Keeping with the "Asian" theme, this one came up on the list.
Told through the eyes of Aurelia, a french American orphan, who crossed the sea with her priest uncle. The story begins with her life in New York, then unfolds with Aurelia being "adopted" by a Japanese tea ceremony school family once she crossed the ocean.
Ya sounds interesting right?
The writing style of this book while at first was fine, after the fire it gets...I dunno what. Ellis has chosen to tell the story through Aurelia's eyes and you def get her frustration at the language barrier but when telling the story its terrible. If you don't have any background knowledge of Japan, Japanese customs, haven't ever read anything what so ever about the country, Ellis doesn't really talk about it. When Aurelia first arrives, her and her uncle are told by the other priests the basics but after the fire there is no one to interpret for Aurelia and as the reader I just grew more frustrated with each passing page. And I've read a lot of Japanese books so I have a rudimentary understanding of Japanese culture and mannerisms.
I couldn't finish this book. Especially after a misunderstanding with a kimono and a teascoop.
If you can get through this kudos to you. I don't recommend picking this up.
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