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spinstah's review against another edition
3.0
Oops, I finished this at least a week ago but apparently didn't review it, so this will be brief. It took me a little while to warm up to this book, but once I got into it I really enjoyed it. This is the story of Oei, the daughter of a celebrated Japanese artist of the 19th century -- real people, both. Oei trains beside her father and eventually takes over running his studio. Govier does a lovely job of showing us Oei's life, and how the social and historical pressures of the time shaped it. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. There was a big section at the back discussing how Govier found out about Oei, and then going into the research she did I didn't finish that but appreciated knowing how much research went into the work.
awesomejen2's review against another edition
emotional
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
tarrant's review against another edition
4.0
Long read but truly fascinating. Excellent feminist historical fiction.
mbondlamberty's review against another edition
4.0
I liked the book and the subject matter was compelling but it didn't grab me by the throat and never let me go the way other books do. Not terribly likeable characters but very interesting for those who like ukiyoe
lauraazzz's review against another edition
5.0
Once again, I've read one of those books which depict the true strenght of women, the unknown side of a japanese woman, the power of loyalty, love and freedom.
Oei's stubborness is almost unbelievable.
I gave this book 5 stars because as it places some light upon this story it also leaves the reader the freedom to imagine, to feel more than the author offers in the book.
Oei's stubborness is almost unbelievable.
I gave this book 5 stars because as it places some light upon this story it also leaves the reader the freedom to imagine, to feel more than the author offers in the book.
northernfleabag's review against another edition
2.0
I didn't know what I was going into with The Printmaker's Daughter but I wish I hadn't read it straight after The Teahouse Fire, I feel if I'd left a gap between Japanese set novels I might've enjoyed Printmaker's Daughter more. But while it's fascinating that Oei was a real person the novel just didn't grip me like I'd hoped.
morethanmylupus's review against another edition
3.0
I had mixed feelings about this book. I picked it up because it was supposed to be like [b:The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet|7141642|The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet|David Mitchell|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320540908s/7141642.jpg|7405757] [bc:The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet|7141642|The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet|David Mitchell|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320540908s/7141642.jpg|7405757], which I also enjoyed.
The sections about the art were basically the saving grace for me in this book. The pictures are beautifully described - and the discussion of how she draws the lines is lovely. Oei is a strong woman who, perhaps through bad luck of inopportune circumstances or perhaps through bad decisions or some mixture thereof, falls in with bad men who can't or won't love her. I guess what I really liked about this book was the contrast between how Oei seems to think her father thinks of her and the reality of her life that is shown as she grows up. I didn't know anything about Hokusai Katsushika, who was a real-life famous Japanese artist whose life was shrouded in mystery as much as it was riddled by controversy. I liked learning about him a litle more.
I would have given it 4 stars, but I just couldn't get into the writing style.
The sections about the art were basically the saving grace for me in this book. The pictures are beautifully described - and the discussion of how she draws the lines is lovely. Oei is a strong woman who, perhaps through bad luck of inopportune circumstances or perhaps through bad decisions or some mixture thereof, falls in with bad men who can't or won't love her. I guess what I really liked about this book was the contrast between how Oei seems to think her father thinks of her and the reality of her life that is shown as she grows up. I didn't know anything about Hokusai Katsushika, who was a real-life famous Japanese artist whose life was shrouded in mystery as much as it was riddled by controversy. I liked learning about him a litle more.
I would have given it 4 stars, but I just couldn't get into the writing style.
beth_dawkins's review against another edition
4.0
Oei is the daughter of the famous artist, Hokusai. It is about their life and art in the Edo period of Japan.
This is a historical fiction on the events of Oei’s life. From the time of her birth she has a kinship with her father who is eccentric, and often times called mad. The start of the story has Oei growing up around the entertainment part of town. They meet Shino, a daughter of a noble, who treated her husband badly and was sent to live as a prostitute. Women didn’t have much of a say in their lives at the time. They were owned by their husbands or fathers. Oei has a mother/sister relationship with Shino, and her father has a relationship with Shino that might have been lovers. It is a very interesting look into the world. Her father spends his time sketching, and dodging the censors.
By the time Oei has her first lover she is helping her father mix colors, and developing her skill as an artist. Instead of the company of her mother and sisters, she is around her father and his artistic friends. She is not a proper woman of the time, and is described as manly to others, but she gives me the impression of a strong woman. She quickly goes from mixing paints to finishing full works for her father. He is a long lived man, who develops problems that keep him from finishing work. He is also obsessed with his own immortality. The same subject becomes a question in Oei’s life. Does she want the same for herself? Is she a better artist than her father? A bigger problem is society, which might be why the truth about her has faded.
I didn’t know a thing about Oei’s father before reading this, but since looked up his works. This book is based on the belief that some of Hokusai’s work (especially in his later years) is actually Oei’s. At the end of the book it gives historical facts, and seems like a very strong debate that not all Hokusai’s works are his.
The story itself is a story of Oei’s life. She changes, and grows throughout the story. Her voice is very strong once she gets into her twenties, and towards the rest of her life. The prose becomes very beautiful as the story goes on. Is it odd to think that in a time when women were extremely subservient that one might not be? I don’t think so, depending on her family life, and what she was allowed.
Despite the nice historical notes at the end, the story by itself is nice. It makes me want to see the images described. Oei was a character I grew to admire, and will stay with me. The prose at first felt broken, but later started to even out. It changes between very beautiful and thought provoking, to simplistic. It is a nice view into what Japan might have been like (Please note, I am not a historian, and I know almost nothing about Edo Japan.). I was attracted to it because it involved art, and like books I believe a piece of art can take the viewer somewhere else. If you are a fan of art, historical fiction, or want a strong female lead, you might really enjoy this one.
This is a historical fiction on the events of Oei’s life. From the time of her birth she has a kinship with her father who is eccentric, and often times called mad. The start of the story has Oei growing up around the entertainment part of town. They meet Shino, a daughter of a noble, who treated her husband badly and was sent to live as a prostitute. Women didn’t have much of a say in their lives at the time. They were owned by their husbands or fathers. Oei has a mother/sister relationship with Shino, and her father has a relationship with Shino that might have been lovers. It is a very interesting look into the world. Her father spends his time sketching, and dodging the censors.
By the time Oei has her first lover she is helping her father mix colors, and developing her skill as an artist. Instead of the company of her mother and sisters, she is around her father and his artistic friends. She is not a proper woman of the time, and is described as manly to others, but she gives me the impression of a strong woman. She quickly goes from mixing paints to finishing full works for her father. He is a long lived man, who develops problems that keep him from finishing work. He is also obsessed with his own immortality. The same subject becomes a question in Oei’s life. Does she want the same for herself? Is she a better artist than her father? A bigger problem is society, which might be why the truth about her has faded.
I didn’t know a thing about Oei’s father before reading this, but since looked up his works. This book is based on the belief that some of Hokusai’s work (especially in his later years) is actually Oei’s. At the end of the book it gives historical facts, and seems like a very strong debate that not all Hokusai’s works are his.
The story itself is a story of Oei’s life. She changes, and grows throughout the story. Her voice is very strong once she gets into her twenties, and towards the rest of her life. The prose becomes very beautiful as the story goes on. Is it odd to think that in a time when women were extremely subservient that one might not be? I don’t think so, depending on her family life, and what she was allowed.
Despite the nice historical notes at the end, the story by itself is nice. It makes me want to see the images described. Oei was a character I grew to admire, and will stay with me. The prose at first felt broken, but later started to even out. It changes between very beautiful and thought provoking, to simplistic. It is a nice view into what Japan might have been like (Please note, I am not a historian, and I know almost nothing about Edo Japan.). I was attracted to it because it involved art, and like books I believe a piece of art can take the viewer somewhere else. If you are a fan of art, historical fiction, or want a strong female lead, you might really enjoy this one.
bee_cee's review against another edition
1.0
I made it about halfway, and I'm just bored out of my mind. I'm not planning on finishing.