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syro2014's review
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I really liked the environment that the Author painted, I think the book really shined in that area along with the back stories of all the characters. The book started kind of rough for me because of the maritime vocabulary but after some dictionary reads things got a bit better. The ending left me a unsatisfied , to be honest. I’m not sure why, I think it may have wrapped up a little too quick. I felt like there should’ve been more development involved. Pretty dissatisfying.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Death, Gore, Sexual content, War, and Gun violence
jamiejanae_6's review
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, War, Body horror, Death, Deportation, Violence, Grief, Gore, and Racism
Moderate: Sexual content and Stalking
sewfarsewgood's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I started this book thinking it was a murder mystery, a bit lighter after finishing a book about the Hungarian Holocaust. My mistake. This novel follows a murder trial on a small island in 1950s America. I deals with the fall out after ww2 racism, divides, war flashbacks and PTSD. I really liked the character development and the way the story was told with shorter chapters that focus on different characters or time periods as they are in the witness box. I must admit I found the ending a little disappointing but it was understandable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and War
Moderate: Racism
milliemillz's review
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and War
Moderate: Racism
cinyko's review
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: War and Murder
pqodom's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
lilifane's review against another edition
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was a very surprising read. The book had been on my shelf for several years and I had no idea what it was actually about. Apparently it's partly a court drama, and I realized I really like those.
The story is set on the fictional island of San Piedro in Puget Sound and centers around a murder trial. The Japanese fisher Kabuo Miyamoto is accused of first degree murder of Carl Heine, a fellow gill fisher, who has been found dead in his fishing nets on an early September morning in 1954. During the trial which takes place in December, we get to know details of the night in question as well as several characters connected to the tragedy, their past and relationships to each other.
What starts (and ends) as a courtroom drama, offers a lot of insight into the characters' past experiences, thoughts and feelings, so you really get to know them intimately and understand their actions throughout the book, even though they not always make the best decisions.
It is a sad and heartbreaking story with important themes like fairness, equality, justice and racism. It also portrays the treatment of Japanese American citizens in the 1930s, 40s and 50s. There are scenes in Japanese internal camps and during WWII battles that are actually hard to read. Especially since David Guterson's writes in a very detailed and sober way.
I really loved this book, it made me feel all kinds of emotions. I was angry, I was sad and frustrated, I cried several times. I also think the plotting was done really well, I did not know how it would end until the very last pages. Really enjoyed the trial and investigation parts and the way details were revealed piece by piece with some unexpected twists and turns. The majority of the book were the characters' flashbacks, though, and they dragged a little in the middle of the book when I wanted to know how the trial was proceeding. It was worth it in the end, though.
The atmosphere was amazing. The setting and the weather really added to the story for me. And I liked the writing style for the most part. There were just some weird choices the author made several times throughout the book. I was very confused by how often characters thought about sex, penises and breasts in very inappropriate moments. And again, these were describes in a very sober way, it was weird and actually unnecessary most of the time.
The story is set on the fictional island of San Piedro in Puget Sound and centers around a murder trial. The Japanese fisher Kabuo Miyamoto is accused of first degree murder of Carl Heine, a fellow gill fisher, who has been found dead in his fishing nets on an early September morning in 1954. During the trial which takes place in December, we get to know details of the night in question as well as several characters connected to the tragedy, their past and relationships to each other.
What starts (and ends) as a courtroom drama, offers a lot of insight into the characters' past experiences, thoughts and feelings, so you really get to know them intimately and understand their actions throughout the book, even though they not always make the best decisions.
It is a sad and heartbreaking story with important themes like fairness, equality, justice and racism. It also portrays the treatment of Japanese American citizens in the 1930s, 40s and 50s. There are scenes in Japanese internal camps and during WWII battles that are actually hard to read. Especially since David Guterson's writes in a very detailed and sober way.
I really loved this book, it made me feel all kinds of emotions. I was angry, I was sad and frustrated, I cried several times. I also think the plotting was done really well, I did not know how it would end until the very last pages. Really enjoyed the trial and investigation parts and the way details were revealed piece by piece with some unexpected twists and turns. The majority of the book were the characters' flashbacks, though, and they dragged a little in the middle of the book when I wanted to know how the trial was proceeding. It was worth it in the end, though.
The atmosphere was amazing. The setting and the weather really added to the story for me. And I liked the writing style for the most part. There were just some weird choices the author made several times throughout the book. I was very confused by how often characters thought about sex, penises and breasts in very inappropriate moments. And again, these were describes in a very sober way, it was weird and actually unnecessary most of the time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Grief, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, War, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Medical content, and Stalking
iridium's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Death, War, Violence, Medical content, Xenophobia, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
purplemuskogee's review
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
Beautiful and meticulously researched, it felt more like a historical novel than a thriller, although it does follow a man's trial for murder.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Racial slurs
leahb88's review
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book leads you through San Piedro Island, slowly revealing each involved character’s story, the dynamics between them, and the general attitude of the Island. Through each new perspective you learn a little bit more about what happened the night that Carl Heine Jr was killed and the impact of his death (but the many perspectives is integrated so well, it’s not confusing at all!). By the end I was on the edge of my seat to see how the trial would turn out. I highly recommend!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and War
Moderate: Death and Sexual content