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A Dictionary of Mutual Understanding
In the tradition of Memoirs of a Geisha and The Piano Teacher, a heart-wrenching debut novel of family, forgiveness, and the exquisite pain of love
When Amaterasu Takahashi opens the door of her Philadelphia home to a badly scarred man claiming to be her grandson, she doesn’t believe him. Her grandson and her daughter, Yuko, perished nearly forty years ago during the bombing of Nagasaki. But the man carries with him a collection of sealed private letters that open a Pandora’s Box of family secrets Ama had sworn to leave behind when she fled Japan. She is forced to confront her memories of the years before the war: of the daughter she tried too hard to protect and the love affair that would drive them apart, and even further back, to the long, sake-pouring nights at a hostess bar where Ama first learned that a soft heart was a dangerous thing. Will Ama allow herself to believe in a miracle?
When Amaterasu Takahashi opens the door of her Philadelphia home to a badly scarred man claiming to be her grandson, she doesn’t believe him. Her grandson and her daughter, Yuko, perished nearly forty years ago during the bombing of Nagasaki. But the man carries with him a collection of sealed private letters that open a Pandora’s Box of family secrets Ama had sworn to leave behind when she fled Japan. She is forced to confront her memories of the years before the war: of the daughter she tried too hard to protect and the love affair that would drive them apart, and even further back, to the long, sake-pouring nights at a hostess bar where Ama first learned that a soft heart was a dangerous thing. Will Ama allow herself to believe in a miracle?
292 pages, Paperback
First published July 16, 2015
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5281 people want to read
About the author
Jackie Copleton
4 books80 followersA Dictionary of Mutual Understanding is journalist Jackie Copleton's debut novel and is inspired by her time living in Nagasaki in the 1990s after completing a degree in English at Cambridge University. It is a Richard and Judy summer book club pick, was long-listed for the Women's Prize for Fiction and was a Radio 2 Book Club pick
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 721 reviews
November 22, 2015
3.5 Pikadon, pika meaning bright light and don, meaning boom. The word the Japanese use when referring to the bombing by the Americans of Nagasaki. This is where this story starts, the bombing which will cost Amaterasu her daughter and young grandson. She and her husband will move to America, no longer to bear the memories in their own country. Where forty years later a badly scarred man will arrive at her door claiming to be her grandson.
The effects of the bombing surrounds this story that goes back and forth in time. Secrets and betrayal are at the heart of this well told novel. We learn Amaterasu's back story as she attempts to find forgiveness for her actions and in an effort to make peace with her life. I loved at the beginning of each chapter and Japanese word or cultural more is explained, giving me an insight into their culture I hadn't had before.
It is hard to not be affected by this remarkable war and family story. I utterly despised Sato, who is the villain of the piece though he attempts to find redemption in his letters and in his adoption of a young child thought to be orphaned after the bombing. So many were, so many were deformed, so heartbreaking. A very profound and moving read.
ARC from publisher.
The effects of the bombing surrounds this story that goes back and forth in time. Secrets and betrayal are at the heart of this well told novel. We learn Amaterasu's back story as she attempts to find forgiveness for her actions and in an effort to make peace with her life. I loved at the beginning of each chapter and Japanese word or cultural more is explained, giving me an insight into their culture I hadn't had before.
It is hard to not be affected by this remarkable war and family story. I utterly despised Sato, who is the villain of the piece though he attempts to find redemption in his letters and in his adoption of a young child thought to be orphaned after the bombing. So many were, so many were deformed, so heartbreaking. A very profound and moving read.
ARC from publisher.
March 1, 2017
An elderly woman has a visitor claiming to be her grandson from Nagasaki, who she believes to be dead. The story unwinds through letters, diaries, memories, and several generations. I really enjoyed the structure of the novel, the way it started with a word from a dictionary and gave a definition and cultural context. I also think we talk far more about Hiroshima and very little about Nagasaki; I felt like I had learned a lot about the place and the people by the time the novel was through.
I'm putting it on my nomination list for my international book club because I think the conversation would be interesting! (ETA: They voted for it and we're discussing it at the February 2017 meeting.)
Additional reads I can recommend:
Nagasaki: Life After Nuclear War by Susan Southard
Ground Zero, Nagasaki: Stories by Yuichi Seirai
The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell
I'm putting it on my nomination list for my international book club because I think the conversation would be interesting! (ETA: They voted for it and we're discussing it at the February 2017 meeting.)
Additional reads I can recommend:
Nagasaki: Life After Nuclear War by Susan Southard
Ground Zero, Nagasaki: Stories by Yuichi Seirai
The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell
September 11, 2016
“A Dictionary of Mutual Understanding” is a breathtaking work of literary historical fiction. It’s a story detailing the life of Amaterasu Takahashi, born in the early 1910’s in Nagasaki to a poor couple. Amaterasu, aka Ama, lived through two world wars and knew the pain and heartache that war leaves it’s citizens, and how to be a survivor. Beyond historical fiction, it’s a literary domestic fiction work of forgiveness.
The story begins in modern day Pennsylvania, when Ama receives a male, badly scarred visitor claiming to be her grandson. Ama lived through the bombing of Nagasaki and lost her daughter and her grandson. She and her now deceased husband searched the bombed city for months looking for any sign of the two. They had come to terms with their loss. In their grief, they fled Japan, starting a new life in America.
This visitor, who claims to be her grandson, Hideo Watanabe, is now a teacher and an internationally known survivor of the Atomic bomb who travels internationally to educate people of the lingering affects of radiation. Hideo is badly disfigured and Ama cannot make any determination visually as to the conceivable fact. Hideo came baring a package that was to help Ama come to her conclusion that Hideo is in fact her grandson.
This unexpected meeting forces Ama to reminisce her past. In her ruminations, along with the contents of the package, the reader learns of Ama’s extraordinary life. As with all formidable lives, Ama’s past is filled with sorrow, unrequited love, decisions, and struggles that form a complicated life. Ama must come to terms with her past, forgive herself and others. She has a choice/decision to make.
Author Jackie Copleton writes beautifully and the reader is fully immersed into the Japanese culture. Copleton illustrates the social prodigal in the historical times. Furthermore, she delves into dark secrets and the difficulty in doing the correct thing in complex times. This would be a great book club read in that Ama made some choices that can be conceived as controversial. It’s a great book for differing opinions. I highly recommend it for those who enjoy historical fiction and domestic fiction.
The story begins in modern day Pennsylvania, when Ama receives a male, badly scarred visitor claiming to be her grandson. Ama lived through the bombing of Nagasaki and lost her daughter and her grandson. She and her now deceased husband searched the bombed city for months looking for any sign of the two. They had come to terms with their loss. In their grief, they fled Japan, starting a new life in America.
This visitor, who claims to be her grandson, Hideo Watanabe, is now a teacher and an internationally known survivor of the Atomic bomb who travels internationally to educate people of the lingering affects of radiation. Hideo is badly disfigured and Ama cannot make any determination visually as to the conceivable fact. Hideo came baring a package that was to help Ama come to her conclusion that Hideo is in fact her grandson.
This unexpected meeting forces Ama to reminisce her past. In her ruminations, along with the contents of the package, the reader learns of Ama’s extraordinary life. As with all formidable lives, Ama’s past is filled with sorrow, unrequited love, decisions, and struggles that form a complicated life. Ama must come to terms with her past, forgive herself and others. She has a choice/decision to make.
Author Jackie Copleton writes beautifully and the reader is fully immersed into the Japanese culture. Copleton illustrates the social prodigal in the historical times. Furthermore, she delves into dark secrets and the difficulty in doing the correct thing in complex times. This would be a great book club read in that Ama made some choices that can be conceived as controversial. It’s a great book for differing opinions. I highly recommend it for those who enjoy historical fiction and domestic fiction.
January 18, 2016
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My decision to request a review copy of Jackie Copleton's A Dictionary of Mutual Understanding was made blindly. I knew nothing about the author, I hadn't read a single review of the title and I'd no idea it was a debut piece. It wouldn't have mattered, I was sold on the subject matter, but I knew very little going into this book and was pleasantly surprised at what I discovered between its pages.
Amaterasu is an atypical protagonist. She's emotionally complex and intensely vulnerable. She possesses a quiet strength, but it is masked by intense guilt and the pain of devastating personal loss. She is an elderly woman when she is first introduced, but the bulk of the story takes place during the middle years of her life and I loved that. I don't come across many historicals that feature women past the age of thirty and as such, felt Copleton's effort refreshing in both concept and design.
Copleton's description of Pikadon is at times graphic and her treatment may make some readers uncomfortable, but I personally appreciated the author's candor and feel the novel stronger for its authentic portrayal of the bombing of Nagasaki. Copleton's thesis is about family, the decisions we make, and the repercussions we reap, but the setting humanizes the tragic reality of the one the WWII's darkest chapters.
As to the supporting cast, I greatly enjoyed Yuko, Kenzo, Shige, and Hideo, but Sato is nothing short of fascinating. It is clear that he is the narrative's antagonist, but Copleton writes him with an extraordinary amount depth. He is a convoluted personality that plays on multiple emotions and as a reader, I liked how he challenged me. I wanted to hate him outright, but the complexities of his motivations ultimately tempered my dislike with a certain degree of sympathy.
When all is said and done, I found A Dictionary of Mutual Understanding a poignant novel that seamlessly blends human emotion and historic fact. It is a somber narrative that beautifully recreates the human condition against the horrors of Nagasaki. Highly recommended.
My decision to request a review copy of Jackie Copleton's A Dictionary of Mutual Understanding was made blindly. I knew nothing about the author, I hadn't read a single review of the title and I'd no idea it was a debut piece. It wouldn't have mattered, I was sold on the subject matter, but I knew very little going into this book and was pleasantly surprised at what I discovered between its pages.
Amaterasu is an atypical protagonist. She's emotionally complex and intensely vulnerable. She possesses a quiet strength, but it is masked by intense guilt and the pain of devastating personal loss. She is an elderly woman when she is first introduced, but the bulk of the story takes place during the middle years of her life and I loved that. I don't come across many historicals that feature women past the age of thirty and as such, felt Copleton's effort refreshing in both concept and design.
Copleton's description of Pikadon is at times graphic and her treatment may make some readers uncomfortable, but I personally appreciated the author's candor and feel the novel stronger for its authentic portrayal of the bombing of Nagasaki. Copleton's thesis is about family, the decisions we make, and the repercussions we reap, but the setting humanizes the tragic reality of the one the WWII's darkest chapters.
As to the supporting cast, I greatly enjoyed Yuko, Kenzo, Shige, and Hideo, but Sato is nothing short of fascinating. It is clear that he is the narrative's antagonist, but Copleton writes him with an extraordinary amount depth. He is a convoluted personality that plays on multiple emotions and as a reader, I liked how he challenged me. I wanted to hate him outright, but the complexities of his motivations ultimately tempered my dislike with a certain degree of sympathy.
When all is said and done, I found A Dictionary of Mutual Understanding a poignant novel that seamlessly blends human emotion and historic fact. It is a somber narrative that beautifully recreates the human condition against the horrors of Nagasaki. Highly recommended.
March 26, 2016
It took me over half the book to work out why this wasn't quite working for me. This is exactly the kind of genre I love: a historical family drama spanning the years and exploring the various difficulties and secrets between relations. My biggest complaint was the author's decision to make our narrator, Amaterasu, omniscient, all-knowing and able to describe exactly how other people felt, exactly what they saw and what they were thinking, simply through reading a few letters and diary entries. If Copleton wanted to write about all the characters' thoughts, then she simply shouldn't have written this in first person, in my opinion. It makes Amaterasu's account seem disingenuous or dishonest, and I think this is the main reason I failed to connect with her family's story as much as I'd hoped.
In addition to that, I didn't find most of the plot believable and some of it was overly melodramatic. I'm also slightly confused over Sato's character, as personally I think he is despicable without any redeeming qualities, but I get the sense we are meant to feel some sort of sympathy for me.
Despite not loving this one, I would like to thank the publisher for sending me the review copy, especially as it is one of best formatted review copies I've ever received (not that I've received that many but still). Usually ebook review copies look fairly unfinished, but that wasn't the case here and it looked very professional.
In addition to that, I didn't find most of the plot believable and some of it was overly melodramatic. I'm also slightly confused over Sato's character, as personally I think he is despicable without any redeeming qualities, but I get the sense we are meant to feel some sort of sympathy for me.
Despite not loving this one, I would like to thank the publisher for sending me the review copy, especially as it is one of best formatted review copies I've ever received (not that I've received that many but still). Usually ebook review copies look fairly unfinished, but that wasn't the case here and it looked very professional.
May 27, 2016
A Dictionary of Mutual Understanding is about the devastation of war and the impact it had on one particular family, after an atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki.
I loved the style this book was written in and the way the story gradually came together. In places this was rather an emotional read, but overall a compelling story that felt very real.
The definitions at the beginning of each chapter were fascinating and gave me an insight in to Japanese culture, and how it differs so much from that of my own culture. Some of the views of women and their place in society made me grateful for the time and place I grew up, as I am lucky to have had so much more freedom and respect.
I think this would appeal to fans of both contemporary and historical fiction, and especially those who enjoy family sagas and stories that focus closely on a few specific well developed characters.
I would like to thank the publishers for a copy of this book, via THE Book Club (TBC) on Facebook, in exchange for an honest review.
I loved the style this book was written in and the way the story gradually came together. In places this was rather an emotional read, but overall a compelling story that felt very real.
The definitions at the beginning of each chapter were fascinating and gave me an insight in to Japanese culture, and how it differs so much from that of my own culture. Some of the views of women and their place in society made me grateful for the time and place I grew up, as I am lucky to have had so much more freedom and respect.
I think this would appeal to fans of both contemporary and historical fiction, and especially those who enjoy family sagas and stories that focus closely on a few specific well developed characters.
I would like to thank the publishers for a copy of this book, via THE Book Club (TBC) on Facebook, in exchange for an honest review.
October 19, 2016
Widowed Amaterasu Takahashi is living in Pennsylvania with nothing but alcohol to keep her company. She is surprised when a scarred man comes to her door claiming to be her grandson, Hideo. Ama believed her daughter and grandson had been killed when the atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki in 1945, although their bodies had never been found.
Ana has been living with guilt for her actions prior to the dropping of the bomb. The Takanashis had moved away from Nagasaki because the memories of their beloved daughter haunt them. Her daughter's diary, letters written by Hideo's adoptive father, and Ama's memories bring us back to prewar Nagasaki. The book is beautifully constructed with layer upon layer being peeled away as forbidden love, family secrets, and the horror of war are revealed.
At the start of each chapter, passages from a dictionary explain Japanese feelings, philosophy, or beliefs in Western terms. This look into Japanese culture helps the reader understand the actions of the characters. The book will appeal to readers who enjoy stories with family relationships, romantic entanglements filled with complications, and historical settings.
Ana has been living with guilt for her actions prior to the dropping of the bomb. The Takanashis had moved away from Nagasaki because the memories of their beloved daughter haunt them. Her daughter's diary, letters written by Hideo's adoptive father, and Ama's memories bring us back to prewar Nagasaki. The book is beautifully constructed with layer upon layer being peeled away as forbidden love, family secrets, and the horror of war are revealed.
At the start of each chapter, passages from a dictionary explain Japanese feelings, philosophy, or beliefs in Western terms. This look into Japanese culture helps the reader understand the actions of the characters. The book will appeal to readers who enjoy stories with family relationships, romantic entanglements filled with complications, and historical settings.
March 25, 2023
The story opens in the 1980s with protagonist Amaterasu Takahashi opening the door to a man who claims to be her grandson: “Even the kindness of the half-light could not hide his disfigurement." She and her husband had moved to the US after the atomic bombing of her hometown of Nagasaki at the end of WWII. She believed her daughter, Yuko, and grandson, Hideo, had been killed in the blast. He tells her he was reared by the Sato family (a family well-known to Amaterasu) from age seven and has no earlier memories. Amaterasu is dubious that this man is her grandson, but he arrives with documents, which she reads, prompting reflections about what happened so long ago.
This novel is pleasingly structured. By including Sato’s letters and Yuko’s diaries, we obtain the perspectives of those who cannot speak for themselves. The points of view change frequently among these sources and Amaterasu’s first-person memories. I found it an effective way to convey the multiple storylines and the complex interrelationships among the characters almost simultaneously, without relying on the ubiquitous dual timeline narrative technique. Another part of the structure I particularly enjoyed is the inclusion, at the start of each section, of the definition of a word describing Japanese culture, which is elaborated within the chapter.
It is a book that takes a bit of time to fully develop, but once it gels, it becomes a compulsive read. The backdrop of the bombing of Nagasaki (which the Japanese residents call Pikadon) produces an overarching atmosphere of sadness of lives cut short without any ability to heal harsh words or express love to those who have suddenly vanished. This theme is carried forward in the lives of the main characters, and in particular, the survivor’s guilt harbored by Amaterasu. The author skillfully inserts elements of hope in what could otherwise have been a profoundly depressing story. I found it emotional and moving.
This novel is pleasingly structured. By including Sato’s letters and Yuko’s diaries, we obtain the perspectives of those who cannot speak for themselves. The points of view change frequently among these sources and Amaterasu’s first-person memories. I found it an effective way to convey the multiple storylines and the complex interrelationships among the characters almost simultaneously, without relying on the ubiquitous dual timeline narrative technique. Another part of the structure I particularly enjoyed is the inclusion, at the start of each section, of the definition of a word describing Japanese culture, which is elaborated within the chapter.
It is a book that takes a bit of time to fully develop, but once it gels, it becomes a compulsive read. The backdrop of the bombing of Nagasaki (which the Japanese residents call Pikadon) produces an overarching atmosphere of sadness of lives cut short without any ability to heal harsh words or express love to those who have suddenly vanished. This theme is carried forward in the lives of the main characters, and in particular, the survivor’s guilt harbored by Amaterasu. The author skillfully inserts elements of hope in what could otherwise have been a profoundly depressing story. I found it emotional and moving.
July 15, 2020
On August 9, 1945 a new word entered the Japanese vernacular: pikadon. PIKA meaning brilliant light and DON meaning boom. It aptly described what Amaterasu Takahashi and thousands of others saw and heard in Nagasaki at 11:02 am. A brilliant light and then a boom. Ama lost her daughter and grandson on that fateful morning. They were everything to her. Pushing past the dead or dying and sifting through the ashes, she knew she would never see Yuko or little Hideo again. But nearly forty years later, a man—badly scarred and disfigured—knocked on her door bringing good news. “Please don’t be alarmed,” the stranger said. “My name is Hideo Wantanabe. It is good to see you Grandmother.” He left her a letter to read to get their journey started. A journey that would take Ama back to a tragic past and a man who would be the common thread to everyone she has ever loved and lost.
"A Dictionary of Mutual Understanding" is Jackie Copleton’s first novel and it truly is a hauntingly beautiful story. Using Ama as our narrator, we experience the horror when the second of two atomic bombs hit the city of Nagasaki on August 9th (the first hit Hiroshima three days prior on August 6th). Through Ama’s eyes, we witness the carnage, fear, destruction, chaos, and terror as survivors desperately searched for loved ones while the injured begged for water or aid. As our story progresses, we begin to learn more about Ama, her husband, Kenzo, and her daughter. Through Ama’s memories, as well as a series of entries in Yuko’s diary, we begin to understand the reasons behind Ama’s feelings of guilt and bitterness. She is a woman living a life of “What ifs” and “If onlys” and is constantly questioning her own maternal motives. Any parent will be able to relate to Ama and her need to shield her child from harm and heartache, but as the saying goes, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions” and Ama quickly realizes that protection often comes with a price.
Copleton gives readers a multi-layered story that is brimming with pain, loss, regret, and love. But the singular theme that runs throughout the story is hope. Whether you are extended it, enticed by it, or desperately hold onto it, hope has many faces: a grandmother looking for comfort, a scarred man searching for healing, a young wife waiting for her husband’s return from war, a lover wanting a second chance, or a city emerging from the rubble. Copleton gives us a poignant and touching story of hope and reminds us that it is when things are at their darkest that hope often comes knocking on our door.
"A Dictionary of Mutual Understanding" is Jackie Copleton’s first novel and it truly is a hauntingly beautiful story. Using Ama as our narrator, we experience the horror when the second of two atomic bombs hit the city of Nagasaki on August 9th (the first hit Hiroshima three days prior on August 6th). Through Ama’s eyes, we witness the carnage, fear, destruction, chaos, and terror as survivors desperately searched for loved ones while the injured begged for water or aid. As our story progresses, we begin to learn more about Ama, her husband, Kenzo, and her daughter. Through Ama’s memories, as well as a series of entries in Yuko’s diary, we begin to understand the reasons behind Ama’s feelings of guilt and bitterness. She is a woman living a life of “What ifs” and “If onlys” and is constantly questioning her own maternal motives. Any parent will be able to relate to Ama and her need to shield her child from harm and heartache, but as the saying goes, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions” and Ama quickly realizes that protection often comes with a price.
Copleton gives readers a multi-layered story that is brimming with pain, loss, regret, and love. But the singular theme that runs throughout the story is hope. Whether you are extended it, enticed by it, or desperately hold onto it, hope has many faces: a grandmother looking for comfort, a scarred man searching for healing, a young wife waiting for her husband’s return from war, a lover wanting a second chance, or a city emerging from the rubble. Copleton gives us a poignant and touching story of hope and reminds us that it is when things are at their darkest that hope often comes knocking on our door.
February 18, 2016
A heartbreaking story, but I enjoyed it. Review to come.
April 18, 2016
My thanks to Random House UK, Cornerstone and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review A Dictionary of Mutual Understanding by Jackie Copleton
This story is set before, during and after the atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki during World War II and alternates to the present day. Amaterasu Takahashi, a Japanese national is living in America when a man who claims to be her grandson arrives at her door one day. Amaterasu had believed that both her daughter Yuko and grandson Hideo, died on the day the Americans bombed Nagasaki. This story is relayed mainly through the characters of Amaterasu’s daughter, Yuko and Sato, her lover.
I haven’t read many novels relating to this horrific event in history and I found the characters very interesting and credible. Their stories were equally terrible and touching. It’s impossible to comprehend what the people of Nagasaki experienced on that day, the pikadon. Although, I felt this book was a slow burner to begin with, it was worth sticking with as it certainly picked up a lot towards the middle to the end and it was very well written. It touched on many themes such as a mother’s love and the lengths parents are prepared to go to in order to protect their children, forbidden love, secrets, loss and grief, regrets, forgiveness and ultimately hope for the future. Some of the descriptions of the initial aftermath of the bombing and the also the procedures performed on prisoners of war were difficult to read at times. The beginning of every chapter begins with a term from the dictionary which describes an aspect of Japanese culture and I really enjoyed reading these.
Overall, this story was an interesting and engaging work of historical fiction and I liked that I learned a lot about Japanese culture and this event in particular. I would be interested in reading more about this horrific event and historical period in the future after reading this book.
This story is set before, during and after the atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki during World War II and alternates to the present day. Amaterasu Takahashi, a Japanese national is living in America when a man who claims to be her grandson arrives at her door one day. Amaterasu had believed that both her daughter Yuko and grandson Hideo, died on the day the Americans bombed Nagasaki. This story is relayed mainly through the characters of Amaterasu’s daughter, Yuko and Sato, her lover.
I haven’t read many novels relating to this horrific event in history and I found the characters very interesting and credible. Their stories were equally terrible and touching. It’s impossible to comprehend what the people of Nagasaki experienced on that day, the pikadon. Although, I felt this book was a slow burner to begin with, it was worth sticking with as it certainly picked up a lot towards the middle to the end and it was very well written. It touched on many themes such as a mother’s love and the lengths parents are prepared to go to in order to protect their children, forbidden love, secrets, loss and grief, regrets, forgiveness and ultimately hope for the future. Some of the descriptions of the initial aftermath of the bombing and the also the procedures performed on prisoners of war were difficult to read at times. The beginning of every chapter begins with a term from the dictionary which describes an aspect of Japanese culture and I really enjoyed reading these.
Overall, this story was an interesting and engaging work of historical fiction and I liked that I learned a lot about Japanese culture and this event in particular. I would be interested in reading more about this horrific event and historical period in the future after reading this book.
November 29, 2015
"The Dictionary of Mutual Understanding" is a historical fiction book that has parts set both during the bombing of Nagasaki during World War II and about 40 years later. It's a debut novel that really packs a punch! The author takes on one of the most horrifying events in human history, the bombing of Nagasaki and turns it into a story of family and family secrets while still retaining the shock and outrage of the original event.
Because of the subject matter, the story is often difficult to read. This is a relatively short book but I had to keep taking breaks because the characters memories of the bombing made me want to take pause. I really like that the author was able to create realistic characters that made the entire story feel very real indeed to me. Our main character is now an older woman who is trying to still forget her past life in Japan during World War II. Her pain is still palpable and she has a hard time believing the man that shows up on her doorstep claiming to be her grandson.
The book is pretty well written. There are a couple places where I wish that we had a little more detail in order to really understand the feelings of the characters. At times, I felt like I was being held at a distance from the characters. Overall, this is a very powerful book that puts a human spin on what it actually felt like to have lived through the bombings and what it did to so many families. This book is a good pick for all of my fellow historical fiction fans.
Because of the subject matter, the story is often difficult to read. This is a relatively short book but I had to keep taking breaks because the characters memories of the bombing made me want to take pause. I really like that the author was able to create realistic characters that made the entire story feel very real indeed to me. Our main character is now an older woman who is trying to still forget her past life in Japan during World War II. Her pain is still palpable and she has a hard time believing the man that shows up on her doorstep claiming to be her grandson.
The book is pretty well written. There are a couple places where I wish that we had a little more detail in order to really understand the feelings of the characters. At times, I felt like I was being held at a distance from the characters. Overall, this is a very powerful book that puts a human spin on what it actually felt like to have lived through the bombings and what it did to so many families. This book is a good pick for all of my fellow historical fiction fans.
January 23, 2016
Jackie Copleton’s debut novel, inspired by her time living in Nagasaki, shines with a soft, poetic and sensitive light. Focusing on the long-lasting physical and emotional trauma of August 9th, 1945, it is also a heartbreaking story of love, and the relationship between a mother and a daughter.
Several decades after the A-bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, claiming the lives of her daughter and grandson, Amaterasu Takahashi comes face to face with a ghost from her past: a man scarred beyond recognition by the flames of that day. He claims to be her lost grandson, Hideo. As Amaterasu unravels the mystery of the past through letters from the doctor who adopted Hideo after the war, and the diary of her lost daughter Yuko, a complex web of lies, betrayal, passion and sacrifice emerges. Is Hideo her grandson, or is he an imposter?
Amaterasu, named after the primary god in Japanese mythology, is a difficult character. Her own desires blind her to the wishes of her daughter, and her love for her daughter makes her take steps to protect her that can, at times, appear extreme. As the past and the present interact with each other, the steady revelation of secrets, complicated relationships between the cast of characters, and the permeating sorrow and sadness make this a very compelling read: I could not put it down, even when the images of the destruction became unbearable.
I think this novel’s greatest strength is its attention to detail. Each chapter begins with an excerpt from An English Dictionary of Japanese Culture, giving insight into the characters’ feelings, the expectations of their society, and the motivations for their actions. It felt as though it was a Japanese novel that had been translated into English; even though it has been written by a foreigner, it is authentic and sincere, and it gives a balanced view of the tragic events of that day. Copleton refrains from politicizing the motivations behind dropping the bomb, choosing instead to focus on the lasting effects of that choice on ordinary Japanese citizens, their children, their families and their psychology. She also delves into the psychological effects incurred by committing atrocities during the war. I found that very interesting as well, as the lines between good and evil become blurred by duty, the question of free will, and the terror of war.
Primarily, this is a war story about the women affected by it. The men play crucial but background roles, while the women take the foreground. From abalone divers to geishas, nurses and artists, Copleton explores the many functions women play in Japanese society. She takes us into the intimate spaces of the women-only bath-house, where, unclothed and made equal by the stripping away of their assumed daily identities, the women can be their truest selves. While depicting them as sex workers, mothers and daughters, she also shows their strength of character and the lengths to which a mother will go to protect her family. The juxtaposition of the violence of war with the passion of the love story highlights the obstacles that they face. Copleton has masterfully created a layered and complicated, yet strikingly beautiful picture of Japanese life and love before, during and after the war.
It can be very difficult to give an authentic portrayal of a culture that is not your own. The nuances and ingrained cultural rules and behaviors are difficult to emulate. Copleton’s experience living in Nagasaki, and her evidently extensive research, have created a novel that feels both accurate as well as artistically sound. The descriptions ring with colour and music, and her characters are vivid and interesting. Their relationships ebb and flow with the forces of history and destruction. This novel is at times difficult to read. The violence and sorrow hit me at my core; but it is also impossible to stop reading. It is a strong reminder that such a catastrophe should never, ever, happen again.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I read an advance copy; the parts I have quoted may appear differently in the final version.
Even the kindness of the half-light could not hide his disfigurement. The man stood on my doorstep hunched against the chill of a winter morning. Despite the scarring, I could tell he was Japanese, in his forties or fifties. I had seen such burns before, blacker versions, in another life.
Several decades after the A-bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, claiming the lives of her daughter and grandson, Amaterasu Takahashi comes face to face with a ghost from her past: a man scarred beyond recognition by the flames of that day. He claims to be her lost grandson, Hideo. As Amaterasu unravels the mystery of the past through letters from the doctor who adopted Hideo after the war, and the diary of her lost daughter Yuko, a complex web of lies, betrayal, passion and sacrifice emerges. Is Hideo her grandson, or is he an imposter?
This was not the ending I wanted for any of us. Here was another monster raised from the rubble of Nagasaki. I did not believe him.
Amaterasu, named after the primary god in Japanese mythology, is a difficult character. Her own desires blind her to the wishes of her daughter, and her love for her daughter makes her take steps to protect her that can, at times, appear extreme. As the past and the present interact with each other, the steady revelation of secrets, complicated relationships between the cast of characters, and the permeating sorrow and sadness make this a very compelling read: I could not put it down, even when the images of the destruction became unbearable.
I had never heard such a noise before. It felt as if the world’s heart had exploded. Some would later describe it as a bang, but this was more than a door slamming on its hinges, or an oil truck thudding into a car. There can be no word for what we heard that day. There must never be. To give this sound a name might mean it could happen again.
I think this novel’s greatest strength is its attention to detail. Each chapter begins with an excerpt from An English Dictionary of Japanese Culture, giving insight into the characters’ feelings, the expectations of their society, and the motivations for their actions. It felt as though it was a Japanese novel that had been translated into English; even though it has been written by a foreigner, it is authentic and sincere, and it gives a balanced view of the tragic events of that day. Copleton refrains from politicizing the motivations behind dropping the bomb, choosing instead to focus on the lasting effects of that choice on ordinary Japanese citizens, their children, their families and their psychology. She also delves into the psychological effects incurred by committing atrocities during the war. I found that very interesting as well, as the lines between good and evil become blurred by duty, the question of free will, and the terror of war.
What word can capture the roar of every thunderstorm you might have heard, every avalanche and volcano and tsunami that you might have seen tear across the land, every city consumed by flames and waves and winds? Never find the language for such an agony of noise and the silence that followed.
Primarily, this is a war story about the women affected by it. The men play crucial but background roles, while the women take the foreground. From abalone divers to geishas, nurses and artists, Copleton explores the many functions women play in Japanese society. She takes us into the intimate spaces of the women-only bath-house, where, unclothed and made equal by the stripping away of their assumed daily identities, the women can be their truest selves. While depicting them as sex workers, mothers and daughters, she also shows their strength of character and the lengths to which a mother will go to protect her family. The juxtaposition of the violence of war with the passion of the love story highlights the obstacles that they face. Copleton has masterfully created a layered and complicated, yet strikingly beautiful picture of Japanese life and love before, during and after the war.
I wish I could find the words to describe the feeling of that brief connection. Maybe no word exists for it but without the word how will I remember my reaction other than to repeat the spike of desire again and again until my body becomes its own dictionary?
It can be very difficult to give an authentic portrayal of a culture that is not your own. The nuances and ingrained cultural rules and behaviors are difficult to emulate. Copleton’s experience living in Nagasaki, and her evidently extensive research, have created a novel that feels both accurate as well as artistically sound. The descriptions ring with colour and music, and her characters are vivid and interesting. Their relationships ebb and flow with the forces of history and destruction. This novel is at times difficult to read. The violence and sorrow hit me at my core; but it is also impossible to stop reading. It is a strong reminder that such a catastrophe should never, ever, happen again.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I read an advance copy; the parts I have quoted may appear differently in the final version.
November 17, 2017
Die Vergangenheit mag zwar abgeschlossen sein, das bedeutet aber nicht, dass wir auch mit ihr fertig sind, denn oftmals hat sie einen größeren Einfluss auf unser Leben, als wir denken. Vergangenes spielt definitiv in Jackie Copletons Die Farbe von Winterkirschen eine entscheidende Rolle. Der herzzerreißende Roman ist am 13.11.2017 beim Limes Verlag erschienen und erzählt die Geschichte einer Überlebenden aus Nagasaki, die eines Tages Besuch bekommt. Besuch von einem Mann, der behauptet ihr totgeglaubter Enkel zu sein.
Amaterasu Takahashi und ihr Ehemann Kenzo haben die Atombombe auf Nagasaki überlebt. Leider waren ihre Tochter Yuko und ihr Enkel Hideo nicht so glücklich. Haben die zwei zumindest angenommen, als sie in den Jahren nach der Katastrophe nach Amerika ausgewandert sind, um der Hoffnungslosigkeit zu entkommen. Nun, viele Jahre später, steht ein Fremder vor Amaterasus Tür und behauptet, Hideo zu sein, Beweise habe er außer der Aussagen seiner Adoptiveltern jedoch keine. Er überreicht Amaterasu einen Brief und ein Paket seiner Adoptivmutter, womit eine Reise in die Vergangenheit beginnt.
Und genau von dieser Reise in die Vergangenheit erzählt dieses Buch, aber auch die Geschehnisse der Gegenhart, vor allem Amaterasus Hadern mit der Vergangenheit, werden erzählt. Schon am Anfang wird einem schwer ums Herz, da man von Anfang an weiß, was den meisten Charakteren des Buches widerfahren war. Das macht das Lesen nicht immer einfach, obwohl es eine wirklich schön erzählte, wenn auch tragische, Geschichte ist.
Zu Beginn jedes Kapitels wird ein wichtiger Begriff der japanischen Kultur erklärt, der meist im Kapitel eine gewisse Rolle spielt. Wie schon erwähnt, gibt es in dieser Erzählung mehrere Zeitstufen, die jedoch in keiner bestimmten Reihenfolge erzählt werden. keine Reihenfolge in dem Sinne, dass man nicht mit dem am längsten Vergangenen beginnt und sich dann näher zur Gegenwart vorarbeitet. Die verschiedenen Kapitel sind einmal länger vergangen, manches mal kürzer, willkürlich angeordnet sind sie aber definitiv nicht.
Mit ihrer meisterhaften Anordnung erzielt Copleton eine äußerst effektive Spannung und schafft es, trotz unvermeidlicher Ereignisse, viele Sachverhalte, man könnte auch Geheimnisse dazu sagen, erst gegen Ende des Buches aufzuklären. Dadurch bleibt das Lesen spannend und man sieht bereits Erzähltes häufig in einem anderen Licht, sobald man gewisse Informationen erhält. Und auch wenn man manches erahnt oder befürchtet, hat man die Wahrheit am Ende doch nicht erraten.
Die vollständige Rezension auf ladysmartypants.wordpress.com
Amaterasu Takahashi und ihr Ehemann Kenzo haben die Atombombe auf Nagasaki überlebt. Leider waren ihre Tochter Yuko und ihr Enkel Hideo nicht so glücklich. Haben die zwei zumindest angenommen, als sie in den Jahren nach der Katastrophe nach Amerika ausgewandert sind, um der Hoffnungslosigkeit zu entkommen. Nun, viele Jahre später, steht ein Fremder vor Amaterasus Tür und behauptet, Hideo zu sein, Beweise habe er außer der Aussagen seiner Adoptiveltern jedoch keine. Er überreicht Amaterasu einen Brief und ein Paket seiner Adoptivmutter, womit eine Reise in die Vergangenheit beginnt.
Und genau von dieser Reise in die Vergangenheit erzählt dieses Buch, aber auch die Geschehnisse der Gegenhart, vor allem Amaterasus Hadern mit der Vergangenheit, werden erzählt. Schon am Anfang wird einem schwer ums Herz, da man von Anfang an weiß, was den meisten Charakteren des Buches widerfahren war. Das macht das Lesen nicht immer einfach, obwohl es eine wirklich schön erzählte, wenn auch tragische, Geschichte ist.
Zu Beginn jedes Kapitels wird ein wichtiger Begriff der japanischen Kultur erklärt, der meist im Kapitel eine gewisse Rolle spielt. Wie schon erwähnt, gibt es in dieser Erzählung mehrere Zeitstufen, die jedoch in keiner bestimmten Reihenfolge erzählt werden. keine Reihenfolge in dem Sinne, dass man nicht mit dem am längsten Vergangenen beginnt und sich dann näher zur Gegenwart vorarbeitet. Die verschiedenen Kapitel sind einmal länger vergangen, manches mal kürzer, willkürlich angeordnet sind sie aber definitiv nicht.
Mit ihrer meisterhaften Anordnung erzielt Copleton eine äußerst effektive Spannung und schafft es, trotz unvermeidlicher Ereignisse, viele Sachverhalte, man könnte auch Geheimnisse dazu sagen, erst gegen Ende des Buches aufzuklären. Dadurch bleibt das Lesen spannend und man sieht bereits Erzähltes häufig in einem anderen Licht, sobald man gewisse Informationen erhält. Und auch wenn man manches erahnt oder befürchtet, hat man die Wahrheit am Ende doch nicht erraten.
Die vollständige Rezension auf ladysmartypants.wordpress.com
June 18, 2016
This story is all about the atomic bombing of Nagasaki by America. It tells of the devastation war brings to families.
Set between World War Two and forty years after, tells how Amaterasu Takahashi and her husband leave Japan to live in America as the memories of war are too hard to bare.
Forty years later a man knocks on Amaterasu's door claiming to be her grandson. He has letters revealing more about forbidden love between Yuko and Sato.
This novel brought me to tears and I found it quite chilling at times.
I would like to thank Net Galley, Random House UK Cornerstone and the author Jackie Copleton for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Set between World War Two and forty years after, tells how Amaterasu Takahashi and her husband leave Japan to live in America as the memories of war are too hard to bare.
Forty years later a man knocks on Amaterasu's door claiming to be her grandson. He has letters revealing more about forbidden love between Yuko and Sato.
This novel brought me to tears and I found it quite chilling at times.
I would like to thank Net Galley, Random House UK Cornerstone and the author Jackie Copleton for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 9, 2019
A great novel which provides insight into Japanese culture & the bombing of Nagasaki and telling a heart-wrenching story about a mother coming to terms with her relationship with and subsequent loss of her daughter and grandson.
July 19, 2018
I received The Dictionary of Mutual Understanding for free through Goodreads Giveaways. For more reviews, follow the link below to my blog, Pages & Pepper.
I have mixed feelings about this book. I really wanted to love it, but the book fell a bit short. I would have given it 3.5 stars.
My favourite thing about this book was how Copleton began each chapter with a relevant Japanese-to-English translation of a uniquely Japanese word (i.e. an equivalent word does not exist – at least not in any of the languages I speak). The word is accompanied by an in-depth definition that also proves to be relevant to the chapter at hand. The words were chosen with obvious care such that they not only provide that relevant connection, but they also allow readers with limited knowledge of Japanese culture and history a small window into Japan’s often complex social intricacies. In this way, Copleton’s book truly is a dictionary of mutual understanding.
My knowledge of Japanese culture is rather limited so I cannot attest to the novel’s accuracy therein, but the picture Copleton paints is rich and I could easily imagine walking amid blossoming trees in pre-WWII Nagasaki. I could imagine the chaos in the aftermath of the pikadon (the atomic bomb) and the devastation that too many families had to endure, not only in the days and months following the ordeal, but also as a result of the long-lasting effects of such intense radiation.
Amaterasu is our protagonist, and while many others seem to have loved her, I couldn’t. I wouldn’t go so far as to say that I disliked her, but she fell rather flat for me. She tells the story of her daughter, Yuko, and grandson, Hideo, both of whom ostensibly perished in the pikadon. Jomei Sato is Amaterasu’s villain, but isn’t quite ours. Don’t get me wrong, this is not a good man; Sato’s actions typically range from morally questionable to downright bad. But Amaterasu’s relationship with Sato as a very young woman does, however, colour her later opinions of and actions toward him. Sato did behave badly toward her in her youth, but not as badly as Amaterasu would have us believe given the circumstances. I would argue that his behaviour toward naïve Yuko was actually far worse given the social risk to her (I won’t elaborate because I hate spoilers!). Although Sato may never have been able to make proper amends to either woman, his actions vis-à-vis Hideo redeem him enough in my eyes as to warrant at least a modicum of forgiveness which Amaterasu cannot seem to give.
Copleton has created a set of characters who, like the rest of us, live in shades of gray. With the rare exception (possibly not even then), we are none of us heroes or villains, but rather we fall somewhere along the gradient between the two. Amaterasu, Sato, and Yuko are no exception. In that regard, these characters were thus drawn beautifully. The characters all lack passion, however. They speak of careers, loves, family, dreams, but none of it seems very passionate. They all have this list of things they say they care about, but I never felt any of it.
Throughout the first two-thirds or so of the story, Amaterasu hints ad nauseam that her past is shameful and that she has a history with Sato she would rather keep secret. From the first hint, the reader is able to deduce how the entire story will go with perhaps the exception of the reason Yuko is at the cathedral in the first place at the time of the pikadon (and even then, even if the reader does not discover the reason prior to the reveal, he/she will not be surprised). The book, like Amaterasu’s history, is shrouded in mystery, but unlike Yuko, and despite Copleton’s intentions, we are in on the secret, and I found that to be extremely disappointing.
Many reviewers have stated that they found themselves in tears while reading this novel, and I find that surprising. I am a literary crybaby and become very emotionally invested in my characters (I said what I mean: they become mine). I found that I was happy with the way the novel ended with Hideo and Amaterasu, but I never even felt a sniffle or a tear threatening to fall. The ultimate tragedy of the bomb is, naturally, horrendous and as a human being, it hurts me that we are capable of inflicting such pain on each other, but this novel did nothing for me emotionally. When the book’s own cover claims that it is “heartrending”, “heart-wrenching”, “mesmerizing”, and “extraordinary”, it sets up high expectations. And mine weren’t met. Was it worth the read? Yes, but for the historical and socio-cultural knowledge, not for the storyline or the rather dull characters.
Please visit me at my blog, Pages & Pepper!
https://pagespepper.com/2018/07/19/th...
I have mixed feelings about this book. I really wanted to love it, but the book fell a bit short. I would have given it 3.5 stars.
My favourite thing about this book was how Copleton began each chapter with a relevant Japanese-to-English translation of a uniquely Japanese word (i.e. an equivalent word does not exist – at least not in any of the languages I speak). The word is accompanied by an in-depth definition that also proves to be relevant to the chapter at hand. The words were chosen with obvious care such that they not only provide that relevant connection, but they also allow readers with limited knowledge of Japanese culture and history a small window into Japan’s often complex social intricacies. In this way, Copleton’s book truly is a dictionary of mutual understanding.
My knowledge of Japanese culture is rather limited so I cannot attest to the novel’s accuracy therein, but the picture Copleton paints is rich and I could easily imagine walking amid blossoming trees in pre-WWII Nagasaki. I could imagine the chaos in the aftermath of the pikadon (the atomic bomb) and the devastation that too many families had to endure, not only in the days and months following the ordeal, but also as a result of the long-lasting effects of such intense radiation.
Amaterasu is our protagonist, and while many others seem to have loved her, I couldn’t. I wouldn’t go so far as to say that I disliked her, but she fell rather flat for me. She tells the story of her daughter, Yuko, and grandson, Hideo, both of whom ostensibly perished in the pikadon. Jomei Sato is Amaterasu’s villain, but isn’t quite ours. Don’t get me wrong, this is not a good man; Sato’s actions typically range from morally questionable to downright bad. But Amaterasu’s relationship with Sato as a very young woman does, however, colour her later opinions of and actions toward him. Sato did behave badly toward her in her youth, but not as badly as Amaterasu would have us believe given the circumstances. I would argue that his behaviour toward naïve Yuko was actually far worse given the social risk to her (I won’t elaborate because I hate spoilers!). Although Sato may never have been able to make proper amends to either woman, his actions vis-à-vis Hideo redeem him enough in my eyes as to warrant at least a modicum of forgiveness which Amaterasu cannot seem to give.
Copleton has created a set of characters who, like the rest of us, live in shades of gray. With the rare exception (possibly not even then), we are none of us heroes or villains, but rather we fall somewhere along the gradient between the two. Amaterasu, Sato, and Yuko are no exception. In that regard, these characters were thus drawn beautifully. The characters all lack passion, however. They speak of careers, loves, family, dreams, but none of it seems very passionate. They all have this list of things they say they care about, but I never felt any of it.
Throughout the first two-thirds or so of the story, Amaterasu hints ad nauseam that her past is shameful and that she has a history with Sato she would rather keep secret. From the first hint, the reader is able to deduce how the entire story will go with perhaps the exception of the reason Yuko is at the cathedral in the first place at the time of the pikadon (and even then, even if the reader does not discover the reason prior to the reveal, he/she will not be surprised). The book, like Amaterasu’s history, is shrouded in mystery, but unlike Yuko, and despite Copleton’s intentions, we are in on the secret, and I found that to be extremely disappointing.
Many reviewers have stated that they found themselves in tears while reading this novel, and I find that surprising. I am a literary crybaby and become very emotionally invested in my characters (I said what I mean: they become mine). I found that I was happy with the way the novel ended with Hideo and Amaterasu, but I never even felt a sniffle or a tear threatening to fall. The ultimate tragedy of the bomb is, naturally, horrendous and as a human being, it hurts me that we are capable of inflicting such pain on each other, but this novel did nothing for me emotionally. When the book’s own cover claims that it is “heartrending”, “heart-wrenching”, “mesmerizing”, and “extraordinary”, it sets up high expectations. And mine weren’t met. Was it worth the read? Yes, but for the historical and socio-cultural knowledge, not for the storyline or the rather dull characters.
Please visit me at my blog, Pages & Pepper!
https://pagespepper.com/2018/07/19/th...
February 6, 2017
I have some.....thoughts about this book, but I don't know how great they are? Or how well-received they'll be.
To start things off on a positive note, I felt like this book offered a unique perspective of the atomic bombing of Japan, at least for me. The Japanese perspective of WWII is not one I have really experienced in literature, despite the proliferation of fiction that centers around this time period. I appreciated it for that, because "pikadon" and its effects were horrendous, and I think it's important to see the horrific and lasting effects it had on Japan and its people.
I both did and didn't like the Japanese terms and definitions at the start of each chapter. I found myself needing to read and re-read them multiple times to make sure I understood what was actually being said, but even after that I promptly forgot both the terms and the definitions. I don't know that the added too much value, although some of the terms and explanations did help to reiterate the differences between Japanese and American culture. These differences were exemplified elsewhere in the book, but for some reason, the definition of the term "sasshi" really made me stop and pay attention. The explanation for that term addressed the way Japanese culture discourages self-expression, and the way "people are expected to guess what others have to say. If they are not perceptive enough and dare to ask for information left unsaid, they are branded as rude." For whatever reason, this really struck me, and I stopped and thought for the first time in my reading of the book, about how drastically different Japanese and American culture and values are. I continued on with the rest of the book, focusing more on this more roundabout way of communicating with others, as well as the emphasis on ritual in Japanese culture.
Unfortunately, though, despite some of these strengths, I struggled with this book. I never found myself feeling all that connected to or sympathetic towards Amaterasu, despite the hardship she has faced in losing people she loves as a result of pikadon. I felt like she was lonely, and bitter, and unforgiving of both herself and others. The secrets revealed throughout the course of the book also took too long to be revealed for me. It felt drawn out, almost too much. I think some of the disconnect I felt was also a result of the fact that Amaterasu is telling the story, but there are also many diary entries and letters from Yuko and Sato that tell just as much of the story. Usually I like epistolary-style storytelling, but it didn't always work for me here. I will say, I found myself much more drawn in by Sato's letters than I did by Yuko's diary entries.
Another thing I thought about as I read, if I'm being honest, was the author's name. It didn't sound particularly Japanese to me, though I knew that did not necessarily mean anything. It wasn't until I finished the book that I looked Jackie Copleton up on Goodreads and saw that she, indeed, does NOT appear to be Japanese, but was "inspired by her time living in the beautiful city of Nagasaki." I am all for diversity in storytelling, but I also feel like I have to (okay, maybe I don't have to, but I do) question the authority of a Western author telling such a deeply personal story of Nagasaki and Japanese culture in general. It also made me look at the Japanese definitions in a different light. I'm sure she did her research, and of course both authors and readers employ empathy in telling and absorbing stories, but I think this would have somehow felt more powerful if it were told by someone who actually had a more personal connection to the ways in which pikadon truly affected those who lived through it or had family who did.
I think this will be an interesting book to discuss, because there is certainly a lot to discuss: Pikadon, family relationships, love, war, the things we do to survive ourselves, and out of love for others. Unfortunately, it wasn't a favorite of mine in general.
To start things off on a positive note, I felt like this book offered a unique perspective of the atomic bombing of Japan, at least for me. The Japanese perspective of WWII is not one I have really experienced in literature, despite the proliferation of fiction that centers around this time period. I appreciated it for that, because "pikadon" and its effects were horrendous, and I think it's important to see the horrific and lasting effects it had on Japan and its people.
I both did and didn't like the Japanese terms and definitions at the start of each chapter. I found myself needing to read and re-read them multiple times to make sure I understood what was actually being said, but even after that I promptly forgot both the terms and the definitions. I don't know that the added too much value, although some of the terms and explanations did help to reiterate the differences between Japanese and American culture. These differences were exemplified elsewhere in the book, but for some reason, the definition of the term "sasshi" really made me stop and pay attention. The explanation for that term addressed the way Japanese culture discourages self-expression, and the way "people are expected to guess what others have to say. If they are not perceptive enough and dare to ask for information left unsaid, they are branded as rude." For whatever reason, this really struck me, and I stopped and thought for the first time in my reading of the book, about how drastically different Japanese and American culture and values are. I continued on with the rest of the book, focusing more on this more roundabout way of communicating with others, as well as the emphasis on ritual in Japanese culture.
Unfortunately, though, despite some of these strengths, I struggled with this book. I never found myself feeling all that connected to or sympathetic towards Amaterasu, despite the hardship she has faced in losing people she loves as a result of pikadon. I felt like she was lonely, and bitter, and unforgiving of both herself and others. The secrets revealed throughout the course of the book also took too long to be revealed for me. It felt drawn out, almost too much. I think some of the disconnect I felt was also a result of the fact that Amaterasu is telling the story, but there are also many diary entries and letters from Yuko and Sato that tell just as much of the story. Usually I like epistolary-style storytelling, but it didn't always work for me here. I will say, I found myself much more drawn in by Sato's letters than I did by Yuko's diary entries.
Another thing I thought about as I read, if I'm being honest, was the author's name. It didn't sound particularly Japanese to me, though I knew that did not necessarily mean anything. It wasn't until I finished the book that I looked Jackie Copleton up on Goodreads and saw that she, indeed, does NOT appear to be Japanese, but was "inspired by her time living in the beautiful city of Nagasaki." I am all for diversity in storytelling, but I also feel like I have to (okay, maybe I don't have to, but I do) question the authority of a Western author telling such a deeply personal story of Nagasaki and Japanese culture in general. It also made me look at the Japanese definitions in a different light. I'm sure she did her research, and of course both authors and readers employ empathy in telling and absorbing stories, but I think this would have somehow felt more powerful if it were told by someone who actually had a more personal connection to the ways in which pikadon truly affected those who lived through it or had family who did.
I think this will be an interesting book to discuss, because there is certainly a lot to discuss: Pikadon, family relationships, love, war, the things we do to survive ourselves, and out of love for others. Unfortunately, it wasn't a favorite of mine in general.
June 16, 2016
This is a novel that ticks so many boxes. It is well written, thoughtful, insightful and is set against the backdrop of the atomic bombing of the city of Nagasaki on 9th August 1945, shortly after 11 am. In Japanese the word Pikadon – the term for the explosion – is now well integrated into Japanese vocabulary, PIKA meaning brilliant light and DON expressing the sound of boom.
Strikingly, the author has created a feel in her writing that is singularly Japanese to the Western eye, which in itself is a true feat. The observations, the style and the composition all conjure up the unique story of Amaterasu Takahashi’s family, before, during and in the aftermath of Pikadon.
On the day of the strike, Amaterasu was due to meet her daughter Yuko in the cathedral in the city, but she missed her bus and got caught up in the devastating chaos that ensued. Yuko clearly died and grandson Hideo went missing. Unable to bear the loss and the destruction around her, Amaterasu decided to relocate to California, where in the present someone purporting to be Hideo appears on her doorstep.
Novel set in Nagasaki.
This review first appeared on our blog, where we also chat to the author about writing, Japan and more..... http://www.tripfiction.com/novel-set-...
The complex story – beautifully brought together in the capable hands of this talented author – moves smoothly between Amaterasu’s chequered past, and into her daughter’s life; at the heart is Sato, a doctor and erstwhile friend of her Amaterasu’s husband, Kenzo.
Not only is this a book about Japan but it is also a seminal story of loss and love. The story is in part a meditation on the nature of love, in all its forms; and just how complex this human emotion can be, the fall-out so far reaching. And yet, what does love truly mean…..? And loss, it appears in this novel in many forms, whether it is the destruction of home, the loss of a living human and the loss of what is familiar.
Simply put, it is hard to do justice to the intricate storyline in this short review.
July 29, 2022
Bailed at 19%. Don't want to read about the family doctor seducing a 16-year old young woman.
However, beautiful prose, atmospheric, fascinating descriptions of Japanese culture.
However, beautiful prose, atmospheric, fascinating descriptions of Japanese culture.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 29, 2015
The premise has been used before, with a person thought killed in a war turning up on a relative's doorstep. In A DICTIONARY OF MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING, the arrival of a disfigured man claiming to be Amaterasu Takahashi's grandson opens the novel, but you just have to know if he is or isn't who he claims to be.
The potential grandson brings letters from a man whose significance in Mrs. Takahashi's life is slowly revealed, chapter by chapter. Coupled with snippets from a daughter's diary, the story builds as the novel's narrator revisits the months prior to the bombing as she blames herself for her daughter's death and wonders how she could not have found her grandson if he had lived through the bombing. As she comes closer to rejecting, or maybe accepting, the mystery man, she turns back time even further to expose her relationship with the novel's antagonist, and a complex relationship it is.
At times, the epistolary technique made it difficult to determine which character was telling the story as the narrator shifted from Mrs. Takahashi to her daughter to her nemesis. This is not a book to be read with distractions in the room.
The headings for each chapter are quotes from the reference work with the same name as the novel, a dictionary that does not just translate words but explains nuance and meaning. Sometimes the headings fit the theme of the chapter, sometimes you forget about them as the narrator reveals another secret. They do help immerse the reader in Japanese culture, however, and shape the way you perceive the characters.
Maybe the ending is a bit too contrived or too neat, but in general the novel is an entertaining, engaging read.
The potential grandson brings letters from a man whose significance in Mrs. Takahashi's life is slowly revealed, chapter by chapter. Coupled with snippets from a daughter's diary, the story builds as the novel's narrator revisits the months prior to the bombing as she blames herself for her daughter's death and wonders how she could not have found her grandson if he had lived through the bombing. As she comes closer to rejecting, or maybe accepting, the mystery man, she turns back time even further to expose her relationship with the novel's antagonist, and a complex relationship it is.
At times, the epistolary technique made it difficult to determine which character was telling the story as the narrator shifted from Mrs. Takahashi to her daughter to her nemesis. This is not a book to be read with distractions in the room.
The headings for each chapter are quotes from the reference work with the same name as the novel, a dictionary that does not just translate words but explains nuance and meaning. Sometimes the headings fit the theme of the chapter, sometimes you forget about them as the narrator reveals another secret. They do help immerse the reader in Japanese culture, however, and shape the way you perceive the characters.
Maybe the ending is a bit too contrived or too neat, but in general the novel is an entertaining, engaging read.
May 4, 2016
An absorbing, compelling and poignant story about family, love, guilt and forgiveness set before, during and after the horrific bombing of Nagasaki in WWII.
This is a well written and beautifully told tale. Although it is moderately slow paced at first, building up gradually, it kept my attention. It gave a great insight into a culture I know little about. I particularly liked the Japanese words or phrases and their English definitions at the beginning of each chapter, which in some way pertained to the story.
It is mostly about a family who have their secrets and how they survive, not only during the war but also within the turmoil of their own lives. However, it is also quite a harrowing and disturbing read. There are descriptions of the aftermath of the bomb and it touches on the horrors which some prisoners of war went through.
It is not always easy to read, but I found it very interesting, moving and engaging, a bit of a history lesson even!
Reviewed for TBC on Facebook and Netgalley.
This is a well written and beautifully told tale. Although it is moderately slow paced at first, building up gradually, it kept my attention. It gave a great insight into a culture I know little about. I particularly liked the Japanese words or phrases and their English definitions at the beginning of each chapter, which in some way pertained to the story.
It is mostly about a family who have their secrets and how they survive, not only during the war but also within the turmoil of their own lives. However, it is also quite a harrowing and disturbing read. There are descriptions of the aftermath of the bomb and it touches on the horrors which some prisoners of war went through.
It is not always easy to read, but I found it very interesting, moving and engaging, a bit of a history lesson even!
Reviewed for TBC on Facebook and Netgalley.
December 7, 2015
I won this in a GR Giveaway in return for an honest review.
This is a lovely story. The story slowly unfolds through the memories of 80-year old Amaterasu Takahashi, her daughter's journals and letters. It's wonderfully interwoven. Each chapter starts with a Japanese word and explains its cultural meaning, which adds to this poignant look back at Amaterasu's history.
I really liked the unfolding, the slow reveals and the aftermath of the atomic bomb being dropped on an unsuspecting city. Told with feeling, thought and dignity.
This is an author to look at. I hope she writes other books.
This is a lovely story. The story slowly unfolds through the memories of 80-year old Amaterasu Takahashi, her daughter's journals and letters. It's wonderfully interwoven. Each chapter starts with a Japanese word and explains its cultural meaning, which adds to this poignant look back at Amaterasu's history.
I really liked the unfolding, the slow reveals and the aftermath of the atomic bomb being dropped on an unsuspecting city. Told with feeling, thought and dignity.
This is an author to look at. I hope she writes other books.
August 5, 2016
Enjoyed this book based around the dropping of fat man atomic bomb on Japan in August 1945 and the new relationship between grandmother and grandson in the 1980's and the family past prior to the bomb.
June 1, 2023
Strong debut novel. You can tell the author has a reasonable grasp of Japanese language and culture from her time in Nagasaki.
August 7, 2016
A book that from the cover I thought I'd hate, but one that I enjoyed without loving. Particularly vivid - and disturbing - were the descriptions of the atomic bomb blast on Nagasaki - definitely another example of how historical fiction can allow the reader to empathise much better with such well known world events rather than reading facts and figures in a non fiction text. As for the story, told in the form of a first person narrative, diary entries and letters, and spanning three generations, it was interesting enough, easy to read but not one that will live too long in the memory.
June 23, 2016
I LOVED this beautiful, poignant, devastating book about love, loss, betrayal and survival. Beautiful, evocative, stunning. Loved it.
July 3, 2018
August 9, 1945 in Nagasaki, Japan, Amaterasu Takahashi had just dropped her grandson Hideo at his elementary school and was on her way to meet her daughter Yuko, Hideo's mother, at a cathedral in the city. When the bomb dropped Amaterasu was running late for her appointment but she watched as the mushroom cloud enveloped much of Nagasaki's inner city. Immediately she ran for the school seeing horror upon horror visited on the people she passed by. There was no sign of Hideo and after visiting the destroyed cathedral, Ameterasu knows that her daughter and grandson are gone forever. Amaterasu and her husband Kenzo try to rebuild their lives but eventually they leave Japan and move to America.
Forty years later Amaterasu is now a widow living alone when a knock on her door brings her back to Nagasaki when she looks at the strange man on her doorstep. Deeply scarred from the bomb, the man claims to be Hideo who has come to meet his grandmother after all these years. Amaterasu is unconvinced but is forced to revisit the past when Hideo gives her a sealed envelope full of letters written by Dr. Sato, the man who adopted and raised Hideo, and the man who nearly destroyed 2 lives - Amaterasu's and Yuko's. Along with the letters, Amaterasu finally opens Yuko's diary which Amaterasu has kept unread for 40 years. Secrets, lies and heartache punctuate every word and Amaterasu is forced to face difficult truths and to try to answer the legitimacy of Hideo's claim.
What an interesting story this is told from a unique perspective. Amaterasu is a very strong woman who, although has not always made the best decisions, always made them out of love and honor. I enjoyed this one very much.
Forty years later Amaterasu is now a widow living alone when a knock on her door brings her back to Nagasaki when she looks at the strange man on her doorstep. Deeply scarred from the bomb, the man claims to be Hideo who has come to meet his grandmother after all these years. Amaterasu is unconvinced but is forced to revisit the past when Hideo gives her a sealed envelope full of letters written by Dr. Sato, the man who adopted and raised Hideo, and the man who nearly destroyed 2 lives - Amaterasu's and Yuko's. Along with the letters, Amaterasu finally opens Yuko's diary which Amaterasu has kept unread for 40 years. Secrets, lies and heartache punctuate every word and Amaterasu is forced to face difficult truths and to try to answer the legitimacy of Hideo's claim.
What an interesting story this is told from a unique perspective. Amaterasu is a very strong woman who, although has not always made the best decisions, always made them out of love and honor. I enjoyed this one very much.
June 2, 2017
I had been interested in reading this for quite some time, as I had heard good things about it, including a comparison to Memoirs of a Geisha.
This novel is not for the faint of heart. There are scenes depicting the graphic aftermath of a nuclear explosion. There are also some other descriptions of wartime activities that are disturbing and unsettling.
Having said that, it is still a very interesting story. It is told in four parts: Of Amaterasu as an octogenarian, of her daughter Yuko in her teen years, of Amaterasu and Yuko during the time of the war, and of Amaterasu in her teen years. These parts are fragmented throughout the story, and told in such a way that the narrative keeps changing from first to second person, along with some diary entries and letters.
I think the structure could have been better, but I got caught up in the different situations, as they were compelling throughout. The use of description helped me a lot to visualize the story, but wasn't overwhelming either.
Overall, this will be an interesting book to discuss with my book club, as there are a lot of layers and complex situations involved.
This novel is not for the faint of heart. There are scenes depicting the graphic aftermath of a nuclear explosion. There are also some other descriptions of wartime activities that are disturbing and unsettling.
Having said that, it is still a very interesting story. It is told in four parts: Of Amaterasu as an octogenarian, of her daughter Yuko in her teen years, of Amaterasu and Yuko during the time of the war, and of Amaterasu in her teen years. These parts are fragmented throughout the story, and told in such a way that the narrative keeps changing from first to second person, along with some diary entries and letters.
I think the structure could have been better, but I got caught up in the different situations, as they were compelling throughout. The use of description helped me a lot to visualize the story, but wasn't overwhelming either.
Overall, this will be an interesting book to discuss with my book club, as there are a lot of layers and complex situations involved.
March 21, 2020
This started out a little slow for me but I was captivated by emotions as it reached its’ end. A moving story that intertwines the past with the present. A sad story that takes place with the bombing of Nagasaki and describes the secret history and regret within one family and leaves some to deal with life in the aftermath. Ama is forced to face some of the most hurtful times and secrets of her past. But in the end there is healing and forgiveness. I like how each chapter begins with a beautiful excerpt describing parts of Japanese culture.
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