[ARC Review] Kanazawa by David Joiner

3 Things About This Book
| Detailed Observations of Kanazawa and Japanese Culture | Filled with References to the Life and Work Kyōka Izumi | Expatriate Fiction |

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Kanazawa by David Joiner
Expected Publication: January 2022 by Stone Bridge Press
Genre(s): Fiction
Pages: 264
Format: E-galley
ISBN: 9781611720716
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A book that expresses the author’s genuine love for Kanazawa and Japanese literature, Kanazawa follows Emmitt, an American expatriate living in the titular city with his wife, Mirai. Everything seems perfect as the couple is about to sign the lease for a machiya, a traditional Japanese house until Mirai expresses her doubts. This marks the start of the rift between them as Mirai doesn’t share her husband’s romanticised view of the past and instead, strives for a modernised future in the city of Tokyo.

The author’s writing comes to life when it comes to Kanazawa and all that is related to it, but sadly, it doesn’t extend to his characters. There is a coldness that stands out starkly, and I found that disconcerting. I had expected for there to be just as much feeling when it came to Emmitt and his relationship with Mirai as it did for him and his love for the city. Instead, because the warmth for Kanazawa eclipsed the warmth for the characters, Mirai and the others feel greatly like devices to provide more opportunity to talk about Kanazawa. I think this love for the city would’ve been better expressed through other means instead of in a story like this, but that is just my personal opinion.

Other than that, I honestly didn’t pick up on the allusions to Kyōka Izumi’s works because I’ve never read any of them. This is something I’m looking to rectify soon, but if you’ve not read any of Kyōka’s works either, you may end up like me not being able to fully appreciate the many references in Kanazawa. I would highly recommend checking out Kyōka’s works first as there is a multilayered complexity to Kanazawa that would be best realised upon the first read—unless, you don’t mind rereading books.

All in all, I enjoyed this glimpse into the life of an expatriate. The differences in cultures, the way one thinks and perceive things compared to another’s—the nuances are intriguing and have been expressed well in Kanazawa. I only wish that the characters felt as alive as the portrayal of the city in this book.

Thank you so much Stone Bridge Press and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this in exchange for an honest review!

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