Sound of Water gives us the story of teenage Kyo and his grandmother, Ayako. Kyo has been sent from Tokyo to the rural town of Onomichi to live with his grandmother as he attends a cram school so that he can retake exams to get into medical school. Ayako is gruff and uncompromising, and Kyo struggles to find his place. The story here is layered as we uncover Kyo's talent for art and Ayako's struggles with the deaths of both her husband and her son (Kyo's father). Ayako and Kyo both grow and learn over the course of the year. We have been introduced to Flo and her struggles as a person who achieved her dream of becoming a literary translator; she feels empty and no longer enjoys reading. At this time, Flo found a book that a guy left on the train titled "Sound of Water " by Hibiki. The book gets her interest, and she translates the book, although she has not obtained permission from the author, Hibiki. The second story starts with Kyo and Ayako, who live in the small town of Onomichi, and each has their own struggles and stories to share. Ayako is Kyo's grandmother. Sound of Water is the book where Ayako and her grandson, Kyo came in. I was ingrain in this second part of the story. I spotted the obvious generational gap, the haunted family tragedy permeating them, the failure, grief, and embarrassment. There are so many concerns plaguing these characters and I love how the author does the storytelling about the hierarchy and culture. Moreover, I found the setting is descriptive with the four seasons and beautiful Onomichi, then with the pictures that tug my heart <3 This is a gentle, wistful novel set in Japan where I have recently had a holiday. My enjoyment of the book was heightened because the language spoken, the food eaten, the transport systems and the Hiroshima Peace Park mentioned in the novel were so familiar to me.

So I wasn’t one of those people who got obsessed with the country from the UK and went there because of that, I kind of went out into the unknown, not knowing what I was going to find, but I ended up loving it and I ended up staying for a lot longer.” A book that I genuinely keep putting on and off for the past month. Tbh, I lost interest at some point which I don’t know why, (maybe) I was not in the right mood at that time. So to be fair, you need in the right mood to be engaged in it. So this book has two stories. A book within a book format that makes it more interesting to dive in. Flo, on the other hand, came off as a bit insufferable. Yeah, she is having a hard time, and I certainly could identify with her at times, but I totally agreed with her girlfriend and friend about her being exhausting for people who try to talk or to get close to her. The thing is, her character is just not fleshed out enough. We know almost nothing about her, we only see little glimpses into her life, and as a reader, it’s very hard to connect with her in any way. And while I understand the author’s intentions, I don’t think she added much to the overall reading experience. Except maybe the bits where she visits the town the book is based on, and we get an interesting look at how reality and fiction can differ. That was actually fascinating.

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A beautifully constructed story within a story that builds to an emotional and satisfying conclusion; I loved being immersed in the characters' experiences of heartbreak, warmth, finding purpose and, of course, cats, in the shifting seasons of urban and rural Japan. Ayako is a character I will carry with me for a long time. Eleanor Wasserberg, author of The Light at the End of the Day Cool fand ich, dass wir in "Four Seasons in Japan" auch einen Auftritt bereits bekannter Charaktere aus "The cat and the city" kennenlernen. Sie kommen nur kurz vor, es ist aber ein nettes Easteregg für alle, die auch das andere Buch bereits kennen.

Neither is easy to live with, and it’s very fascinating to read about how their relationship grows over the time of a year, with all its ups and downs. Even though they are very different people, they also have more in common than they would think. They are both stubborn, strong-headed, driven by their passions, and have hearts of gold. Neither of them is easy to like or agree with at times, but I loved reading about them and all the characters that appear in their lives. Especially Ayumi. She was the best. Part memoir and part travelogue, this Roger Deakin award-winning book is also a paean to the magic and mystery of the coastline surrounding Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Menmuir uses all the poetic storytelling techniques honed in his Booker-longlisted career to imbue the wonderful The Draw of the Sea with a keen sense of place and purpose. Meeting beachcombers, gig rowers, surfers and freedivers while pondering his own family’s place in this wild landscape, he explores why we are driven to the water’s edge. Authors, if you are a member of the Goodreads Author Program, you can edit information about your own books. Find out how in this guide. Kyo failed his university entrance exams, and he goes to live with his strict grandmother Ayako in her humble house in Onomichi and she runs a small coffee shop. Kyo's mother is a doctor, so doing well at cram school is extremely important and so he can resist the exams to get into medical school. There are so many layers or themes that are somehow discussed in both stories such as translation work issues, Japanese culture and traditionsFour Seasons of Japan" ist eine tiefgehende, teilweise auch melancholische Geschichte, die davon erzählt, was es heißt, für seine Träume zu kämpfen, welche Umwege das Leben manchmal geht und auch, dass das Leben uns stärker macht und wir nicht aufgeben sollten, um nicht zu verpassen, was noch kommt. I immensely enjoyed the book because there was a certain degree of warmth I felt while reading. It’s not really a plot-driven kind of storyline as I think the stories centred around the characters. I love the concept of the delivery which excited me a lot by having that touch of mystery element. I just wished that the “Sound of Water” was a real book, because I need to have some answers. Sound of Water” was a story about an old fierce lady named Ayako, who owned a coffee shop in a small town of Onomichi near Hiroshima. Ayako had just been asked a request to become a guardianship for her grandson from Tokyo, Kyo. Kyo’s father was Ayako’s son who committed suicide when Kyo was very young. Kyo’s mother sent Kyo to his grandmother so that he would be able to go to a cram school as he failed his first university entrance exam. Ayako and Kyo’s relationship was in strain despite both of them shared long-buried family tragedy. They were distant with each other which caused them to be more astrayed. All they needed to do was to open up with each other. So “Sound of Water” was a story that centred around this grandmother-grandson relationship.

It’s spring and cherry blossom season in Tokyo, Japan and yet American translator Flo Dunthorpe is in despair following the poor reception of her latest book translation. There’s another blow too as she is breaking up with her girlfriend who is going to live in the United States. However, will a lovely book she finds called ‘Sound of Water’ by the mysterious writer Hibiki restore her fortunes? Meanwhile, grandmother Ayako runs a cafe in Onomichi and is expecting the arrival of her daydreamer grandson nineteen year old Kyo. Like Flo, Kyo has lost his way in life after failing his exams and reluctantly travels to Onomichi to attend a cram school to help him get accepted to study medicine. After an unpromising start Kyo learns there’s way more to his grandmother than he initially gives her credit for. From the author of The Cat and the City, Four Seasons in Japan is a gorgeously crafted book-within-a-book about literature, purpose and what it is to belong. I like the two stories premise which is interspersed with Flo’s translation of Sound of Water and scattered throughout are some wonderful illustrations and photographs which add to the storytelling and I love looking at these. The setting in Japan is fascinating and lovers of all things Japanese will find this novel resonates. You get an excellent peak into Japanese society via Kyo and Ayako and the other inhabitants of the small town of Onomichi. If you are a cat lover they feature prominently too, especially Coltrane (not Robbie!). There is a heavy depiction of depressing and suicidal thoughts that really gets to me which i found myself choked up just thinking about it. Its the feeling that is relatable but hurts the most. I want to hug Kyo so bad reading it. Four Seasons in Japan gently covers so many different issues but not in a preachy way. It beautifully weaves in proverbs and has dazzling quotes.

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My favourite character by far was the formidable Ayako, Kyo’s grandmother. I loved seeing their relationship develop; they had some really touching moments. I savoured every line of this beautifully observed portrait of Japan. Bradley creates a world and characters that are completely engrossing." - Bea Setton This is a gentle, tender and thoughtful book, exploring literature, love, human connection, Japanese culture and the disillusion of youth. It features beautiful imagery and is crafted in such a way that you want to savour every chapter. Culturefly Four Seasons in Japan follows Flo over a year of changes, as well as the book she is translating, which tells the story of a year where Kyo, a nineteen-year-old boy has to live with his grandmother, Ayako while he studies for his university retake exams. All the while honing his artistic skills and trying to figure out how to communicate with Ayako. There are generational differences as well as city vs countryside oppositions. Kyo is used to the big city life with countless entertainment possibilities, and hanging out with his friends while her mother works as a doctor and barely has time for him. Ayako on the other hand is very used to her quiet life and her routines and has very a strict view of things. She knows grief and loss all too well and tries her best to do better with Kyo. She is the type of woman who means well but is absolutely certain she knows what’s best for Kyo, and never admits if she is wrong.

There are so many layers or themes that are somehow discussed in both stories such as translation work issues, Japanese culture and traditions, relationship between books and their readers, art and poetry appreciation, as well as changes and acceptance between the youngs and the olds, as well as the cities and the rurals. Most importantly, one main important theme that encapsulates both stories is concerning one’s passion in life. Does one person do things in life because of his passion or because he needs to? This is where our main characters are trying to deliver their messages to us. This book is a finely-wrought wonder. Four Seasons in Japan carries its wisdom lightly, but tells a profound tale about the redemptive power of narrative and the consolations of art." - Joe Mungo Reed I had a very strong idea that I wanted to be a writer, but I was from a generation where I think if you wanted to be a writer, you studied English literature.Until, she came across a book accidentally left by a commuter during a train ride. A book which she had never heard of and kind of mystery in a way. The book was titled “Sound of Water” written by Hibiki, an author Flo had never come across before. The best part about the book is the beautiful quotes. How I wish I could quote them all here! Since I can’t do that, highlighting the few I loved the most. What a beautiful, glittering gem! This quiet book immerses you in Japanese culture and, for me at least, drives you to the internet to learn more - about the scenic attractions, the customs, the foods. It is an experience that I'll return to, even if I never get the opportunity to travel there. Flo translates the story of Kyo, a sensitive teenager and his stubborn grandmother Ayako, even though she doesn’t have the author’s permission. This story occurs mainly in Onomichi, a countryside town. Bradley takes his readers to Japan and introduces them to the country’s history, customs, culture, cuisine, and traditions. It was a wonderful experience visualising the changing seasons.