Ana JohnsReseñas

(Perhaps it was the voice of one of the readers that makes me give a lower score…. ) Japan, 1957. Seventeen year old Nabokov Nakamura’s prearranged marriage to the son of her father’s business associate would secure her family’s status in their traditional Japanese community, but Naoko has fallen for another man-an American sailor, a gaijin- and to marry him would bring great shame to their entire family. When it is learned that Naoko Carrie’s the sailor’s baby, she is cast out.½

This book centers around the relationship between an American serviceman in Japan in the 1950s and the Japanese woman he marries against her family's wishes. When he is sent away, he is unable to return. He marries back in the US, and as he is dying, he tells his daughter about the life he had before he married her mother. Tori goes in search of the Japanese woman and possibly the sister she thinks she has. I learned so much about Japanese culture during this time period. It was close to my heart since my brother-in-law was born during this time to a Japanese mother and an American father, although he was born and raised in the US since she knew neither of them would be accepted in Japan. I didn't realize that mixed race babies were actually killed during this time period. I thoroughly enjoyed this book about a disturbing time in history and a daughter's search to understand her father.

As a first novel, this one has some weaknesses. But it is an admirable effort and is a beautifully well told story. It is told in two distinct voices that move back and forth in time, and the historical setting is very well drawn. The modern day voice is the device through which the story is told, but the historical voices are better written. Definitely worth a read.

Sad book but at least it did not sugar coat events.

If I never read another book again I am happy for this book to have been my last. I don’t know when was the last time I cried with a book. This story about 2 woman with decades apart is beautifully woven is this simple yet heartbreakingly poignant piece of writing. Set in post war Japan and modern day America and Japan, it takes you on a journey that you wouldn’t wish to end.

A Mulher do Quimono Branco é um romance de Ana Johns, traduzido por P. Vieira e que me surpreendeu bastante e pela positiva.

E, apesar de ser uma obra ficcional, a autora criou-a a partir de eventos e histórias reais, de entre as quais destaca a do seu pai, um marinheiro americano com uma bela rapariga japonesa. Aborda também acontecimentos que marcaram uma época no Japão. Nos anos de 1957-1958, em que mais de dez mil bebés nasceram da união de militares americanos e raparigas japonesas, algumas ainda crianças. Grande parte destes bebés, sendo fruto de relações não aceites pelas famílias e que poriam em causa a sua conduta na sociedade, acabavam por ser mortos à nascença, em maternidades clandestinas.

A partir deste e de outros factos históricos, a autora conseguiu, neste livro, criar uma narrativa verosímil, com uma linguagem fluente, mas cuidada, o que me deixou rendida logo desde o início da história.

Nesta obra, temos a alternância de sequências narrativas, que intercala o presente, na América, com o passado, no Japão de 1957, 1958. A história presente tem uma forte ligação com a passada e esta, por sua vez, ajuda-nos a perceber a situação presente. Somos conduzidos pelas duas histórias até chegarmos ao Japão presente, onde se fundem, onde se compreendem as correlações.

Tudo começa com Tori, no hospital, a acompanhar e a cuidar do pai nos seus últimos momentos de vida. Doente oncológico, o pai, continua a contar-lhe histórias, que ela sempre ouviu com uma quase devoção. Porém, acredita que muitas dessas histórias são fruto da imaginação do pai, especialmente quando ele descreve o seu casamento com uma japonesa de quimono branco.

Mas o pai entrega-lhe uma carta. Será que a mulher do quimono existiu mesmo?

A par desta narrativa, aparece-nos, então, a história de Naoko Nakamura, no Japão. Aos 17 anos, Naoko apaixona-se por um americano. Mas a sua família te outros planos para ela, o seu casamento com um pretendente que pudesse assegurar a estabilidade económica da família e, ao mesmo tempo, manter intacto o estatuto familiar.

Estaria Naoko disposta a prescindir dos seus sentimentos? Isso é o que poderá saber ao ler o livro.

De salientar, as magníficas descrições das paisagens, das flores, do próprio quimono branco. Lindíssimas! Para mim, destaca-se ainda toda a tradição japonesa que surge, quer através de medos, de obediência, de condutas, quer ainda através de uma série de crenças, que, particularmente, adorei conhecer. Crenças estas que faziam parte da sabedoria que os mais velhos transmitiam aos mais novos e que iam passando de geração em geração.

Adorável, sensível, emocionante são os adjetivos que encontro para melhor descrever este livro.

Destaco apenas algumas passagens que me prenderam ainda mais a atenção:

“Uma vida com amor é feliz. Uma vida para o amor é uma tolice. Uma vida de e se é insuportável.”

“Nunca se deve caminhar e comer ao mesmo tempo. Devemos sentar-nos para demonstrar o nosso respeito pelo tempo e sacrifício que os atos de plantar, colher e preparar os alimentos implicam.”

“«Para saberes a direção em que vais, tens de conhecer tanto as tuas raízes como o teu alcance.»”

“…não consegui apanhar uma aranha dentro de casa, por isso não consegui libertar-me da má sorte que ela carregava.”

“Os três macacos. Eu, a Hatsu e a Jin. O meu coração contrai-se. A Sora pode ser a quarta. Há quatro nas histórias antigas. O outro chama-se Shizaru e cruza os braços para recusar o mal.”

“A preocupação dá sombras grandes às coisas pequenas.”

Voor dit boek is maar een woord, Prachtig geschreven. In een dag uit.

Uno stupendo romanzo in cui emozioni, poesia, suspense e malinconia sono stupendamente intrecciate. Un mondo lontano, il Giappone, la cui cultura fatica ad uscire dalle antiche logiche patriarcali.
A questo mondo, fatto di tradizioni, storia, rigide regole, cerca di opporsi la coraggiosa protagonista con tutte le sue forze. Un libro di amore e denuncia di una enorme ingiustizia.

Beautiful story. A little bit like M Butterfly. Some parts a little bit too detailed and slow.

I found this to be a bit slow and I was unable to relate to the characters, probably because of the cultural differences

This book follows two ladies, 17 year old Naoko. A young Japanese woman in post-war Japan. Naoko falls in love with an American sailor, and becomes pregnant. Her parents force her to choose between her family and the love of her life. The second lady is set in present day America. After the death of Tori's father, she reads a letter that states he has another daughter. Tori travels to Japan, determined to find her sister and uncover the truth of her father's war time adventures.

Overall, this book was well written and engaging. I thought Naoko's story was fascinating. Tori's story seemed a bit labored until the end when everything came together. I look forward to reading more from this author.

I received an ARC of this book for free from TLC Book Tours as part of a review tour.

This was such a heartbreaking read! It was sad, yet beautifully written.

This book has dual storylines, but I loved that the author really let the historical story shine! Naoko’s story was the more interesting of the two, so I was glad that the author devoted more time to it and was able to really flesh it out.

The subject matter of the book touches upon a very unknown part of history. It deals with the relationship between American servicemen and local Japanese woman and the children they had. I never knew about this so I was really fascinated by this story. Also being mixed race myself (I’m Filipino and white) I was particularly struck by the attitudes towards mixed race people. I could tell that the author did a lot of research and I liked the author’s note at the end where she talks about the real life inspiration behind the book.

The strongest part of the book is the writing. Ana Johns writes in such a tragically beautiful way that perfectly captures the mood of the story.

The book is a little slow in the beginning, especially with the contemporary storyline. But by the time you get near the end, you’ll be flipping pages like crazy to find out what happens next.

Overall, I recommend this book for historical fiction lovers, especially those with an interest in Japan.

The debut novel from Ana Johns, The Woman in the White Kimono connects the stories of two women in a captivating way. Historical-fiction readers, this is a book to add to your TBR.

In post-World War II Japan, Naoko Nakamura defies familial and societal expectations by falling for an American sailor, setting her life on an unexpected trajectory. In the present-day America, Tori Kovac discovers a shocking family secret while caring for her dying father. As Tori travels to Japan to better understand her past, the stories of these two women poignantly intertwine, delving into love, loss, and redemption.

Beautiful and emotional, The Woman in the White Kimono is an excellent read. I enjoyed it immensely and now recommend it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.

I haven’t read much in regards to the post WWII period in Japan so I was intrigued at the premise of this book. It takes place in two time periods – 1957/58 and today. It bounces back and forth between the two voices of Naoko Nakamura a young Japanese women who falls in love with an American sailor serving during the post war occupation and Tori Kovac, a young woman of today who is caring for her dying father.

Tori’s father gives her a letter at the end of his life and suddenly she learns that there is more to her father than she ever knew. It sends her down a path to try and find the woman in the letter.

Naoko’s story starts with her love for her sailor. They believe that despite the lingering hatred of the Japanese for the Americans she will be able to convince her family of their love. It doesn’t quite work that way as her father has long planned for her to marry the son of business associate. But Naoko’s impulsive decisions lead to consequences that lead to her life spiraling out of control

As these two women share their stories heartbreak is everywhere, but so is redemption.

As is usual with dual timelime tales I far more enjoyed the time spent in the past than the sections written in the present. The author did a remarkable job of bringing the time period to life. It was certainly an education in the horrible treatment that innocent children suffered for their conception. Sometimes that conception was in love and sometimes it was not but it certainly was not the child’s fault and yet that is where the hate was directed. It was also an education in racism and eugenics. I had no idea how awful it was in Japan and how terrible it was for the women who managed to be able to come here to live after the war. Although given the way way this country treated American citizens of Japanese descent I guess I should not be at all surprised.

It is good when a book makes you angry I think. That anger can lead to further thought and reading. It is also good that these stories be told and not be forgotten particularly in this troubling times in which we live. For I fear that much of the lessons of the past are being forgotten. (off soapbox)

This was an excellent book about an unsettling topic. It is very well written and a very compelling read.½

This book is utterly unputdownable. It is an elegantly written book about a young Japanese woman, Naoko Nakamura, who falls in love with an American soldier in post-World War II Japan and the decisions she’s forced to make – and the consequences of that decision. At the same time, in alternating chapters, Johns tells the story of an American woman, Tori Kovac, whose father is dying. When she finds a letter addressed to someone in Japan who she doesn’t know and has never heard of, her curiosity is piqued.

There is something about this book that makes you pause in your reading long enough to enjoy the wonderment at the fact that you’re reading a debut novel by an undoubtedly very talented author. The characters this first-time author has created are sheer genius – they are eminently so well-drawn the reader is saddened by the fact they aren’t real.

This is a book that I’m sure will stay at the top of my favorite books for 2019. I rarely read a book twice - this one, however, will get a second, and maybe even a third, read just for the joy of read such a well-crafted book. If you only read one book this month, this year, make it this one.

Thanks to Park Row Books and NetGalley for an eARC.

Tori Kovac, in present day America, watches her father die right after he gives her a letter that was written by him to someone in Japan, and it was returned in the mail. Who is it to, and what does it mean?

Seventeen year old Naoko Nakamura, in 1950s Japan, is being pressured into an arranged marriage to improve her family’s financial stability. But she is in love with someone else… an American sailor, Jimmy, a gaijin still hated in this decade after the war. And, furthermore, she’s carrying his child. This does not go over well with her family. With only her frail mother for an ally, she does not realize how far her father and grandmother will go to prevent losing face.

In alternating chapters, Naoko and Tori narrate their stories. Naoko relates her trials of the next year of her life, which include people she thought she could trust betraying her. After a quick wedding that isn’t binding, Jimmy/Hajime is taken away from her by naval maneuvers, and without him to protect her, a tragedy puts her back into her family’s hands. Tori’s story is how she unravels the mystery of Naoki and her father.

It’s not a spoiler to say this doesn’t end happily for Naoko and Jimmy; it’s right there in the beginning. But the road that Naoko has to travel is not easy, and her story is quite suspenseful. I was really cheering for her! Tori I didn’t care so much for- the author didn’t put as much into her, I felt. Four stars for a good tale and a plucky protagonist.