Cloud of Sparrows

By: Takashi Matsuoka

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

Length: 15 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

“Exotic, entertaining...[an] exceptional first novel.” (San Francisco Chronicle)

The year is 1861. After two centuries of isolation, Japan has opened its doors to the West. And as foreign ships threaten to rain destruction on the Shogun’s castle in Edo, a small group of American missionaries has arrived to spread the word of their God. They have yet to realize that their future in Japan has already been foreseen. For a young nobleman has dreamt that his life will be saved by an outsider in the New Year...and it is said that Lord Genji has the gift of prophecy.

What happens next - when the handsome lord meets an apparently reformed gunslinger and a woman in flight from her own destructive beauty - sets the stage for a remarkable adventure. For as this unlikely band embarks on a journey through a landscape bristling with danger, East and West, flesh and spirit, past and future, collide in ways no one - least of all Genji - could have imagined.

Praise for Cloud of Sparrows

“The book seizes you from start to finish.” (The Washington Post)

“Adventure-filled.” (Entertainment Weekly)

“Rich...with an ambitious, unexpected ending that cuts deeper than a samurai sword.” (San Francisco Chronicle)

©2002 Takashi Matsuoka (P)2002 Books on Tape, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Exotic, entertaining ... [an] exceptional first novel.” (San Francisco Chronicle)

"The book seizes you from start to finish.” (The Washington Post)

“Adventure-filled.” (Entertainment Weekly)

Very entertaining

I really liked this book, its characters, and its subject matter. I saw one review that compared it to Lian Hearn's books. The topics are similar but the style, plot, tone and overall feeling are all very different. That comparison doesn't seem justified or accurate. I think this is an enjoyable book and very fascinating in its own way. I recommend it.

Just "OK"

I was hoping for the beautiful imagery that was brought to life by a great narrator in a book like Across the Nightingale Floor, but I was disappointed. This is an OK book but not one I would move to the top of someone’s must read list. Again this wasn’t bad it was just OK.

Tremendous piece of Art

The book contains the Japanese traditions intertwined within subliminal take of love, bravery & sacrifice which find it’s path within each reader.

The book takes you into a time of Japan transformation & unfolding a new era of prosperity & advance.

The book is an epic tale that shall take you into your deepest consciousness depths...

A Very Enjoyable Listen!

Oh to have lived in that time and place! A great story of honor, duty, and betrayel. If you liked Shogun, you'll enjoy cloud of sparrows.

Good Quality Semi-historical Fiction

An enjoyable read, Lots of blood and guts, honor, and some pretty good characters. A bit of a slow start, but an excellent choice while you are waiting for the third book in The Otori Trilogy. Not the same level as Across the Nightingale Floor, but close.

Great Listen

First the bad news...

The combination of Japanese names and jumping between various sub-plots, times and cultures can be challenging in an audio book. I imagine that this would be less disruptive in the written form.

but...

I found it worth the effort. Besides being entertaining, I absorbed a bit of Japanese history in spite of my general impatience with anything vaguely educational. It was somewhat of a cross between "Shogun" and the "Otori Trilogy". The ending was somewhat disappointing in that it seemed to resolve little and largely attempt to sell the next book of the series. To that extent, it worked - I'm anxious for the unabridged version of "Autumn Bridge"

Cloud of Sparrows

an enjoyable story. captivating characters. i found the end to be a little weak but my real disappointment was the westernization of japanes words, especially "samurai". that really made the japanese characters unbelievable. it would have been great if only the western characters pronounced it that way. but, the story is imaginative and entertaining and i look foward to his next book.

first read

I really enjoyed this story. always have been fascinated by this culture. story is rich in description.

Samurai and Wild West

This is one of my favorite books to read and come back to. It is nearing the end of the age of the samurai. Lord Genji, a nobleman who has prophetic visions sees that an outsider will save his life. A group of American missionaries travel to Japan in which are his guests. One of which is Matthew Stark, who will do anything to find an outlaw that fled to Japan. Another is Emily Gibson who wants to start a new life away from her tormented past. This is an action packed story with a combination of samurai and wild west. It has tons of colorful characters, intrigue, and the many shocking moments throughout.

Sense of change

The story takes us to the time when Japan was thrust into the Industrial Age of Europe and the U.S. They adopted quickly to modern arms but held onto the old samari code as we saw in WWII.
Sometimes the names were confusing but the principle characters remained clear.
Thoroughly enjoyed the story and narrator.