Contemporary / British English It is 1954 and Kabuo Miyamoto is on trial for murder. He is a Japanese American living on the island of San Piedro, off the north-west coast of America. The Second World War has left an atmosphere of anger and suspicion in this small community. Will Kabuo receive a fair trial? And will the true cause of the victim's death be discovered?
Snow Falling on Cedars
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Fighting the distrust and prejudice of his neighbors on a remote island in Puget Sound, a Japanese-American man who spent time in an internment camp during World War II, finds himself on trial for murder. The histories of the accused and the victim, both fishermen and residents of the small town of San Piedro, unfold as newspaperman Ishmael Chambers embarks on a quest for the truth. Lonely and war-scarred, Chambers strives for justice and inner strength, while coming to terms with his ill-fated love for Hatsue Miyamoto, the wife of the accused. Evocative and beautifully written, Snow Falling on Cedars won the 1995 PEN/Faulkner Award.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Publishers Weekly
First-novelist Guterson presents a multilayered courtroom drama set in the aftermath of the internment of Japanese-Americans during WWII.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
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By Ames
Format:Hardcover
As a book I could not find myself to set down, "Snow Falling on Cedars" stands as the most in-depth book I have ever read. With no pieces missing in the plot, the puzzle fits together in a way most books do not. "Snow Falling on Cedars" illustrates every human emotion possible and shows every depth of a human heart. Impeccably written, this book stays close to my heart as a book that taught me countless lessons.
Perhaps the most effective part of the book is the characters and their stories. The author David Guterson develops each character entirely; every character seems as a main character and each of their histories are told throughout the book. In the beginning it seems as if they have no relation to each other, like they live in completely opposite worlds. Then as the book further develops, it becomes lucid they all weave together, their stories and lives intertwined as one. The conclusion ties everything together and writes the whole meaning of the book flat out. This book digs into the depths of love with a tear-jerking love story, the humiliation and pain of racism with a story about the Japanese in America during World War II, and an endless and inexplicable murder mystery thought to tie into both of them.
As I read into this book, I felt myself falling into their world in the Island of San Piedro. I felt involved in their past, then as the book jumped into the present I could not wait to read the truth about the murder trial of Carl Heine. I felt emotional when a man's heart broke, when an American spoke cruelly toward a man of Japanese decent, and when a woman lost her husband whom she loved far more than anything.
Affecting me in so many ways, the lessons this book taught me seemed unending. I discovered the hurt resulting from selfishness and the anguish caused by racism. I learned about accidents and forgiveness, and putting the past behind oneself. This book opened my eyes to the delicacy of a human heart and how easily one can shatter.
This captivating novel will forever hold a special place in my heart. I appreciated the book for everything it stood for and for every lesson I learned. I love the book for the characters presented and for the immaculate plot and conclusion. As a novel I will read many times over, "Snow Falling on Cedars" stays close to me as my own map to my very own heart.
By Teddy
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback
The year is 1954 and Kabuo Miyamoto a Japanese American fisherman is standing trial for murder in small town in Puget Sound Washington. Up until World War II, his family was growing strawberries and making payments towards owning the land they lived and worked on. With the onset so the war left for the land, they were sent away to a Japanese internment camp. After the war ended they came back to Puget Sound only to find the land that they had struggled for was sold.
The narrator of the story was the journalist covering the trial, Ishmael Chambers. As a child, he played with and later fell in love with Hatsue. When she was sent to the Japanese internment camp with her family, she sent Ishmael a "Dear John" letter. When she returned to Puget Sound, she was married to Kabuo Miyamoto.
Ishmael never stopped loving Hatsue and may be the only one to be able to uncover the truth and set Kabuo free. Will he let his feelings get in the way of doing the right thing?
This is a book of love, friendship, betrayal, honor, tradition, and racism. David's Guterson's characters ring true to me. His writing flows beautifully as he peels away the layers of the town and it's inhabitants. This is a fast reading book that I didn't want to put down. I highly recommend it!
The narrator of the story was the journalist covering the trial, Ishmael Chambers. As a child, he played with and later fell in love with Hatsue. When she was sent to the Japanese internment camp with her family, she sent Ishmael a "Dear John" letter. When she returned to Puget Sound, she was married to Kabuo Miyamoto.
Ishmael never stopped loving Hatsue and may be the only one to be able to uncover the truth and set Kabuo free. Will he let his feelings get in the way of doing the right thing?
This is a book of love, friendship, betrayal, honor, tradition, and racism. David's Guterson's characters ring true to me. His writing flows beautifully as he peels away the layers of the town and it's inhabitants. This is a fast reading book that I didn't want to put down. I highly recommend it!
By J. Jacobs
Format:Paperback
A beautifully written and crafted book. Through the story of a Japanese man on trial for the murder of a fisherman, Guterson brings to life the people of a remote island community, their histories, relations, loves and hatreds. In the process, he forces the reader to think about what defines humanity. The first time I started reading this I didn't get past the first several pages. Several years later, I tried again and was very glad I pressed on. By the time I was a third of the way through, I was hooked and impressed.
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3.8 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Snow Falling on Cedars
Carl Heine a local fisherman is found dead tangled up in his fishing net. The sheriff takes the body to be examined and the corner finds a head trauma that reminds him of the type... Read more
Published on Aug 23 2008 by Pauline
5.0 out of 5 stars
Masterpiece and thought provoking
I really love this book. I could not put this book down and found myself reading it until 3 o'clock in the morning. I love David Gutterson is a master of storytelling. Read more
Published on Jan 22 2006
5.0 out of 5 stars
Relevant even today
With all that is going on in the world, somehow SNOW FALLING ON CEDARS is extremely relevant. Thankfully we learned something about the Japanese interrment during WWII and how not... Read more
Published on May 28 2004
2.0 out of 5 stars
too slow paced
Tried this one because I like John Grisham, Robert Goddard, etc. This books starts off real well, but is too slow paced overall. Read more
Published on May 20 2004 by Emmanuel Lambert
4.0 out of 5 stars
"The trick was to live here without hating yourself..."
Many years passed between my viewing the film version of Snow Falling on Cedars and finally reading the book one morning when I was at a friend's house, awake many hours before she... Read more
Published on April 18 2004 by EriKa
5.0 out of 5 stars
A MODERN DAY CLASSIC IN ITS OWN WAY
Having waited almost ten years to read this book, I found myself wondering why I had waited so long. Read more
Published on April 9 2004 by Michael Butts
5.0 out of 5 stars
Captivating and real
World War II sets the stage for this compelling and different tale. It's the 1950s, in Washington state, and the tensions between the Japanese and Americans is still thick in the... Read more
Published on Feb 19 2004
3.0 out of 5 stars
Too Wordy for My Tastes
The first page of the novel caught my attention. I found myself with a vivid image of the character introduced. Read more
Published on Jan 26 2004 by "mightyredtulip"
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not commercial pacing, but lingering and thought provoking.
The setting is an island off the Washington Coast during the 1950's. I thoroughly enjoyed the beautifully descriptive passages of the landscape and the snowy setting. Read more
Published on Dec 10 2003 by Barbara
4.0 out of 5 stars
Strawberry time
I was bored at Borders one time, so I decided to pick up the book. I had heard it was an "read once, forget" kinda of book. But, nope! Not at all! Read more
Published on Dec 1 2003 by S. Xu
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