Review: Buddhaland Brooklyn by Richard C. Morais

A novel about clashing civilizations and the search for truth across cultural divides

As he approaches his fortieth birthday, the introverted monk Seido Oda is ordered by his superior to leave behind his peaceful refuge in the remote mountains of Japan and set up a temple in Brooklyn’s Little Calabria. There Oda is confronted with an uphill struggle to get to understand the ways of his new host country, and finds his patience and beliefs tested by a motley crew of misguided American Buddhists – a shock which will enable him to come to terms with painful memories of his past and finally experience that sense of belonging he has always sought.

Featuring rich descriptions of idyllic Japanese landscapes and the gritty chaos of New York, and a cast of eccentric, larger-than-life characters, Buddhaland Brooklyn – Richard C. Morais’s second novel after the acclaimed The Hundred Foot Journey – is an entertaining and edifying meditation on faith, cultural divides and the meaning of true acceptance. (via Alma Books)

Having had the pleasure of interviewing Mr. Morais about Buddhaland Brooklyn earlier in the year (click here to read), it’s great to have finally read the novel itself. And, even better, I’m happy to say that I wasn't disappointed!

The novel unfolds at a gentle pace, which I feel reflects the overall theme very well. Usually, as I've mentioned several times in the past, stories that are slow to develop usually make me impatient but here I was happy to just let it blossom in its own time. Much of this had to do with the wonderful, poetic descriptions filling each page – they enticed me to read on further. I even went so far as to bookmark and highlight several pages, so that I might revisit certain images or words of wisdom again!

But ultimately it was the novel's main character, Seido Oda, who persuaded me to keep reading. His backstory and developing insights into the world around him were all fascinating, and I had to find out how he would fare in Brooklyn amongst such challenging personalities. I particularly enjoyed Reverend Oda's interactions with Jennifer and Michael; two very different New Yorkers who perhaps bring out the most in him.

Overall, Buddhaland Brooklyn is a personal story told with wit, insight and simplicity. If you enjoy novels with a compelling sense of place and culture, spirituality, and strong characters, I would definitely recommend this.

Rating: 4 / 5

Interview with Annemarie Neary – author of A Parachute in the Lime Tree

Last month I reviewed Annemarie's engaging historical novel, A Parachute in the Lime Tree, and now it's wonderful to welcome her back to the blog to answer a few questions.

You can find the book's blurb and links her website, social networking accounts, and a place to buy the book at the end of the interview.

 

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Q: What influenced your decision to write A Parachute in the Lime Tree from both Irish and German perspectives during World War 2?

A: Ireland during the ‘Emergency’ was a rather colourless, isolated place so Oskar and Elsa, my German characters, would have seemed like exotic birds. Like many people in Ireland, I grew up hearing comic book tales of incompetent German spies during the war and I was intrigued by the idea of Germans who might have been there for other reasons.

Oskar is intent on a quest that really has nothing at all to do with the country in which he finds himself, a place that must have seemed a world away from the lurid blare of war. However, he is much more conspicuous than he thinks and I wondered how he would have fared at a time of such great anxiety and apprehension about a possible German invasion.   

As for Elsa, I wanted to explore her experience of exile. In Ireland, she experiences utter disconnection from all she has ever known – and in a place where, having effectively come in through the back door, she has no real sense of security.  

The novel tackles some notable historical adversities, including the holocaust. Did you encounter any obstacles whilst researching and, if so, how did you overcome them?

My inability to read German was the biggest obstacle. Ideally, you want to be able to trawl through letters and diaries in order to get a feel for ordinary lives, and I found there was surprisingly little available in English about either the conscript experience or the lives of ordinary Germans on the home front.

Through an online forum, someone in Australia got in touch and offered to put my questions to his elderly neighbour who turned out to have been a member of KG100 based, like Oskar, in Vannes. That was invaluable because I was able to ask him questions about things like the relationship with his comrades, how he spent his free time in Vannes, what it felt like to be in one of those planes.

Someone else put me in touch with the widow of a pilot whose Heinkel had come down over neutral Ireland. She was kind enough to send me her only copy of her late husband’s memoirs (in English!) from her home in Canada – a vivid insight into one young German’s experience of Ireland at the time.

I studied art history and tend to approach things visually, so I find images a very useful source of both inspiration and information. Often it’s the things on the fringes of the main image – the details the photographer or painter took for granted – that are the most fruitful. I spent a lot of time with newspaper images and advertisements because they tell you a lot about people’s preoccupations and priorities.

I really enjoyed the novel's balance, with sections focused on a particular character's perspective or location. Was this something you decided to integrate into the novel before writing, or was it something which just unfolded during the process?
I wrote the first draft in a bit of a splurge, and actually ended up with much more material than I needed. That’s when the hard work of pruning and shaping began. The book concentrates on events in four intertwined lives during a six-week period. However, the relationship of Oskar and Elsa in Berlin some years before (and their subsequent individual experiences) is crucial to understanding what comes later. I needed to find a way of including these aspects without diluting the tension of the main narrative strand. I’m so pleased the eventual structure worked for you.

What advice can you give to other writers interested in tackling historical fiction?
At the moment, I’m immersed in Venice in the 1920s with a handful of characters and the faint outline of a plot. So, right now I’m in evangelical mode when it comes to the value of research as a source of ideas. An object, a photograph, a throwaway remark in a letter – they can all send you off down paths you’d never otherwise have considered. Some of these will be dead ends and you might have to retrace your steps, but it will still lend a quality of authenticity to your writing. This time, incidentally, I can read enough Italian to get by!

Finally, what projects are you working on at the moment? Can we expect to hear more from any of the characters in Parachute?
This summer, I’m going to be spending a week in Annaghmakerrig, an artists’ retreat in Ireland, and I want to have a good chunk of the new novel written by then. I’m also editing Siren, my second novel – restructuring it and firming up aspects of the plot with a view to arriving at a final version before I go away. I love writing short stories and I have lots of bits and pieces that need attention, but I probably won’t get round to those for a while. 

I don’t have any plans to revisit the characters in Parachute at the moment, though somebody did ask me at a book club recently ‘What happens after the end? I mean you know, right?’ One character I do wonder about is Emmi, Oskar’s sister, but I’m not sure I want to write her story.

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Blurb:
April 1941. German bombers are in the air, about to attack Belfast. 
Oskar is a Luftwaffe conscript whose sweetheart, Elsa, was forced to flee Berlin for Ireland two years before. War-weary, he longs for escape. 
In remote Dunkerin, Kitty awakes to find a parachute trapped in one of the lime trees. When she discovers Oskar, injured and foraging for food in her kitchen, he becomes a rare and exciting secret. But Ireland during the Emergency is an uneasy place, and word of the parachute soon spreads. 
Meanwhile, Elsa is haunted by the plight of the parents she left behind. With the threat of Nazi invasion, she feels far from secure.
A chance encounter with Elsa, and Charlie, a young medical student, finds himself falling in love. Oskar, Kitty, Elsa, Charlie. Their lives intertwine in a climate of war, exile, and ever-uncertain neutrality. 

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My review  -  Annemarie's website  -  Facebook  -  Twitter  -  Purchase book

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 NOW CLOSED

After a small shopping blunder last week, I have two copies of Life of Pi on DVD. So I've decided to put the extra one up for grabs in a giveaway!

Due to financial reasons, and because the DVD will only play on Region 2 players, you can only enter if you're a blog follower who lives in the UK. Sorry, international followers! Stay tuned for an international giveaway later in the year.

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The Giveaway closes on 16th June (my blog's birthday!). Good luck!

Review: The Gilded Lily by Deborah Swift

Sadie Appleby has lived all her life in her small village. One night she is rudely awoken by her older and bolder sister, Ella, who has robbed her employer and is on the run. The girls flee their rural home of Westmorland to head for London, hoping to lose themselves in the teeming city. But the dead man's relatives are in hot pursuit, and soon a game of cat and mouse begins.

Ella becomes obsessed with the glitter and glamour of city life and sets her sights on the flamboyant man-about-town, Jay Whitgift. But nothing is what it seems - even Jay Whitgift.

Can Sadie survive a fugitive's life in the big city? But even more pressing, can she survive life with her older sister Ella?

Set in London's atmospheric coffee houses, the rich mansions of Whitehall, and the pawnshops, slums and rookeries hidden from rich men's view, The Gilded Lily is about beauty and desire, about the stories we tell ourselves, and about how sisterhood can be both a burden and a saving grace. (via Goodreads)

The Gilded Lily is an atmospheric historical novel, filled with vivid descriptions and characters who come to life.

Yet, while I enjoyed the beauty of the writing as a whole, there were some elements of the novel which hampered my enjoyment. Firstly, I felt The Gilded Lily developed slowly in places, and I purposefully read through some parts quickly. Secondly was Ella, one of the main characters, who at times I hated so much that I wanted to slap her! Although, this does show that Swift has created a strong, realistic character who can provide intriguing conflict.

Keeping that in mind, there were, in addition, characters whom I loved. These included Ella's caring sister, Sadie, and their acquaintance, Dennis. I adored reading of the developing friendship between Sadie and Dennis; their meetings were certainly one of the reasons why I decided to keep reading.

Overall, The Gilded Lily is skillfully written with striking descriptions and characters capable of summoning a wide range of emotions. If you enjoy a historical novel with a relaxed pace and an unpredictable ending, this could be for you.

Rating: 3.5 / 5

Catching up in May and June

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April has been a strange and busy month so unfortunately I haven't had much time to post.

However, I'm hoping I'll be able to pick up some speed in May and June, owing to the fact that I have some exciting books to read and review, events to recount, and perhaps some author interviews and guest posts in the works.

One thing to watch out for is a recap of my very first experience of the London Book Fair, which I attended on April 15th. It was a pretty insightful day for a variety of reasons, and I'm looking forward to sharing my perspective with fellow book bloggers and students.

So stay tuned, everyone, and remember to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, or Google Friend Connect for the latest!

Review: The Girl Behind the Mask by Stella Knightley [Hidden Women trilogy, book 1]

Leaving the heartache of sexual betrayal behind her in London, historian Sarah Thomson intends to make the most of her research trip to Venice. But she soon finds her attention consumed by mysterious millionaire Marco Donato. Despite their deepening relationship, however, the handsome playboy persists in playing a secretive game. What exactly is Marco hiding?

The subject of Sarah's research is eighteenth-century Venetian Luciana Giordano. At a time when debauchery is the city's favourite pastime, virginal Luciana is kept out of trouble by a zealous chaperone--until she meets a man who promises to help her escape her restraints. But just what does the worldly stranger want to teach her in return? (via Goodreads)

Ever since Fifty Shades of Grey became a smash-hit, many publishers have grown the desire to replicate its success by releasing their very own version of the trilogy. While you can't blame them for this (after all, publishing is a business and they have to make money), it does annoy me that they don't generally pick very imaginative novels. For example, you might remember my review of Sylvia Day's Bared to You, where it seems as though Day hasn't gone to great lengths to separate her plot from that of Fifty Shades (the characters' names are even similar: Eva and Gideon instead of Ana and Christian!).

So when The Girl Behind the Mask arrived in the post, I admit that I was apprehensive about reading it at first glance – the front cover certainly doesn't look any different to other books of its kind. But when I flipped it over and read the back, I could tell that, despite some superficial similarities, this novel would be more unique.

Reading through the chapters, it became increasingly evident that The Girl Behind the Mask wasn't just another carbon-copy. It blends together the lives of two women living in different eras – present day Sarah and eighteenth century Luciana – as they experience the allure of Venice, Italy for the first time.

I enjoyed the very personal feel to both stories; Luciana's is told through a series of diary entries and letters which we read alongside Sarah as she does her research. And though Sarah's narrative isn't presented in diary form, I still felt as though she was personally confiding in me as she discusses her life before and after arriving in Venice.

The sex scenes, while unambiguous, are told tastefully. The language used is subtle, rather than being explicit for the sake it (for example, there are no 'C' words here... unless you think that letter stands for the word used to name a male bird!)

Altogether, The Girl Behind the Mask is a multi-layered erotic romance novel with a difference. If you loved Fifty Shades but don't just want to read another version of it, this is probably for you. I'm looking forward to seeing what's next for Sarah in The Girl Behind the Fan!

Rating: 4 / 5

Review: A Parachute in the Lime Tree by Annemarie Neary

April 1941. German bombers are in the air, about to attack Belfast. 
Oskar is a Luftwaffe conscript whose sweetheart, Elsa, was forced to flee Berlin for Ireland two years before. War-weary, he longs for escape. 
In remote Dunkerin, Kitty awakes to find a parachute trapped in one of the lime trees. When she discovers Oskar, injured and foraging for food in her kitchen, he becomes a rare and exciting secret. But Ireland during the Emergency is an uneasy place, and word of the parachute soon spreads. 
Meanwhile, Elsa is haunted by the plight of the parents she left behind. With the threat of Nazi invasion, she feels far from secure.
A chance encounter with Elsa, and Charlie, a young medical student, finds himself falling in love. Oskar, Kitty, Elsa, Charlie. Their lives intertwine in a climate of war, exile, and ever-uncertain neutrality. (via Goodreads)

A Parachute in the Lime Tree is a wonderfully crafted story involving culture, history, and romance; set around events that happened in Ireland during World War Two.

I found the novel to be an interesting read, not only from a fictional standpoint but also from a historical one. Prior to reading it I didn't know anything about Ireland during the 2nd world war, so learning about the country's uncertainty during the period in question was eye-opening. I also enjoyed the alternative takes on German perspectives.

The historical events in A Parachute in the Lime Tree are brought to life through a cast of fictional characters; each with a unique and well-developed story. I loved finding the book neatly divided into equal sections – such as three chapters for Oskar, three for Kitty, three more for the setting of Dublin, and so forth – making it easy to keep up with the many lives and locations moving forward.

If you enjoy historical fiction, interesting characters, and carefully weaved plots that keep you guessing, I highly recommend A Parachute in the Lime Tree.

Rating: 4 / 5

Interview with Richard C. Morais – author of Buddhaland Brooklyn

I'm excited to welcome writer Richard C. Morais, who's here to answer some questions about his latest book Buddhaland Brooklyn (its full synopsis can be found at the end of the interview, along with links to his social media accounts and website).

The novel is officially released in mid-April, but you can pre-order a copy now via Alma Books.

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Buddhaland Brooklyn is about a Buddhist priest, Seido Oda, who is forced to leave his native Japan and move to New York City. What was the reason for choosing these particular settings?
The germ for my book was The Year of My Life, a slim work by the great 18th century haiku poet-priest, Issa, and the charming film, Amarcord, by Frederico Fellini. I love both of these very different works of art, and was intrigued by the fact that even though they were created in entirely different cultures, epochs and mediums, they had one important commonality: both are autobiographical works where an entire life has been condensed into a single, symbolic year. For some reason I got it into my head I should try and mash these two great works of art together. So, that's how Buddhaland Brooklyn came about. Instead of Italy, however, I chose as my setting an Italian neighborhood in Brooklyn, where my wife and I had lived in the early 1980s. In those days our Brooklyn neighborhood, Carroll Gardens, had much more in common with 1950s Sicily than what the fashionable hot-spot it has become today.

Oda is a member of a fictional Buddhist sect. What prompted your decision to create a fictional sect instead of basing the novel around an existing one?
When a lay writer hubristically assumes the voice of a priest, even in fiction, he invites attack for having distorted a faith and its doctrine – not without cause. From the outset, I did not want my novel to be reduced to an "explanation" of Buddhism, nor did I want to inflate myself as an "expert" on religious matters and, specifically, on a particular Buddhist doctrine. Rather, I wanted to focus on the important but little discussed space I call the "psychology of religion" – that place where one's personal history, ethos and worldview intersects with the formal doctrine of the faith one has embraced. I thought the wisest way to achieve this, without stepping on land mines, was to create my own Buddhist "doctrine". For all its embellishments, however, those who know a thing or two about Buddhism will recognize that the doctrine of the fictional Headwater Sect has a great deal in common with the dogma of Japan's Nichiren faiths. Indeed, I was amused to discover, in chat rooms on Yahoo, that Nichiren Shu priests here in America were recommending the book to their flock as a fine explication of Buddhism.

How long has Buddhism played a role in your own life? Did your research uncover any teachings which you felt important to integrate into your own routine?
I have been a practicing Buddhist since I was 19, but my faith has gone through quite a transformation over the course of my life. For the first 25 years I was a rather dour, austere and "pure" practitioner of my Buddhist faith, but, in the later years, I loosened up considerably. I still pray every day, but I am no longer rigid on matters of doctrine. So the arc of my own faith is in some ways captured by Reverend Oda's journey to Brooklyn.

Did your background in journalism influence the way in which you composed Buddhaland Brooklyn?
My novels are often described by critics as "fablesque," which I think is true, but I also ground my fictional worlds in very specific places and times, which infuses my imaginary worlds with heavy doses of "reality." I like the point and counter-point of that combination. That is, of course, where the skills of the journalist become invaluable. My career as a business journalist has taught me how to conduct vigorous, fact-based research, which materializes in my novels in everything from how to cook an artichoke to the planning permission steps needed to get a temple built in New York.

Are you working on any other projects at the moment?
How nice of you to ask. I am working on my next novel, which I don't want to talk about, other than to say that it revolves around fishing, much like The Hundred-Foot Journey revolved around cooking, and Buddhaland Brooklyn revolved around religion. My work in journalism, meanwhile, can be seen at Barrons.com, America's premier finance magazine.

Lastly, is there a Buddhism-related quote you’d like to leave us with?
With pleasure. As I previously said, one of the main inspirations of my novel is my literary hero, Kobayashi Issa (1763-1827), the poet-priest who plays an important background role in my novel. Here's an amusing haiku by Issa that rather nicely captures the tone of Buddhaland Brooklyn:

Tub to tub
The whole journey
Just hub-bub!

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Book synopsis:
As he approaches his fortieth birthday, the introverted monk Seido Oda is ordered by his superior to leave behind his peaceful refuge in the remote mountains of Japan and set up a temple in Brooklyn’s Little Calabria. There Oda is confronted with an uphill struggle to get to understand the ways of his new host country, and finds his patience and beliefs tested by a motley crew of misguided American Buddhists – a shock which will enable him to come to terms with painful memories of his past and finally experience that sense of belonging he has always sought. 

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Richard's website  -  Facebook  -  Twitter  -  Pre-order

Review: Dancing to the Flute by Manisha Jolie Amin

An unforgettable story of three young friends making their way in the world – told with warmth, music, clarity and simplicity: it speaks directly to the heart.

Abandoned as a young child, the street urchin Kalu has, against all odds, carved out a life for himself in rural India. One day, a travelling healer overhears Kalu playing a melody through a rolled-up banyan leaf and encourages him to build on his raw musical talent. This chance encounter will lead Kalu on an amazing voyage of self-discovery.

A colourful evocation of India and its people, Dancing to the Flute is a magical, heartwarming story of a country’s joys and sorrows, the nature of friendship and the astonishing transformative powers of music. (via Alma Books)

Dancing to the Flute is a wise and inspirational story, framed beautifully around the theme of Indian music.

From the first few lines of chapter one, it grabbed me. I immediately cared for Kalu, who, despite his circumstances, is upbeat, compassionate, and determined. And because of the unique way in which he views the world around him, he is blessed with a natural talent and an opportunity that will change his life for the better.

But Dancing to the Flute isn't exclusively about Kalu. It also tells the stories of the people and places around him – all of which are just as interesting. I loved them all, and valued the fact that their personalities are very individual, yet compliment each other wonderfully. It was also fantastic to travel through time with them and uncover how their lives evolve.

Altogether, Dancing to the Flute is a multi-layered story told with wisdom and simplicity. If you enjoy music, spirituality, culture, and inspiration, I highly recommend it. I only wish it didn't have to end!

Rating: 4.5 / 5

My weather-related desires

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Admittedly, we don't spend much time thinking about St. Patrick's Day here in England, rather unlike the Americans and, of course, the Irish. But the day is still something to look forward to because it arrives at the tail-end of winter, when spring begins to surface.

Although, that doesn't seem to be happening this year.

One of the year's events I look forward to the most is the hatching of daffodils. They should be out by now, but instead the unseasonably freezing weather is keeping them inside their buds. And now, as I type, it's snowing heavily outside and coating any spring colour in a disagreeable blanket of white.

Still, one of the advantages of being a writer is the ability to create the world you wish to see.

This is something I took advantage of for my latest university assignment, for which we were asked to construct a poem. After a few experiments using different subjects, I found the perfect source of inspiration: my back garden and the craving for more colourful ground. My poem was also somewhat inspired by Valerie Bloom's Two Seasons.

I ended up receiving my best university grade yet; something I'm very proud of because I never thought I'd be able to write decent poetry! And now I feel it's the right time to share some of my own work here.

So, here's the poem. Hope you enjoy!

Sun and Garden

Sunlight frames the garden’s grassy

chest, as shadows paint a kaleidoscope

of bare limbs horizontally,

amongst tumbled leaves of summer’s hope.

Hope that leaves during winter’s stay,

emeralds emaciated and withered,

skeletal limbs begging the sky

and craving warmth that hasn’t dared

stretch past seasonal dictation.

The sun feels silenced and beaten.

For five months, plastic windmills spin

orange and red amongst biting breeze,

garden’s only incline within. 

But, yellow heads soon peer over leaves,

march upward slowly, hope carried

in every surprising spurt, and mouth

eventually appears, opened

wide. The stout sun recognises how

much it resembles this flower,

and beams because it is beating winter’s power.

Now reborn with resolute might,

branching buds join the awakening

prosperously in pink and white

décor for cherry trees. Heartening

lavender’s calm scent embraces

the gentle atmosphere, and jazzy 

sparrows sing and sway in graces,

for sake of courtship’s clear revelry.

So, it appears to a once defeated sun:

cold is vanishing, spring has come.

As pageants grow over garden,

cherry’s blossom fades, but emeralds

become replenished where fallen

limbs begged in frost. Roses are abled

back to point, standing firmer

with defensive warmth, daring insects

closer using crimson glamour.

And thus, as sun and garden collect

for high solstice, life in full merriment,

summer bustles earnest and elegant.