|
[ Home ]
[ About | Reviews | Search | Submit ]
I truly love "educational mysteries"; by that I mean mysteries which not only tell a good story but that also teach me about something interesting. Barbara D'Amato writes great educational mysteries. Most historicals are educational and from the start, I've learned from Sujata Massey's Rei Shimura mysteries. The "topic" in this story is, not surprisingly, kimono (that's the preferred plural) especially historical ones from the Edo period in Japan. Rei is surprised to be asked to act as courier and museum expert, bringing several beautiful and meaningful examples to a museum in Washington, D.C. She knows the museum, and it's her first trip back to the U.S. in a few years. And it's good money, so although she is stuck carrying the garments and never letting them leave her sight, she takes the offer. Of course, this is a mystery, so nothing can go that well, right? Rei's seatmate on the airplane, a young woman looking for a last fling before her arranged marriage, disappears. Then a kimono that Rei brought with her is stolen from her hotel room. And her ex-lover, Hugh, appears, seemingly out of nowhere (last Rei knew, he was going back to Scotland to work in the new government). I must be in a long period of bad moods, because things are bugging me even more than ever. I'm a picky reader -- I've always admitted that -- but this book seems to be a top example of people jumping to conclusions at every turn. Rei's meeting with Hugh, where he pretends not to ignore her, must have some other meaning and yet, she immediately assumes he forgot her. Oh, come now! The police come to some ridiculous conclusion about Rei due to what I consider doubtful evidence and while she objects, she lets it go when I'd be screaming (I know, she's got Japanese sensibilities, but as she points out, she is an American citizen, and she is treated amazingly poorly by the police.) Rei's father who should know better, suggests at one point that Rei is sexually obsessed because she wants to visit someone named "Jamie", and suggests they drive right to the hospital with a good psych unit. What? Even Mr. Shimura should know that a) Jamie can be a woman's name and b) why would he assume that Rei is going to go visit Jamie for sexual reasons? See what I mean? This is the first time to really meet the Shimuras, except when Rei's talked to them by phone and well, I really hate her mother. Her mother's idea of heaven is $400 shoes, and shopping, and she desires to see her daughter married off, seemingly based on the fact that Rei looks good standing next to her Japanese boyfriend. I don't like shallow and that's as shallow as it gets. There's another scene where I just find the mother not very bright (and I can't explain it because it would be a spoiler, but you don't make your daughter answer trick questions). This book would have been more to my taste if there had been more about the kimono and their very interesting history and less about people's poor judgments of other people. I can't believe that Rei ends up back with Hugh; Takeo was no prize, necessarily, but the man who disappeared from Rei's life, and assumed she would "find him on the internet" is not worth her time, and yet, she's apparently back in love with him. I'm finding Rei Shimura not just young but immature; her taste in men is appalling, and she needs to grow up a bit more. Readers who are less picky won't have problems with The Bride's Kimono and will certainly enjoy what they can learn from the story. Note: This review is based on the hardcover edition. 
Reviewed by Andi Shechter, October 2001
[ Top ]
QUICK SEARCH:
Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
[ About | Reviews | Search | Submit ]
[ Home ]
|
