BKMT READING GUIDES

Plum Wine
by Angela Davis-Gardner

Published: 2007-03-27
Paperback : 352 pages
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6 clubs reading this now
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Bottles of homemade plum wine link two worlds, two eras, and two lives through the eyes of Barbara Jefferson, a young American teaching at a Tokyo university. When her surrogate mother, Michi, dies, Barbara inherits an extraordinary gift: a tansu chest filled with bottles of homemade plum ...
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Introduction

Bottles of homemade plum wine link two worlds, two eras, and two lives through the eyes of Barbara Jefferson, a young American teaching at a Tokyo university. When her surrogate mother, Michi, dies, Barbara inherits an extraordinary gift: a tansu chest filled with bottles of homemade plum wine wrapped in sheets of rice paper covered in elegant calligraphy—one bottle for each of the last twenty years of Michi’s life.

Why did Michi leave her memoirs to Barbara, who cannot read Japanese? Seeking a translator, Barbara turns to an enigmatic pottery artist named Seiji, who will offer her a companionship as tender as it is forbidden. But as the two lovers unravel the mysteries of Michi’s life, a story that draws them through the aftermath of World War II and the hidden world of the hibakusha, Hiroshima survivors, Barbara begins to suspect that Seiji may be hiding the truth about Michi’s past—and a heartbreaking secret of his own.

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Member Reviews

Overall rating:
 
 
  "Good book, interesting material. Disappointing ending"by ellen t. (see profile) 07/18/08

Sort of a "dark" romance between the leading characters. Unresolved issues remain unresolved, and therefore I found the ending unsatisfying. Still, a good read.

 
  "Fascinating Japanese cultural story"by SueDee M. (see profile) 06/05/08

I really enjoyed this book and it was great for discussion in our book club. We all had very divergent views and we all saw the book from different angles.

 
  "I thought the book was exquisitely written."by Mary S. (see profile) 03/27/08

A primary theme is not to be caught in the past.

 
  "Poetic book that shows the potential for history repeating itself if mankind does not learn from its mistakes"by Glenda S. (see profile) 03/27/08

Beautifully written poetic book about love, loss and loyalty. A young American woman, Barbara, goes to Japan to teach at a university. She is taken in by an older Japanese teacher. The older teacher dies,... (read more)

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