haia_929's review
2.0
This is a trimmed down version of my review, to view the full review visit The Book Ramble.
When Nori Tanaka signs up for SASS all she's looking for is an escape from the reality of her parent's impending divorce. What she finds in Japan is new friends, new family, and a lot of complication. She quickly gets entangled in a love triangle, hurts some friends, and spirals from the fear of her family falling apart. When she goes for a week long home stay with her distant relatives Nori begins to deal with her home life, the mistakes she's made, and the disconnect she's felt in Japan all along. Can she take what she learns in Kyoto and fix everything before she has to go home?
The book is corny and heavy on that fake-y teen drama that often clogs up the YA world. There is some serious contemplation on aspects of culture in this book that a lot of other SASS books kind of miss the mark on as well. I mean...this one does to but there is some interesting stuff about the divide that faces people like Nori who are ethnically Japanese but raised in America so they don't feel like they fit in either place. I just wish that had been more important than the ridiculous love triangle. It was that cheesiness and bad plotting that really let this book down.
Nori spends most of her time in Japan lying about who she is, and getting tangled in a complicated set of relationships with 2 fairly uninteresting and unlikable guys from the SASS program. This quickly becomes the focus of the book and we wind up ignoring the issues that really matter like Nori's parent's divorce and the sort of cultural dissonance Nori is feeling on her first trip to Japan.
The writing is simple in this book. It's an easy read, especially as it focuses on those kinds of predictable teen romance aspects. The whole thing only takes a couple hours to read. It was enjoyable for the most part I just felt left down by the lack of depth to anything in this book
It's an alright read, I'm just too disappointed to rate it any higher than this. The SASS books are all just sort of enjoyable but still bad books so this comes as no surprise.
When Nori Tanaka signs up for SASS all she's looking for is an escape from the reality of her parent's impending divorce. What she finds in Japan is new friends, new family, and a lot of complication. She quickly gets entangled in a love triangle, hurts some friends, and spirals from the fear of her family falling apart. When she goes for a week long home stay with her distant relatives Nori begins to deal with her home life, the mistakes she's made, and the disconnect she's felt in Japan all along. Can she take what she learns in Kyoto and fix everything before she has to go home?
The book is corny and heavy on that fake-y teen drama that often clogs up the YA world. There is some serious contemplation on aspects of culture in this book that a lot of other SASS books kind of miss the mark on as well. I mean...this one does to but there is some interesting stuff about the divide that faces people like Nori who are ethnically Japanese but raised in America so they don't feel like they fit in either place. I just wish that had been more important than the ridiculous love triangle. It was that cheesiness and bad plotting that really let this book down.
Nori spends most of her time in Japan lying about who she is, and getting tangled in a complicated set of relationships with 2 fairly uninteresting and unlikable guys from the SASS program. This quickly becomes the focus of the book and we wind up ignoring the issues that really matter like Nori's parent's divorce and the sort of cultural dissonance Nori is feeling on her first trip to Japan.
The writing is simple in this book. It's an easy read, especially as it focuses on those kinds of predictable teen romance aspects. The whole thing only takes a couple hours to read. It was enjoyable for the most part I just felt left down by the lack of depth to anything in this book
It's an alright read, I'm just too disappointed to rate it any higher than this. The SASS books are all just sort of enjoyable but still bad books so this comes as no surprise.
shandelier_'s review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
It caused me to have a reading slump!
The book actually intrigued me at first and I impulsively bought it because the summary on the back fascinated me.
Well, it turns out that it was excruciating to read. The characters were so boring. I didn't even connect to the main character's personality. She's downright annoying and make poor choices all throughout the story.
The pacing also sucked, like it's fast but slow at the same time. I just don't get it. It had a very good concept for a book, however, it was executed poorly and it made a wonderful idea go to waste.
Luckily, I was able to push through it.
The book actually intrigued me at first and I impulsively bought it because the summary on the back fascinated me.
Well, it turns out that it was excruciating to read. The characters were so boring. I didn't even connect to the main character's personality. She's downright annoying and make poor choices all throughout the story.
The pacing also sucked, like it's fast but slow at the same time. I just don't get it. It had a very good concept for a book, however, it was executed poorly and it made a wonderful idea go to waste.
Luckily, I was able to push through it.
liralen's review
2.0
Nori is off to Japan, by choice but not enthusiastically. She's less an exchange student than she is participating in a multicultural summer course, but she's hoping to connect with a bit of knowledge...and bit of heritage...and of course a lot of cute boy.
Now and Zen marks my halfway point through the S.A.S.S. series, and I'm finding -- unsurprisingly -- that I'm a lot happier with the heroines who are invested in the academic side of things and do not get caught up in a love triangle. There are plenty of interesting cultural tidbits here, but they tend to be overshadowed by Nori's very obviously going-nowhere relationship. (When you're lying to a boy to keep him interested, and he keeps fetishising geishas and the idea of you as a geisha, it's time to re-evaluate.) I wish she'd had more time to process family stuff and do a bit more maturing.
More general look at the series here.
Now and Zen marks my halfway point through the S.A.S.S. series, and I'm finding -- unsurprisingly -- that I'm a lot happier with the heroines who are invested in the academic side of things and do not get caught up in a love triangle. There are plenty of interesting cultural tidbits here, but they tend to be overshadowed by Nori's very obviously going-nowhere relationship. (When you're lying to a boy to keep him interested, and he keeps fetishising geishas and the idea of you as a geisha, it's time to re-evaluate.) I wish she'd had more time to process family stuff and do a bit more maturing.
More general look at the series here.
abigailbat's review
2.0
Nori Tanaka is getting away from her feuding parents and going to Japan on an exchange program. She didn't particularly want to go to Japan, she just wanted to go SOMEWHERE to get away from her parents. Now that she's in Japan, she wants nothing more than to forget about their impending divorce. And once she spies the uber hottie Erik from Germany, she thinks she's got the perfect distraction.
There's just one problem with being in Japan. Because she's Japanese-American, the foreigners all assume she's local. And the locals all know she's foreign. When Erik mistakes her for a Japanese girl, she doesn't correct him right away because she wants him to like her. And the longer the deception goes on, the harder it is to 'fess up. The worst part is that Nori is taking advantage of her new Japanese friend Atsushi. How did Nori ever get into this mess? And can she come clean with everyone and fix her mistakes before it's time to head home?
I found this book in the Students Across the Seven Seas series to be a bit harder to get into than Heart and Salsa, mainly because Nori wasn't a very likable character at the beginning of the book. True, she was dealing with a lot of confusion and anger about her parents, but she was rude to everyone and got caught up in a bunch of lies. By the end of the trip, though, Nori had figured some things out and was more prepared to deal with her parents and life in general. Like Heart and Salsa, I found the descriptions of the surroundings to be one of the most appealing elements of the book. A light read for those who love travel.
There's just one problem with being in Japan. Because she's Japanese-American, the foreigners all assume she's local. And the locals all know she's foreign. When Erik mistakes her for a Japanese girl, she doesn't correct him right away because she wants him to like her. And the longer the deception goes on, the harder it is to 'fess up. The worst part is that Nori is taking advantage of her new Japanese friend Atsushi. How did Nori ever get into this mess? And can she come clean with everyone and fix her mistakes before it's time to head home?
I found this book in the Students Across the Seven Seas series to be a bit harder to get into than Heart and Salsa, mainly because Nori wasn't a very likable character at the beginning of the book. True, she was dealing with a lot of confusion and anger about her parents, but she was rude to everyone and got caught up in a bunch of lies. By the end of the trip, though, Nori had figured some things out and was more prepared to deal with her parents and life in general. Like Heart and Salsa, I found the descriptions of the surroundings to be one of the most appealing elements of the book. A light read for those who love travel.
nataliesboooks's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
ladylondonderry's review
5.0
I never really can find many books based in Japan (that are written in English, that is), which is part of the reason why I jumped at the chance to read this book.
I haven't read many of the SASS series (only one or two others at the most, but then again maybe not any...), so I cant really compare this author to others, but I must say I did really relate with how she wrote it. At the time I read this I was a young teen, and I said "like" as much as any stereotype out there, and because of this the book seemed to be in my own dialect and was an especially easy read.
Honestly, I would not be nearly as interested if this book were to be based in, say, Finland or something (no offense whatsoever to the Finnish! I'm just making a point that you're not Japan), but because this book was based in Japan, and it often traversed the topic of recycling and being eco-friendly (as Japan is known for being), this book has earned a special place in my heart.
I haven't read many of the SASS series (only one or two others at the most, but then again maybe not any...), so I cant really compare this author to others, but I must say I did really relate with how she wrote it. At the time I read this I was a young teen, and I said "like" as much as any stereotype out there, and because of this the book seemed to be in my own dialect and was an especially easy read.
Honestly, I would not be nearly as interested if this book were to be based in, say, Finland or something (no offense whatsoever to the Finnish! I'm just making a point that you're not Japan), but because this book was based in Japan, and it often traversed the topic of recycling and being eco-friendly (as Japan is known for being), this book has earned a special place in my heart.
crystal_514's review
3.0
More like 3.5 stars! Super cute! and nice light fun read, it had some much deeper issues then I thought it would by looking at the cover and reading the synopsis. (Full review on blog soon)
candaceammielle's review
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
inkishkingdoms's review
4.0
Full review on:
https://inkishkingdoms.wordpress.com/2017/05/12/as-they-left-the-palace-nightingales-singing-a-sad-farewell-%e2%80%95-linda-gerber-now-and-zen/
“Now and Zen” is a nice reading for all the ages. It might be full of common topics, regular struggles, and regular teachings but its is so wonderfully reading and the experience that creates on the reader is amazing. Gerber take us to a millennial trip from the Hachiko Station to the NiJo Castle and its nightingale floor. Her own experience is clearly seen and the narration and style take us to those mesmerizing landscapes. We climb not only the Tokyo Tower and we see all the amazing lights of the sleepiness city of Tokyo, but also we are witnesses of the first sunrise of the world at the top of the amazing Fuji-san.
https://inkishkingdoms.wordpress.com/2017/05/12/as-they-left-the-palace-nightingales-singing-a-sad-farewell-%e2%80%95-linda-gerber-now-and-zen/
“Now and Zen” is a nice reading for all the ages. It might be full of common topics, regular struggles, and regular teachings but its is so wonderfully reading and the experience that creates on the reader is amazing. Gerber take us to a millennial trip from the Hachiko Station to the NiJo Castle and its nightingale floor. Her own experience is clearly seen and the narration and style take us to those mesmerizing landscapes. We climb not only the Tokyo Tower and we see all the amazing lights of the sleepiness city of Tokyo, but also we are witnesses of the first sunrise of the world at the top of the amazing Fuji-san.