I read a review of this book back in 2003 when it was published. I keep a small notebook of books that had reviews that intrigued me and it took 7 years before I found a copy. Then it took me 10 more years to read the book. I wish I could say that it was worth it but really, after all that buildup, it was just mediocre.

Runa is a teacher at a school someplace in rural Japan. She has an affair with one of her male students which someone has discovered and is threatening to make public. Ralph is a middle-aged Englishman visiting Japan to find a Japanese woman to marry. However, even women looking to leave Japan aren't willing to consider Ralph. Runa and Ralph meet on a long ferry ride from Japan to Shanghai; Runa is using her sister's passport and name in order to hide from anyone who might be looking for her so she is known as Nanao to Ralph. Although Ralph has a Chinese woman waiting for him in Shanghai he decides that Nanao is much more desirable. During the 2 day ferry ride he tries to convince her to marry him and Runa is tempted since it would solve her problems. Of course, it doesn't work out.

It seems that Susanna Jones' writing career has somewhat fizzled out. Her debut novel, The Earthquake Bird, won several awards but the 3 she later wrote don't have much in the way of critical acclaim. She now teaches creative writing in England but doesn't seem to have published any novels for some time. ( )