Book Synopsis:
Winner of the Bath Novel Award 2020
When lonely and socially isolated translator, Gareth, takes up traditional Japanese archery in 1990s Bristol, he learns that to study Kyudo is to reach out, to another culture, another time, other people… But when one of them reaches back, two lives that should never have touched become strangely entangled.
In wartime Tokyo, Tanaka Mie finds herself wandering the burned-out ruins of her dead parents’ fire-bombed home with only hazy recollections of how she survived. Setting out on a hike to a mountain village shrine, away from the charred city, she begins a life to which she is not sure she is entitled, a life which feels like living on the other side of the sky.
To visit the past or the future, even in imagination, is to change it. But it is also to be changed.
The Arrow Garden is a delicately-wrought tale of truth, selfhood, and acceptance, which transcends time in its lyrical exploration of what it means to live.
My Review:
The Arrow Garden is a beautifully written, intriguing timeslip book which I really enjoyed.
I love timeslip novels, especially if part of it is based in WW2 so this book instantly appealed to me. I have to admit to enjoying the historical timeline slightly more as it was fascinating to learn more about war time in Japan. I really felt for Mia as I watched her try to come to terms with everything she had lost. It was heartbreaking to see her having to rebuild her life and struggle with the guilt she obviously feels about surviving.
The inclusion of Kyudo, a form of Japanese archery, was very interesting as I hadn’t realised there was more than one form of archery before reading this book. I enjoyed learning about it and how the practice fitted into Japanese tradition. It was really beautiful to see how it helps heal Gareth and gives him a new lease of life.
The two timelines complimented each other nicely and I enjoyed getting to know the two characters as the story went on. The change between timelines was quite quick which took a bit of getting used to but once I had I felt it made the two timelines seem more connected to each other. The ending went a different way to what I was expecting and was very emotional. This is definitely a story that will stay with me.
Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to the publisher for my copy of this book.
About The Author:
Brought up to value thinking and making equally, Andrew’s first degree was in English Literature and Fine Art. He also holds an MA in Visual Culture at Bath Spa University. A lifelong interest in aspects of Japanese culture led to an extended trip in 2011 in the aftermath of the tsunami, assisting and observing participants in Shinto rituals of horseback archery.
The Arrow Garden is his first novel. Early drafts were longlisted for the Bridport Prize and The Bath Novel Award, before winning the BNA outright in 2020.
Andrew lives in Bath, England. When not writing he is to be found riding strange bicycles or, very occasionally, practicing traditional Japanese archery.
Over The Rainbow Blog 