Customer Reviews

The Salaryman's Wife

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

Sujata Massey's maiden effort (and 1998 winner of the Agatha Award for Best First Novel) is a fast paced look at morals and murder in modern-day Japan. Readers are immediately introduced to Rei Shimura, a Japanese-American woman teaching English in Tokyo. Facing the prospects of being "Christmas Cake" (you'll have to read the book to find out what this means) Rei figures a vacation is in order, and books herself a New Year's trip to Shiroyama, where she expects to prowl the antique shops and visit the ancient temple. Instead, she has the misfortune of stumbling upon the body of a fellow guest at her "minshuku," the family-run inn where she's staying. Rei soon discovers the peril of being involved in a murder investigation while also being "gaijin" (Japanese for foreigner - not a term of endearment in The Land of the Rising Sun).

During the course of the investigation Rei begins a new love affair, is pursued by the ubiquitous Japanese media (who know a juicy story when they see one), and comes way too close to what's going on, for police and guilty parties alike. Ms. Massey ties all these elements together in a tidy, well-told tale that is an engaging "whodunit" as well as an enlightening introduction to a society that is still rather unforgiving of outsiders.

I found the "love/hate" relationship Rei seems to have with herself as well as those around her to ring very true, and Ms. Massey's flair for no nonsense dialog fits right in with this aspect of the character. The author allows the obvious situations to remain understated, and the final unraveling of the mystery proceeds to an unexpected conclusion which readers will find has been hinted at all along. And don't expect to be swept along on a lyrical Japanese journey of discovery...that's not happening here.

I appreciated the snippets of Japanese that are included as part of the narrative, including "jinglish," or Japanese English, which is not-so-slowly creeping into the la! nguage. Also interesting were the glimpses of the seedy side of life in Tokyo, both in the dubious drinking establishment Rei encounters during her inquiries into the murder, and her own neighborhood. Ms. Massey gives her readers an intelligent, lively heroine in Rei Shimura, and both author and character are delightful additions to the mystery genre.

Finally - don't miss Rei Shimura's next adventure - "Zen Attitude" - just out!

If you live in Japan, this book is a page turner from beginning to end. If you don't, well there still may be a good enough mystery to make you read this book in one marathon session as I had done.

There is a definite attraction here for past, present or future "gaijin" readers. As a Tokyo resident, I found the setting of Tokyo to be a refreshing change to the usual English language mystery. Add to that a protagonist I can identify with as a fellow gaijin, and it was an instant success with me. I couldn't put it down, from the time I began reading it on the train back home until early in the morning when I finally finished reading.

Unfortunately, I found the mystery part of the story a little lacking. Without the attraction of setting and character, I would probably not have been so enthusiastic to finish. The mystery was basically solved for me one third of the way through the book. Like any good detective Rei focuses on the little details, but unfortunately the author is a little too selective with what details she allows her characters to focus on. Aside from this, the writing is well done and descriptive, but there seems to be a little Japan bashing going on at times.

So if you are, will be or have been a foreigner in Japan or have an interest in Japan, then I strongly suggest you get this book. If you are none of the above, it is still a good read and you will learn a thing or two about Japan to boot.

Sujata Massey's "The Salaryman's Wife" is a wonderfully witty and insightful suspense novel which looks into the cross-cultural differences between Japan and the West. It does so by comparing the ancient and isolated Japan to the ultra modern and commercial Japan, a distance which is not only measured by time, but to the extent that beyond the highrises of Tokyo not all that much has changed. The eyes of the reader are those of Rei Shimura, an American teaching English in Tokyo. What makes Rei a more creditable witness to the events of this thriller is that she is more than "gaijin" (Japanese word for foreigner), she is "konketsujin" (Japanese word for one who is half Japanese and half foreigner). The basic plot as explained by the synopsis above is correct. Rei Shimura finds herself inadvertantly involved in a murder mystery by accidentally discovering the corpse of a woman staying at the same inn that she is staying at for the holidays. By way of misunderstandings and mistrust she is lumped into the murder investigation and by use of her western upbringing she doubts the outcome of the initial findings of the police. The plot twists on from this point and the reader is ensnared in the escapades that Rei Shimura finds herself involved in to prove that more exists to the death of "the salaryman's wife".

As a foreigner living in Japan, I have to say that the characters of Rei, her gay roommate, her love interest, the foreigners shown in Tokyo and Yokosuka, the Japanese outside of Tokyo and in smaller more isolated areas of Japan, and locations are depicted by an intimate acquaintance. As I read this novel I saw myself in the heart of Tokyo, at the Japanse Alps as I was this past winter, walking through a checkpoint I go through everyday, shopping at a specific shoppers plaza, in intense Engish language tutorials as the teacher thrust on the mercy of her students whom are never shy about asking personal questions. This is what makes the novel work. The plot is good and while obvious to some, the reader is caught up with images of Japan, Tokyo and it's culture that to someone who has never been to Japan should not take lightly.

This suspense thriller breathes this story. The only sense that this book does not attack is the sense of smell. Japan is a place unto itself which holds a special scent all it's own, part exotic spice carried in the wind and the modern scents of cities and industrialization. As you read this thriller close your eyes at certain points and see if you can imagine yourself in the ancient and modern world that is Japan.

I am an expat living in Tokyo, and I picked this book up with a natural interest. It is not very often that you have a good book based on the city written in the language that you understand. I am also a big fan of detective novels, and the fact it is a mystery was an added bonus. After I blazed through the book, I have mixed feelings about this book.
The mystery part of this book is rather average. It has some interesting twists but it is basically a by the numbers mystery book. Which in itself is OK, since we are reading a story, not a puzzle. A good mystery is good not because it is a complicated puzzle, but because it is a good story.
Most likely, you will either love or hate this book for its portrayal of Japan. If you have not been to Japan, you will probably like what you read. Ms. Massey does a fine job putting exotic touches to her story. But make no mistake. Rei Shimura's Japan -- an ultimately Ms. Massey's -- is a foreigner's Japan. It is the Japan viewed from an outsider's point of view, not from insider's, and it appears that some reviewers who lived in Japan either loved or hated Ms Massey's portrayal. I think it is natural, because Japan is a very complex and mysterious country for a foreigner to figure out. You ask 10 foreigners about their impressions of Japan, and you are likely to get 10 different answers. I don't have problem with Rei Shimura or her attitude towards Japan, because I know many people here who are just like her, and the book is faithful in that sense.
What I do have a problem, however, is the character development. I feel most of them are terribly underdeveloped, and I had a hard time caring for the characters. I just did not sense the feeling of despair, desperation or tension from any of the characters even when I am supposed to. There are some unlikely turns of events that felt unnatural, and so did the reactions of characters in many situations. The book does have a nice pace, moving places briskly, but I think Ms Massey ended up sacrificing some opportunities for us to understand more about the characters.

To be fair, I must point out you may feel different. One of the reasons I couldn't get into the character is, ironically, because I know too much about the people in the book. Rei Shimura is not very different from people I meet regularly, and my imagination was not working exactly overdrive during the book. The same applies to the setting. If I haven't been to Japan, I may have felt differently.
Overall, I think it was an enjoyable read with some crispy dialogs. I will probably get another book to see if the series improves as it builds onto the characters. But at this point, I must say the book is ultimately unsatisfying.

On a last note, if you are interested in a good mystery novel with a Japanese setting, I highly recommend "All She Was Worth" written by Miyuki Miyabe and perfectly translated by Alfred Birnbaum (as always.) The mystery and the quest to solve it is much better developed, and above all, it has an excellent tale to tell -- a haunting story that lingers with you afterwards.

This strong first novel is narrated by Rei Shimura, a young half-Japanese woman teaching English in Tokyo, who becomes unwittingly involved in the investigation into someone's death. The whodunnit aspects of the tale are handled well, and the characterization is strong -- after all, it's hard to make the plot interesting if the reader doesn't care about the people to whom the plot happens. Rei Shimura, although initally a little prickly -- ultimately proves a very engaging guide to a side of modern Japan that most tourists or movie-goers will never see. Massey has spent quite a bit of time in Japan, and the book is filled with details of setting and culture that give it a different flavor than anything else i've ever read. The sense of place very strong.

What really sets The Salaryman's Wife apart from most genre fiction is that it also works on a thematic level. Without giving too much away, i think it's safe to say that the conflicts in the novel stem primarily from the clashes of Eastern and Western culture. In one scene, Shimura asks a lover whether he thinks of her as American or Japanese. "Both" he replies, which ticks her off -- but he's more right than he knows. Rei Shimura is a combination of the two cultures, and represents, perhaps, a potential solution to the conflict. Fiercely independent, she refuses to bow as expected to the men who dominate the culture, instead acting in ways that, ultimately, force them to respect her. Yet at the same time, her knowledge of Japanese language and manners allows her to function much more effectively in the society than a gaijin. Shimura herself realizes this only gradually -- she does quite a bit of growing up in the course of events -- and this added depth gives the novel a resonance which makes it even more satisfying.

The Salaryman's Wife is an unusual book--a universal appeal murder mystery with a distinctly Asian American feel. Sujata Massey's hip, female, Asian American, 20-something protagonist spins the story from Japan's mountain ranges to the backstreets of Tokyo in a riveting, page-turning style that will make readers late for work.
First-time writer Massey's protagonist, Rei Shimura, grew up in the States and is ekeing out a meager existence as a salaryperson in a crappy neighborhood in Tokyo. Her accented Japanese gives her away as a foreigner, and her parents have reserved her a plane ticket back to the States, but she's determined to stick it out in Japan--even when she winds up in the middle of a murder mystery.
Massey weaves a clever plot, told in a witty style and graced with turns and twists. The characters are well-developed and artfully rendered, and the dialogue is authentic. And though the salaryman's wife gets top billing, the book's true star is Rei. She's the perfect accidental private-eye: a quick, tough, fast-talker. The reader is treated to an unusual look at Japan--as seen through the eyes of a no-nonsense Asian American female who drops references to Trainspotting, has her own theme song by the Lemonheads and collects antiques on the side. Kudos to Sujata Massey for a good book, and a main character worthy of an A. Magazine Cover.
A. Magazine Oct/Nov 1997

Having lived in Tokyo for the past year, I could identify with a lot of Rei's (the main character) observations. Some other reviewers call it racist or xenophobic. I just call it honest. Only by living among the Japanese (most likely not on a military base) can one really begin to see beneath the polite exterior.

In addition to the spot-on observations about life in Japan, the story really moves and keeps one guessing. I especially enjoyed Rei's personal struggle in trying to decide whether she was Japanese or American -- something that maybe only people of diverse backgrounds (or those who are close to others with diverse backgrounds) can appreciate.

Bottom line: great story, and fascinating cultural commentary. I'll definitely read more of Massey's works.

I was bothered by stilted, unrealistic dialogue and completely unsympathetic, stereotypical characters. Her knowledge of Japan was off in a few spots. The only thing good was the plot was involved enough to keep me reading, but I kept wanting to say to people around me, "Listen to this! It's so bad you've got to hear it!" I'm baffled that this has apparently turned into a series.

There are two of the funniest sentences I've ever read on the first page of this book. Mysteries are pretty formulaic and part of what makes them interesting is the setting, and the setting of this mystery in modern Japan is fascinating. She also pulls off something Agatha Christie did frequently in her books - the identity of the murderer is a total surprise. And then, when you look at it again you see the author was fair, and the evidence was in front of you all along. Very nice.

This was a wonderful story and the setting was very erotic and the characters seem very realistic. I liked the staging of contemporary Japan. This book incredibly combines facts about Japan and the role of women within the Japanese society. A great mystery with cultural explanation mixed with romance...what more could you want? A wonderful story!