The Stones Cry Out
2 journalers for this copy...
I purchased this hardcover (c. 1993) at the Friends of the Library book store in Rockville, Maryland. I am sort of in a quest for books of fiction by well regarded Japanese authors. This book caught my eye although I've never read anything else by this author.
I'm about to read this book for the February 2018 TIOLI challenge on LibraryThing to read a book with something you love in the title (stones).
This was a mesmerizing, but confusing tale. It's the story of stones. Manase was book store owner whose main interest was geology and stones. This interest started at the time he had been a soldier in Leyte (Philippines) and encountered a dying lance corporal who was a stone expert. After the war, Manase married and had two children, but only one of them was interested in stones.
A strange part of this stone story was a scene that kept replaying throughout the book. We don't always know exactly what happened in each scene, but we do know that each time it took place in a cave with a light in the distance. Various people entered this cave, resulting in different outcomes at the end of each cave scene. Which scene was the true story? Which scenes were hallucinations? Were any of them true?
Beyond that, we experienced the disintegration of a family: Manase, his wife, and their two sons. How did that happen? More importantly, why?
Stones are a fascinating feature of this novel. They brought back memories of when I was a kid and used to collect rocks. I took a hammer and smashed them open to see what was inside to try to identify them. I loved reading about how the older son Haraoki would work with his father on collecting and identifying stones. That part of the story I found quite heartwarming.
A strange part of this stone story was a scene that kept replaying throughout the book. We don't always know exactly what happened in each scene, but we do know that each time it took place in a cave with a light in the distance. Various people entered this cave, resulting in different outcomes at the end of each cave scene. Which scene was the true story? Which scenes were hallucinations? Were any of them true?
Beyond that, we experienced the disintegration of a family: Manase, his wife, and their two sons. How did that happen? More importantly, why?
Stones are a fascinating feature of this novel. They brought back memories of when I was a kid and used to collect rocks. I took a hammer and smashed them open to see what was inside to try to identify them. I loved reading about how the older son Haraoki would work with his father on collecting and identifying stones. That part of the story I found quite heartwarming.
Journal Entry 4 by SqueakyChu at LFL - Vandegrift Ave (5811) (#7720) in Rockville, Maryland USA on Saturday, March 3, 2018
Released 6 yrs ago (3/4/2018 UTC) at LFL - Vandegrift Ave (5811) (#7720) in Rockville, Maryland USA
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
I'm releasing this book for...
*** The 2018 4 Elements Release Challenge hosted by Firegirl. The book title or author's name contains the word STONE.
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Enjoy the book!
*** The 2018 4 Elements Release Challenge hosted by Firegirl. The book title or author's name contains the word STONE.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Enjoy the book!
Caught!
Thank you for returning this book to the Little Free Library of Twinbrook (#7720). I'm saving this book to go out for Round #2.
Thank you for returning this book to the Little Free Library of Twinbrook (#7720). I'm saving this book to go out for Round #2.
Journal Entry 6 by SqueakyChu at LFL - Vandegrift Ave (5811) (#7720) in Rockville, Maryland USA on Saturday, September 16, 2023
Released 6 mos ago (9/16/2023 UTC) at LFL - Vandegrift Ave (5811) (#7720) in Rockville, Maryland USA
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
Going out for Round #2...
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Enjoy the book!
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Enjoy the book!
I selected this book from the Little Free Library of Twinbrook (#7720) to travel elsewhere.
I'm releasing this book at a BCinDC meetup either in Panera or at Potbelly (depending on the weather). :D
Brought home from today's BC in DC gathering. I'm not sure if I'll like this book, but it's under 150 pages, so I thought I'd give it a try.