The River Ki.

Tokyo, Japan Kodansha International, 1981. Paperback First Edition Thus (1981), so stated. First Edition Thus (1981), so stated. Very Good in Wraps: shows a faint stress-crease at the backstrip; mild rubbing to the panels; the expected light tanning to the text pages, due to aging; a former bookseller's rubber-stamped address at the front endpaper and a former owner's rubber-stamped name and 'hearts' at same; faint thumbing to the fore-edge; the binding leans, but remains perfectly secure; the text is clean. Free of underlining, hi-lighting, notations, or marginalia. A handsome copy, structurally sound and tightly bound, showing very little wear but several minor cosmetic imperfections. Corners sharp. Not so very far from 'As New'. NOT a Remainder, Book-Club, or Ex-Library. 12mo. (7.2 x 4.35 x 0.75 inches). 243 pages. Geneology of characters precedes the text. Translated by Mildred Tahara. Language: English. Weight: 8 ounces. Blue background field with stylized 'river' motif to the front panel. Mass Market Paperback. This is a wonderful book which deserves to be more widely read. A multi-generational saga by a Japanese woman author. We see how modernization and Westernization changed the culture in Japan through the lives and the eyes of a great-grandmother through to her great grand-daughter. We go from a very traditional, old-fashioned woman to a thoroughly modern woman in that woman’s grand-daughter. The grand-daughter spurns traditions. Then we see a kind of full-circle return in the great-grand-daughter who appreciates some of the old traditions like tea ceremonies and wearing kimonos.The oldest woman of the first generation not only accepts but appreciates the benefits of an arranged marriage in the early 1900’s. On the other hand, her daughter spurns old-fashioned customs, dress and hairstyles. And she is certainly going to pick out her own marriage partner, much to the shock of her mother. The woman’s husband of the older generation is so obsessed with having a boy that he pays no attention to his daughter, not even caring what her name will be. He gets his comeuppance when he eventually has two sons and both are low-energy, low-achievers, even disappointing to their mother.