Description
Book SynopsisBy turns candid, witty, and poignant,
36 Views of Mount Fuji is an American professor's much-praised memoir about her experiences of Japan and the Japanese.
Trade Review“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 *
Table of ContentsList of Illustrations xi
Preface xiii
1. Seeing and Being Seen 1
2. Foreigners 9
3. After School 21
4. From the Best Families 37
5. Typical Japanese Women 49
6. Night Moves 69
7. Sacred Places 83
8. Accident 105
9. Going Home 123
10. Sea of Japan, Oki, 1987 139
11. Tatami Room in Cedar Grove 155
12. Festival of the Dead 169
13. Photo Album: The Fourth Journey 185
14. The Practice House 205
15. House Guest 217
16. Climbing the Mountain 227
Afterword (2005) 233
Acknowledgments to the First Edition 241
Acknowledgments to the Second Edition 243
Glossary of Japanese Words and Expressions 245
A Note on Japanese Names ix
