Cloud of Sparrows
Autumn Bridge
Takashi Matsuoka did a really great job on this novel. its his first one, many said it was a very bold move, cause the story was very fast paced, unlike other novelist which started it very slow (or at least slowly). not to mention he started as zen buddhist before becomming a full time writer.
cloud of sparrows told about a clan, okumichi clan, in the time of shogun in japan. about how this clan has ability to see the future, because of the curse put by lady sorcerer. the first sign came by flock of sparrows fly and covering the sky as cloud. some believe that ability, and others dont. creating a plot where the current heir of okumichi clan being trusted to save japan from modernism and facing betrayal from his trusted men who believe he went crazy rather than foreseeing the future.
all this began more interesting as more foreign characters entering the story. a master swordsman slaughtering his family from fear of curse, a missionary women who run away from america, a fugitive cowboy seeking vengeance in japan, a geisha that fell in love with the one she should kill, and the sneaky eyes which would do anything for one man's death.
this piece of work is amazing. fast paced, but very rich and entertaining. cant stop reading!
autumn bridge is the sequel of the first book. continuing the curse (ha ha). this novel time line is chaos.. trust me. mostly story about the past, in which how evrything happen in the first novel began. reminds me of star wars, they started at episode 4 then end it with episode 3. the story goes back and forth in time, even i had to keep check in which time i was reading.
the story also including many places, from japan itself, america, to mongols, just like tower of babel movie? truly amazing how such curses from nurjhen (na-lu-chi-ya) end up saving a country. or should i say making it more like other?
this novel truly awesome. two thumbs up!
