Shipwrecks
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Product Description
Product Description
An evocative historical novel with a sting in the tail, Shipwrecks is set in medieval Japan; in a coastal village where a father sells himself into indentured servitude to save his family from starvation. He leaves the responsibility for the family's continuing survival with his nine year old son Isaku. Forced to grow up well before his time, Isaku must learn quickly to trap saury fish and to distil salt; and is faced with a number of mysteries, not least his own nascent sexuality and the legend of O-fune-sama - of ships wrecked offshore providing the village with unexpected bounty. As the end of his father's bondage approaches, and another ship founders on the rocks, Isaku and the villagers rejoice. But the cargo is not at all the manna of their hopes. At first mystifying, then terrifying, this cargo is about to change their lives forever.
About the Author
Akira Yoshimura was born in 1927. He is the prize-winning, best-selling author of twenty books - both novels and short story collections. He is president of Japan's writers' union and a member of International PEN.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:School & Library Binding
Seen through the eyes of Isaku, a nine-year old boy with adult responsibilities by need and whose father like many other villagers has sold himself for several years into indentured servitude, this is a richly evocative story written with the precission of the masters of stoty telling. Shipwrecks transports you to the realms of human dignity in a minuscule fishing village in medieval Japan. This is a powerful descriptive and inspiring account of a period in the lives of the hard working and severely deprived villagers. Their survival depends on the scarce fruits of the sea and their resourfulness to make it to another day. Full of traditions, superstitions and questionable practices such us alluring passing cargo ships to the rugged coastline where they crash against the rocks, slaughtering the crew and taking its vital cargo. A cruel but necessary chore if the villagers want to survive in such a harsh environment in which there is not much room for play and enjoyment and where a bad situation is often followed by a more catastrophic one. You won't be able to put it down.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The power of this book comes from the fact that Yoshimura does not word out Isaku's emotions- he simply states his actions, and his feelings are clear. This makes this book even the more evocative, as you follow its compelling and poweful story.
Also, as a fairly quick read, this book is a must-have
Also, as a fairly quick read, this book is a must-have
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Dont be mislead, this is NOT a hardcover edition. Seriouly disappointed as was assured by amazon by email prior to ordering that this was a hardback.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
powerful epic narrative
This is a wonderful short novel and the translator, Mark Ealey, deserves to be commended too. Set in medieval Japan, in a fishing village, the story is told through the eyes of... Read more
Published on 30 Nov 2009 by Chaucer
a gem
this is a gem of a book. It's lean and spare, beautifully written (translated). I first read it a couple of years ago and re-read it recently with perhaps even more delight. Read more
Published on 13 Feb 2009 by johnny
a different world
When this book was recomended to me i have to say that i was a little apprehensive, i am not a lover of international literature. Read more
Published on 9 April 2003 by "jodman"
A good tale which could have been written more powerfully
Yoshimura has gentle, delicate style that leaves the reader wanting to him to delve deeper in to a character or story line. Read more
Published on 18 Sep 2001
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