Four Seasons in Japan

A book about a book!! so clever.. so believable.. Loved the characters, the storytelling.. 5th star for love for Japan!!

Nick Bradley has created a beautiful story within a story in Four Seasons in Japan. Even though there is a wide contrast in both stories in terms of setting, locations, and timelines, there is no deviation in authenticity and warmth.Bradley takes his readers to Japan and introduces them to the country’s history, customs, culture, cuisine, and traditions. It was a wonderful experience visualising the changing seasons.His writing is highly visceral, and it is impossible to not feel the emotions of the characters. I loved knowing Flo, Kyo, and Ayako from such close quarters.In the book, the author covers several themes, including mental health, parental control, generational differences, societal pressure on children, and suicide.. The friendship and community strength portrayed in Kyo’s story is heartwarming.I didn’t enjoy Flo’s story as much as I enjoyed Kyo’s. I found it much easier to relate to Kyo rather than Flo, whose constant dissatisfaction was slightly nagging. Flo’s struggles feel forced at times.In my opinion, the resolution could have been handled better. Ayako’s story ended abruptly, while the ending of Flo’s story was not as appealing as the story itself.The best part about the book is the beautiful quotes!

The book is melancholic, evocative, and compelling. There are heart to heart conversation between friends. Where failure, resentment and devastation engulfed Flo, Kyoko and Makoto were always there for her. Flo’s odyssey has encapsulated the life of a translator. When something she was passionate about turns into her biggest grief not only she detach herself from the world but also from the person she loves the most. While Kyo’s story encapsulated emotions, family expectations and a lot more. The characters were so emotional. And the description of changing seasons in Japan is so engrossing.There were some traditions, deep conversations about relationships, literature, role of a translator, emotions, responsibilities towards family, making a choice, and differentiating between fiction and non-fiction and life and literature.Reading the book felt like an emotional chaos and tangled between heart and mind, life and literature and inevitable expectations filling life with devastation and innumerable feelings. The author keenly observes those around them as it has reflected in their writing and characters. The Author’s compelling writing will transport you to Japan and the lives of each character.

I read this to satiate a current fascination with all things Japanese. The settings, culture and nuance came through well in this book. However as far as writing style goes it's not what I expected, a little tedious perhaps. Not something that leaves a lasting impression.

Another damaged book! I have different collections of books and keep my books in perfect condition. It's sad when it arrives damaged.

I loved this book and characters were all insightful. At times I could hardly read through my tears but overall very well written, interesting story and information about Japan including history, monuments and the language.Overall a very good book and it includes cats so what’s not to like!

The new year has just begun, but "Four Seasons in Japan" will definitely be one of my highlights in 2024. What an incredibly beautiful and moving book full of warmth and wisdom!!!Basically it's a book-within-a-book. There's the story of Flo, who translates Japanese books into English and becomes obsessed with a book by an unknown Japanese writer she finds on the Tokyo subway. She's is in the middle of a depression and the translation of this book into English might just be the project she needs to get back on her feet again.And then there's the book "Sound of Water", which tells the story of Ayako and her grandson Kyo. Their relationship isn't an easy one, since they hardly know each other at the beginning. Each of them has suffered loss and heartbreak, but gradually they come to understand each other and open up.It's difficult to describe this book because it touches so many different topics. It's a coming-of-age story (a young man trying to find his place in the world), it's about generation gap, about regrets, loss, grief and resilience. It's about listening to your heart and do the things that make you happy and give meaning to your life instead of fulfilling other people's expectations. It's about finding your one passion that gives your life purpose.I liked Flo, the translator, but I really came to love Ayako and her grandson Kyo. They touched my heart so much that I didn't want to leave them behind at the end of the book. And I loved to learn about Japanese culture and tradition and soaked up the beautiful landscape descriptions.I would like to recommend this gem of a novel to those who love character-driven novels that focus on the personal development of the protagonists. For me, this novel and its protagonists will definitely stay in my heart for a very long time.

また日本通作家に出会えた。東京で契約翻訳家として働くアメリカ人フロー・ダンソープは同性のルームメイト由紀が職を得て渡米することになり、ついていかないとintimateな関係が切れるし、かといって踏み切れずに悩んでいる。ある日フローは電車の座席に置き忘れられた本を持ち帰って読み始めると、表紙の題「水の音」どおり芭蕉のわびさびの香りがした。ここから本の中の本という入れ子が顔を出す。そこは気候温暖な瀬戸内海の街「尾道」で、カフェを営む訳ありの「綾子」のもとに浪人中の孫「響（きょう）」が東京からやってくる。そして大林宣彦さんの尾道映画３作を彷彿させる柔らかく包み込む情景が目の前に広がる。響がスケッチブックに描く芭蕉の「蛙」、千光寺に至る「猫の細道」で出会う個性的な猫たち、それにおっとりしたカフェの常連さんが活き活きと動き回り、いく世代にもわたる大波の歴史を飲み込んだ物語りは まるで日本の人が書いた本みたいでページをめくり手がとまる。最近読んだ「ツバキ文具店」（小川糸・幻冬舎文庫）の帯にある「ゆっくりゆっくり感動が広がる」という「ほっこり系」の一冊だった。Bradleyさんってきっと優しい人なんでしょうね。

A simple calming book to read. There’s motivational quotes too. I love traveling to Japan and this book makes me wanna visit more places in Japan and explore.