Rose, una botánica de 40 años, viaja por primera vez en su vida a Japón para conocer el testamento de su padre, un hombre al que nunca conoció. Solitaria y distante, con el paso de los años se ha cerrado a la vida.
En Kioto es recibida en la casa tradicional de su padre y conoce a Paul, un belga de su edad que trabajó con él durante años. Rose está en tensión por toda la situación y su comportamiento es exasperante, pero pronto Paul y Rose comenzarán a reconocer sus fragilidades. Mientras Rose comprende poco a poco quién era su padre, cuánto la amaba y que se limitó a respetar el deseo de la madre de Rose de no intervenir nunca en sus vidas, descubrirá también la belleza de la cultura japonesa y se abrirá de nuevo a la alegría del amor. ( )

Interesting story. I really got the feeling of being in Japan, with the culture, nature, temples, foods and personal connections. Not sure the story is actually realistic. I found Rose to be a bit of a spoiled brat who is eventually transformed. I almost stopped reading it, but the descriptive writing about Japan won me over, not the character portrayals. ( )

While reading this, I felt like I didn't really care for the book. But I also found myself liking the beautiful descriptions of things, which added to slowing the pace of the book. So I took my time. It turns into a romance in the last few pages, not like a mushy romance, though. And having finished, I still don't know whether I like it or not. But there were a few passages that made me ponder for hours, sometimes days, after I read them, like: Do you mourn more for things lost or for things never had or achieved or enjoyed. And: After a death, getting on without a person is a challenge, but is it more challenging to adjust to the person you are without them. ( )

A very simple novel, very nostalgic and optimistic at the same time. Japan shows in its beauty and strangeness yet it is kept as a hard to penetrate secret. Rose is a lonely, melancholy lady who is drawn to Kyoto to hear what the father she has never met left for her. For all she cares, she doesn't need anything, yet she finds happiness in this country of the dead. ( )

*Soft spoilers*
The language and imagery of this writing were just beautiful. However, I did stop reading 74% of the way in, as I (for the most part) cater to readers who prefer more conservative and conventional characters, and I'm afraid this one did not fit the bill. I respect every author, and their characters, to do and act as they please, however, I have been disappointed in the industry for forcing in "diverse" characters just for the sake of the thing, rather than for any purpose. Out of the blue, this one mentions a character as being a gay male, for absolutely no reason that I could see. It's quite tiresome to see this happening over and over again with many good stories. Awarding two stars, however, for excellent prose, despite passing up on finishing the book. ( )