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51st out of 65 books
—
69 voters
Midori by Moonlight
by
Wendy Tokunaga (Goodreads Author)
Midori Saito's dream seems about to come true.Too independentfor Japanese society, Midori is ayoung woman who has always felt like a stranger in her native land.So when she falls in love with Kevin, an American English teacher, she readily agrees to leave home and start a new life with him in San Francisco--as his fiancée.Kevin seems to be the perfect man. That is, until h...more
Paperback, 256 pages
Published
September 18th 2007
by St. Martin's Griffin
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I know I'm shallow, but I was mainly attracted to Midori By Moonlight because of the cover: moonlight, cupcakes and a cute outfit on the illustration! Also I love the title and the book is set in San Francisco, one of my favourite cities.
Fortunately, the book is just as cute as its cover. Midori moves from Japan to marry Kevin, an American she met out there. Unfortunately, Kevin reignites an old flame at his and Midori's engagement party, leaving Midori both heart-broken and stuck in San Francis...more
Fortunately, the book is just as cute as its cover. Midori moves from Japan to marry Kevin, an American she met out there. Unfortunately, Kevin reignites an old flame at his and Midori's engagement party, leaving Midori both heart-broken and stuck in San Francis...more
My review for armchair interviews:
Chick lit has traditionally (if you can say that about a genre less than 20 years old!) portrayed a white woman living in New York/London fumbling through her love life while working in the publishing/fashion industry. Wendy Tokunaga's novel, Midori by Moonlight bursts forth as a leader and shining example of an emerging subgenre, multicultural chick lit. A modern tale with a hint of green tea and wasabi, this novel carries readers on a fast-paced journey they w...more
Chick lit has traditionally (if you can say that about a genre less than 20 years old!) portrayed a white woman living in New York/London fumbling through her love life while working in the publishing/fashion industry. Wendy Tokunaga's novel, Midori by Moonlight bursts forth as a leader and shining example of an emerging subgenre, multicultural chick lit. A modern tale with a hint of green tea and wasabi, this novel carries readers on a fast-paced journey they w...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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Although skeptical on how relatable it would be, I read it anyway. SO glad i did! I love this book!
The setting, for me, sold the book immediately. Based in San Francisco, landmarks, street names, everything was so familiar that I could easily pcture each location depicted in the book. The storyline made Midori's character more and more lovable with each page you turn.
Moving to a foreing country where you barely know the language (if at all), about to marry someone you fell in love with at firs...more
The setting, for me, sold the book immediately. Based in San Francisco, landmarks, street names, everything was so familiar that I could easily pcture each location depicted in the book. The storyline made Midori's character more and more lovable with each page you turn.
Moving to a foreing country where you barely know the language (if at all), about to marry someone you fell in love with at firs...more
I bought this book right after I finished reading Love in Translation last year because I loved it so much. Though it was fun reading Midori by Moonight, I have to say I enjoyed Love in Translation much better due to the premise.
Midori by Moonlight is a story of a thirty-year-old Midori Saito, whose dreams is to be married to a foreigner and live her life in America. She has no intention of becoming a housewife and to cater to her husband's every needs, and knowing that her goals might not fit...more
Midori by Moonlight is a story of a thirty-year-old Midori Saito, whose dreams is to be married to a foreigner and live her life in America. She has no intention of becoming a housewife and to cater to her husband's every needs, and knowing that her goals might not fit...more
This was just a fun book to read. Midori has always dreamed of marrying an American and thinks her dreams will come true when she meets Kevin in a language bar in Japan. Her dreams are shattered when she follows Kevin back to San Francisco where he tells her that he has reunited with his ex-girlfriend who was the reason he fled to Japan in the first place. Of course, the ex-girlfriend is news to Midori. Without knowing anyone and barely enough English to manage a life in San Francisco, Midori no...more
Perhaps I'm being too critical but the author missed the bus on this one.
Instead of having a plausable cause for the boyfriend to bring her to the States she goes for the age-old no reason, just an asshole. And instead of having his mother at least be sensible enough to care for the woman, they toss her out like last nights chinese food.
Oh and could someone please tell me why Shinji helps her? There is no reason given for his actions, not to mention the fact that he takes Kevin's (alright he d...more
Instead of having a plausable cause for the boyfriend to bring her to the States she goes for the age-old no reason, just an asshole. And instead of having his mother at least be sensible enough to care for the woman, they toss her out like last nights chinese food.
Oh and could someone please tell me why Shinji helps her? There is no reason given for his actions, not to mention the fact that he takes Kevin's (alright he d...more
So much fun I devoured it as if it were one of Midori’s cakes. Yum! Midori escapes the confining societal mores of Japan by following her gaijin fiancé to America only to be dumped by “Bad Man” Kevin before the wedding. She refuses to return to Japan. What’s a desperate cupcake-maker with broken English and no green card to do? Soap operas, a mysterious girl, Midori’s desserts, and a little help from the moon eventually lead to happiness in the U.S. Sweet and funny, with enough real vanilla to g...more
Japan meets America in San Francisco
With Midori by Moonlight, Wendy Tokunaga artfully weaves together Japan and America into an endearing novel that is as light as chocolate mousse and as sweet as marzipan. The characters ring true and the plot reveals situations that are plausibly hilarious. In addition to Midori, Shinji, and the other players, the City by the Bay itself emerges as a character, placing Tokunaga in a line of other fine novelists telling San Francisco stories. Pick the time and p...more
With Midori by Moonlight, Wendy Tokunaga artfully weaves together Japan and America into an endearing novel that is as light as chocolate mousse and as sweet as marzipan. The characters ring true and the plot reveals situations that are plausibly hilarious. In addition to Midori, Shinji, and the other players, the City by the Bay itself emerges as a character, placing Tokunaga in a line of other fine novelists telling San Francisco stories. Pick the time and p...more
This book had potential. The author gives us a lot of insight into Japanese culture: male-female relationships, the pressure to succeed. What the author doesn't give us is a plausible story. I never understood why Kevin brought Midori to the US? I couldn't understand Shinji's actions either. And why would Midori take the work she did and not explore any other options that would have allowed her to stay? What a nasty and degrading job she took.
I lost interest half-way through and skimmed to the e...more
I lost interest half-way through and skimmed to the e...more
I discovered this book thanks to Goodreads/Facebook friend and author Suzanne Kamata, who always has great book recommendations about Japan and Asia. Having lived in Japan for 3 years in the 1980s, I am always interested in books set there or about Japanese or Japanese-Americans.
I really enjoyed this story about a spunky, American- and baking-obsessed young Japanese woman (Midori) who becomes engaged to an American man, Kevin. Kevin reminded me of so many of the gaijin (foreign) men I met--who d...more
I really enjoyed this story about a spunky, American- and baking-obsessed young Japanese woman (Midori) who becomes engaged to an American man, Kevin. Kevin reminded me of so many of the gaijin (foreign) men I met--who d...more
This is a cute story about a Japanese girl who comes to the States with her fiancee only to be dumped after the engagement party. She turns to the only person who was nice to her at the party and ends up renting a room from him and working as a lounge girl in a bar that specializes in Japanese customers.
Midori likes making pastries and wants to find a way to get a green card so she can stay in the country.
Midori is plucky and encounters a number of odd circumstances to help her solve her problem...more
Midori likes making pastries and wants to find a way to get a green card so she can stay in the country.
Midori is plucky and encounters a number of odd circumstances to help her solve her problem...more
Link+ due 9/13
Midori is not a credible character. Rather than create a believable Japanese woman who wants to move to the United States and is stranded by an unreliable boyfriend, the author uses the old cliche of the misspoken (or miss thought) idioms.
Other problems:
- random inclusion of Japanese phrases where they wouldn't be used
- a complete lack of honorifics (even when Midori is thinking / or speaking Japanese)
- Although Midori is a "fish out of water" in San Francisco, she can easily orde...more
Midori is not a credible character. Rather than create a believable Japanese woman who wants to move to the United States and is stranded by an unreliable boyfriend, the author uses the old cliche of the misspoken (or miss thought) idioms.
Other problems:
- random inclusion of Japanese phrases where they wouldn't be used
- a complete lack of honorifics (even when Midori is thinking / or speaking Japanese)
- Although Midori is a "fish out of water" in San Francisco, she can easily orde...more
I really flew through this one! You just can't help but root for fish-out-of-water Midori as she struggles to stand on her own two feet after following her American fiance from Japan to San Fransisco, only to end up promptly dumped for his blond ex and stranded in the U.S. without a green card or much English-speaking ability.
The Japanese culture references are spot-on (except for one*), the author is witty, and of course like any other chick-lit you know from the start who she's going to end up...more
The Japanese culture references are spot-on (except for one*), the author is witty, and of course like any other chick-lit you know from the start who she's going to end up...more
For what it is, this book is pretty good! Entertaining and humorous... this quick read is the story of a young woman named, Midori, who is too independent for Japanese society.
After following her gaijin fiance all the way to San Francisco, her romance filled dreams of living permanently in America are quickly crushed when she finds herself dumped, short-changed, and looking for work on a limited visa.
But Midori's sense of humor and charm are what drive this book and ultimately help her get thr...more
After following her gaijin fiance all the way to San Francisco, her romance filled dreams of living permanently in America are quickly crushed when she finds herself dumped, short-changed, and looking for work on a limited visa.
But Midori's sense of humor and charm are what drive this book and ultimately help her get thr...more
Reviewed by Jennifer Rummel for TeensReadToo.com
Midori isn't having the best year. To escape her parents and the potential marriage prospects they throw at her, she agrees to marry an American and move to San Francisco. The night after the couple's engagement party, Kevin breaks off the engagement and Midori moves into a hotel.
Alone in a foreign country, she knows that nothing's waiting for her back home, so she decides to stay. She calls up the one man she met at the party and asks for advice....more
Midori isn't having the best year. To escape her parents and the potential marriage prospects they throw at her, she agrees to marry an American and move to San Francisco. The night after the couple's engagement party, Kevin breaks off the engagement and Midori moves into a hotel.
Alone in a foreign country, she knows that nothing's waiting for her back home, so she decides to stay. She calls up the one man she met at the party and asks for advice....more
Need a fun, easy, quick, mindless chick-lit read? Try this one- it's just what the Dr ordered. Perfect for the beach or stretched out on a lounge chair on the deck on a lazy Sunday afternoon.
This book was cute, but quite random. It was almost as if the author didn't really know how to finish the book about 3/4 of the way through, so she cooked up this random segue. I would honestly give it 2.5 stars though because her descriptions of the pastries that Midori makes all through the book were so vivid that I could taste the sugar, and I enjoyed the unique desserts and the French references to pastry shops throughout. I also found the insight into Japanese culture quite interesting. How...more
I loved this book! Chit-Lit at its best--and the main character is a Japanese girl! This book definitely put a smile on my face.
This was a great book! It was fast paced and a page turner. I finished it in an evening. I highly recommend it!
Hated this book. Grammar issues, poor storyline, and boring are descriptive phrases I would use.
Cute. A little different from typical chick lit in that it was told from the perspective of a young woman from Japan who has just arrived in the U.S.
Its a nice read,simple yet funny at times. Liked the insight into Japanese culture a bit.
Surprisingly fun, fluffy chick-lit. Enjoyed this a lot more than I expected to.
Nice enough to read, although not gripping as I hoped it would be.
I don't remember what this was about but I do know that I loved it.
Read my interview with Wendy at www.writeradvice.com
This is a fun read with a lot of heart. Loved it.
Cute, simple, predictable but sweet chick lit
Written by a friend of a friend.
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Wendy Nelson Tokunaga is the author of the novels, "Midori by Moonlight" and "Love in Translation" (both published by St. Martin's Press), and the original e-book novels, "Falling Uphill" and "His Wife and Daughters." She's also the author of the original nonfiction e-book, "Marriage in Translation: Foreign Wife, Japanese Husband." Her short story "Love Right on the Yesterday" appears in the antho...more
More about Wendy Tokunaga...
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Feb 16, 2008 01:33am
Feb 16, 2008 01:54pm