The Woman in the White Kimono – TLC Book Tour

The Woman in the White Kimono

Park Row Books – May 28th, 2019

*Advanced Reader Copy provided by TLC Book Tours & publisher in exchange for an honest review*

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Hello book lovers! I’ve had a bit of a hiatus while I finished my second semester of Master of Library & Information Science program. Also, you may have noticed that my blog has a new look! I’ve switched my web hosting to Bluehost and I’m utilizing WordPress now (this is not a plug for them it’s just what I decided to go with). It was a bit of work to migrate my content, especially the photos, however I’m pleased with the new look!

Anyways, on to today’s review!

I’m back with more historical fiction this week. Ana Johns’ debut novel is set in a little talked about era of Japanese/U.S. relations during post-World War II. Here’s the synopsis:

Oceans and decades apart, two women are inextricably bound by the secrets between them.

Japan, 1957. Seventeen-year-old Naoko Nakamura’s prearranged marriage to the son of her father’s business associate would secure her family’s status in their traditional Japanese community, but Naoko has fallen for another man—an American sailor, a gaijin—and to marry him would bring great shame upon her entire family. When it’s learned Naoko carries the sailor’s child, she’s cast out in disgrace and forced to make unimaginable choices with consequences that will ripple across generations.

America, present day. Tori Kovac, caring for her dying father, finds a letter containing a shocking revelation—one that calls into question everything she understood about him, her family and herself. Setting out to learn the truth behind the letter, Tori’s journey leads her halfway around the world to a remote seaside village in Japan, where she must confront the demons of the past to pave a way for redemption.

In breathtaking prose and inspired by true stories from a devastating and little-known era in Japanese and American history, The Woman in the White Kimono illuminates a searing portrait of one woman torn between her culture and her heart, and another woman on a journey to discover the true meaning of home.

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My Thoughts

Overall, I found the story engaging and page-turning. I was particularly intrigued after reading that the plot was inspired by the author’s father and his story of falling for a Japanese woman but being turned away by her family.

The book packs quite the emotional punch and I found myself compelled to keep turning the pages! This sweeping novel alternates between the present and the past as we see both Naoko and Tori’s perspectives. I’m usually a fan of multiple perspectives, however I will say that I felt that Tori’s characterization was stronger and drew me in more. However, I still enjoyed Naoko’s storyline.

Johns brings this era in Japan to life and touches on issues that are not the most comfortable but are absolutely necessary.Like my previous review of Within These Lines by Stephanie Morrill, I must say that the interracial love story really spoke to me as well as broke my heart. You’ll likely see other reviewers mention that they did not know about the prejudice against mixed race babies in Japan and unfortunately this kind of prejudice exists around the world, however people may be more familiar with the this stigma in relation to the Vietnam War as many of these children were adopted into American families.

Overall, this is a great novel to add to your historical fiction to-be-read pile and I really appreciate this different time period and perspective that Johns’ has provided!

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Be sure to check out the other reviews on this tour!

Review tour:

Tuesday, May 21st: Write Read Life

Wednesday, May 22nd: Tina Says

Thursday, May 23rd: The Hungry Bookworm

Thursday, May 23rd: Bookish Bliss and Beauty and @bookishblissandbeauty

Friday, May 24th: Asha Reads and @ashareads

Monday, May 27th: Tar Heel Reader and @tarheelreader

Tuesday, May 28th: Read Eat Repeat

Tuesday, May 28th: Lori’s Reading Corner – author guest post

Wednesday, May 29th: Broken Teepee

Thursday, May 30th: Helen’s Book Blog

Thursday, May 30th: The Baking Bookworm

Friday, May 31st: Audio Killed the Bookmark and @beritaudiokilledthebookmark

Monday, June 3rd: Patricia’s Wisdom

Tuesday, June 4th: A Bookish Affair

Wednesday, June 5th: @chaptersofmar

Thursday, June 6th: Eliot’s Eats

Friday, June 7th: View from the Birdhouse

Monday, June 10th: Palmer’s Page Turners

Tuesday, June 11th: Books & Bindings

Wednesday, June 12th: Laura’s Reviews

Thursday, June 13th: Book by Book

Monday, June 17th: @oddandbookish

Tuesday, June 18th: The Book Return