In 1954 a fisherman is found dead in the nets of his boat, and a local Japanese-American man is charged with his murder. In the course of his trial, it becomes clear that what is at stake is more than one man's guilt. For on San Piedro, memories grow as thickly as cedar trees and the fields of ripe strawberries - memories of a charmed love affair between a white boy and a Japanese girl; memories of land desired, paid for, and lost. Above all, San Piedro is haunted by the memory of what happened to its Japanese residents during World War II, when an entire community was sent into exile while its neighbours watched.
Snow Falling on Cedars
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'This is classic whodunnit territory but Guterson's fiercely intelligent and moving novel is far more than a murder mystery ... Guterson has written a novel about the human condition that marvellously combines tenderness and excitement' The Times 'A skilfully constructed, deeply affecting story of love and death ... This is a hugely attractive book, written in clipped elegant prose' Sunday Times 'Compelling ... a flawlessly written first novel' New York Times 'Love and morality are beautifully choreographed into an exceptional debut novel' Daily Mail
From the Back Cover
San Piedro Island in Puget Sound is a place so isolated that no-one who lives there can afford to make enemies. But in 1954 a local fisherman is found suspiciously drowned, and a Japanese-American named Kabuo Miyamoto is charged with his murder.
In the course of the ensuing trial, it becomes clear that what is at stake is more than one man's guilt. For on San Piedro, memory grows as thickly as cedar trees and the fields of ripe strawberries – memories of a charmed love affair between a white boy and a Japanese girl who grew up to become Kabuo's wife; memories of land desired, paid for, and lost. Above all, San Piedro is haunted by the memories of what happened to its Japanese residents during World War II, when an entire community was sent into exile while its neighbours watched.
Gripping, tragic, and densely atmospheric, 'Snow Falling On Cedars' is a masterpiece of suspense – but one that leaves us shaken and changed.
"Luminous…a beautifully assured and full-bodied novel that becomes a tender examination of fairness and forgiveness…Guterson has fashioned something haunting and true."
PICO IYER, 'Time'.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have read this book a number of times now and, despite knowing the ending, never get tired of it.
Set on a small US fishing Island off Seattle it deals with a mixed community containing a number of japanese settlers. The period is the Second World War and the aftermath.
Prior to the war the community is fairly settled with it's staple outputs of logging, strawberry farming (using lots of immigrant japanese labour) and fishing. It features the parallel lives of two boys who grew up on the Island - Carl Heine a European Immigrant and Kabuo Miyamoto a Japanese Immigrant. Both move away to fight during the war (for the US) and both return damaged to an extent. The book starts as Carl Heine's body is discovered (I am not giving anything away here, this is revealed on page one) and tracks back over time to draw a picture of the circumstances running up to his death.
The author, David Guterson, does a lovely job of weaving a storyline of different lives and themes such as love, betrayal, war, racial hatred and upheaval set against a charming small island/town mentality. For example the descriptive passages dealing with the loneliness of fishing at night are simply excellent and this holds true throughout the book.
It is also a book that in many ways defys genre. I think pretty much anyone who enjoys a good book will like it. From the moment it starts it welcomes you in and pulls you through the trials and tribulations of the main charactors in an immersive and endearing way. The author deals with the key themes superbly.
I strongly suggest that if you have not read it you do so and allow it to wash over you. I don't think you will regret it and I think you will thouroughly enjoy it.
I hope this review was of use to you:)
Set on a small US fishing Island off Seattle it deals with a mixed community containing a number of japanese settlers. The period is the Second World War and the aftermath.
Prior to the war the community is fairly settled with it's staple outputs of logging, strawberry farming (using lots of immigrant japanese labour) and fishing. It features the parallel lives of two boys who grew up on the Island - Carl Heine a European Immigrant and Kabuo Miyamoto a Japanese Immigrant. Both move away to fight during the war (for the US) and both return damaged to an extent. The book starts as Carl Heine's body is discovered (I am not giving anything away here, this is revealed on page one) and tracks back over time to draw a picture of the circumstances running up to his death.
The author, David Guterson, does a lovely job of weaving a storyline of different lives and themes such as love, betrayal, war, racial hatred and upheaval set against a charming small island/town mentality. For example the descriptive passages dealing with the loneliness of fishing at night are simply excellent and this holds true throughout the book.
It is also a book that in many ways defys genre. I think pretty much anyone who enjoys a good book will like it. From the moment it starts it welcomes you in and pulls you through the trials and tribulations of the main charactors in an immersive and endearing way. The author deals with the key themes superbly.
I strongly suggest that if you have not read it you do so and allow it to wash over you. I don't think you will regret it and I think you will thouroughly enjoy it.
I hope this review was of use to you:)
12 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By "indiecaite"
Format:Paperback
I studied this novel for a module in my literature AS level. Before we studied it I read it twice and fell in love with it, the more we studied it the more i began to appreciate how Guterson has crafted the story to deeply engage and involve the reader.I read the book now and I can feel the weather, smell the scents and I love how Guterson has created this effect. I find the story to be full and well written, he's obvously done a tonne of research and the plot is brilliant.Our teacher wouldn't let us watch the film until we'd taken the exam.I wasn't disappointed.All the moodiness, the atmosphere, the chemistry had translated so well and the film remains to be one of the best I've seen.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By col2910
Format:Paperback
Blurb.......In 1954 a fisherman is found dead in the nets of his boat, and a local Japanese-American man is charged with his murder. In the course of his trial, it becomes clear that what is at stake is more than one man's guilt. For on San Piedro, memories grow as thickly as cedar trees and the fields of ripe strawberries - memories of a charmed love affair between a white boy and a Japanese girl; memories of land desired, paid for, and lost. Above all, San Piedro is haunted by the memory of what happened to its Japanese residents during World War II, when an entire community was sent into exile while its neighbours watched
I've had this on my bookshelf probably 15 years or so, ever since one of my sister's bought it for me as either a birthday or Christmas present. It was the sort of book that you went, hmmm that's nice, all the while thinking I'd have preferred socks. I have tried a couple of times over the intervening period to get into it, but it was always discarded after a chapter or two.
Anyway, this time with a new found resolve, to reduce the "stop-start-put aside" pile, I tried again.
Extremely glad I did, as it was well worth the effort.
I'm fairly sure this book appears on those lists of 100 best books or 100 books to read before you die type thing and did win the PEN/FAULKNER award for fiction in 1995.
Cutting to the chase, Guterson writes of a mixed community; American and Japanese-American still divided and struggling to deal with the aftermath of Pearl Harbour and the Second World War. The Japanese interned shortly after Pearl Harbour, losing everything and dependent on the goodwill of those more charitable neighbours who viewed them as friends and fellow Americans and not as an inscrutable Oriental enemy to be feared.... Read more ›
I've had this on my bookshelf probably 15 years or so, ever since one of my sister's bought it for me as either a birthday or Christmas present. It was the sort of book that you went, hmmm that's nice, all the while thinking I'd have preferred socks. I have tried a couple of times over the intervening period to get into it, but it was always discarded after a chapter or two.
Anyway, this time with a new found resolve, to reduce the "stop-start-put aside" pile, I tried again.
Extremely glad I did, as it was well worth the effort.
I'm fairly sure this book appears on those lists of 100 best books or 100 books to read before you die type thing and did win the PEN/FAULKNER award for fiction in 1995.
Cutting to the chase, Guterson writes of a mixed community; American and Japanese-American still divided and struggling to deal with the aftermath of Pearl Harbour and the Second World War. The Japanese interned shortly after Pearl Harbour, losing everything and dependent on the goodwill of those more charitable neighbours who viewed them as friends and fellow Americans and not as an inscrutable Oriental enemy to be feared.... Read more ›
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic read - gentle, intelligent - takes you to a a wonderful place!
2 Dec 2012
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
The most wonderful story-teller. Keeps you gripped throughout - it was a let down to finish. You can almost smell the cedars! One I would read again.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I was not so much recommended this book but given it by my sister who gave up on it halfway through.
Me and Sis often do not see eye-to-eye so I have to confess it was arrogant sibling rivalry that made me think to give it a crack.
Although I did not give up on the book (so I beat her there) she was probably right in her decision to give up on it.
It is a laboured rambling tale of death, suspected murder, lost love and irrelevant flashbacks set against a very depressing wintry backdrop. Excessive use of the descriptive left me completing chapters and feeling that although my vocabulary had improved the story really had not move on that much.
So what did I do with the book? Well I am not a malicious person by nature but for fun I left it on a tube train one evening on the way home from work in the expectation that someone else may share in the depression this book brought on.
As a post-script, I saw the movie version of this tale one evening on TV and you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.
Me and Sis often do not see eye-to-eye so I have to confess it was arrogant sibling rivalry that made me think to give it a crack.
Although I did not give up on the book (so I beat her there) she was probably right in her decision to give up on it.
It is a laboured rambling tale of death, suspected murder, lost love and irrelevant flashbacks set against a very depressing wintry backdrop. Excessive use of the descriptive left me completing chapters and feeling that although my vocabulary had improved the story really had not move on that much.
So what did I do with the book? Well I am not a malicious person by nature but for fun I left it on a tube train one evening on the way home from work in the expectation that someone else may share in the depression this book brought on.
As a post-script, I saw the movie version of this tale one evening on TV and you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very well written
A lovely piece of thought provoking literature. It did lose my interest at times, though, with the back stories, as it was very detailed
Published 29 days ago by Kerry-Anne
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great read
This book arrived really quickly and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Good escapism during the bitter weather we were experiencing. Worth reading.
Published 1 month ago by jenny g
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bookclub choice
This was an incredibly good choice for our monthly bookclub. I can thoroughly Recommend it. Would also like to read Guterson's other books.
Published 1 month ago by Mrs Line Page
5.0 out of 5 stars
Snow
Brilliant book despite seeming unpromising plot line. Good character development and holds interest till very end. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Sue simmons
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very good read
I loved this book and couldn't put it down. Good descriptions of life in Japanese fishing community. I felt the cold climate sitting at home!
Published 3 months ago by Sussex
4.0 out of 5 stars
A MEMORABLE BOOK
After trying to read "The Shipping News" and giving up - this book was a massive relief and antidote.
It is full of rich description and beautiful writing. Read more
It is full of rich description and beautiful writing. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Rocke Harder
5.0 out of 5 stars
Memorable
I enjoyed this immensely. Relax and let it all wash over you. You hope that the suspect didn't do it but the culprit is not revealed until the end. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Mrs. Helen Carter
4.0 out of 5 stars
Beware!
This has been wrongly classed as a "classic whodunnit" when really it is a classic "what happened?"
Even though I felt mislead by the description I enjoyed the book and it was... Read more
Even though I felt mislead by the description I enjoyed the book and it was... Read more
Published 13 months ago by RH
4.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoyable, slow mover
Enjoyable, slow mover. Rather heavy on the descriptive side if you don't go for that sort of thing.
Nonetheless, it's well written and the characters are quite engaging. Read more
Nonetheless, it's well written and the characters are quite engaging. Read more
Published 14 months ago by R. A. Vandervell
4.0 out of 5 stars
Murder Mystery V Highlighting Racial Prejudice
Very accessible easy text yet clever, engaging and descriptive making this a good page turner. It appears well researched dealing with characters in a small fishing community in... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Zoe
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