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Type of bind: Kindle Edition
Dewey Decimal Number: 823.914
Format: Kindle Book
Label: Riverhead
Manufacturer: Riverhead
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 320
Printing Date: March 03, 2007
Publishing house: Riverhead
Release Date: March 03, 2007
Sale Popularity Level: 6121
Studio: Riverhead
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Editor's Notes and Comments:
Product Description:
'The extraordinary adventure continues in the second book of the internationally heralded trilogy, 'Tales of The Otori...' A New York Times Notable Book of the Year, one of Book magazine's best novels of the year, and one of School Library Journal's Best Adult Books for High School Readers (2002), Across the Nightingale Floor was an international bestseller and critical success, named 'the most compelling novel to have been published this year' by the Times (London). In this second tale, we return to the land of harsh beauty and deceptive appearances where we very first met Takeo-the young orphan taken up by the Otori Lord and now a closely held member of the Tribe-and his beloved Shirakawa Kaede, heir to the Maruyama and alone in the world, who must find a way to unify the domain she has inherited. In a complex social hierarchy, amid dissembling clans and fractured allegiances, there is no place for passionate young love. Yet Takeo and Kaede, drawing on their unusual talents and hidden strengths, must make their way in this tale of longing, ambition, and intrigue. Grass for His Pillow is a tantalizing subsequent installment in a brilliantly imaginative and critically acclaimed series. New York Times Notable Book'
Amazon.com Review:
Lian Hearn's second novel in the Tales of the Otori, Grass For His Pillow continues to enrich and expand his mystical imaginings of feudal Japan. Picking up where Across the Nightingale Floor left off, Takeo fulfills his debt of honor and accepts his heritage as a member of the superhuman cabal of assassins known as 'The Tribe,' and is thus ingested into their plots. But his heart yearns for Kaede, his one true love, and secretly wishes to fulfill the final wishes of his adopted father, Otori Shigaru. Meanwhile, Kaede returns to her homeland to find her father's estate in ruin and her inheritance in jeopardy. The two each encounter vast political machinations and deadly consequences as they unconsciously move toward their overwhelming urges to reunite and defy (or perhaps embrace) fate.
Hearn's second book into the Tales of the Otori series is a more poignant tale than the first, painfully examining the lines between honor, duty, and love. With its calming and satisfying conclusion, the landscape of Hearn's mythical vision of Japan braces for a dazzling storm in the book to come. --Jeremy Pugh
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Rated by buyers 
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Unfortunately, this series take a little downturn after the debut. I guess Hearn's world, as well as her characters, are more fresh and new in the very first book. There just wasn't enough here that inspired me. It was still good enough to warrant $10 and a few days of reading.
Rated by buyers -
This is the second book in the Tales of the Otori series by Lian Hearn. This book picks up where the very first left off. Takeo leaves Kaede for training under the mysterious Tribe; whose supernatural abilities Takeo has inherited from his father. As his training concludes, and he is asked to take out certain missions, he must ask himself if his loyalties will lie with the Tribe or with the Otori? Kaede meanwhile is left on her own to return home and see what state her family is in. Kaede struggles to consolidate her power and claim the inheritance she was left in a world that is run by men.
This was a fitting second book for this series. It moved along at the steady, descriptive pace of the second book. Although for some reason I found myself getting bored while reading this book. The lush descriptions, while detailed, didn't bring the book to life in the way I hoped they would. I had a little trouble understanding some of the stupid decisions made by Kaede and Takeo along the way. Despite these misgivings, if you liked the very first book you must read the second book. It is very much in the same style of the very first book and continues the story of Kaede and Takeo. This book definitely builds to a climax preparing you for the war and conflict of the third novel.
Rated by buyers 
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Excellent story. The reader presents it very well. Holds your interest. Look forward to more. I you like stories about feudal Japan, you will love it.
Rated by buyers -
Reference to the Audio Book of this particular title:
Takeo's character flowed through this book with the same rich clarity and presence as Nightingale. The inner workings of Kaede were fleshed out more, and I found it easier to relate to her as an individual character, moreso than I did in the previous book.
This part of the trilogy did leave me wanting the resolve offered in Brilliance of the Moon for Takeo and Kaede - whatever they would be.
Rated by buyers -
This is the second book in the Otori 'trilogy' (now in five parts), so before embarking on this book you need to have read 'Across the Nightingale Floor' (and preferably 'Heaven's net is wide' before that). It is set in a mythical, feudal (and fictional) Japanese society, centred around the story of Otori Takeo, the product of three conflicting cultures which all want to make him their own, to the exclusion of all else.
This book is heart rending, gripping, twisting and turning; full of beauty and horror, betrayal and love.
A little confusing to keep up with the names and geography, but most of them become familiar quite quickly. Many of the characters are well defined, some fitting neatly into the boundaries defined by their class, while others are notable for their struggle against the limits placed on them by their society.
The story is told in two different voices - one characters gives a first-person narrative, while the author describes the events happening to others. This takes a while to get used to, but I really enjoyed it and found it helped to place events and characters. I recommend this book (and the trilogy) to anyone with an interest in history, Japan, feudalism, fantasy, or just in search of a challenging, but rewarding, read.
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