immediately recognize him as an ancestor of Philip Marlow or Sam Spade." This review is fitting in more ways than one.

While the characters and concepts behind this book promise a brilliant novel, the plot is uninspired and could easily be translated to take place in 1930's L.A. And while the descriptions of the settings and characters were vivid, the dialog lacked the extensive rhetoric and polite double-talk of Japanese samurai and courtiers of the period.

An excellent setting, but a dull story.