Harare Review of Books

280 pages. First published November 21, 2023 by Stone Bridge Press. Fiction.

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A man and a woman meet in a park in Kanazawa. Their respective spouses have run off together, and Mariko has reached out to Sedge perhaps to make sense of things. Incidentally, Sedge is about to move to his brother-in-law’s inn, where Mariko works.

This is a study of families, relationships between men and women, and one American migrant’s place in Japan. I never feel that he fits in; Sedge is entitled, as one might expect, and he is insensitive. He doesn’t approach the unspoken customs of his adopted homeland with humility or understanding. He’s a stranger in a strange land, perhaps; but is boorish rather than acknowledging it.

Mariko, too, is a bit incomprehensible as the endlessly understanding stepmother of a very difficult child. Riku, her son, has behavioural problems that may even be psychiatric in nature; but Mariko will not seek help for him, only understanding and compassion from Sedge and their community, no matter how badly Riku behaves. And his behaviour is nightmarish.

I was like Sedge in some ways, reading this book: baffled by the appeals to compassion, and struggling to connect to the characters’ motivations. They behave in very frustrating ways. But the evocative thread through the book of herons, dangerous when cornered and yet so fragile, helped me find a way to understand a little: maybe Sedge, Mariko and Riko (and all the people surrounding them) can be seen through the same lens.

One other thing: the scenery and background are really beautifully evoked in this novel. It’s worth reading, too, for this immersive experience.

Many thanks to Stone Bridge Press and to NetGalley for early access to a DRC.

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