I am weary of books written by much revered so-called literary writers. I am not much of a fan of these so-called literary books. I find them pretentious and overbearing and for a person who reads for entertainment value, this aspect in these books often falls by the wayside.
But I must admit being impressed by David Mitchell’s tale. He tells this story of a young Dutchman, Jacob De Zoet, a lowly clerk who leaves his home of Zeeland in 1799 for a Japanese trading post in search for wealth to prove his hopefully future father-in-law that he has the mettle to provide for his love Anna whom he wishes to marry.
This trading post of Dejima is racked with corruption which Jacob is enlisted to investigate and report to the zealous Chief resident who later becomes just as corrupt as the people he is investigating. Jacob is pushed on his quest for wealth all the while remember the solitary kiss treasured upon him by the beautiful and pious Anna…
That is until he meets Orito, who is a mid-wife and the daughter of a high ranking samurai. He harbours deep affection for Orito which is forbidden in Japan at that time. But even if he could have her, certain events transpire that ensure that he will never. You have to read the book.
This is a beautifully and skilfully told love story and maybe a bit, as a romantic sceptic, a story of life. If you’ve ever read a love story by a man you know how this story will end.
It is a great read for those weeks where you want to put aside your chic-lit and read something heavier but not leaden with intellectual analysis and point by point descriptions that sometimes do bog down a book.
It has humour at some places, it is sad at others. I love good love stories and this, even though it doesn’t end the way I wished it would, is an exceptionally told tale of a loosish love triangle.
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