Rainbirds by Clarissa Goenawan (English) Paperback Book

Description: Rainbirds by Clarissa Goenawan Set in an imagined town outside Tokyo, Clarissa Goenawans dark, spellbinding literary debut follows a young mans path to self-discovery in the wake of his sisters murder. FORMAT Paperback LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Publisher Description Set in an imagined town outside Tokyo, Clarissa Goenawans dark, spellbinding literary debut follows a young mans path to self-discovery in the wake of his sisters murder.Ren Ishida has nearly completed his graduate degree at Keio University when he receives news of his sisters violent death. Keiko was stabbed one rainy night on her way home, and there are no leads. Ren heads to Akakawa to conclude his sisters affairs, failing to understand why she chose to turn her back on the family and Tokyo for this desolate place years ago. But then Ren is offered Keikos newly vacant teaching position at a prestigious local cram school and her bizarre former arrangement of free lodging at a wealthy politicians mansion in exchange for reading to the mans ailing wife. He accepts both, abandoning Tokyo and his crumbling relationship there in order to better understand his sisters life and what took place the night of her death. As Ren comes to know the eccentric local figures, from the enigmatic politician whos boarding him to his fellow teachers and a rebellious, captivating young female student, he delves into his shared childhood with Keiko and what followed. Haunted in his dreams by a young girl who is desperately trying to tell him something, Ren realizes that Keiko Ishida kept many secrets, even from him. Author Biography Clarissa N. Goenawan is an Indonesian-born Singaporean writer. Her award-winning short fiction has appeared in literary magazines and anthologies in Singapore, Australia, the UK, and the US. Rainbirds is her first novel. Review A Bustle Most Anticipated Book of 2018amNY, "Must Read Books in 2018"The Huffington Post, "60 Books We Cant Wait to Read in 2018" BookBub, "25 Debut Novels We Cant Wait to Read in 2018" iBooks, "10 Debut Novels You Must Read"A Library Journal Best Audiobook of 2018Praise for Rainbirds "A murder mystery and a family drama in one, this book is as beautiful as it is understated. The author presents us with a fascinatingly structured look into Japanese society and a depiction of mourning and grief that is universally recognizable." —San Francisco Chronicle "A transnational literary tour-de-force. Readers will be carried along by its creepy charm." —The Japan Times "Debut author Clarissa Goenawan spins a dark, encapsulating story that will certainly reel you in completely." —Bustle "Mysterious and dark." —Daily Beast "With its dream sequences, chance encounters and leisurely attention to music and food, this debut novel evokes the simple joys of early Haruki Murakami . . . A satisfying heartfelt tale about letting go." —amNewYork "Elegantly [combines] a suspenseful mystery with an eloquent meditation on love and loss." —HuffPost "Throughout this novel, numerous moments pleasantly evoke the surrealism of Murakami, the nightmarish descriptions of Abe, the alienated youth of Yoshimoto, and the ill-fated lovers of Kawabata. But Rainbirds, suffice it to say, is a different beast, a contemporary work of noir that draws readers into an eerie landscape that is hard to forget." —Los Angeles Review of Books"A coming-of-age read with a dark twist."—Esquire (Singapore) "If you love atmospheric mysteries full of light and mist, dreams and omens, all set in small-town Japan, read Rainbirds." —Lillian Li, author of Number One Chinese Restaurant, in The Millions "A thrilling unraveling of a single, complex mystery. Intriguing and unique . . . riveting . . . a spellbinding murder mystery." —Harvard Crimson "In a genre-bending novel about family and loss that shifts from a murder mystery to magical realism, Goenawan infuses her postmodern tale with enough complexity, suspense, and emotional connection to make it memorable and haunting." —Library Journal, Starred Review "Dreamlike . . . character-driven focus and introspective tone will attract literary-fiction readers." —Booklist "[A] well-paced mystery . . . Goenawans debut balances a finely wrought plot with patient, measured portraits of fragile relationships, making for a spare yet inviting novel that grabs hold and doesnt let go."—Publishers Weekly "Goenawans debut proves to be a soulful whodunit full of deadpan humor and whimsical narrative unpredictability. A witty, well-constructed debut." —Kirkus Reviews "Evocative . . . an intricate, powerful novel." —Reviewing the Evidence "Goenawan offers a moving investigation of love, loss, and grief." —Asian Review of Books "A work of deep tenderness and ardent storytelling." —Kingdom Books "Goenawans certainly talented as a writer; the novels immensely readable, intensely atmospheric." —Asian American Literature Fans "Luminous, sinister, and page-turning all at once. I loved it." —Kate Hamer, internationally bestselling author of The Girl in the Red Coat and The Doll Funeral "A beautiful mystery setup with a complex, magical love story." —Eka Kurniawan, award-winning author of Beauty Is a Wound "A beautiful, well-crafted story, Rainbirds is an exploration of grief, love and loss. Clarissa Goenawan has written a powerful debut novel that will leave readers craving more." —Hollie Overton, internationally bestselling author of Baby Doll "Like the imaginary town in Japan in which it takes place, Rainbirds possesses a charm that is at once cloistered, quiet, and mysterious. Carefully crafted and paced, the novel captivates with its reflective, dreamlike tone. A promising debut from Clarissa Goenawan." —Dee Lestari, award-winning singer-songwriter and author of the Supernova series "Rainbirds is that rarest of debut novels—confident, transportive, and utterly enthralling. Clarissa Goenawan explores the mysteries of small-town Japan, drawing readers in with understated prose, then ensnaring with a subtle spell, exposing, grain by grain, the secrets behind a young womans death." —Barry Lancet, award-winning author of Japantown"A hauntingly moving story of loss and alienation." —Jake Arnott, internationally bestselling author of The Long Firm "Rainbirds is a deeply immersive novel: I lost myself in Goenawans masterful rendering of a sleepy Japanese town." —Elisa Lodato, author of An Unremarkable Body "A touching and evocative exploration of grief and love in a fictional Japanese town, Rainbirds is a haunting debut." —Susanna Jones, award-winning author of The Earthquake Bird Promotional Set in an imagined town outside Tokyo, Clarissa Goenawans dark, spellbinding literary debut follows a young mans path to self-discovery in the wake of his sisters murder. Review Quote A Bustle Most Anticipated Book of 2018 amNY, "Must Read Books in 2018" The Huffington Post, "60 Books We Cant Wait to Read in 2018" BookBub, "25 Debut Novels We Cant Wait to Read in 2018" iBooks, "10 Debut Novels You Must Read" Praise for Rainbirds "A murder mystery and a family drama in one, this book is as beautiful as it is understated. The author presents us with a fascinatingly structured look into Japanese society and a depiction of mourning and grief that is universally recognizable." --San Francisco Chronicle "A transnational literary tour-de-force. Readers will be carried along by its creepy charm." --The Japan Times "Debut author Clarissa Goenawan spins a dark, encapsulating story that will certainly reel you in completely." --Bustle "Mysterious and dark." --Daily Beast "With its dream sequences, chance encounters and leisurely attention to music and food, this debut novel evokes the simple joys of early Haruki Murakami . . . A satisfying heartfelt tale about letting go." --amNewYork "Elegantly [combines] a suspenseful mystery with an eloquent meditation on love and loss." --HuffPost "Throughout this novel, numerous moments pleasantly evoke the surrealism of Murakami, the nightmarish descriptions of Abe, the alienated youth of Yoshimoto, and the ill-fated lovers of Kawabata. But Rainbirds , suffice it to say, is a different beast, a contemporary work of noir that draws readers into an eerie landscape that is hard to forget." --Los Angeles Review of Books "A thrilling unraveling of a single, complex mystery. Intriguing and unique . . . riveting . . . a spellbinding murder mystery." --Harvard Crimson "In a genre-bending novel about family and loss that shifts from a murder mystery to magical realism, Goenawan infuses her postmodern tale with enough complexity, suspense, and emotional connection to make it memorable and haunting." -- Library Journal , Starred Review "Dreamlike . . . character-driven focus and introspective tone will attract literary-fiction readers." -- Booklist "[A] well-paced mystery . . . Goenawans debut balances a finely wrought plot with patient, measured portraits of fragile relationships, making for a spare yet inviting novel that grabs hold and doesnt let go." --Publishers Weekly "Goenawans debut proves to be a soulful whodunit full of deadpan humor and whimsical narrative unpredictability. A witty, well-constructed debut." --Kirkus Reviews "Evocative . . . an intricate, powerful novel." --Reviewing the Evidence "Goenawan offers a moving investigation of love, loss, and grief." --Asian Review of Books "A work of deep tenderness and ardent storytelling." --Kingdom Books "Goenawans certainly talented as a writer; the novels immensely readable, intensely atmospheric." --Asian American Literature Fans "Luminous, sinister, and page-turning all at once. I loved it." --Kate Hamer, internationally bestselling author of The Girl in the Red Coat and The Doll Funeral "A beautiful mystery setup with a complex, magical love story." --Eka Kurniawan, award-winning author of Beauty Is a Wound "A beautiful, well-crafted story, Rainbirds is an exploration of grief, love and loss. Clarissa Goenawan has written a powerful debut novel that will leave readers craving more." -- Hollie Overton, internationally bestselling author of Baby Doll "Like the imaginary town in Japan in which it takes place, Rainbirds possesses a charm that is at once cloistered, quiet, and mysterious. Carefully crafted and paced, the novel captivates with its reflective, dreamlike tone. A promising debut from Clarissa Goenawan." --Dee Lestari, award-winning singer-songwriter and author of the Supernova series " Rainbirds is that rarest of debut novels--confident, transportive, and utterly enthralling. Clarissa Goenawan explores the mysteries of small-town Japan, drawing readers in with understated prose, then ensnaring with a subtle spell, exposing, grain by grain, the secrets behind a young womans death." --Barry Lancet, award-winning author of Japantown "A hauntingly moving story of loss and alienation." --Jake Arnott, internationally bestselling author of The Long Firm " Rainbirds is a deeply immersive novel: I lost myself in Goenawans masterful rendering of a sleepy Japanese town." --Elisa Lodato, author of An Unremarkable Body "A touching and evocative exploration of grief and love in a fictional Japanese town, Rainbirds is a haunting debut." --Susanna Jones, award-winning author of The Earthquake Bird Promotional "Headline" Set in an imagined town outside Tokyo, Clarissa Goenawans dark, spellbinding literary debut follows a young mans path to self-discovery in the wake of his sisters murder. Excerpt from Book 1 She Crumbled and Turned to Ashes At first, nothing was unusual. I was on the phone with my sister. She sat at her desk by the window in her rented room in Akakawa. The sun shone through the curtain, casting brown highlights on her long dark hair. She asked me question after question, but I just mumbled one-word answers, impatient for the conversation to be over. But then, before my eyes, she crumbled and turned to ashes. I woke up in a black sedan; the dream would have slipped from my mind, had it not been for the white porcelain urn in my lap. Resembling a short cylindrical vase, it was decorated with a painting of a flying cuckoo and chrysanthemums. Inside were the ashes of my sister, Keiko Ishida, who had been only thirty-three when she died. I loosened my tie and asked Honda, "How much longer?" He turned the steering wheel. "Almost there." "Mind putting on some music?" "Of course not," he answered, flicking a button. The radio played Billie Holidays "Summertime." For a Friday afternoon, the journey was smooth. The sun was high, no traffic jam in sight. Even the music was relaxing, the kind meant to make you drum your fingers to the beat. My hands tightened involuntarily around the urn, and I stared at it. Honda glanced at me for a second before turning his eyes back to the road. "Keiko used to love jazz," he said. I nodded, unable to speak. The small stack of cassettes that made up her collection--what would happen to them now? "The funny thing was, she couldnt name a single jazz musician," he continued. I cleared my throat. "You dont need to be knowledgeable to appreciate jazz." "Well said, Ishida." Actually, it was my sister who had first spoken those words to me. Even now, I could picture her sitting at her desk, her hand twisting the phone cord. A self-satisfied smile on her face as she murmured, "You dont need to be knowledgeable to appreciate jazz." Strange that this image was etched in my mind, though Id never seen her rented room--I had no idea what it looked like. "Were here," Honda said as the car pulled up to the entrance of the Katsuragi Hotel. "Thank you for your help arranging the memorial service," I said. "Dont mention it. Keikos done a lot for me in the past." I nodded and got out, still clutching the urn. I was already heading through the entrance when I heard him call after me. "Ishida." I turned. Honda had already wound down the passenger window. "What are you going to do with . . . ?" He scratched the back of his neck, looking at the urn. "I havent decided yet." "If you want the ashes scattered at sea, we can ask the crematorium staff. Theyll handle it for a small fee." "That wont do," I said. "My sister was afraid of water. She couldnt swim." Honda and my sister had taught at the same cram school. It was he who had arranged my accommodations. "Its sparsely furnished, but cheap and livable," he had said, a completely accurate description. A queen-sized bed, a small television, a wardrobe, and a dressing table with matching chair--that was all. The furniture was dated but functional. Relatively clean, the room had an en-suite bathroom and a slightly musty odor. I placed the urn on the dressing table and looked at my watch. It was two-thirty, so I had an hour to make my way to the police station. I took off my suit and left it hanging over the back of the chair. I needed to shower, to wash away the smell of the funeral incense. Sliding the bathroom door, I glanced at the dressing table. The urn stood there silently. I arrived at the police station to find a lone young officer manning the counter. I was the only visitor. When I gave the man my name, he stood to open the office door. "Follow me," he said, and I did, surprised he would leave the counter unattended. The officer led me down a cramped corridor and gestured for me to enter a room on the right. I knocked on the door twice, took a deep breath, and turned the knob. "Excuse me," I said. A middle-aged man sat behind a desk piled high with folders. His hair was thinning, and he wore a faded black suit over a crumpled white shirt. For a police officer, the man dressed sloppily. The room we were in was windowless and smaller than Id expected. Perhaps it was designed to make visitors feel claustrophobic. The desk ran from wall to wall, dividing the office in two. I wondered how the officer managed to get to his chair each morning. Did he climb over the desk, or crawl underneath it? He looked at me. "Mr. Ren Ishida?" "Yes." "Please, have a seat." He motioned to the two empty chairs in front of the desk. "Im sorry for what happened to Miss Keiko Ishida. This must be a difficult time for you and your family." He shifted the folders over to one side and handed me his business card. "Im in charge of Miss Ishidas case. You can call me Oda." I nodded and read the card: hidetoshi oda, senior detective. "Mr. Ishida, I need you to tell me as much information as you can." He took out a tape recorder. "May we proceed?" "Yes." The detective pressed the record button, looked at his watch, and began a well-rehearsed script. He gave the time, date, and location of the interview before introducing himself and me. I confirmed my identity, and he started with the official interview. "Tell me about your sister," he said. "Were you two close?" "I suppose so. She called at least once a week," I answered. "When was the last time you spoke to her?" "Last Monday." He turned his table calendar to face me. "That would have been the sixth of June?" "Yes." "June 6, 1994," he muttered into the tape recorder. "And what did you talk about?" I stared at the blank wall behind him. "Nothing much, just the usual stuff." "Can you be more specific?" I took a moment to recall our last conversation. What had we talked about? Yes, of course. Wed talked about my date. "Did you go out with Nae this weekend?" my sister asked. "Uh-huh," I answered. "The obligatory Saturday night date." "Where did you go?" "An Italian restaurant." "The fine dining kind?" "I guess it counts as one." "Really?" she exclaimed. "I wasnt aware you had such refined taste." "It was Naes idea, not mine. She learned about it from a fashion magazine." "Was it good?" I snickered. "Far from it." "What happened?" Where should I start? "Service was slow, the pasta was bland, and it was expensive. I should have known what to expect when taking restaurant recommendations from a fashion magazine." She laughed. "Are you sure your expectations werent too high?" "Trust me," I said, "it was bad." "And where did you go after that?" I paused. "Nowhere." "What?" She raised her voice. "That was all?" "Yes." I echoed, "That was all." "Are you for real?" "Is it me, or do you sound disappointed?" "I am disappointed," she said. "Youre so boring for someone so young." "Dont talk like youre an old woman. Were only nine years apart. Anyway, what were you expecting?" "People your age would usually go for a romantic walk after dinner. Or are you withholding the best part from me?" "Sorry to disappoint you again, but she Description for Sales People A stunning commercial fiction debut from a Singaporean rising star. Won the Bath First Novel Prize, and was shortlisted for the Dundee Book Prize, and the First Novel Prize. There have been more than 10 translation rights sales since Sohos initial World English acquisition. A Murakami-esque genre mashup with the lyrical Japanese atmosphere of Banana Yoshimoto. Details ISBN1641290188 Author Clarissa Goenawan Year 2019 ISBN-10 1641290188 ISBN-13 9781641290180 Format Paperback Place of Publication New York Country of Publication United States DEWEY 823.92 Language English Publication Date 2019-03-19 AU Release Date 2019-03-19 NZ Release Date 2019-03-19 US Release Date 2019-03-19 UK Release Date 2019-03-19 Replaces 9781616959654 Audience General Pages 336 Publisher Soho Press Imprint Soho Press We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. With fast shipping, low prices, friendly service and well over a million items - you're bound to find what you want, at a price you'll love! TheNile_Item_ID:137875334;

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