“A delightful read, offering insight not only into Japan but into the adventure of living in a foreign culture anywhere in the world.”-Mary Catherine Bateson, author of Composing a Life
“Beautifully written. . . . I did not want to put it down.”-Susan Allen Toth, author of Blooming: A Small-Town Girlhood
“Brilliant, wise, and witty . . . as enjoyable a read as Peter Mayle’s A Year in ProvenÇe.”-Louise DeSalvo, author of Vertigo: A Memoir
“Davidson is inquisitive and careful: observations serve as prompts for thoughtful appraisals of her native US, and stereotypes of Japan are questioned. . . . It’s when Japan is clearly in focus – especially when revealed through the author’s experiences and conversations with locals – that the narrative is most engaging.”
- Laura Crawford (Lonely Planet) “Davidson’s memoir, shimmering with poetic insights and poignant observations, stands out from the rest. . . . [A] compelling read for anyone considering a trip to Japan-or who has recently returned from one.”
- Corrie Pikul (Bust) “Intelligent, sympathetic . . . and quick-witted.”
- Elizabeth Ward (Washington Post Book World) “Luminous . . . Nuanced and passionate, [Davidson’s] book achieves what many travel writers can only aspire to: the sense of being both inside and outside of a culture at the same time.”
(Booklist) “No one could have tried harder to fathom Japanese culture [than Davidson]. The result is a series of illuminations not unlike the sudden break in the clouds that finally lets her glimpse Mount Fuji from the window of a bullet train.”
- Francine Prose (New York Times Book Review)
