Snow Falling on Cedars

Winner of the PEN/Faulkner AwardAmerican Booksellers Association Book of the Year AwardSan Piedro Island, north of Puget Sound, is a place so isolated that no one who lives there can afford to make enemies. But in 1954 a local fisherman is found suspiciously drowned, and a Japanese American named Kabuo Miyamoto is charged with his murder. In the course of the ensuing trial, it becomes clear that what is at stake is more than a man's guilt. For on San Pedro, memory grows as thickly as cedar trees and the fields of ripe strawberries--memories of a charmed love affair between a white boy and the Japanese girl who grew up to become Kabuo's wife; memories of land desired, paid for, and lost. Above all, San Piedro is haunted by the memory of what happened to its Japanese residents during World War II, when an entire community was sent into exile while its neighbors watched. Gripping, tragic, and densely atmospheric, Snow Falling on Cedars is a masterpiece of suspense-- one that leaves us shaken and changed."Haunting.... A whodunit complete with courtroom maneuvering and surprising turns of evidence and at the same time a mystery, something altogether richer and deeper."--Los Angeles Times"Compelling...heartstopping. Finely wrought, flawlessly written."--The New York Times Book Review Winner Of The Pen/faulkner Award American Booksellers Association Book Of The Year Award San Piedro Island, North Of Puget Sound, Is A Place So Isolated That No One Who Lives There Can Afford To Make Enemies. But In 1954 A Local Fisherman Is Found Suspiciously Drowned, And A Japanese American Named Kabuo Miyamoto Is Charged With His Murder. In The Course Of The Ensuing Trial, It Becomes Clear That What Is At Stake Is More Than A Man's Guilt. For On San Pedro, Memory Grows As Thickly As Cedar Trees And The Fields Of Ripe Strawberries--memories Of A Charmed Love Affair Between A White Boy And The Japanese Girl Who Grew Up To Become Kabuo's Wife; Memories Of Land Desired, Paid For, And Lost. Above All, San Piedro Is Haunted By The Memory Of What Happened To Its Japanese Residents During World War Ii, When An Entire Community Was Sent Into Exile While Its Neighbors Watched. Gripping, Tragic, And Densely Atmospheric, Snow Falling On Cedars Is A Masterpiece Of Suspense-- One That Leaves Us Shaken And Changed. Haunting. A Whodunit Complete With Courtroom Maneuvering And Surprising Turns Of Evidence And At The Same Time A Mystery, Something Altogether Richer And Deeper. David Guterson. Originally Published: New York : Harcourt, Brace, C1994. On San Piedro, an island of rugged, spectacular beauty in Puget Sound, home to salmon fishermen and strawberry farmers, a Japanese-American fisherman stands trial, charged with murder. The year is 1954, and the shadow of World War II, with its brutality abroad and internment of Japanese Americans at home, hangs over the courtroom. Ishmael Cambers, who lost an arm in the Pacific war and now runs the island newspaper inherited from his father, is among the journalists covering the trial--a trial that brings him close, once again, to Hatsue Miyamoto, the wife of the accused man and Ishmael's never-forgotten boyhood love. Now, as a heavy snowfall impedes the progress of Kabuo Miyamoto's trial, he and others must reckon with the past, with culture, nature, and love, and with the possibilities of the human will. Both suspenseful and beautifully crafted, *Snow Falling on Cedars* portrays the psychology of a community, the ambiguities of justice, the racism that persists even between neighbors, and the necessity of individual moral action despite the indifference of nature and circumstance. San Piedro Island, north of Puget Sound, is a place so isolated that no one who lives there can afford to make enemies. But in 1954 a local fisherman is found suspiciously drowned, and a Japanese American named Kabuo Miyamoto is charged with his murder. In the course of the ensuing trial, it becomes clear that what is at stake is more than a man's guilt. For on San Pedro, memory grows as thickly as cedar trees and the fields of ripe strawberries--memories of a charmed love affair between a white boy and the Japanese girl who grew up to become Kabuo's wife; memories of land desired, paid for, and lost. Above all, San Piedro is haunted by the memory of what happened to its Japanese residents during World War II, when an entire community was sent into exile while its neighbors watched. Gripping, tragic, and densely atmospheric, Snow Falling on Cedars is a masterpiece of suspense-- one that leaves us shaken and changed. (back cover) Gripping, tragic, and densely atmospherica masterpiece of suspense San Piedro Island, north of Puget Sound, is a place so isolated that no one who lives there can afford to make enemies. But in 1954 a local fisherman is found suspiciously drowned, and a Japanese American named Kabuo Miyamoto is charged with his murder. In the course of the ensuing trial, it becomes clear that what is at stake is more than a man's guilt. For on San Pedro, memories of a charmed love affair between a white boy and the Japanese girl who grew up to become Kabuo's wife; memories of land desired, paid for, and lost. Above all, San Piedro is haunted by the memory of what happened to its Japanese residents during World War II, when an entire community was sent into exile while its neighbors watched. San Poedro island, north of Puget Sound, is a place so isolated that no one who lives there can afford to make enemies. But in 1954 a local fisherman is found suspiciously drowned, and a Japanese American named Kabou Miyamoto is charged with his murder. In the course of the ensuing trial, it becomes clear that what is at stake is more than one man's guilt. For on San Piedr, memory grows as thickly as cedar trees and the fields of ripe strawberries- memories of a charmed love affair between a white boy and the Japanese girl who grew up to become Kabou's wife 1......Page 6 2......Page 8 3......Page 14 4......Page 17 5......Page 26 6......Page 32 7......Page 39 8......Page 48 9......Page 57 10......Page 67 11......Page 76 12......Page 84 13......Page 87 14......Page 95 15......Page 105 16......Page 114 17......Page 122 18......Page 125 19......Page 131 20......Page 138 21......Page 145 22......Page 149 23......Page 157 24......Page 163 25......Page 171 26......Page 176 27......Page 185 28......Page 194 29......Page 197 30......Page 201 31......Page 207 32......Page 211 In Washington State, the trial of Kabuo Miyomoto, a Japanese-American fisherman accused of murdering another fisherman, Carl Heine. The prosecution charges the murder was committed as revenge for the Heine family taking Miyomoto's land at the outbreak of World War II and the novel traces the different reaction of the two communities. By the author of The Country Ahead of Us, the Country Behind