A True Novel

Epic novel of post-war intertwined Japanese families and a mixed-race man who was once their houseboy, told in first-person by two different people: the novelist who wrote their story and their maid who knew them. Based on Wuthering Heights (which I hated), I found this beautifully written book and its characters thoroughly engrossing. Highly recommended.

"A True Novel" is a haunting and nostalgic story. Central to the tale is the enigmatic Taro Azuma, a man who is tortured by the inability to give in to the hidden passions that drive his existence. While the nesting-doll structure of this book gives it a slow pace, Taro's striking and mysterious presence will keep you reading as his history is revealed. On a grander scale, this book is a compelling study of post-war Japan and a subtle commentary on the societal changes that followed. This is a story that will stay with you long after it has been read.