Looking Back... In an effort to transfer my book journal entries over to this blog, I'm going to attempt to post (in chronological order) an entry every Friday. I may or may not add extra commentary to what I jotted down in these journals.
Fiction
2002
Finished on April 20, 2002
Rating: 4/5 (Very Good)
Publisher's Blurb:
Bestselling author Gail Tsukiyama is known for her poignant, subtle insights into the most complicated of relationships. Dreaming Water is an exploration of two of the richest and most layered human connections that mother and daughter and lifelong friends.
Hana is suffering from Werner's syndrome, a disease that makes a person age at twice the rate of one that is healthy. At thirty-eight Hana has the appearance of an eighty-year-old. Cate, her mother, is caring for her while struggling with her grief at losing her husband, Max, and with the knowledge that Hana's disease is getting worse by the day.
Hana and Cate's days are quiet and ordered. Cate escapes to her beloved garden and Hana reads and writes letters. Each find themselves drawn into their pasts, remembering the joyous and challenging events that have shaped spending the day at Max's favorite beach, overcoming their neighbors' prejudices that Max is Japanese-American and Cate is Italian-American, and coping with the heartbreak of discovering Hana's disease.
Dreaming Water is about a mother's courage, a daughter's strength, and a friend's love. It is about the importance of human dignity and the importance of all the small moments that create a life worth living.
My Original Thoughts (2002):
This was a very easy, quick read, but the subject matter is quite sad. At times I thought it read like a memoir. Beautiful, engaging prose. Informative, yet a simple story spanning two days with numerous flashbacks and memories.
My Current Thoughts:
I enjoyed this one, but didn't keep a copy. The Samurai's Garden was more impressive.
I don't think I remember knowing about this book, Les. I do remember The Samurai's Garden. Yes, I would say quite, quite sad. What an awful disease.
ReplyDeleteKay, it's interesting how I can remember so much more about The Samurai's Garden, which I read prior to this one. Some books just stick longer than others.
DeleteQuite sad. I doubt I’ll be able to read it through.
ReplyDeleteMystica, the author writes with great insight and I'm sure this was a deeply moving story. I wish I could remember more about it, but it's been over 20 years since I read it.
DeleteThe Samurai's Garden is one of those books that I still think about almost 2 decades after reading it.
ReplyDeleteHelen, it's such a memorable story! I've now read it a couple of times.
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