American Fuji -- Bookring
Registered by totoroandmei of Fukuoka / 福岡市, Fukuoka-ken Japan on 12/30/2005
This book is in a Controlled Release!
This book is in a Controlled Release!
16 journalers for this copy...
Gaby Stanton, an American professor living in Japan, has lost her job teaching English at Shizuyama University. (No one will tell her exactly why.) Alex Thorn, an American psychologist, is mourning his son, a Shizuyama exchange student killed in an accident. (No one will tell him exactly how.) Alex has come to this utterly foreign place to find the truth, and now Gaby - newly employed at a Japanese "fantasy funeral" company - is his guide. Gaby, at least, can speak the language, though as she explains to Alex, the key to mastering Japanese is understanding what's not being said. And in this dazzling, unusual novel, the unsaid truths about everything from work and love to illness and death cast a deafening silence - and tower in the background like Mount Fuji itself.
Sending out as a ring.
Please journal when you receive the book AND PM the next person on the list for their address. Try to finish it in a month but if you need longer please PM me. Enjoy!
Vikki - Japan, International
SKingList - US, US
Chaichan - US, US
fairydustwings - US, US
Bluestocking88 - US, US
pammykn - US, International
nut - UK, international
Kera - UK, international
midlifecrisis - UK, international
nikel27 - Germany, international
Anadyomene - Germany, international
LeishaCamden - Norway, international
hippolein - Finland
wollie
Bluemchenblatt
Please journal when you receive the book AND PM the next person on the list for their address. Try to finish it in a month but if you need longer please PM me. Enjoy!
Vikki - Japan, International
SKingList - US, US
Chaichan - US, US
fairydustwings - US, US
Bluestocking88 - US, US
pammykn - US, International
nut - UK, international
Kera - UK, international
midlifecrisis - UK, international
nikel27 - Germany, international
Anadyomene - Germany, international
LeishaCamden - Norway, international
hippolein - Finland
wollie
Bluemchenblatt
Journal Entry 3 by totoroandmei at Postal Release in Sent To The Next Bookcrosser, Bookray -- Controlled Releases on Monday, March 26, 2007
Released 17 yrs ago (3/27/2007 UTC) at Postal Release in Sent To The Next Bookcrosser, Bookray -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Arrived today!
I enjoyed the story, the pace of it and the writing but I felt Backer`s portrayal of the difficulties faced by foreigners living in Japan to be exaggerated at times. Having lived here for three and a half years, I fully aggree that life can be tough at times; just like it is for anyone living in a new country, especially where the language and culture are different from one`s own. Yes, people stare at you, assume that all English-speaking Westerners are American and ask you inane questions. However, I have never heard of anyone (of either sex) being denied medical treatment, including surgery, because they were unmarried or had no family in Japan. And I find it hard to believe that so many Japanese people would be openly rude to a foreigner. I live in a small city, in rural northern Japan and I have to say that for the most part, people have gone out of their way to help me and have even apologised for not being able to speak English! Never have I had someone tell me to speak Japanese because I am in Japan. Either I (and other foreigners I know) have been extremely lucky or life in Shizuoka is very different to that of other parts of Japan.
I`ll PM SkingList to get her address and pass on the book.
I`ll PM SkingList to get her address and pass on the book.
I forgot how much I miss Japanes tape "Muchi (2) Piggy: I wish to fully grow my small dream" Me too, me too :)
Was very happy to come home to something that isn't a bill, yay!
I have finals through the 2nd, I'll read it then and get it on its way before I leave for Prague.
Thanks, Lisa, for starting this and Vikki for passing it on.
Was very happy to come home to something that isn't a bill, yay!
I have finals through the 2nd, I'll read it then and get it on its way before I leave for Prague.
Thanks, Lisa, for starting this and Vikki for passing it on.
Well I definitely journalled this when I finished reading it, but BC was apparently having issues :(
I liked the book, I found some segments difficult to read but I felt the characters were very well written and I could identify with the characters.
Thanks for sharing!
I liked the book, I found some segments difficult to read but I felt the characters were very well written and I could identify with the characters.
Thanks for sharing!
Journal Entry 8 by SKingList at bookring in bookring, Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Released 16 yrs ago (5/22/2007 UTC) at bookring in bookring, Bookring -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Passed into the hands of USPS today. On its way to chaichan via media mail.
Passed into the hands of USPS today. On its way to chaichan via media mail.
The book arrived yesterday. Thanks SKingList!
It took me a long time to read the first 30 or so pages. Every time I picked the book up I'd read a little bit, lose interest and set it down again. Once characters started connecting I couldn't put the book down and took extra long subway trips just to have more time to read.
There were so many details in the book that made me natsukashii for Japan. Even though the author reinforces a lot of stereotypes ("This is a pen..."), there are also many moments when it feels like she captures some of the special moments and quirks of living there. There was a man who was very high up in our prefectural Board of Education who gave speeches that were made up almost completely of lyric snippets from Beatles songs. He was the salary man doppleganger of Eguchi.
I'd agree with Vikki's journal note about it being unlikely that female foreigners would be denied medical treatment for being unmarried or without male family. I remember unmarried female friends who had emergency surgeries in Japan. They had the support of their contracting organizations and supervisors; had they tried to keep things secret as Gaby does from Eguchi, maybe the results would have been different. I don't know. I do remember Americans who were refused by Japanese blood centers when they tried to donate and were told that their blood could not be accepted because they were non-Japanese.
While living in Japan, I mostly had positive experiences interacting with people. The moajority of the time, people were very helpful, polite, and friendly; overwhelmingly so. But there were also times when no one would sit next to me on the bus, prefering to stand, because they didn't want to sit next to a foreigner. There were times children would run crying when they would see me, and I would hear their mothers tell them to stay away from the gaijin.... I appreciate that this book captures some of the roller coaster of emotions those experiences produce.
Thanks Totoroandmei for another good book ring! I'll PM fairydustwings today.
There were so many details in the book that made me natsukashii for Japan. Even though the author reinforces a lot of stereotypes ("This is a pen..."), there are also many moments when it feels like she captures some of the special moments and quirks of living there. There was a man who was very high up in our prefectural Board of Education who gave speeches that were made up almost completely of lyric snippets from Beatles songs. He was the salary man doppleganger of Eguchi.
I'd agree with Vikki's journal note about it being unlikely that female foreigners would be denied medical treatment for being unmarried or without male family. I remember unmarried female friends who had emergency surgeries in Japan. They had the support of their contracting organizations and supervisors; had they tried to keep things secret as Gaby does from Eguchi, maybe the results would have been different. I don't know. I do remember Americans who were refused by Japanese blood centers when they tried to donate and were told that their blood could not be accepted because they were non-Japanese.
While living in Japan, I mostly had positive experiences interacting with people. The moajority of the time, people were very helpful, polite, and friendly; overwhelmingly so. But there were also times when no one would sit next to me on the bus, prefering to stand, because they didn't want to sit next to a foreigner. There were times children would run crying when they would see me, and I would hear their mothers tell them to stay away from the gaijin.... I appreciate that this book captures some of the roller coaster of emotions those experiences produce.
Thanks Totoroandmei for another good book ring! I'll PM fairydustwings today.
Journal Entry 11 by Bluestocking88 from -- Wild released somewhere in the state, Washington USA on Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Arrived safely today. Thank you!
Journal Entry 12 by Bluestocking88 from -- Wild released somewhere in the state, Washington USA on Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Wow! This was such an unusual book that I didn''t want to put it down. I enjoyed the characters and figuring out the mysteries in the story. I did think things were a little too coincidental--it was almost incestuous how everyone was so interconnected, but it made for an interesting read all the same.
I will be mailing this out to pammykn next week
I will be mailing this out to pammykn next week
Journal Entry 13 by Bluestocking88 from -- Wild released somewhere in the state, Washington USA on Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Mailed out to Pammykn on Monday, Aug. 13, 2007 via media mail.
Thanks, rec''d today. Have a bunch of bookring/rays to get to 1st but looking forward to reading!
I did really enjoy this book but did feel (and hope) that the Japanese attitudes of superiority to the Americans was exaggerated. I was really beginning to lose respect for Gaby for accepting the treatment she did. Thanks for sharing this book. Will mail off Tuesday 10/02 to nut in Ireland.
I just flew through this - it just arrived two days ago. A nice change from some non fiction I've been reading.
I loved that you got the different gaijin views, from Alex, who's just arrived and doesn't understand anything, to Gaby, who's well used to normal life, to Lester (spit), who doesn't see the Japanese as individual people.
Re "Never have I had someone tell me to speak Japanese", in fairness, I think there was only one person who said that, and he was an ass anyway. Though Mrs Sakura could have been a lot less awkward generally, I'm inclined to think her refusal to speak English early on was the teacher in her - the gesturing was enough to get by.
*SPOILER*
I was surprised how it turned out. I was expecting it to be some organ harvesting conspiracy before Alex was.
I've PMed the next reader.
24/10/07 - I've finally put it in the post.
I loved that you got the different gaijin views, from Alex, who's just arrived and doesn't understand anything, to Gaby, who's well used to normal life, to Lester (spit), who doesn't see the Japanese as individual people.
Re "Never have I had someone tell me to speak Japanese", in fairness, I think there was only one person who said that, and he was an ass anyway. Though Mrs Sakura could have been a lot less awkward generally, I'm inclined to think her refusal to speak English early on was the teacher in her - the gesturing was enough to get by.
*SPOILER*
I was surprised how it turned out. I was expecting it to be some organ harvesting conspiracy before Alex was.
I've PMed the next reader.
24/10/07 - I've finally put it in the post.
Received in the post today, this is next on my pile TBR so should be finished soon. :)
Finished this book last night and found this a really enjoyable read and also very informative as to Japan's culture. Am sending on today to midlifecrisis
Journal Entry 19 by Midlifecrisis from St. Austell, Cornwall United Kingdom on Sunday, December 9, 2007
This arrived on Saturday - thank you Kera. I will read and journal as soon as possible.
Journal Entry 20 by Midlifecrisis from St. Austell, Cornwall United Kingdom on Tuesday, December 18, 2007
I enjoyed this very much, though must say it would not prompt me to want to visit Japan. I liked the main characters but guess I was hoping for a more conclusive ending. Not one which is likely to leave a lasting impression, but nevertheless a diverting read and thank you for the chance to share it. I will have it on its way to the next person as soon as possible.
Journal Entry 21 by Midlifecrisis from St. Austell, Cornwall United Kingdom on Thursday, December 20, 2007
Posted to Nikel27 today
Journal Entry 22 by nikel27 from -- Irgendwo / Somewhere --, Hessen Germany on Sunday, December 30, 2007
arrived safe at my house, 2 more BookRing's to be read before I can start here.
update:
Good read,thanks for sharing with me.
update:
Good read,thanks for sharing with me.
Journal Entry 23 by nikel27 at Post Office in Book Ring, Ginsheim -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Released 16 yrs ago (1/28/2008 UTC) at Post Office in Book Ring, Ginsheim -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
EnJoy the book as I did
EnJoy the book as I did
The book has been waiting for weeks at my c/o-address. Sorry for the delay, it has arrived safely and will be read in the next few days.
+++
That was quite a treat! Thank you for sharing this novel, I liked it a lot. It is a hilarious but also intelligent story about cultural misunderstandings. There is a difference between feeling a stranger and merely being one. The storyline and outcome was to be expected from an early page, but I liked the way the story twisted and how exotic the obstacles proved to be. Nice one!
I'll send it on next week - have fun!
+++
That was quite a treat! Thank you for sharing this novel, I liked it a lot. It is a hilarious but also intelligent story about cultural misunderstandings. There is a difference between feeling a stranger and merely being one. The storyline and outcome was to be expected from an early page, but I liked the way the story twisted and how exotic the obstacles proved to be. Nice one!
I'll send it on next week - have fun!
This arrived in my mailbox today. Looks fascinating!! I'm kind of swamped with rings & rays right now - they travel in packs!! - but I will get to it as soon as I can.
I'll journal again when I've read the book. Thanks for sharing, totoroandmei! Anadyomene - thank you for sending the book on to me, and thanks for the chocolate!! :-)
I'll journal again when I've read the book. Thanks for sharing, totoroandmei! Anadyomene - thank you for sending the book on to me, and thanks for the chocolate!! :-)
Finally got started on reading this today. Didn't get very far yet, but so far I'm really enjoying it. :-)
More later ... !
More later ... !
And now I'm finally getting around to journalling this ... !! I've finished the book (June 27th), but I've been forgetting to journal - I'm sorry for being so slow, and thank you totoroandmei for reminding me!!
This was a really, really good book. :-) Very well worth reading. I found the characters very credible and the book as a whole was very well written. Backer has an excellent way with the language. I would love to read some other books by her. The setting seemed believable to me too - I loved all the little details, they really made the setting and the story come alive for me. Some parts of the story seemed rather extreme IMO ... about Gaby being denied necessary medical treatment and so on. Thanks to previous readers who have commented on that. I suppose the way it's done in the story is because it's necessary to the plot ... but still, to my eyes it seems rather too extreme. Almost cruel. So it's good to hear that these things don't match up with everyone's experiences in Japan. :-)
The book has a lot of humor and a number of genuinely funny scenes. It is a rather sorrowful humor but I thought it worked extremely well. It suits the characters perfectly ... and to my mind the characters here are the main strength of the book. The book has many strong points but it's the characters that really stand out in my memory. To the point that I catch myself hoping that things will work out for them ... :-)
About those little details: I blogged about the book (something I generally don't do; I write about books almost exclusively here on BC) because I really enjoyed it so much and there were some details that for personal reasons were rather entertaining to me. :-) You can read the blog entry here.
I already have hippolein's address so I will get the book in the mail to him very soon. Thanks for your patience, everyone!! :-)
This was a really, really good book. :-) Very well worth reading. I found the characters very credible and the book as a whole was very well written. Backer has an excellent way with the language. I would love to read some other books by her. The setting seemed believable to me too - I loved all the little details, they really made the setting and the story come alive for me. Some parts of the story seemed rather extreme IMO ... about Gaby being denied necessary medical treatment and so on. Thanks to previous readers who have commented on that. I suppose the way it's done in the story is because it's necessary to the plot ... but still, to my eyes it seems rather too extreme. Almost cruel. So it's good to hear that these things don't match up with everyone's experiences in Japan. :-)
The book has a lot of humor and a number of genuinely funny scenes. It is a rather sorrowful humor but I thought it worked extremely well. It suits the characters perfectly ... and to my mind the characters here are the main strength of the book. The book has many strong points but it's the characters that really stand out in my memory. To the point that I catch myself hoping that things will work out for them ... :-)
About those little details: I blogged about the book (something I generally don't do; I write about books almost exclusively here on BC) because I really enjoyed it so much and there were some details that for personal reasons were rather entertaining to me. :-) You can read the blog entry here.
I already have hippolein's address so I will get the book in the mail to him very soon. Thanks for your patience, everyone!! :-)
Journal Entry 28 by 
LeishaCamden
at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, August 9, 2008
LeishaCamden at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, August 9, 2008
Released 15 yrs ago (8/9/2008 UTC) at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
This book is finally on its way to hippolein in Helsinki ... !!
This book is finally on its way to hippolein in Helsinki ... !!
The ringbook arrived today together with a raybook, thanks for sending it. I'll do my best to get it going as fast as possible, just hope it will be withing one month.
Wonderful description of live as an American in Japan, with all the ups and downs, spiced up with a search for truth and a little bit of romance.
Was a great book to read!
Now the book will go to the last person on the list, as I didn't manage to get an answer from wollie.
Was a great book to read!
Now the book will go to the last person on the list, as I didn't manage to get an answer from wollie.
Enjoyed the book a lot, sort of a "light" read (but not too much so, at least for me right now) with even detective story (which I hadn't expected at first)and many humorous parts woven in. I have to say though that I had somewhat different, better experiences when I visited Japan, but then I was practically all the time in the more rural Tohoku area in the North of the main island, Honshu, where people were really friendly & helpful in a sort of "easygoing" way. I guess I would have liked to get to know a bit more at the end, how things would continue between the two main characters or would there have been something else, but there was a "happy end" of sorts, you could even imagine the two getting more close...!
Journal Entry 32 by 
hippolein
at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, September 3, 2008
hippolein at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Released 15 yrs ago (9/3/2008 UTC) at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
This ring book went in the mail on the way to France.
Hope goes fast an safe!
This ring book went in the mail on the way to France.
Hope goes fast an safe!
Journal Entry 33 by 
Bluemchenblatt
from Courbevoie, Ile-de-France France on Monday, September 15, 2008
Bluemchenblatt from Courbevoie, Ile-de-France France on Monday, September 15, 2008
The American Fuji arrived safely! I've another bookring already here, but hope to read it quickly. Then I'll send it on to wollie, who's address hippolein has already provided me with!
Journal Entry 34 by Bluemchenblatt from Courbevoie, Ile-de-France France on Monday, September 22, 2008
Bluemchenblatt from Courbevoie, Ile-de-France France on Monday, September 22, 2008
The book captivated me and was a worthwhile read with an interesting storyline.
But just as Vikki, I wondered at times if Backer wasn't exaggerating for a more interesting portrait. As LeishaCamden pointed it out, the charm was about the different characters in the book - and finally nut is right about the rather surprising ending, everything turns out pretty down to earth! (Like Mount Fuji, right? Feet on the ground, head in the clouds.)
I can't wait to travel to Japan next summer! Hopefully it works out.
(I'll send this on to Woolie, hippolein gave me the address.)
But just as Vikki, I wondered at times if Backer wasn't exaggerating for a more interesting portrait. As LeishaCamden pointed it out, the charm was about the different characters in the book - and finally nut is right about the rather surprising ending, everything turns out pretty down to earth! (Like Mount Fuji, right? Feet on the ground, head in the clouds.)
I can't wait to travel to Japan next summer! Hopefully it works out.
(I'll send this on to Woolie, hippolein gave me the address.)
Journal Entry 35 by Bluemchenblatt at Controlled Release, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Friday, January 23, 2009
Bluemchenblatt at Controlled Release, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Friday, January 23, 2009
Released 15 yrs ago (1/23/2009 UTC) at Controlled Release, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
I'm sorry for the delay, it's finally on its way to woolie!
Aide en français/Deutsche Hilfe/日本語のページ/Polska Strona Pomocy
I'm sorry for the delay, it's finally on its way to woolie!
Aide en français/Deutsche Hilfe/日本語のページ/Polska Strona Pomocy
Received this a few days ago, have read 20% so far, am really enjoying this. I like Kate Atkinson, this reminds me a bit of her sense of humor.
Finished. Really enjoyed this, it was a fairly light read. Like others in the ring, i felt the characters were very well done, and i really appreciated the type of humor Backer uses. I hope to visit Japan someday and see mount Fuji myself ;)
I'll return this one to totoroandmei.
I'll return this one to totoroandmei.
Journal Entry 38 by totoroandmei at Bookmooch.com, A book trading site -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, March 28, 2009
Released 15 yrs ago (3/28/2009 UTC) at Bookmooch.com, A book trading site -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Off to Osaka. Enjoy!
Off to Osaka. Enjoy!
Thanks to everyone who participated in this ring. I really appreciate it and hope that everyone enjoyed the book. The book is back home in Japan but off on a new adventure.
