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A review by categj
The Crane Wife by Patrick Ness
4.0
The Crane Wife is an intriguing tale. Both a love story and folklore, this novel is ethereal and otherworldly, yet familiar and comfortable. The characters are likeable: George the lonely printer; his prickly daughter, Amanda; Mehmet, George's assistant and aspiring actor; and Kumiko, the mysterious artist who captures George's heart.
The novel is reminiscent of a Japanese folk tale about an injured crane that is rescued by a poor, lonely man. He nurses the crane back to health. Soon after the man releases her, a beautiful woman appears on his doorstep, they fall in love and marry.
Ness pens this beautiful, heartbreaking story, weaving magic and mythology into a modern-day tale of love, family and belonging. With vivid imagery, the novel unfolds on two planes. One in the present day, where George and Kumiko find love and fame, and Amanda slowly learns to love and accept herself — to the other, the underlying retelling of the Crane Wife's story.
Lovely, hauntingly beautiful and sad — this book charms and captivates.
The novel is reminiscent of a Japanese folk tale about an injured crane that is rescued by a poor, lonely man. He nurses the crane back to health. Soon after the man releases her, a beautiful woman appears on his doorstep, they fall in love and marry.
Ness pens this beautiful, heartbreaking story, weaving magic and mythology into a modern-day tale of love, family and belonging. With vivid imagery, the novel unfolds on two planes. One in the present day, where George and Kumiko find love and fame, and Amanda slowly learns to love and accept herself — to the other, the underlying retelling of the Crane Wife's story.
Lovely, hauntingly beautiful and sad — this book charms and captivates.