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calbowen's review against another edition
4.0
This is an enjoyable read.
The Bare bones essence is that an ex-samurai turned police investigator in an ancient period of Japan investigates a murder dressed up as a suicide.
First, it is a mystery like all mystery novels. Intrigue, politics, conspiracies, and the entire gambit.
Second, it is in a feudal era of Japan, so it takes on a different flavor in that.
The story is sometimes a bit over-laden with Japanese history and defining of terms when they get used, but for the most part, the flow is nice. I could imagine that the right company could do a film of this, or possible one of the others in the series of novels.
Samurai Detective sounds funny, until you actually get lost in the story, which was easy to do. Pick this one up if either genre is in your wheelhouse.
The Bare bones essence is that an ex-samurai turned police investigator in an ancient period of Japan investigates a murder dressed up as a suicide.
First, it is a mystery like all mystery novels. Intrigue, politics, conspiracies, and the entire gambit.
Second, it is in a feudal era of Japan, so it takes on a different flavor in that.
The story is sometimes a bit over-laden with Japanese history and defining of terms when they get used, but for the most part, the flow is nice. I could imagine that the right company could do a film of this, or possible one of the others in the series of novels.
Samurai Detective sounds funny, until you actually get lost in the story, which was easy to do. Pick this one up if either genre is in your wheelhouse.
hungrybookah0lics's review
4.0
Transported to the Edo period and back. 'Twas difficult to put this book down, wanna devour its contents at top speed to know what happens next.
verbminx's review
3.0
Perilously balanced between 2 and 3 stars, but given the benefit of the doubt because it was a first novel and a lot of research went into it (it's set in Edo--Tokyo--in the 1690s). Parker's Akitada series is compared to these for good reason, but so far I find Akitada, with his temper, more sympathetic than Sano, who is idealized in comparison. Parker's prose style is also more polished than Rowland's was at this point. Both Sano and Akitada have the problem of being an "exceptional" hero in a way that's calculted to appeal to mainstream modern tastes and mores: Sano doesn't engage in homosexual encounters, and while Akitada does cheat on his wife in a way that would have been at least marginally acceptable in his society, he doesn't consider taking a second wife.
An issue that I'm having with Rowland's books that may keep me from getting much further in the series than Bundori, the sequel to Shinju, is the representation of gay characters in general. In each, there's a villainous character who engages in explicit, deviant same-sex encounters (something kinkier than just gay sex, which is no big deal in Sano's world and social class). It's problematic to me to see something like that without positive representation to balance it; when it's a plot point in more than one successive book, it comes off as homophobic. It does tie closely into the plot of Shinju, which is why I wouldn't suggest omitting it completely... I just think Rowland could have handled it better than she did at the time.
An issue that I'm having with Rowland's books that may keep me from getting much further in the series than Bundori, the sequel to Shinju, is the representation of gay characters in general. In each, there's a villainous character who engages in explicit, deviant same-sex encounters (something kinkier than just gay sex, which is no big deal in Sano's world and social class). It's problematic to me to see something like that without positive representation to balance it; when it's a plot point in more than one successive book, it comes off as homophobic. It does tie closely into the plot of Shinju, which is why I wouldn't suggest omitting it completely... I just think Rowland could have handled it better than she did at the time.
jennthelibrarian's review
3.0
I'm a voracious reader, but my reading skills lately have been the pits. This cold winter weather getting anyone else down in the dumps?
I finally finished a book last night, from the stack of books that have yet to be finished. This particular one, Shinju, by
Shinju, by Laura Jo Rowland
Laura Jo Rowland, was supposed to be done for mystery book club two weeks ago. Ooops.
Shinju follows beginning investigating police office (of sorts, his official title is yoriki) Sano Ichiro in 17th century feudal Japan. Sano, a samurai/school teacher by trade, has been given this position by his supporter, a position he is initially unsuited for. He's not bad at what he does- no, it's that he's a little too good at what he does, especially when things should be better left untouched, as his boss requests.
Sano is supposed to write a closing report on a shinju, or a double romantic suicide. Typically shinjus are when two people of different classes fall in love. Knowing their love will never survive and their families will not accept the relationship, the lovers commit suicide. This shinju looks like a suicide, but Sano is hesitant to close this case- and for good reason. Sano will risk everything: his job, his name, his parent's reputation, and the lives of others, to solve this case.
The back cover of the book has a quote saying how "exotic" it is, and I suppose for some who are not familiar with the time period, it could be. My senior thesis for my history major in college was on a facet of Japanese history, so this particular era was familiar. For me, reading this book brought me back to my studies and I was thrilled to be immersed in 17th century Edo (now Tokyo). This is a world that is much different than ours, and much different than even 17th century Europe. Led by the Tokugawa regime, the government is a military dictatorship with strict rules. Religion, philosophy, and culture, for the new reader, may seem odd or strange. For several of our book clubbers, how Sano struggles throughout the book to justify his need for revenge and thirst to solve the mystery with his filial piety (extreme devotion to one's elders, especially parents) and what is expected of him, was weird and unnecessary. But this is something a man of his time would have struggled with, and is realistic.
Many commented that the writing style was a bit elementary, but this is Rowland's first published work, and will develop further in the series. Is this a masterpiece of mystery writing? No, but it was enjoyable for what it was. More important to me than the mystery was the setting and time period, which I felt Rowland was spot on with.
Rating: 3 of out 5 stars. Enjoyable, but unnecessarily dense in some places where the plot line could have moved faster. Loved the time period and setting.
See you in the stacks,
Jenn
I finally finished a book last night, from the stack of books that have yet to be finished. This particular one, Shinju, by
Shinju, by Laura Jo Rowland
Laura Jo Rowland, was supposed to be done for mystery book club two weeks ago. Ooops.
Shinju follows beginning investigating police office (of sorts, his official title is yoriki) Sano Ichiro in 17th century feudal Japan. Sano, a samurai/school teacher by trade, has been given this position by his supporter, a position he is initially unsuited for. He's not bad at what he does- no, it's that he's a little too good at what he does, especially when things should be better left untouched, as his boss requests.
Sano is supposed to write a closing report on a shinju, or a double romantic suicide. Typically shinjus are when two people of different classes fall in love. Knowing their love will never survive and their families will not accept the relationship, the lovers commit suicide. This shinju looks like a suicide, but Sano is hesitant to close this case- and for good reason. Sano will risk everything: his job, his name, his parent's reputation, and the lives of others, to solve this case.
The back cover of the book has a quote saying how "exotic" it is, and I suppose for some who are not familiar with the time period, it could be. My senior thesis for my history major in college was on a facet of Japanese history, so this particular era was familiar. For me, reading this book brought me back to my studies and I was thrilled to be immersed in 17th century Edo (now Tokyo). This is a world that is much different than ours, and much different than even 17th century Europe. Led by the Tokugawa regime, the government is a military dictatorship with strict rules. Religion, philosophy, and culture, for the new reader, may seem odd or strange. For several of our book clubbers, how Sano struggles throughout the book to justify his need for revenge and thirst to solve the mystery with his filial piety (extreme devotion to one's elders, especially parents) and what is expected of him, was weird and unnecessary. But this is something a man of his time would have struggled with, and is realistic.
Many commented that the writing style was a bit elementary, but this is Rowland's first published work, and will develop further in the series. Is this a masterpiece of mystery writing? No, but it was enjoyable for what it was. More important to me than the mystery was the setting and time period, which I felt Rowland was spot on with.
Rating: 3 of out 5 stars. Enjoyable, but unnecessarily dense in some places where the plot line could have moved faster. Loved the time period and setting.
See you in the stacks,
Jenn
pattydsf's review against another edition
3.0
Rowland wrote almost eighteen books about Sano Ichiro over a twenty-year period. For most of that time, I purchased fiction for my local library system. Rowland’s mysteries consistently got good reviews, so I always made sure that the library had a couple of copies. I am not a big mystery fan and I never had any real reason to read these books myself. There are always too many books and too little time.
However, as I was preparing for my trip to Japan, this title came up as an ebook. The advantage of ebooks is that I can carry one or twenty on my iPad and I am not carrying any more weight. I love ebooks. I never have to live in fear of running out of books again.
I am sorry that I waited so long to read this mystery. I find the samurai period of Japanese history to be fascinating and this book gave me a way to get some history with a side of crime and intrigue. It was a great choice to read after our ten days in Japan.
I may try to find some more books in the series.
However, as I was preparing for my trip to Japan, this title came up as an ebook. The advantage of ebooks is that I can carry one or twenty on my iPad and I am not carrying any more weight. I love ebooks. I never have to live in fear of running out of books again.
I am sorry that I waited so long to read this mystery. I find the samurai period of Japanese history to be fascinating and this book gave me a way to get some history with a side of crime and intrigue. It was a great choice to read after our ten days in Japan.
I may try to find some more books in the series.
mollyringle's review
4.25
Murder mystery part was good, but I especially liked the atmosphere of 17th century Japan - well done and immersive. Would be interested to read more in this series.
alicia_elizabeth94's review
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
moira_desu's review
adventurous
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0