This wasn't my favorite. The protagonist, Shouji, seems frustratingly passive throughout, allowing a troubled history and other people to push him though the timeline of the book -- I hesitate to call it a plot. It's more a set of situations to which he can react. It does have accurate local color from the Japanese setting. ( )

I am new to this author, and I MUST thank LibraryThing's giveaways program for introducing me to Clarissa Goenawan. She is immensely talented, and I'll be seeking out her other two books now that I've discovered her.

As to this book, it's the story of a man (Shouji) who is somehow connected to three different women, all of whom have their own connection to water. There is a LOT here to enjoy. The story is very good, and I was eager to read more to see what happened next. Each major character is very detailed and complex, and I liked learning so much about each of them. Also, the book is set in Japan, so there's a lot of information and culture for the reader to enjoy and learn from.

What I liked best is that this book is different from everything else I've read. I'm always excited to find an author who can bring me something new and unexpected in book. Ms. Goenawan definitely hit the mark! ( )

I really enjoyed this story. It was beautifully written and enticing in style and flow. I do wish I understood a little bit better what actually was happening in the history of the story and that it told me what happened at the end, but maybe I am just being a lazy reader. All in all, it was beautiful.

I had a hard time deciding how I felt about this book. There are some interesting concepts here. But nothing ever really took full shape for me. Everything felt hazy and unreal. Shouji, and the reader, just seem to be floating along. Going no where in particular, just letting the current take us... wherever. And in the end I never got back to shore. I was still lost at sea. I can't say it was not entertaining to read. But at the same time I can't tell you any particular part of the book I liked. I didn't connect with any of the characters and none of the plot lines or scenarios felt very real. And the whole thing left me feeling unresolved. Like a trip that didn't go anywhere. I will not be reading anything else by Goenawan. ( )

There was a lot happening at one time in this book and the characters were at times really complex. However the story lingered with me for a while once I was through. I felt some of the questions were left unanswered, therefore not a complete story, but overall it was a good read.