Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

The cover definitely drew me in to this beautiful novel. The prose is beautifully and lyrically maintained, an authentic fable like tale set over 1000 years ago. Beautiful and an enjoyable read

Katsuro is the master fisherman who provides carp to the Imperial Palace and the Emperor of Japan. When he dies accidentally, Miyuki, his widow, is forced to brave the journey to Heian Kyo alone to save the reputation and the finances of her small village. I struggled to know how to review and rate this book. The writing style is lyrical and I find Japanese culture fascinating. However, the constant factual footnotes pulled me out of the story and it felt rather like the author was compelled to share all of his extensive research. I also found some of the sexual content unsettling and ultimately this made me drop the rating a little further.

Although the line on line prose here is beautiful, the tone of the narrative felt quite misogynistic to me. This is the story of a widow who, following the death of her fisherman husband, must transport a selection of carp across feudal Japan for the Office of Gardens and Ponds. Along the way, she runs into various obstacles and suffers several humiliations. I had two primary issues with this book. Firstly, the author is French and is writing from the viewpoint of a Japanese woman. Secondly, there was a real streak of misogyny running through the narrative, which lead to a lot of the situations feeling particularly sadistic for our protagonist. Overall, I just found the reading experience pretty unpleasant unfortunately.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

A story as dark as a pond with koi-carp flashes of gold!
Set in 10th C Japan where newly widowed Miyuki is bound by her village’s laws to make the arduous journey to the Imperial Palace in order to deliver the koi carp that her late husband Katsura had caught before he drowned.
A spellbinding insight into early Japan, its conventions, hierarchy, legends, superstitions and what little value it attached to human beings. The Emperor’s perfume contest was a beautifully described event.
However....biiig however...the never-ending mentioning of “penises”, often totally out of context, really got on my nerves.
Either the dirty talk fantasies of a dotard or someone afflicted with Tourettes which, sadly, spoiled an otherwise poetic book.

Great read. Throughly enjoyed it. The cover is so beautiful too.

Thank you to both NetGalley and Quercus book for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest unbiased review

‘The gods had created nothingness to persuade men to fill it. It was not presence that controlled the world and filled it; it was space, absence, emptiness, disappearance. Everything was nothing.’

A book set in Japan over 1000 years ago, written by a Frenchman and translated into English – now there’s a book you don’t read every day! It reads like a fable, or a tale told by a storyteller over a camp fire. This is the story of Amakasu Miyuki, whose husband Katsuro has just died. He has been fishing and supplying carp to the Imperial Palace; now Miyuki must take over his role, and so sets out on her journey from her village of Shimae to the city of Heian Kyo, with eight carp and only the clothes which she is wearing. Her journey is full of adventures, naturally – forests, robbers, pilgrims, a brothel and its inhabitants – until she makes her way to the city to deliver her fish to the Office of Gardens and Ponds. But here her trip takes on a new twist as she becomes involved in a competition created by the Emperor to create a scent with the theme ‘the girl I the mist’. Finally, Miyuki is able to set off home but what will she find when she returns, and how will her journey have changed her?

Decoin’s novel, nicely translated by Euan Cameron, is a sensory delight, a languid journey that is both physical and metaphorical. It felt like watching a traditional Japanese woodcut slowly come to life, where every image is lovingly imbued with meaning and purpose. Clearly this won’t be to everyone’s taste but I hope it reaches an appreciative audience. There are several sexual references throughout the book, some of which are a little surprising (!) but this is more a book about the journey, about respecting and valuing the natural world, and about the fleeting time we have on earth. A slow, rewarding novel that lingers long after you put it down.

(With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this title.)

Thanks to Quercus Books and NetGalley for the Advance Review Copy in exchange for an honest review.

Hmmmmm. Definitely not a book to give as a gift.

I've always had a huge interest in Heian period Japan so was really intrigued about this book. The synopsis sounded interesting too so I was excited to get stuck in.

Miyuki, the widow of an eminent carp fisherman is required to fufill their village's contract to the Emperor.

What I thought I'd get: The odyssey of a grieving, yet plucky, widow to fufill her husband's last wishes and save her village. Along the way she meets a colourful cast of characters.

What I got: Penises. Body fluids. Funky smells. Fish. Incredibly awkward sex scenes.

So many penises...

I understand this book was translated from French and I'm not sure if something was lost in the translation but the sexual descriptions were absolutely excruciating. You know those 'this is how men write sex scenes' posts that appear on Twitter every so often? This is basically a book of them.

There are some good things about this book. The author clearly has an exhaustive knowledge of Heian period Japan and the book is rich with descriptions of life during this period. The historical and cultural markers can feel a little shoehorned in however with it sometimes seeming like the author has tried to shove in all of their knowledge. I found the use of asterisks and footnotes as opposed to a glossary ruined my immersion a bit.

The characterisation was a little too ephemeral for me to really get a grasp on any of the characters which was a shame as I think Miyuki had a lot of potential.

Overall, just too strange for me. Not a prude by any means but found the sexual overtones of this novel too bonkers to see past. I did learn some stuff about Carp though, which is pretty cool.

I requested this book because I fell in love with the cover, so elegant and beautiful.
The cover perfectly reflects the book: this book is elegant and beautiful.
It reminded me of certain ancient Japanese stamps because I found it visual as it helps you to visualize what is going on and my references were the Japanese stamps.
The style of writing is elegant and lyrical, the characters are well written and memorable, the plot is engaging and entertaining.
I will surely look for other books by this author.
Recommended!
Many thanks to Quercus Books and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

My thanks to Quercus, MacLehose Press for an eARC via NetGalley of Didier Decoin’s ‘The Office of Gardens and Ponds’, translated from the French by Euan Cameron, in exchange for an honest review.

Over a thousand years ago in a small Japanese village Katsuro, a master carp fisherman, has drowned leaving behind his young widow, Miyuki. The villagers are deeply concerned as to who now will transport the consignment of carp to the Imperial Palace so that they can retain the patronage of the Office of Gardens and Ponds. Miyuki is the only other person in the village who knows how to treat carp and so she offers to take the long and perilous journey.

This was beautifully written in a lyrical style with a touch of magical realism. The story is very much like a classical Japanese watercolour painting capturing a delicate glimpse of a long lost society. I recently dipped into the ‘Tale of Genji’ that was written in the 11th Century and which reflected similar themes of politics, intrigues and the erotic dalliances of the Imperial Court.

Here can be found courtly and religious rites, folklore, customs and superstition, a frank expression of sexuality, rich descriptions of nature and of scent. There was a great deal to savour.

It is quite a feat to capture so powerfully such a story and have the skill to immerse your readers so completely. I was enthralled by it. I understand that Decoin spent twelve years researching and writing this novel. That dedication to creating such an evocative work is evident.

The cover art is exquisite and I have no doubt this is a beautifully bound book that will delight the eye as its text touches the heart.

In a small village in 12th Century Japan a carp fisherman drowns catching fish that are destined for the ponds of the Imperial Palace of the Emperor. With nobody else able to make the delivery the fisherman's widow sets out on the journey to the Imperial City with baskets of carp balanced precariously on a bamboo pole across her shoulders. What follows is the story of the young woman's hazardous quest and the colourful characters she meets along the way and upon her arrival at the Office of Gardens and Ponds.

This is a pretty simple story made extraordinary by the rich descriptions of Japanese culture and customs, folklore and superstitions. A wonderful read.

The Office of Gardens and Ponds is a beautiful, lyrical work that captivated me right from the first page. Decoin weaves an intricate world of magical realism through which the reader swims as if they too were one of Katsuro's carp. Miyuki is an engaging and interesting character, and I was invested in her from start to finish. I also loved the flowing, descriptive prose that engaged all the senses. It is a visceral work, but wonderfully so. I would recommend this to readers who love poetic, lyrical prose with hints of magical realism, and I would certainly be keen to read more from this author in the future, perhaps in the original French next time.