Tension and frustration

An insight into an island community's insularity highlighted a prejudice I was unaware of.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Mutilated masterpiece

Brilliant reading, but the last three chapters are abridged into one - very frustrating!

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

The persistence of prejudice - overcome?

I read this when it was 1st published and loved it for the good story it is. So the idea to hear it a 2nd time felt like a gamble. I could lose a pleasant memory. But the opposite is the case. I have a greater appreciation for the ambivalent struggle of Ismael to reconcile himself to the experience of love, loss, prejudice and war. But I'm not sure the writer isn't also a victim of the persistent prejudice he writes about.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

An excellent read and an excellent novel

Would you consider the audio edition of Snow Falling on Cedars to be better than the print version?

I recommend the audio version. The reading is first rate, sensitive, gentle and a decent rendition of the different dialogue voices.

What did you like best about this story?

I rarely read courtroom dramas or watch courtroom films. They are nearly always too simplistic and one-sided. This one is the even-handed so you can understand and appreciate the position of all the different people involved.

Any additional comments?

I thoroughly recommend this. It portrays the community beautifully and gives a very satisfying feeling of being in touch with the universal humanity of the many different interconnected lives it traces.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

One of the best books to read and listen to

Where does Snow Falling on Cedars rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

4th after the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo original series

What other book might you compare Snow Falling on Cedars to, and why?

Any great love story with a detective angle.

What does Peter Marinker bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

the vision of the place and how it moulds the characters

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The real life issue that race should not matter where love is concerned.

Any additional comments?

Just a great listen, make sure it's on your wish list.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Gripping Read

Enjoyed the full story and found it hard to put down. This is one of the best courtroom stories I’ve read if you like a courtroom drama it’s one not to be missed.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Compelling if unusual book

This is an unusual mxiture of a books - part detective mystery/courtroom drama, part love story, part social commmentary on racism towards Japanese immigrants to America during WWII and beyond. Rather bleak and you know that anything close to a happy ending is going to be hard to resolve - perhaps a homage to the Oriental approach to narrative where the 'happy ending' is not so much the boy and girl riding off into the sunset together but the knowledge that they have endured suffering with honour and not disgraced themselves or their families. But a very moving and very compelling book.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

Exceptional - highly recommended

I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook. The story is very well told, using the central incident as a means of illustrating the lives and characters of the protagonists.

The story is extremely well read.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Excellent reading but the last few chapters are abridged

The reading/performance is excellent but the last few chapters being abridged (the novel is advertised as unabridged) is very annoying.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

Great content, well narrated

Coming late to David Guterson, I’m so glad I’ve found himself writing. I loved East of the Mountain, so turned to Snow Falling on Cedars and was even more impressed.
The way he weaves the detailed cultural, historical and personal back stories of the central characters and fits them seamlessly into the central event is absorbing and impressive. His descriptive powers are superb, I felt I was a participant observer in every scene.
Guterson’s research is also impressive. I learned a lot about many things, and it whetted my appetite to find out more.
Mariker’s narration is superb.
I recommend this Audible book very highly. Enjoy!

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!