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Across the Nightingale Floor (Tales of the Otori)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Across the Nightingale Floor more than lives up to its billing as an exceptional new literary sensation, from the tragic excitement and drama of a sacked village on the opening page, to the later multi-layered court intrigues and tales of family revenge by ancient Japanese dynasties. The engaging story and appealing characters combine incredibly well to produce a highly readable book that should appeal to many different-aged readers.
Takeo is just 16 when he loses his family to the evil Lord Iida and it seems like incredible luck when he is saved from death by the noble Shigeru, rightful heir to the Clan of the Otori. As Takeo travels into new territory and towards a new, unknown life, the tribal rivalries, romances and histories at large in this new world are revealed to him. These are treacherous times. Everyone is at risk, and few can be trusted. Takeo also has a special gift--inherited skills that mark him out as different from other men. He is at once desirable and highly dangerous to those in power. His life is soon in danger.
It's a fascinating landscape and a riveting story; it's genuinely very difficult to put down once you've started it. Unusually for a children's book with so many characters, several with strange-sounding names, the story is easy to follow. The writing is exceptional, with very few words out of place. The author, a pseudonym for Australian writer Gillian Rubinstein, is generous enough to paint the characters and scenery in great detail, yet keeps the writing clipped enough for the plot to move along at a steady pace. Importantly, there are no slow bits.
The book does not flinch from adult content and is certainly a mature read. There are numerous deaths, several beheadings, torture, cruelty and even a little lovemaking. All, however, are within context and not gratuitous. (Age 12 and over.) --John McLay --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
With the subtitle 'Tales of the Otori, Book One', this is the first volume in a trilogy which has the feel of a truly remarkable tale set in a mythical feudal Japanese land. Sixteen-year-old Takeo is named by Lord Otori who saves him from death after his village is wiped out by Lord Iida Sadamu's warriors. He it is who owns the famous Nightingale Floor, which sings at the tread of a human foot so no assassin can cross over it. However, Takeo has some very special skills of his own to use when he enters the stronghold. This is primarily a wonderful love story set against a background of warring clans and sudden death. It has a magical quality and the power of the story is truly awesome.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have always enjoyed fantasy novels, but long ago got thoroughly sick of the d&d mages and mercenaries, evil-dark-lord-of-the-north-taking-over-the-world-with-an-army-of-trolls. This is the sort of fantasy book that grabs my attention now, and it really did grab it by the throat.
As you'll have realised, it is set in Japan, and I think that it must some time in the early modern period as the 'hidden' people amongst whom the main character, Takeo, grew up sound remarkably like Japanese Christians. It has all the clichés, two lovers torn apart by war, etc, etc, but it is far from a cliché. Takeo is far from 'flat' as I've seen one reviewer describe him, he is an enormously complex character dragged this way and that by his upbringing amongst the Hidden, his powers and ties to the 'Tribe', his inheritance from the Otori and his love of Kaede. His struggles to resolve all of these different currents will take far more than one book, and having read the second (Grass for his pillow), will take more than two. If you are looking for a beautifully written historical novel with breathtaking characterisation and some magic thrown in (and let's face it, who isn't!) then this book (along with the other two in the series) will be just your cup of tea.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
A beautifully crafted work. I bought this book as a gift for my teenage son but had to read it first. The writing is spare and elegant and the landscape descriptions are luminous. The two central love stories are treated with compassion and restraint.
I am really looking forward to the next books in the trilogy.I don't read much fantasy fiction but this must surely be the best writing in this genre since Ursula Le Guin's Earthsea Quartet.
Highly reccomended for all readers aged twelve and upwards.
26 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I totally LOVED this book. I found it even more exciting than Northern Lights, and it reminded me of the film Crouching Tiger. It is set in an ancient oriental land run by violent clans and a powerful and sinister organisation called the Tribe. Takeo (the hero) finds himself torn between his loyalty to the Otori clan, The Tribe, and the Hidden - the persecuted community he was born into. Then he falls in love with the beautiful Kaede... It's SUCH an exciting book, and the best thing is, it's the first part of a trilogy, so there are two more books to read! I've already started the second book (Grass for His Pillow).
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Amazing work, breathtaking.
I love love love this trilogy and this book is my favorite of the 3, I should know I have read all her books twice and have them on cd for the car. Read more
Published 11 days ago by Matthew
So good I bought it twice
I adore this series. Bought this origionally for my son when he was 11, he loved it. Loved the whole series. One of those books you steal moments through the day for. Read more
Published 24 days ago by Jennifer Macleod
one of my alltime fav books
the 'tales of the otori series' are absolutely wonderful books. first i just want to say if you havent read any of the books in the series yet,
i strongly suggest you read... Read more
i strongly suggest you read... Read more
Published 6 months ago by nomes
My favourite book...
From the title, you may feel I may have prejudice over this book... Well I do. It is my favourite book of all time, and a quick head count would put the number of books I have read... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Dr. Johnson
Fantastic read!
After reading Heaven's Net is Wide, I immediately bought all 3 of the Trilogy.
Each one only gets more intense and exciting until the final book which you cannot put down,... Read more
Each one only gets more intense and exciting until the final book which you cannot put down,... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Alex
Captivating Story
I really love this book, and the whole series of books from The Tales of the Otori. I first bought this book years ago for a read on a long train journey and bought it purely... Read more
Published 10 months ago by karenza
I can't wait to read the next one!
I really enjoyed this book. Living in Japan at the moment the descriptions and the evocation of the sounds and sensations of the setting sparked recognition. Read more
Published 10 months ago by bookstackreviews
`Death comes suddenly and life is fragile and brief.'
This novel, the first published in The Tales of The Otori series, is set in an imaginary feudal world similar to medieval Japan. Read more
Published 11 months ago by J. Cameron-Smith
Easy to pick up a nice short read.
I read this book a couple of years ago and was drawn in by the orient setting and the characters who at the times seemed interesting with enough depth and detail to keep the story... Read more
Published 14 months ago by THE MSTRKRFT
needs more time on the nightingale floor
I loved the book until the bit where it came to crossing the nightingale floor. The building up to this point, while not necessarily the main theme, did run throughout the book and... Read more
Published 18 months ago by GP
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