Blackberries in the Dream House
Yukiko is a beautiful geisha living in Kyoto in the middle of the nineteenth century. Elegant and refined, she is also passionate and does not heed the cautionary words of Okasan, the head of her house, who warns her not to fall in love. She gives her heart to Eitaro, a client who pledges his love to her but eventually gives in to pressure from his family to marry a "respectable" girl. Hurt, Yukiko responds to the peaceful teachings of a Buddhist monk named Kenji. Her feelings for him grow, and when he asks her to show him her world, she agrees, even though it is forbidden. She bathes him when he comes to her at night, and their love inspires her art and poetry. When his marriage quickly sours, Eitaro returns to her, but Yukiko finds her heart belongs only to Kenji. With poetic language that gracefully reveals the vibrant, lush world of Kyoto to the reader, Frank gracefully tells the story of two lovers eternally bound by fate and time.Kristine HuntleyCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved