My mom has been telling me to read this book for years. As usual, I should listen to my mother. I am a big fan of Gail Tsukiyama and have a number of her books unread on my shelves. I feel like I'm saving them for something, but I know I need to just read them and enjoy!
The Street of a Thousand Blossoms takes place in Japan mostly following the bombings of Hiroshima/Nagasaki during World War II. The book focuses on orphaned brothers, Hiroshi and Kenji. While Hiroshi follows his dream of becoming a sumo wrestler, the quieter Kenji gravitates toward the beautiful mask making of the Noh theater. The story spans decades and follows the brothers through the lives in post-was Japan. At times, this book was a bit too tragic for my tastes. It seemed like sadness lurked around every corner - often, I felt, unnecessarily. But, Tsukiyama tells a wonderful story about a family and brothers who find each other no matter how different their life paths and desires. Definitely one of the best books I've read this year.
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