Grass for His Pillow

Tales of the Otori, Book Two

By: Lian Hearn

Narrated by: Kevin Gray, Aiko Nakasone

Book II of the internationally best-selling Tales of the Otori trilogy, a sweeping saga set in a mythical, medieval Japan.

In Book I of the Otori trilogy, Across the Nightingale Floor, Lian Hearn created a wholly original, fully-realized fantasy world where great powers clashed and young love dawned against a dazzling and mystical landscape. Nightingale was named a New York Times Notable Book of the Year, one of Book magazine's best novels of the year, and one of School Library Journal's Best Adult Books for High School Readers.

In this second tale, we return to the story of Takeo (the young orphan taken up by the Otori Lord and now a closely held member of the Tribe) and his beloved Shirakawa Kaede, heir to the Maruyama, who must find a way to unify the domain she has inherited. In a complex social hierarchy, amid dissembling clans and fractured alliances, there is no place for passionate love. Yet Takeo and Kaede, drawing on their unusual talents and hidden strengths, find ways both to nurture their intense personal bond and to honor the best interests of their people.

Like its predecessor, Grass for His Pillow is a transcendent work of storytelling: epic in scope, shimmering with imagination, and graced in equal measure with rapturous writing and exhilarating action.

©2003 Lian Hearn (P)2003 HighBridge Company

Critic reviews

"With quick, direct sentences like brushstrokes on a Japanese scroll, [Hearn] suggests vast and mysterious landscapes full of both menace and wonder." (Publishers Weekly)
"Lian Hearn has created a world I anticipate returning to with pleasure." (The New York Times Book Review)

Should be part of book one or book two

Just finished the trilogy and loved it however the second book rather bleak, mainly because there is not a hopeful character like Shigeru. This book should have been of the first or second but not one into itself. Most compelling is development of Kaede who changes the most from beginning to end of trilogy. I was very irritated by a reader who skipped her part of the book and referred to the author saying that HE the writer made her too strong in the first book. The writers is a woman and SHE does a great job of showing the struggle of faced by and independent women who dares to go against tradition. Also I had to remind myself that these were 16 year old kids hormone-ridden children who like most teens act stupidly and think they are invincible. Another refreshing aspect is the free expresion of homosexuality. shown in this book as sacred by the love of Makoto, and perverse in Lord Fijuware.

great book, horrible narrator

love the book and how the story and characters have progressed over time. the female narrator put me to sleep. I don't know what changed between the books, but her voice so monotonous and robotic. the. punctuation, was. all... over the place. I just don't get it. first book was perfect. hopefully book 3 will be a little better in this aspect.

Saga Continues

This is a really great listen and I enjoy the narration so much! A continuation of the story; looking forward to the final chapter

Ruined by narration

I loved the first story. And so I overlooked some of the wooden narration of the female narrator. But in this book, it is painful. In some places Aiko Nakasone's narration is so poor, it reminds me of a grade school student struggling to read in a classroom. This story in the sequence gets bogged down in political details, I see book three is the same narrator, I don't think I'll ever listen to it unless I can get it for free.

A wonderful story

I was hesitant to listen to this in part because it was described as a love story. I was not interested in any kind of chick lit experience with this but I am so glad I decided to go ahead with it. I'm actually not quite done with it, I still have about 30 minutes left but I am hooked. I already have the second book on deck and will be focusing on this story until it's over.
The reviews have said it before, great action, magic, romance and above all characters. The author really paints a landscape of tribes and lords, etc.
The narration is top notch as well, the two switch on and off between the different perspectives (the book is told through the eyes of two characters) and the voice work on both of them is flowing and engaging.
I will most likely be sending this book to my wife's kindle pretty soon so we can share the story together.