Description:
The lives of characters in this engrossing story intertwine as a young woman attempts to transcend her expected cultural role.
Brief description: Karen Hill Anton is the author of the multiple award-winning memoir The View From Breast Pocket Mountain. Originally from New York City, she has made her home in rural Shizuoka, Japan, since 1975. https: //www.karenhillanton.com/
Review Quotes:
- A Thousand Graces is an absolute gem.The characterization is masterful, the narrative never wanes. The chronicle moves forward seamlessly as Anton, well-versed in the traditions of Japan. weaves in descriptions and explanations of Japanese terms, customs, and lifestyle. The ubiquitous comment from all who've red it is that they couldn't put it down. Acclaimed author Karen HIll Anton has produced a masterfully crafted novel that will remain with you long after the final page is turned. It would be surprising if A Thousand Graces does not succeed in winning literary awards in the manner of her highly praised memoir. -- Paul de Vries, JAPAN Forward
- Without relying on cultural or gendered stereotypes, Karen Hill Anton offers a highly accurate portrayal of Japan and its people. I loved every page of this novel, and the characters will remain in my head for a long time. In fact, I would give this book ten stars if I could. This is a must-read for anyone interested in Japan! -- Diane Hawley Nagatomo, author of The Butterfly Cafe, forthcoming from Black Rose Writing
- Karen Hill Anton's debut novel, A Thousand Graces, unfurls a mesmerizingly haunting and evocative tale of coming-of-age that resonates with raw power and poignant beauty. Anton's poetic prose brings to life a story that lingers in the heart and mind, capturing the essence of a profound journey of self-discovery and growth. -- Jeffrey Miller, author of No Way Out
- Drawing on her decades living in Japan, in A Thousand Graces, Karen Hill Anton has crafted an exquisite novel set in the late 1960s/early 1970s when social roles were circumscribed. While some characters might seem familiar, the story veers from the predictable path, springing surprises along the way, until it arrives as its stunning, yet inevitable conclusion. A Thousand Graces is a powerful and haunting work of art.-- Suzanne Kamata, author of The Baseball Widow
- In the early 1970s, young Japanese women were often caught between the new freedoms and opportunities opening up to them and the traditional ways and expectations of their parents' generation. In this thought-provoking and insightful novel, Karen HIll Anton, a keen observer of rural Japanese life for almost 50 years, perceptively and painstakingly recreates the rhythms of that world for the reader. Beautifully done, with characters crafted to be both familiar and unforgettable.-- Wm. (Wilhelmina) Penn, author of The Expat's Guide to Growing Old in Japan