-
The Samurai's Garden
- A Novel
- Narrated by: David Shih
- Length: 8 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Release date: 03-07-17
- Language: English
- Publisher: Tantor Audio
- Whispersync for Voice-ready
Regular price: $26.59
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Publisher's Summary
The daughter of a Chinese mother and a Japanese father, Gail Tsukiyama uses the Japanese invasion of China during the late 1930s as a somber backdrop for her unusual story about a 20-year-old Chinese painter named Stephen who is sent to his family's summer home in a Japanese coastal village to recover from a bout with tuberculosis. Here he is cared for by Matsu, a reticent housekeeper and a master gardener. Over the course of a remarkable year, Stephen learns Matsu's secret and gains not only physical strength, but also profound spiritual insight. Matsu is a samurai of the soul, a man devoted to doing good and finding beauty in a cruel and arbitrary world, and Stephen is a noble student, learning to appreciate Matsu's generous and nurturing way of life and to love Matsu's soulmate, gentle Sachi, a woman afflicted with leprosy.
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Overall
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4.5 out of 5 stars
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5 Stars59
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4 Stars22
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3 Stars8
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2 Stars4
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1 Stars3
Performance
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4.5 out of 5 stars
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5 Stars59
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4 Stars16
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3 Stars7
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2 Stars4
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1 Stars1
Story
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4.5 out of 5 stars
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5 Stars54
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4 Stars19
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3 Stars8
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2 Stars4
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1 Stars0
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kim J Hood
- 08-24-17
Extremely Pleasant
I purchased this book solely on the basis of the reviews for it. And they were right! This is a lovely, melodic, touching enjoyable book. One of my favorites.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- whistler
- Black Mountain NC
- 07-09-17
Historical and spiritual fiction, pulls you in...
Leaves the reader with much to think about. Well developed characters, engaging storyline, human character studies in a very readable work of fiction.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Tina
- 06-12-17
Love this book!
I first read this book years ago and was excited to see it was available as an audiobook because the story is so beautiful. I think it is one of only a handful of books I have reread again and again. I will definitely be listening to it again!
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ray
- 02-19-18
A story of friendship and nature
Meaningful connection. It is available and accessible if we open ourselves to it. A beautiful garden grows when It is properly tended. Thank you for this wonderful story
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Paul Vincent
- 10-15-17
Outstanding Story
First of all I love her writing this book was no exception to others I have read great story and great performance from the reader !
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- karinzart
- hawaii
- 07-11-17
Unusual story line
I enjoyed this book because of the unusual 'zen-like' story line. Well researched historical data about Japan's invasion of China in the '30's. Good, not great.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- lisamarie77
- 08-18-17
hated it - waste of time.
hated it - waste of time. not sure why i completed the book at all.... never got good
1 of 5 people found this review helpful