The Samurai's Garden

A Novel

By: Gail Tsukiyama

Narrated by: David Shih

The daughter of a Chinese mother and a Japanese father, Gail Tsukiyama uses the Japanese invasion of China during the late 1930s as a somber backdrop for her unusual story about a 20-year-old Chinese painter named Stephen who is sent to his family's summer home in a Japanese coastal village to recover from a bout with tuberculosis. Here he is cared for by Matsu, a reticent housekeeper and a master gardener. Over the course of a remarkable year, Stephen learns Matsu's secret and gains not only physical strength, but also profound spiritual insight. Matsu is a samurai of the soul, a man devoted to doing good and finding beauty in a cruel and arbitrary world, and Stephen is a noble student, learning to appreciate Matsu's generous and nurturing way of life and to love Matsu's soulmate, gentle Sachi, a woman afflicted with leprosy.

©1994 Gail Tsukiyama (P)2017 Tantor

Critic reviews

"An extraordinarily graceful and moving novel about goodness and beauty...Tsukiyama is a wise and spellbinding storyteller." ( Booklist)

Lovely story of gentle characters.

This gave me a wonderful look at two cultures with only a few very well developed characters that became like friends.

Outstanding Story

First of all I love her writing this book was no exception to others I have read great story and great performance from the reader !

Lovely

Such a wonderful, poignant story! Although haunted by the ominous echoes of a distant war, the events related are quite ordinary, the day-to-day happenings of a small group of characters in a little resort town in rural Japan. And yet there’s something truly compelling about it all. I couldn’t stop listening. The characters completely drew me in. It is a beautifully told tale and, by the end, deeply moving. I loved it.

A story of friendship and nature

Meaningful connection. It is available and accessible if we open ourselves to it. A beautiful garden grows when It is properly tended. Thank you for this wonderful story

Defines beauty in life

During prewar preparations the book examines coming of age in a boy isolated by illness, He discovers beauty and value of life where these do not appear at first.

A Beautiful Story of a Troubled Time

A Beautiful Story of a Troubled Time

Gail Tsukiyama writes very well, with a fluid way of telling a tale.

David Shih is an excellent narrator.

love love love

Normally, I don't like reading however we were given this book as an option for my AP 11th grade english class. It was amazing. This story truly captures everything and I definitely recommend.

ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL

I just finished this book, so beautifully written.
It is a MUST read.
With the world being so “upside down”, it is so good to read a book that depicts nothing but goodness.
The narrator, David Shih, is excellent.
My thanks to all involved, JK.

Wonderful story with characters I grew to love

I loved everything about this book except the fact that it had to end. I could have listened to so much more about the lives of these characters I had grown so fond of.

Japanese culture, past and present, is something I have become interested in since my last trip there this Spring. I have read Memoirs of a Geisha, Shogun, Wabi Sabi , and this book since my return. I only hope I can find another that I can enjoy as much as this one.

Imagery and narration

The narration was great. The imagery of the story beautiful. Easy to listen to and imagine while
Driving. The author tells a very good story that is enjoyable, thoughtful and engaging. I lived it. I will audioread another!