Friday, January 15, 2010

Friday Find: The Makioka Sisters by Junichiro Tanizaki

The Makioka Sisters by Junichiro Tanizaki

Amazon.com Review

The four Makioka sisters lead very complicated, strenuous lives, although on the surface nothing much ever happens to them. Part of a fading Japanese aristocracy in the years leading up to World War II, they cannot escape the wide net of the family name--something always brings them back to the reality of "being a Makioka." Running out of money, living in falling-apart houses, growing older beneath the sunlight of the modern world, they do their best to preserve the rituals of the past. The two older sisters work diligently to arrange a marriage for the third sister, Yukiko. Desperate to find someone to take care of her, they keep lowering their standards. One night they find themselves out with a drunk, selfish crackpot who has no money, but who is supposed to be related to a man who works for an important utility company. The fact that he is even a candidate for their sister's hand is a sign of how far they have fallen.

7 comments:

serendipity_viv said...

Definitely one to look out for. I do like Japanese fiction.

Sassy Brit @ Alternative-Read.com said...

Hi there! I haven't read much Japanese fiction, so this is very intriguing for me! Hope you get to read it.

Here is my Friday Find!

Have a goodie!

bermudaonion said...

That cover is fabulous! This book sounds good to me since I love books set in Asia.

Alayne said...

This looks like a good pick, and the cover is wonderful! My find is at The Crowded Leaf.

Aleksandra said...

Wow, this looks really interesting!
I'll add to my list! :D

Anonymous said...

sounds great, im always interested in reading about family traditions and adjusting them with the coming of new generations and changes in society. hope you enjoy!

Sheila (Bookjourney) said...

This sounds good. I have seen this one before.