Customer Reviews

The Floating Girl

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Japanese-American Rei Shimura leaves her San Francisco home where her family lives to immigrate to Japan. She hopes to find work as a museum curator. Though she speaks the language fluently and has family in the country, Rei learns that it is almost impossible for foreigners to attain a decent job. Determined to remain in her the country of her ancestors, Rei opens up an antique business. She scouts flea markets and estate sales for merchandise to sell to foreigners interested in Japanese antiquities. Rei supplements her income by writing articles for the Gaijin Times, an English language magazine targeting the foreign population residing in Japan.

When the editor leaves the magazine, the owner decides to change the format so that the Gaijin Times would look like the popular manga art form seen in comic books and animation. Rei is persuaded to write an article about the daujimshi, amateur works of popular comic book icons such as Mars Girl. However, her straightforward human-interest story takes a homicidal twist, one that Rei is determined to solve. She dearly wants as an exclusive for her magazine.

THE FLOATING GIRL is a special novel that immerses the audience into Japanese culture. It is fascinating to see all the subtle ways a foreigner is discriminated against by citizens who treat the immigrants as pesky guests who have outstayed their welcome. The heroine's determination to live in Japan despite the xenophobic sentiment is laudable. The entertaining mystery has many red herrings and unexpected turns, but the heart of Sujata Massey's compelling story resides in the characters who make living in Tokyo that an exciting but realistic adventure.

Harriet Klausner

Fans of Sujata Massey's Rei Shimura mysteries will surely be eager to read the latest entry in the series, so I'm happy to report that "The Floating Girl" doesn't disappoint. This time, Rei is taking a break from her usual antiques business to write an article about the world of manga (Japanese comics) for a Tokyo-based English language magazine. Along the way, she meets a lot of colorful characters...many of them in costume (these people take their comics VERY seriously!). This is a hip, fun series and Rei is a delightful heroine. Can't wait for the next one!

As with all of Sujata Massey's Rei Shimura books, we are immersed, not only in a mystery, but also in the mysterious culture of Japan. Here, in the fourth book, the particular focus is the world of Japanese animation, where rape is standard fodder for a comic book and even the Japanese are unsettled by extreme fans dressed up as characters. We also spend a surprising amount of time with foreign (non-Japanese) male strippers and even a few gangsters; all of which is to say that "The Floating Girl" seems just a wee bit extra exotic compared with the first three books. Even the sex, which Massey has always kept a few notches above the norm for "cozies" seems just a little spicier here. Following Rei Shimura's adventures has always been an exciting exploration of both traditional Japan, as well as its hip modern side, and this book continues in that mode. Fan's of Rei Shimura will welcome this addition, but I'm inclined to believe that the series is best appreciated starting from the beginning at "The Salaryman's Wife", an approach that allows for a gradual exposure to Japan and Rei.

This book was poorly written in the sense that the conversations just didn't make sense. Immediately upon meeting a character, Rei would ask them - "who do you think is the killer? do you think it is your boss" etc. If you read this book, you will understand how unrealistic the main character is as an investigator. Also, the dialogue is stilted. Sometimes there is a use of informal contractions, but in the same conversation, characters will switch back and forth from formal language. However, this book is a very interesting description of modern Japanese culture and may be worth reading for this aspect alone. Unfortunately, I became impatient with the way this book was written overall, and could not get past the first half. Perhaps the author should simply write nonfiction accounts of Japanese life.

I am a big fan of Sujata Massey who is a thoroughly nice person in addition to being a good writer. Her Rei Shimura series has been fun as well as educational in the customs and culture of Japan. Unfortunately, this outing suffers from some sloppiness in plotting.

Rei (pronounced Ray) is getting used to a new boyfriend for whom she has somewhat ambivelant feelings. She is trying to increase her antiques business during the slow eastern economy by writing articles for the Gaijin Times, a Japanese paper aimed at foreigners living in Japan. This strategy has worked for her so far, but when the editor quits, the owner decides to try a new format based on Manga (Japanese comic books). The shift in story material has Rei searching for a way to write about antiques in comic book style. She decides on writing about collectible Manga and falls headlong into murder and mystery while researching her story.

The subplots are all woven together here, but they involve very diverse characters who don't seem to work together very well. The characters also seem to be more two dimensional than usual. Rei deals with college students, gangsters, strippers and an assortment of regulars like her boyfriend's family and her friendly police Lieutentant. The different personalites come hard and fast and leave the reader grasping for plot straws, only to wind up holding too many red herrings.

The story was interesting in that I got to see what was happening in Rei's life and, as ususal, I learned more about Japan. But the slack plotting left me feeling that this mystery was more of a mess than anything else. I would recommend reading the series in order if you've not read Massey before. This book was entertaining in some ways, but frustrating in others, so I think having a foundation in the character's past helps. I don't think that this book should be skipped, just read with an eye to learning more about the protagonist and Japanese society. Overall, the mystery wasn't bad, just a bit muddled.

I just love this series. It is so completely different, so calming and yet so very interesting at the same time, that at last I can use the word "unique" without spouting a cliche.

In this, the fourth book in the Rei Shimura series, our heroine, half Japanese, half American, is up to her kimono in trouble, as usual. Deciding to supplement her antiques business by writing a monthly column in The Gaijin, a newspaper largely read by foreigners in Japan, she learns to her dismay that the publisher is about to change the format. Instead of Rei's usual scholarly works, he wants her (and the others on the staff) to write in the form of a "manga," the wildly popular Japanese comic books.

Rei, who doesn't even know what a manga is, is quickly drawn into the fascinating, almost cultish world of Japanese animation and comic books--where obsessive fans think nothing of walking the streets dressed as their favorite character(s), and where would-be comic book artists are encouraged to draw their own versions of their favorites with no fear of reprisal from the publishing companies.

Rei's submersion into this sub-world leads her, of course, straight to a murder. With her tenacious American side battling her demure Japanese side, Rei throws herself into the mystery in typical fashion--and winds up embroiled in the feared Japanese underworld.

Simply a delight from start to finish...this series is perfect for summertime reading!

I liked it, but having read the earlier chapters of the series, I was left a bit unfulfilled.

The first 3 books by Massey were fascinating, and this one has more of the cultural insights that her character Rei Shimura puts forth during the course of her day that stick to the roof of your mouth, quite good to chew on. Nearly every encounter, be it plot related or a background story, is an opportunity to learn about the customs and mores of Japan. You actually are as astonished as Rei is at the rationale behind some of the behaviors, you are there with her and share her confusion and feelings. Read them all just for that reason. I have to confess to be a lover of comics, not necessarily manga, and that part of the story interested me also -- if you are, too, read it for that information.

Unfortunately, the stories' climax was rather mundane, and thuddingly completed -- though suggested during the course of the story, the ultimate villain made me shrug my shoulders, and I hoped for the other subplots finishes would redeem a weak resolution to the main story. And Rei whined more than complained in this story compared to the others, it seems.

Massey's other books also offered up ordinary people with ordinary, but perhaps classic motives for their crimes, as this one also does. But they were all well paced, involved other parts of Rei's life and career, seemed more suspenseful/dangerous, and more relevant. In particular, her coworkers at her writing job in this adventure were perhaps in more of the book than they were needed. The Yakuza connection in too little, the one direct encounter chilling.

Hopefully, the character Fish will return, and more will be done with Takeo and his sister, the chemistry there is volatile. Lt. Hata was underused. The preview of the next book at the end of this one gives me hope!

All the good series (e.g., 87th Precinct, Kay Scarpetta) seem to have their rough spots, this one falls in that category, but was still a good enough read.

Sujata Massey has chosen the mysterious world of Japanese Manga - animated "cartoons" that usually depict science fiction and fantasy scenes often rated "X" - as the setting for Rei Shimura's latest adventure.

Her business in Japanese antiques temporarily set aside for a foray into journalism, Rei gets an eyeful when she's caught up in the murder of a gaijin (foreigner) student who sees the success of one of these cartoon series as a way to a fortune. Unfortunately, uglier circumstances intervene.

Rei shows many facets of her personality in this new story. She is still not truly comfortable in Japan - her "mixed race" status prevents that. Readers also find out that her poor reading and writing skills prevent her from getting her dream job in a museum. The author still has her floundering somewhat, making mistakes and generally causing trouble - will readers ever see Rei in more comfortable situations? Her new boyfriend may even turn out to be unreliable. It makes for creative plot situations, that's for certain.

The conflicts in Modern Japan are again clearly delineated - the traditional polite society juxtaposed against the outlet of cartoon books representing gruesome sexual situations and violence, especially against women. The author pulls no punches in describing this apparent contradiction, hinting that this non-conventional society has existed for some time in Japanese culture.

Massey's ability to create believable characters while having them involved in unsavory situations (including a clutch of less than upstanding, law-abiding types) is the hallmark of this series. Not much is rosy in Rei Shimura's world; she is usually strapped for cash, her lovelife is so so, and she is often discriminated against. The author keeps the reader caring about her and her struggles to succeed - not always easy to read, but satisfying nevertheless. With four books out already, readers will want to keep up with Rei's adventures.

I enjoyed the book, but am hoping the earlier novels are better. I've been to Japan quite a few times and there were some passages that made me laugh out loud. For example there is a time or two where Rei is asking questions of some Japanese people, but getting answers to different questions. That's so typical.

However, there are a couple of things that aren't plausible. At one point, Rei goes jogging. Keep in mind that it's summer in Tokyo--in fact, she's jogging later in the day than usual and mentions how muggy it is. In a short time she has to be covered in sweat. She ends her run early, but does she go home to shower and change her clothes? No. She hops on a train and goes to a college to ask some questions.

Rei speaks fluent Japanese, but can't read it. Her boyfriend translates the kanji in the comic books for her. By the end of the book which spans--maybe two weeks--her boyfriend tells her that her kanji reading has improved greatly. Yeah, right.

If you enjoy Japan I think you will enjoy this book. I'm not sure the seamy side of life in Japan is quite so sinister, but it is fiction.

this review is for all the people into anime, manga, and cosplay:
(read any of the other reviews for plot synopses...I don't need to reiterate any of that)

what can I say? I love this Sujata Massey for writing this book! I have adored the Rei Shimura series since I first picked up Zen Attitude! I went back and found Salaryman's Wife, and then picked up Flower Master when it came out...and of course, I hunted like mad for Floating Girl when it came out. I didn't even bother to read the jacket because I knew I would love it no matter what. Well, Ms. Massey knocked me right out of my chair when I read it! She decided that she would cement herself as my favorite writer by writing about my most favorite subjects, Manga (Japanese comics) and Cosplay (costuming as japanese comic/cartoon/videogame characters)! As a cosplayer I was very disturbed by certain parts of the book, but I enjoyed that! it really brought me more into the story. Thank you, Sujata Massey! I can't wait to read the Bride's Kimono!

I recommend Floating Girl to anyone who likes anime, manga, or cosplay. even if you aren't into mysteries that much, try this out! I am sure you will love it! You don't even have to have read her previous novels! tho, I do recommend those too ^_^ they are wonderful!