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Title: Bicycle Days: A Novel (Vintage Contemporaries (Paperback)) by John Burnham Schwartz ISBN: 0-375-70275-X Publisher: Vintage Books USA Pub. Date: 01 May, 1999 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $12.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 2.86 (7 reviews)
Rating: 3
Summary: Humorless
Comment: This is a book of contrasts. On the one hand, it is not your stereotypical story of a foreigner lost in Japan. The primary character, Alec, does speak Japanese and we get a sight (or perhaps a glimpse) of the world away from Roppongi and Nishi-Azabu. Apart from a few quasi-errors, I thought that descriptions of time spent away from the hackneyed gaijin hang-outs was the best part of the narrative.
At the same time Alec remains rather detached from (and ungrateful towards) many of the people around him, preferring to take advantage of beautiful down-on-their-luck women and be pandered to by mother-substitutes. As a result, he is probably not the most sympathetic of main heroes. The family break-up sub-plot was rather limp but realistic enough.
However the biggest failing in the novel is the almost total absence of humour. And Japan without a sense of humour is about as much fun as the drive from Narita to Central Tokyo.
Rating: 2
Summary: Half-baked vision of Japan, uncompelling story
Comment: I disagree with the other reviewers as to Schwartz's capturing of the Japanese portions of this book. Obviously Schwartz appears to have hit many of the images that those not familiar with Japan may have (without being stereotypical), but most of the images he evokes are not the real thing. From the start, for example, I have never known a Japanese family to host a foreigner without going to the airport to pick them up; I don't know of any bus from the airport that goes to Takedanobaba station; etc. Many of the vignettes, in fact, could have been gleaned from skimming the Western press (NY Times, Time, etc) social/cultural coverage of Japan. However, Schwartz's brief dips into scenes at a private boarding school and Ivy League college do hit the mark, making me think that he should have spent some more time doing his homework on the main setting (Japan).
Beyond his characterizations, I found the story of a fresh-faced college graduate burdened by a Freudian mother complex, depressed by his parents' divorce, and engaged in ongoing conflict with a more athletic older brother so ready for exploitation (however cliche it may appear to some) and yet, it winds up rather lackluster. The author's depiction of Alec's self-absorption -- and at the same time, self-loathing -- was set out at least half decently in those scenes where he interacts with (and often treats poorly) Japanese women.
Not the worst book of fiction written about Japan by a non Japanese, but far from the best.
Rating: 3
Summary: Reservation Road is a better Johnathan B Schwartz book.
Comment: Not too bad, from a descriptive standpoint. Schwartz is very familiar with Japanese tradition and customs and introduces his readers to these concepts freely. He does a wonderful job relaying the scenes about Japan as well, from the urban chaos to to serene outskirts. Where Schwartz seems to struggle is in the character development of Alec and the supporting cast. Too many of the plot devices used to move the story along seem contrived, seemingly there to 'force' a character to react to his or her surroundings. There is an almost 'unnatural' appearance to the way the characters respond to their situations, almost rushed and forced at times. Schwartz' work in Reservation Road is significantly stronger -- take a look if you get a chance.
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Title: Reservation Road by John Burnham Schwartz ISBN: 0375702733 Publisher: Vintage Books USA Pub. Date: 01 October, 1999 List Price(USD): $13.00 |
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Title: Claire Marvel by John Burnham Schwartz ISBN: 0375719156 Publisher: Vintage Books USA Pub. Date: 11 March, 2003 List Price(USD): $13.00 |
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