Three Views of Crystal Water

Filled with intriguing lore on pearls, their history and magic, and traditional Japanese swords, this coming-of-age story is told with a subtle and elegant simplicity, the writing exquisite and clear as sparkling water. When Vera helps Ikkanshi test an ancient sword by holding it in a stream to see if it can cut floating leaves, Govier explains, "they focused only on the task itself, and not its meaning," thereby imparting a feel for an archetypal Japanese artistic view without having to state it baldly. Later, in a final testament, Vera's grandfather tells the wondrous story of how he traded everything for a single pearl of incomparable size and possibility only to see it all disappear in an attempt to attain perfection. This fine novel creates a world of depth and feeling, one that brings together the mountains and seas of Japan, the sea's nacreous jewels, and the intriguing life of a young, spirited woman. --Mark Frutkin