Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Charming story, excellent writing, fabulous atmosphere, 25 May 1999
By A Customer
It's cherry blossom time in Tokyo, a time when the residents go slightly mad in a way Westerners may not totally understand. That is why we are fortunate to have antiques dealer/sleuth Rei Shimura guide us through the customs and traditions that make her adopted home of Japan so fascinating. The Flower Master, third in this award-winning series, presents the hothouse world of competitive flower arrangers, a growing movement of environmental terrorists, and put's Rei's aunt Norie right in the middle of a murder that may come pretty close to home.Now, I have no business reading anything since I've got a deadline looming, but I just couldn't resist. Sujata Massey's writing is so fluid, so clean, so right. I loved the charming details which illuminated the tyrannies, power-brokering, and jealousies found within Japan's foremost ikebana community. Massey creates each Tokyo neighborhood in such sensual detail, it's hard to come up for air and realize you're not living in Rei's Japan anymore. Sujata Massey is also brilliaint at finding the most enticingly exotic element in what, to others, might appear mundane daily life. As Rei gets deeper into her investigation, we learn everything from how to get our ailments diagnosed at a tea shop to what happens to a Range Rover in the narrow streets of Tokyo's older sections, to how to properly apologize, as Rei's aunt instructs both Rei and us on how to select the proper gift from the proper shop to show the proper respect. I loved this book. The Flower Master shows a superb series that is growing even stronger.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great read. Japan comes alive in Massey's hands, 29 Mar 1999
By A Customer
Half Japanese and half American, Rei Shimina grew up in California, but now calls Japan home. Though she struggles to adapt to the culture of her father's relatives, she has carved out a profession as a successful antiques' buyer. Without asking, her Aunt Norrie enrolls Rei in the prestigious Kayama School to study ikebana (flower arranging). To show respect to her aunt, Rei attends the classes. At school, Rei quickly learns that the powerful Sakira Sato loathes Norrie. Not too long after classes start, Norrie finds a dead Sakira, an apparent victim of a pair of ikebana scissors. The police suspect Norrie. She found the body, shared a known grudge with the victim, and owned the murderer weapon. Rei begins to investigate who actually killed Sakira. Masterful storyteller Sujata Massey paints a vivid portrait of modern Japan that brings to life the people and the clashing cultures. The story line flows rapidly along a journey in which anything can and does occur. Rei is an extremely likable protagonist whose trek for self awareness has traveled much afar from where she was in her previous tale. THE FLOWER MASTER is a master of a tale that fans of Japanes mysteries will relish until the next book in the series appears. Harriet Klausner
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3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another delightful adventure full of suspence and fun!, 2 Sep 1999
By A Customer
Sujata Massey's third story in what I hope continues to be a long series has the reader enjoying another delightful adventure with Rei Shimura, an American who cannot live an ordinary day in Japan! The twists and turns are peppered with current commentary on Japanese society, and world fashion trends. A fun page-turner and a sure bet for entertaining reading!
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