Grass for His Pillow by Lian Hearn: The tale continues with same suspenseful, lyrical narrative

Still enchanted by the Across the Nightingale Floor, I didn’t hesitate to buy Grass For His Pillow by Lian Hearn for more than P1000. Again, despite my attempted restraint, I wasn’t able to last long without finishing Grass for His Pillow. And I tell you, the price I paid was more than worth it. This second book is more fast-paced than the first one, and we witness here the maturity of Takeo and the transformation of Kaede from a ‘mere pawn’ in the battles of the lords’ to the lady of her domain, capable in action and tactful in speech.

It begins as Takeo enters the world of the Tribe – crafty, skillful assassins possessing supernatural powers. He finds about his real father’s world, but, after enduring their training and apathy (they are only after his abilities, not him – that is, he is just a means to an end), he realizes that this is not the path he wants to for his life. Within him is a struggle between two loyalties – that to the Tribe and that to Lord Otori. It is also a struggle between his love for Kaede and his present life. Eventually, he makes the decision to leave the Tribe – choosing a path he wants no matter how it takes. Such decision echoes The Alchemist by Coelho: To realize one’s destiny is a person’s only obligation. For Takeo, pursuing his dreams and risking death is far better than living and yet not realizing his destiny. Takeo may have foolishly risked his own life, but his courage is highly admired. Greatness never belongs to those unwilling to take paths to worlds beyond.

Meanwhile, Kaede bravely deals with her domain and the lords of the clans. While she knows Lord Arai is her liege, she nonetheless manages to put up a subtle defiance with her tact. In the end, her defiance culminates with her secret marriage with Takeo (reminiscent of Padme Amidala and Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars). There are side characters whose participation in the ‘Tales’ make it all the more full of verve and action. Shizuka, for instance, who is also torn between her loyalty to Kaede and her allegiance to the Tribe. Takeo, in his time of great difficulty, finds solace and friendship in Makoto, and in the temple where the story ends. The philosophy is: every action has a consequence. It is very much Zen Buddhism, but it is true. Thus, the secret marriage of Takeo and Kaede also has a consequence – what that consequence is we are yet to find out.

Brilliantly conceived and masterfully written, The Tales of the Otori is a great inspiration for people who wish to make a difference in their lives – and that of others. It is an encouragement to those who have lost hope, and enlightenment to those have it. For young ones, it is a profound illustration of growing up and hurdling the challenges along the way. It treats life as one great adventure which we must cherish and make the most of.

Across the Nightingale Floor by Lian Hearn: A great tale of adventure

If the Japanese treasure beauty and honor, then Across the Nightingale Floor by Lian Hearn would for them be indeed a rare jewel. The book possesses such charm, adventure, and romance, that one is at once transported into the realm of the Otori and the lands beyond, the place where there lives a young boy named Tomasu. Across the Nightingale Floor is the story of his life, how he came home one day only to find his family massacred, how he escaped from the evil Lord Iida and how he was rescued by the benevolent Lord Otori. This Lord Otori, whose father and brother died in battle against Lord Iida, takes care of Tomasu, renames him as Takeo, and makes him his adopted son. Takeo soon grows to be a brilliant lad, skilled in the sword and the pen, charming and bright. He, being the son of a gifted assassin with special powers, is initiated into the arts of an order called The Tribe. He is quick to learn, and very soon made Lord Otori Shigeru proud of him.

But that’s just the beginning: Lord Otori is forced to marry the young Kaede, daughter of another feudal lord. He knows if he acquiesces to this plan, Lord Iida will destroy him and his people, so he devised a plan: Takeo will walk through the nightingale floor – a special floor that ‘sings’ or squeaks like a nightingale – and kill Lord Iida. Meanwhile, Kaede arrives in Lord Otori’s castle and upon seeing Takeo, instantly falls in love with him. Takeo notices this at once, and in no time they understand what feelings they have for each other. There are many subsequent plot twists and turns, but all of them are logical conclusions. All the characters act as they are supposed to act, based on their personalities, but the reader is still surprised, captivated, and awed by the action and adventure. Across the Nightingale Floor has echoes of Star Wars and Lord of the Rings, but this observation would all the more point to the fact that the Tales of the Otori has indeed the qualities of an epic adventure, focused on one boy and his beloved.

There is a certain quality in the writing that makes it smooth and surprisingly eloquent. More surprising is the fact that Lian Hearn is an Australian, for many years a stranger to the Japanese way of life.

Takeo is not presented as a perfect being: indeed, he has many faults although it is not noticed as the book is written in the first-person point of view.

I can’t wait to read the second book of the Otori trilogy, Grass for His Pillow. I am confident that Hearn will not fail to sustain the beauty that is Kaede, the adventure that is Takeo.