I just finished reading Laura Joh Rowland's 2nd Book - "Bundori". Although I am not much for fiction, I must take a moment to recommend this series of books to anyone currently looking for a good Summer read.
Her books are mysteries whose main character Sano Ichiro is the chief inspector for the Shogun Takegawa Tsuneyoshi. While Sano falls in and out of favor with the Shogun thanks to his enemy Chancellor Yanagisawa, he struggles to maintain the Bushido code while solving mysteries.
As a long time fan of detectives Holmes, Morse, and Frost I was quite pleased to finally be able to merge my love of Japanese history with a thrilling mystery. I was also surprised by the quality of scholarship Ms. Rowland showed in her detailing both the Sengoku and Edo periods. Finally, Bundori was simply a damned good read.
My only beef that relates at all to the novel, "Bundori" is its cover. I am only an amateur when it comes to swords, but the one on the cover doesn't look like anything ever produced in Japan. It looks more like a Damascus sword to me.
Many of her past books are currently being reprinted and should be on the store shelves soon. Too bad; I need something to keep my mind busy now while waiting for the Mongol Expansion pack.
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The Buddha is a gyoza. If you find the Buddha, eat him.
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