Across the Nightingale Floor: Summary and book reviews of Across the Nightingale Floor by Lian Hearn, plus links to an excerpt from Across the Nightingale Floor and a biography of Lian Hearn.
Across the Nightingale Floor Tales of the Otori, Volume I
by
Lian Hearn
Hardcover: Aug 2002,
304 pages.
Paperback: Jun 2003,
323 pages.
Every now and then a novel appears, completely unlike anything that has appeared before. Across the Nightingale Floor is such a work-a magical creation of a world beyond time.
Set in an imaginary, ancient Japanese society dominated by warring clans, Across the Nightingale Floor is a story of a boy who is suddenly plucked from his life in a remote and peaceful village to find himself a pawn in a political scheme, filled with treacherous warlords, rivalry--and the intensity of first love. In a culture ruled by codes of honor and formal rituals, Takeo must look inside himself to discover the powers that will enable him to fulfill his destiny.
A work of transcendent storytelling with an appeal that crosses genres, genders, and generations, Across the Nightingale Floor is a rich and brilliantly constructed tale, mythic in its themes and epic in its vision. It is poised to become the most captivating novel of the year.
Book Reviews
BookBrowse
Many books have kept me up at night but not many have caused me to wake up early to finish them. In this case, I took the book camping and was so hooked that, on waking at 4am, I left the warm confines of my sleeping bag, and sleeping family, in order to sit outside, shivering in the cold early morning, reading by flashlight until the sun rose two hours later! This isn't a particularly deep or intellectual book - just a ripping good mainstream historical fiction yarn.
Kirkus Reviews
Mythical medieval Japan never seemed so attractive as in this breezy epic, the first in a trilogy, about a boy with strange powers who gets caught up in a long-simmering inter-clan conflict....Once a marriage is arranged for her...her path and Takeo's wind closer and closer together in a complex plot that Hearn carries us through with the greatest of ease. ...A rousingly muscular piece of romantic adventure, replete with shadowy assassins, fluttering battle flags, and doomed love.
Publishers Weekly
Mystical powers and martial arts rampage through this pseudo-Japanese story, the first of a projected trilogy by newcomer Hearn, with an abandon that's head spinning.
Library Journal
The plot sounds intriguing enough in an ancient, mythical Japan, a village lad is suddenly thrust into the midst of sinister warlords. What's more intriguing is that this debut, the first in the Otori trilogy, has been sold to nearly a dozen countries and optioned by Universal.
Booklist - Carrie Bissey
The Lord of the Rings phenomenon should pave the way for the success of worthy adventure trilogies (film rights have already been sold for this one), and this tale of love, loyalty, and courage is deserving of comparison to old favorites.
Publishing News
A truly remarkable tale set in a mythical feudal Japanese land. Primarily a wonderful love story set against a background of warring clans and sudden death. It has a magical quality and the power of the story is truly awesome.
Christina Reader, Watermark Books and Cafe, Wichita, Kansas
What a wonderful book of imagination! It reawakens the side of longing for good stories, a desire instilled in childhood and never gone. One looses the tedious realities and escapes into that innocence of fascination. Thank you!
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Across the Nightingale Floor
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Christina Reader, Watermark Books and Cafe, Wichita, Kansas
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