Here’s the thing- I couldn’t say immediately that I really liked this book. Usually, I find myself really loving a stories plot, or just not finding any interest. With The Samurai’s Garden, there was an interest. I did want to keep reading and it wasn’t boring. But nothing really pushed me to clearly say, “I like this book.”But this is a positive book review, and I’m making it so on purpose. I do like this book, but it took some clearing up for me to realize that.

It’s has a certain calm sense to it, even with many moments of action. We’re introduced to Stephen. His family is wealthy, so when he becomes sick with tuberculosis, they send him to their summer home in a Japanese coastal village, to recover. He is cared by Matsu, the housekeeper. Through his time in the village, Stephen comes to learn of hidden lives, secrets, and spiritual insights.

With many of the novels I’ve read, there is usually a certain air about them. For example, with action-filled books, you can sort of feel the excited movement and surprise. In a book of poetry, you feel a certain calm air. There are many variations of “air” depending on the book. With The Samurai’s Garden, I neither felt any severe action or calm air.

In a way, it combines both calm and action (maybe that’s why I didn’t recognize it at first). It was basically a precise balance in between what would be full of action and what was calm. It was a perfect balance. The plot was interesting and it kept me reading. It also adds in some history, focusing on the WWII era- which I find somehow fascinates many.The Samurai’s Garden isn’t on AR, but who said reading was only for getting points? Read to read! If you’re not sure what direction or genre you want to get into, The Samurai’s Garden is a good start.