Books reviewed
The Heron Catchers by David Joiner
Publication: November 21, 2023; Stone Bridge Press; NetGalley
Genre: literary fiction, Japan travel
I like that this story of love and loss is woven together in the mountain and lake area where herons congregate and live, and where the land still remembers the poet Basho, who visited the area during his wanderings, while composing his now famous haiku. The novel is set in Kanazawa and Yamanaka Onsen near the Sea of Japan
Sedge is an American whose wife ran off with another man. He meets the man's wife Mariko who is also bereft after her husband's disappearance. Sedge and Mariko are left behind, but create a new union and alliance of their own, while dealing with the troubled 16 year old son that Mariko's husband left behind.
The beauty of the surroundings and rescue of an injured heron seemed to bond Sedge and the son, who is both jealous and troubled.
I enjoyed the love story, as I see it, and the setting of the novel, and learned more about herons, their size, their strength, their beauty. And I thought the cover art of the book is exquisite.
I like that this story of love and loss is woven together in the mountain and lake area where herons congregate and live, and where the land still remembers the poet Basho, who visited the area during his wanderings, while composing his now famous haiku. The novel is set in Kanazawa and Yamanaka Onsen near the Sea of Japan
Sedge is an American whose wife ran off with another man. He meets the man's wife Mariko who is also bereft after her husband's disappearance. Sedge and Mariko are left behind, but create a new union and alliance of their own, while dealing with the troubled 16 year old son that Mariko's husband left behind.
The beauty of the surroundings and rescue of an injured heron seemed to bond Sedge and the son, who is both jealous and troubled.
I enjoyed the love story, as I see it, and the setting of the novel, and learned more about herons, their size, their strength, their beauty. And I thought the cover art of the book is exquisite.
Author bio: David Joiner was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. He attended Earlham College and majored in Japanese Studies. He earned his MFA from the University of Arizona. David has also lived in Japan five different times, and has called Sapporo, Akita, Tokyo, Fukui, and Kanazawa home. He currently serves as the head of the Kanazawa chapter of Writers in Kyoto.
You can watch the author discussing his novels, The Heron Catchers, and Kanazawa, and what it's like to be a writer in Japan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qf9U9... New blurbs for the book: here
Published May 11, 2023; paperback and ebook
My comments:
Kathleen Burt's memoir is a narrative that begins with her childhood growing up in Ottawa, Illinois where she learned from others "how to view the world." She discovered her love of reading during her years in Ottawa, and her love for French literature and classical mythology developed in high school. The myths were an important background for her later interest in astrology.
She grew up Catholic, and later attended Rosary College just outside of Chicago, majoring in European history and French. Her love of French grew with her time studying in Fribourg, Switzerland, a study abroad program offered by the French department at Rosary College.
Kathleen did her M.A. degree in European history at the University of Chicago, and afterwards did post grad work on South Asia and the Tamil language through a government grant, spending a year in India.
India changed her life in many ways. There she was introduced to Hatha Yoga, meditation, and she developed her love for astrology, which was to occupy much of the rest of her life. She later took astrology classes and hatha yoga teacher training, taught Indian history at Roosevelt University in Chicago and astrology at Mira Costa College in California, plus a course in Indian civilization.
Kathleen married her husband Michael in 1977. He was a meditation leader in soul awareness and self realization, apart from his work in computers, and their outside interests coincided neatly. She returned to India with Michael at one point, and both left there feeling "inspired, peaceful and soul-rested."
The memoir also includes the lives of Kathleen's parents and their retirement in Florida, where Kathleen and her husband both moved later on. The memoir also reflects the politics of the time during the 1960s-1980s, and gives us a clear background of the upheavals and the changing times of that period in the U.S.
The book as a narrative of a well-lived and fascinatingly varied life was an enjoyable and eye opening story, full of history, travel, and intriguing information on complex astrology and what it can reveal about each individual. She came to see astrology as important in understanding people in our lives and in understanding ourselves and how we change or have changed over time.
She grew up Catholic, and later attended Rosary College just outside of Chicago, majoring in European history and French. Her love of French grew with her time studying in Fribourg, Switzerland, a study abroad program offered by the French department at Rosary College.
Kathleen did her M.A. degree in European history at the University of Chicago, and afterwards did post grad work on South Asia and the Tamil language through a government grant, spending a year in India.
India changed her life in many ways. There she was introduced to Hatha Yoga, meditation, and she developed her love for astrology, which was to occupy much of the rest of her life. She later took astrology classes and hatha yoga teacher training, taught Indian history at Roosevelt University in Chicago and astrology at Mira Costa College in California, plus a course in Indian civilization.
Kathleen married her husband Michael in 1977. He was a meditation leader in soul awareness and self realization, apart from his work in computers, and their outside interests coincided neatly. She returned to India with Michael at one point, and both left there feeling "inspired, peaceful and soul-rested."
The memoir also includes the lives of Kathleen's parents and their retirement in Florida, where Kathleen and her husband both moved later on. The memoir also reflects the politics of the time during the 1960s-1980s, and gives us a clear background of the upheavals and the changing times of that period in the U.S.
The book as a narrative of a well-lived and fascinatingly varied life was an enjoyable and eye opening story, full of history, travel, and intriguing information on complex astrology and what it can reveal about each individual. She came to see astrology as important in understanding people in our lives and in understanding ourselves and how we change or have changed over time.
She is described as a spiritual seeker practicing Jungian oriented archetype astrology.
Living and studying in Fribourg, Switzerland and in India also led Kathleen to what the author sees as a fulfilling life.
Living and studying in Fribourg, Switzerland and in India also led Kathleen to what the author sees as a fulfilling life.
I recommend this memoir highly for those interested in how exposure to information, life experiences, and places can truly direct one's life.
More about Kathleen, an early audio interview, and one of her books on astrology, Beyond the Mask
What's on your reading schedule this week and/or the rest of the month?injuly202
Memes: The Sunday Post hosted by The Caffeinated Bookreviewer. Also, It's Monday: What Are You Reading, and Sunday Salon, Stacking the Shelves, Mailbox Monday.
These books sound good, I think I'd like both of them.
ReplyDeleteBtw, I love both covers, The second one reminds me of a place near where my family owned a cabin at a lake in Ohio when I was growing up.
DeleteI’ve been reading some Japanese classics recently. I haven’t read any books by non-Japanese that were set in Japan.
ReplyDeletebest, mae at maefood.blogspot.com
I like the covers of both books. The first because, as you say, it's exquisite. The second because it's very similar to the bridge in my hometown that was replaced just a couple of years ago. Now, that I read the description, it's not too surprising since my hometown is also a Midwestern river town, like Ottawa, IL.
ReplyDeleteI love the covers, Harvee ☕📚🌞💛
ReplyDeleteBoth books look good. I love the cover of The Heron Catchers. Gorgeous! Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteBoth sound interesting. Glad you enjoyed them. Have a nice weekend!
ReplyDeleteoh wow, they both sound so fascinating. Added the first one to my TBR, can't stay away form Japan!
ReplyDeleteBoth stories sound lovely and profound! The covers are beautiful as well!
ReplyDeleteThat first one sounds wonderful, and I love the sound of the heron elements. Plus the sound of the settings. I'm going to give that Youtube video a look as well.
ReplyDeleteThe second one also sounds fascinating. It would be interesting to learn more about what drew her towards astrology and her thoughts on that.
Probably started with her reading Jung's biography..
DeleteThese sound good. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteREALLY like the Heron cover. Very artistic! I've just started 'War' by Sebastian Junger and next after that will be 'Marina' by Carlos Ruiz Zafon.
ReplyDeleteBoth sound good. Thanks for the review
ReplyDeleteMuch of life, as I see it now, seems like that depicted in The Heron Catchers. Something bad happens and then we must spend much time trying to tape and glue together a new, better life. I will look for The Heron Catchers.
ReplyDeleteIt's unusual for me to hear about a memoir of a happy life. It sounds like the life of Kathleen A. Burt was happy.
I'm so glad you wrote about The Heron Catchers. It's a thought provoking novel I could take my time with. Gorgeous cover.
ReplyDeleteI've not heard of either of these but Yesteryear sounds interesting. The author is obviously well-traveled and has lived an interesting life!
ReplyDeleteThe Heron Catchers especially sounds very good. Enjoy your week!
ReplyDelete"The Heron Catchers" definitely sounds like one I need to add to my reading list. And I remember the name Kathleen Burt from my interest in hatha yoga and studying it years ago. I think hers is an example of a life well lived. Thank you for these reviews.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you enjoyed your books this past week! Hope you do the same this week.
ReplyDeleteLisa Loves Literature
I enjoy books set in Japan. This book sounds interesting. Thanks for sharing the podcast too because it was so interesting to listen to the author. Adding this to my reading list now! The memoir sounds interesting too. And a different perspective and life that may not be typical in what we read in memoirs these days. Thanks for sharing both!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a lovely book. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteBoth books look good, but I particularly like The Heron Catchers cover. Happy Reading!
ReplyDeleteThe cover of The Heron Catchers is exquisite - and it sounds like a lovely, profound story.
ReplyDeleteWonderful covers and reviews. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeletesherry @ fundinmental
I love me a memoir!!!!
ReplyDeleteI love the cover of The Heron Catchers! It's so striking.
ReplyDelete