Book: The Woman in the White Kimono

 

Dual Narration Time! Travel back in time to 1957 Japan and experience the love between Naoko Nakamura and Hajime, told exclusively through Naoko's perspective. The other half of the story takes place in the present-day USA following Tori Kovac as she takes care of her dying father and learns about his past.

 

The Summary (Spoilers!)

Tori's father James (Jimmy) Kovac is dying of cancer when he receives a letter in the mail from Japan. After his death she finds out it was a return and after reading said letter it turns out that she has a half-sister that he never told her about. Full of grief, anger, and wanting to hold up his honor, Tori travels to Japan to find Naoko and the truth. Back in 1957, Naoko wants to marry Jimmy (Hajime) Kovac, but her family doesn't approve because he's an American. After running away and marrying him any way she considers herself banished. One day she decides to spy on her family from afar only to find out her mother died in her absence, so she stays a few days to help her family grieve. While there she passes out, apparently something is going wrong with her pregnancy (btw she's pregnant). Fearing for her health her family sends her to a Maternity house. Now Naoko is trapped with an old woman who will kill her baby as soon as it born and bury it in an unmarked grave.

Naoko is determined to escape but when she finally does, her baby decides it's time to flee her womb. Barely making it to the monastery next door it takes all her strength to give birth to the preemie. Unfortunately, her baby is extremely weak and can barely feed. Gaining contact with her father once more he gives her an ultimatum, either she comes home, or she takes care of her child on her own. The last scene is Tori finding the marked grave of "Little Bird" or Tori in Japanese (Her father named her after her half-sister) Finally at peace by knowing the whole truth Tori can be happy that the man she knew was honorable and can move on.

My Thoughts:

I enjoyed the double narration and the fact that this was technically about James Kovac's life, but the women steal the show, which just emphasizes how much of history is told from a man's perspective. I also liked that the author seemed to do extensive research on Japan making it realistic and (from what I can tell) respectful telling.

I found it a good read, but it definitely isn't one with a "happy" ending, more like a real ending. In life, we don't always get what we want or find what we're looking for but that doesn't mean we can't make peace with the past. I felt like the main message is that you might not reach your intended goals but that doesn't mean you can't make a difference even if it's a small one or find peace when circumstances have completely upturned your life.

 If you like historical fiction about foreign cultures and books with a more realistic ending, then this book is for you. (Warning there is a scene where Hajime and Naoko get very intimate, but it isn't sexually explicit. Also, the book is completely free of cursing so that's something to keep in mind)

If I could have related to Tori more, then I would give it a higher rating, but she gets whiney and self-righteous in some parts but was usually put in her place (and rightly so). But I loved Naoko from beginning to end, so her story was more enjoyable to me.

 I rate this 4 out of 5 historical cats. 

Kat K out-