Cross the Nightingale Floor this Christmas
December 12th 2007 20:15
Hard to believe, but it’s that time of year again! I would like to wish everyone who reads this Blog a very Merry Christmas (whether you’re a Christian or not) and of course all the best for the New Year.
But Christmas holidays usually mean a search for something good to read during a well earned break. So … what will you read this year? Got any ideas? I’ve got a suggestion that will keep you in a good, light, entertaining read for the whole holiday, and maybe beyond.
I’ve never been one for reading series, they are usually too drawn out and restrictive, but I did pick up Lian Hearn’s Across The Nightingale Floor (I just love this title … it really does sing!) a few weeks back, and was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it.
Set in a fictional land, dotted with fictional places, there are no prizes for guessing that this is Japan. And the story is steeped in the Samurai history and legend. Sixteen year old Tomasu is a member of The Hidden, a religious sect of pacifists that live hidden in the mountains. After returning to his village and finding it ravished and destroyed by the Tohan Clan, Tomasu manages to escape with the help of Lord Otori Shigeru, leader of a rival Clan. With his family dead and nowhere to go he is adopted by Shigeru and renamed Takeo. All this begins a new life for our young protagonist as he learns the way of the Samurai and develops remarkable skills of stealth and sword. But is he skilled enough to cross the famed Nightingale Floor that sings with the assassin’s approach?
Edging on fantasy with just the right mix of historical folklore, the path of Takeo becomes scattered with dangerous enemies, enticing beauties, daring exploits of courage and the one final act of revenge that will release Takeo to a life with The Tribe, the ninja-like society of assassins in which his father secretly belonged. And a life that will carry us through another five books!
Sounds a little involved doesn’t it? But Hearn has made this series so thoroughly entertaining and readable that I sincerely looked forward to getting back to the story each day. As I stated earlier, this is not usually my type of read, and whether I will get to all the titles in the series remains to be seen. But, the next time I want an easy, enjoyable read that I can consume quickly and with little effort, this will be where I head. Might as well come along and join me!
But Christmas holidays usually mean a search for something good to read during a well earned break. So … what will you read this year? Got any ideas? I’ve got a suggestion that will keep you in a good, light, entertaining read for the whole holiday, and maybe beyond.
Set in a fictional land, dotted with fictional places, there are no prizes for guessing that this is Japan. And the story is steeped in the Samurai history and legend. Sixteen year old Tomasu is a member of The Hidden, a religious sect of pacifists that live hidden in the mountains. After returning to his village and finding it ravished and destroyed by the Tohan Clan, Tomasu manages to escape with the help of Lord Otori Shigeru, leader of a rival Clan. With his family dead and nowhere to go he is adopted by Shigeru and renamed Takeo. All this begins a new life for our young protagonist as he learns the way of the Samurai and develops remarkable skills of stealth and sword. But is he skilled enough to cross the famed Nightingale Floor that sings with the assassin’s approach?
Edging on fantasy with just the right mix of historical folklore, the path of Takeo becomes scattered with dangerous enemies, enticing beauties, daring exploits of courage and the one final act of revenge that will release Takeo to a life with The Tribe, the ninja-like society of assassins in which his father secretly belonged. And a life that will carry us through another five books!
Sounds a little involved doesn’t it? But Hearn has made this series so thoroughly entertaining and readable that I sincerely looked forward to getting back to the story each day. As I stated earlier, this is not usually my type of read, and whether I will get to all the titles in the series remains to be seen. But, the next time I want an easy, enjoyable read that I can consume quickly and with little effort, this will be where I head. Might as well come along and join me!
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