LIBRARY
new
reads
The Ronin’s Mistress by Laura Joh Rowland
The Salaryman’s Wife by Sujata Massey
Part of a series of mystery novels set in feudal Japan, featuring samurai investigator Sano Ichiro, this story is a fictionalized retelling of the legend of the 47 ronin samurai. In these books, Rowland presents a colorful picture of early 18th-century Japan. A new novel in the series, The Incense Game, was released last month.
This is the first in a series of mystery novels written by Baltimore resident Massey. The heroine, Rei Shimura, is an English teacher in Japan whose life is changed when she discovers a murder. This award-winning book is rich in detail about Japanese urban life while describing the challenges faced by JapaneseAmerican Rei because of her multiracial background.
You Gotta Have Wa by Robert Whiting An account of Japanese baseball and how it differs from the American version. New Jersey-born Whiting, who graduated from Sophia University, has written several books on Japanese baseball and has provided commentary for the likes of NPR and The Japan Times. Even if you’re not a big fan of the game, you’ll glean insights about the cultural differences between America and Japan. In Tokyo Underworld, Whiting explores organized crime in Japan through the story of American Nick Zappetti.
Other notable books about Japan by foreign authors include the Tales of the Otori fantasy series by British-born Australian resident Lian Hearn; Hokkaido Highway Blues by Canadian Will Ferguson; Looking for the Lost: Journeys Through A Vanishing Japan by British author Alan Booth; Rashomon Gate and other Sugawara Akitada mysteries by German-born author IJ Parker; Shogun by James Clavell; and Getting Genki in Japan by American author Karen Pond, with illustrations by the Club’s own Akiko Saito. o Goswami is a member of the Library Committee
member’s choice Member: Leah Glaser Title: The View from Saturday by EL Konigsburg
What’s the book about? This book is about Mrs Olinski’s Academic Bowl team. Within the book, there is a story about each member. Their names are Nadia, Noah, Ethan and Julian. This is a heartwarming story about the challenges and rewards this group of sixth graders go through while practicing and competing for the big event.
What did you like about it? I really liked each character’s different story and waiting to see whether or not Mrs Olinski’s team would win.
Why did you choose it? I chose this book because it was an interesting read. I also highly recommend it to a lot of young readers.
What other books would you recommend? The Allegra Biscotti Collection by Olivia Bennet, Close to Famous by Joan Bauer, Flying Solo by Ralph Fletcher and 11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass.
Literary gems at the Library 13