Four Seasons in Japan
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Four Seasons in Japan
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Narrated by:
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Hanako Footman
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By:
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Nick Bradley
About this listen
Brought to you by Penguin
Flo is sick of Tokyo. Suffering from a crisis in confidence, she is stuck in a rut, her translation work has dried up and she's in a relationship that's run its course. That's until she stumbles upon a mysterious book left by a fellow passenger on the Tokyo Subway. From the very first page, Flo is transformed and immediately feels compelled to translate this forgotten novel, a decision which sets her on a path that will change her life...
It is a story about Ayako, a fierce and strict old woman who runs a coffee shop in the small town of Onomichi, where she has just taken guardianship of her grandson, Kyo. Haunted by long-buried family tragedy, both have suffered extreme loss and feel unable to open up to each other. As Flo follows the characters across a year in rural Japan, through the ups and downs of the pair's burgeoning relationship, she quickly realises that she needs to venture outside the pages of the book to track down its elusive author. And, as her two protagonists reveal themselves to have more in common with her life than first meets the eye, the lines between text and translator converge. The journey is just beginning.
From the author of The Cat and the City, Four Seasons in Japan is a gorgeously crafted book-within-a-book about literature, purpose and what it is to belong.
©2023 Nick Bradley (P)2023 Penguin AudioListeners also enjoyed...
What listeners say about Four Seasons in Japan
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Della
- 23-07-24
Beautiful and inspirational, I love this book
There are two stories intertwined. The first is about Flo an American translator in Tokyo. The second concerns a young man , Kyo, who goes to live with his grandmother after failing his university entrance exams.
Kyo and his grandmother have a fraught relationship but learn a lot from each other throughout the year they spend together.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Velvet
- 06-07-23
A delightful intertwining of two stories
This was a bit of a chance taken but I’m glad I did. The narrator carries the story along introducing (at least to my western ears) occasional spoken Japanese words which are a delight in themselves to hear.
This is a gentle wander through the story, and lovelier for that. This isn’t a book to be rushed, rather to take the time to savour. Having reached the end, I know I will return to it again to listen once more, and will enjoy it a second time around just as much.
A very welcome book that filled my heart with gentleness. The whole world could learn from the greeting ‘please, treat me kindly’. I’m taking that thought along with me.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 20-04-24
amazing book and story
I really enjoyed listening to this book. I learned so much about Japan and Japanese culture. The story line and narration are both really captivating
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Sharon
- 01-07-23
Slow and elegant
There are times when you could become frustrated by this story. Persevere and become enchanted by the Japanese family dynamic.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 20-07-23
A book within a book
Having enjoyed The Cat and the City, I thought I’d try this. Another curious cat provides comforting milestones for what can at times, can be a complicated plot. Essentially a coming of age story, the plot has multiple layers and characters. Some are more successful in supporting the narrative than others but most are beautifully described and memorable.
It is literally a book inside a book.
A real sense of Japan is gained from reading this book which I happily recommend.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 27-06-24
Good Storytelling is A Rare Skill
The fact that the story had 2 timelines took some time to establish, but once there, what a treat this story is
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Berniebike
- 22-10-23
A wonderful book and a beautiful narration
I loved this book. Subtle and gentle and full of characters doing their best and sometimes getting it wrong. Life is complicated and this books explores this. Also, for me interesting to understand a bit more about Japan. The narration is beautiful - perfect storytelling.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 29-06-24
A beautiful read!
Although at the start of listening I thought it harder to get into the story soon after I was hooked.
This story is a beautiful insight into Japan and wonderfully narrated. The story takes twists and turns but overall an insight into the similarity and crossover of generations which was beautiful, showing that even at a late age, as with the grandmother, we may not know all the answers.
I loved it!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Lou Lewis
- 19-06-24
Beautifully written
Loved this tale, beautifully written and I thoroughly enjoyed. Planning on a trip to Japan fully inspired !
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 22-07-23
A wonderful book
I loved having this read to me I felt transported to Japan . I got much more enjoyment listening to this than I would have reading it for myself , I felt in touch with the characters would recommend wholeheartedly.
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