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The Crane Wife
A magical novel, based on a Japanese folk tale, that imagines how the life of a broken-hearted man is transformed when he rescues an injured white crane that has landed in his backyard.
George Duncan is an American living and working in London. At forty-eight, he owns a small print shop, is divorced, and lonelier than he realizes. All of the women with whom he has relationships eventually leave him for being too nice. But one night he is woken by an astonishing sound—a terrific keening, which is coming from somewhere in his garden. When he investigates he finds a great white crane, a bird taller than even himself. It has been shot through the wing with an arrow. Moved more than he can say, George struggles to take out the arrow from the bird’s wing, saving its life before it flies away into the night sky.
The next morning, a shaken George tries to go about his daily life, retreating to the back of his store and making cuttings from discarded books—a harmless, personal hobby—when through the front door of the shop a woman walks in. Her name is Kumiko, and she asks George to help her with her own artwork. George is dumbstruck by her beauty and her enigmatic nature, and begins to fall desperately in love with her. She seems to hold the potential to change his entire life, if he could only get her to reveal the secret of who she is and why she has brought her artwork to him.
Witty, magical, and romantic, The Crane Wife is a story of passion and sacrifice, that resonates on the level of dream and myth. It is a novel that celebrates the creative imagination, and the disruptive power of love.
George Duncan is an American living and working in London. At forty-eight, he owns a small print shop, is divorced, and lonelier than he realizes. All of the women with whom he has relationships eventually leave him for being too nice. But one night he is woken by an astonishing sound—a terrific keening, which is coming from somewhere in his garden. When he investigates he finds a great white crane, a bird taller than even himself. It has been shot through the wing with an arrow. Moved more than he can say, George struggles to take out the arrow from the bird’s wing, saving its life before it flies away into the night sky.
The next morning, a shaken George tries to go about his daily life, retreating to the back of his store and making cuttings from discarded books—a harmless, personal hobby—when through the front door of the shop a woman walks in. Her name is Kumiko, and she asks George to help her with her own artwork. George is dumbstruck by her beauty and her enigmatic nature, and begins to fall desperately in love with her. She seems to hold the potential to change his entire life, if he could only get her to reveal the secret of who she is and why she has brought her artwork to him.
Witty, magical, and romantic, The Crane Wife is a story of passion and sacrifice, that resonates on the level of dream and myth. It is a novel that celebrates the creative imagination, and the disruptive power of love.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 4, 2013
226 people are currently reading
13549 people want to read
About the author
Patrick Ness
58 books18.7k followersPatrick Ness, an award-winning novelist, has written for Radio 4 and The Sunday Telegraph and is a literary critic for The Guardian. He has written many books, including the Chaos Walking Trilogy, The Crash of Hennington, Topics About Which I Know Nothing, and A Monster Calls.
He has won numerous awards, including the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize, the Booktrust Teenage Prize, and the Costa Children’s Book Award. Born in Virginia, he currently lives in London.
He has won numerous awards, including the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize, the Booktrust Teenage Prize, and the Costa Children’s Book Award. Born in Virginia, he currently lives in London.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,417 reviews
April 26, 2013
The Crane Wife, quite simply, didn't work for me.
I've been highly anticipating this book since I learned of it's coming existence for no other reason than the fact that Patrick Ness wrote it. Ness is easily one of my favourite teen/YA writers and I find myself having to read everything he writes - even when he ventures out of his comfort zone and writes a novel for adults. Not only was I eager to jump back inside Ness's brilliant mind, but the promise of a retelling of an old Japanese folktale really called to me. My knowledge of Japanese myths and stories is limited, so I was sure the experience would be something unique and refreshing. And I suppose on some level it was.
The story is about George Duncan who is woken one night by a strange cry. Going outside, he discovers an injured Crane. George finds himself overcome with compassion and rushes to help the bird, removing an arrow from it's wing. The very next day, he meets Kumiko - a mysterious woman whom he falls in love with and together they create beautiful pieces of art. But George is dissatisfied with this existence and feels he needs to know more about the strange woman he loves. This desperation for knowledge is George's ultimate downfall; where the male character in the original story is ruined by his lust for money, it is George's need to know more that is his undoing.
It seems like I am being very harsh and critical to say that I think Ness should stick to his more subtle tales for young adults like A Monster Calls but I don't see it that way. The Crane Wife, though Ness's most ambitious work in terms of language and complexity, seemed somewhat pretentious and overly concerned with the reiteration of its own depth. Ness has evidently tried to take his writing a step further and play with language - but this story feels a lot more strained. The message in A Monster Calls was gentle, sad and powerful. The Crane Wife made me feel like I was being smacked repeatedly in the face with lessons in the philosophy of knowledge. So, yes, I do say that Ness should stick to more subtle tales or maybe he shouldn't write for adults - who knows? - but I don't mean this as a criticism. Ness is brilliant at handling poignant tales for children, whether it be about a boy with a dying mother or an adventure in a dystopian world, but his experiment in the different here was, in my opinion, a failure.
The Crane Wife really plays on the theme of knowledge and truths. I actually love and agree with the idea that the truth is not absolute but dependent on the person telling the story. I expect to see lovers of this book pulling up quotes like these:
"There were as many truths – overlapping, stewed together – as there were tellers. The truth mattered less than the story’s life. A story forgotten died. A story remembered not only lived, but grew."
"No one wanted to hear that people other than themselves might be complicated, that no one was ever just one thing, no history ever just one version."
But I come back to the lack of subtlety again. I feel like Ness keeps making this point again and again throughout the novel until I just wanted to be like "I get it! I swear, I get it!!" I don't know why Ness was so concerned with our ability to understand the message he was trying to put across when he's managed to weave them so gently and brilliantly into his young adult works.
Another thing I really didn't like was George. George is a nice guy, don't you know? Everyone loves George. George is a do-no-wrong, wonderful, women-treat-him-like-crap-cos-he's-such-a-sweetie type of guy. I can't stand that. For one, I can't stand unrealistically nice and good characters (whatever that male equivalent of Mary Sue is - I can't remember); for another, I hated the suggestion that there is something wrong with all the women who come into George's life for not appreciating him.
"a pleasant enough man, but lacking that certain something, that extra little ingredient to be truly worth investing in. It was a mistake women often seemed to make. He had more female friends, including his ex-wife, than any straight man he knew. The trouble was they’d all started out as lovers, before realising he was too amiable to take quite seriously. ‘You’re about sixty-five per cent,’ his ex-wife had said, as she left him.’ And I think seventy is probably my minimum.’ The trouble was, seventy per cent seemed to be every woman’s minimum."
George is that "friend zone" guy that all women adore but cannot be with for any length of time because they're too busy screwing bad guys. Why can't women just notice the nice guys standing in the wings, waiting to be awarded with sex and love for being such good friends? Ugh. This post is a fantastic discussion about the friend zone issue.
The Crane Wife isn't an awful book and, like I said, there were some beautifully written parts that I'm sure many will rush to quote. For me, though, I think I'm going to stay away from any future adult books by Ness and hope he delivers more of what he's good at. It's not an insult to say his power lies in younger books with simpler language; J.K. Rowling is no Proust but there are millions of children and adults around the world that will be forever grateful that she isn't.
June 2, 2018
Prior to reading this novel, I had read a couple of stories in Scottish folk tales and I think in one Alice Hoffman novel, featuring a Selkie; a shape shifting faerie and the basic fairytale in The Crane Wife is not dissimilar. I'm finding out recently that I do enjoy a grown-up fairy story, a fantasy novel if you will.
Ness' The Crane Wife is brilliant, a whimsy, it is simply wonderful: I must make mention that I read the volcano and the crane parts twice simply to savour the beautiful imagery. Mr Ness is obviously a very imaginative man, he hasn't just written a fantastical story, he also writes some delightfully, beautifully lyrical prose.
“and it was as if the night itself stopped to listen to her.” how gorgeous is that? Who could imagine a night stopping to listen? Mr Ness, that made me nearly swoon, yes, swoon; I think that type of imagery deserves a decent swoon.
“The inability of people to see themselves clearly. To see what they are 'actually' like, not what they fear they are like or what they wish to be like but what they actually 'are'”
“To be human is to yearn.”
An example of Su Blackwell's talent.
In his Notes & Acknowledgements, the author directs us to the “extraordinary of Su Blackwell” whose work is similar to that of George. Although Ness says “To compare what George does to what Su does is to compare finger-paints to Kandinsky.” While part of me is in awe of this mastery, the reader in me laments all the poor lacerated books.
The Crane Wife is a magical read; a haunting tale, poignant and a little enigmatic. Ness's masterful prose in simply sublime and a pure delight to absorb . Recommended to me via Mish's review, I will remain indebted to her for bringing this wonderful foray into Ness's work to my notice. Without hesitation, 5★
Ness' The Crane Wife is brilliant, a whimsy, it is simply wonderful: I must make mention that I read the volcano and the crane parts twice simply to savour the beautiful imagery. Mr Ness is obviously a very imaginative man, he hasn't just written a fantastical story, he also writes some delightfully, beautifully lyrical prose.
“and it was as if the night itself stopped to listen to her.” how gorgeous is that? Who could imagine a night stopping to listen? Mr Ness, that made me nearly swoon, yes, swoon; I think that type of imagery deserves a decent swoon.
“The inability of people to see themselves clearly. To see what they are 'actually' like, not what they fear they are like or what they wish to be like but what they actually 'are'”
“To be human is to yearn.”
An example of Su Blackwell's talent.
In his Notes & Acknowledgements, the author directs us to the “extraordinary of Su Blackwell” whose work is similar to that of George. Although Ness says “To compare what George does to what Su does is to compare finger-paints to Kandinsky.” While part of me is in awe of this mastery, the reader in me laments all the poor lacerated books.
The Crane Wife is a magical read; a haunting tale, poignant and a little enigmatic. Ness's masterful prose in simply sublime and a pure delight to absorb . Recommended to me via Mish's review, I will remain indebted to her for bringing this wonderful foray into Ness's work to my notice. Without hesitation, 5★
October 11, 2014
All stories begin before they start and never, ever finish.
I loved the characters that inhabit this novel. Their fairly ordinary stories of day-to-day life and their struggles with loneliness were beautiful and involving. For me, the tale of a sad divorced gentleman, his daughter, grandchild and the prospect of a new romance was magical enough. I really didn't need the 'Crane Wife' plot and the author's attempts to tie modern day reality to the folk tale didn't work for me.
There were the bones of a terrific story here...the feathers were not necessary.
I loved the characters that inhabit this novel. Their fairly ordinary stories of day-to-day life and their struggles with loneliness were beautiful and involving. For me, the tale of a sad divorced gentleman, his daughter, grandchild and the prospect of a new romance was magical enough. I really didn't need the 'Crane Wife' plot and the author's attempts to tie modern day reality to the folk tale didn't work for me.
There were the bones of a terrific story here...the feathers were not necessary.
December 15, 2016
A very strange and inventive story that looks at love, forgiveness, and family. While I didn't totally get some of what happened, I was always intrigued and compelled to read on. I'm also glad to have finally read a book I've had on my shelf for years. If you're looking for a quick, unique read that's got humor and heart, this one will do the trick.
August 30, 2019
Toto nie je recenzia na knihu. Toto je príbeh o čítaní.
Sú knihy a knihy. Niektoré ako príjemné jednohubky, zhltneme na jeden šup a príjemne si pri nich oddýchneme. S inými bojujeme. Niektoré nás neoslovia vôbec. A potom sú tu také knihy, ktoré nám priam prehovárajú do duše, otvárajú nové vráta a pozývajú nás ďalej.
Keď som sa krátko pred vydaním pustil do Noci žeriava, necítil som nič. Bol som mladý, životom neskúsený. Kniha vyzretého autora o zrelom mužovi ma nedokázala osloviť. Keď som ju otvoril o päť rokov neskôr(zážitka po dočítaní nájdete dole pod dlhou čiarou), už jej slová klopali na správnu bránu. Ja som sa zmenil Dospel som, dozrel som, čo-to som si odžil. niečo dobré a niečo aj zlé. Ale práve to mi dovolilo pochopiť tento text.
Keď som sa k Noci žeriava vrátil tretíkrát, pristupoval som k známemu. Myslel som si, že viem do čoho idem. Ale za rok sa toho v našich životoch zmení veľa. Zažijeme veľa radostí aj bolestí. Bohužiaľ, alebo skôr nanešťastie, toto je kniha, ktorá k vám dokáže prehovoriť, len ak máte za sebou veci milé a nemilé. Život je v tomto nahovno. Ale tak ako existujú knihy ktoré musíte čítať kým ste tínedžerom resp na vysokej (a nie nemyslím YA knihy, skôr - Čajka, Jonathan Liivngston, Hlava XXII, Kto chytá v žite a mnohé iné)... útak táto kniha patrí do kategórie kníh, ktoré vám dajú niečo viac, až keď máte čo-to odžité.
A o čom je táto kniha - o láske. O živote. O nás aj o vás. O mne aj o tebe. Myslel som si, že na stránkach knihy vidím seba, ale bol to Patrick Ness a len chcel, aby som to bol ja. Lebo život je krutá sviňa.
Verím v šťastné konce? Chcel by som, veď preto sa zubami nechtami držím už deväť rokov detských kníh. Ale skutočný život nie je o šťastných koncoch. Je o tých, aké si ich sami spravíme. Utápať sa v sebaľútostí je ľahké. Obviňovať iných je ešte ľahšie. Postaviť sa na vlastné a vybudovať si svoj šťastný koniec - to chce odvahu a nepredstaviteľnú silu. Hrdinovia ju v sebe našli, ale cez tú najbanálnejšiu drobnosť na svete. Mojou drobnosťou je môj mačačinec. To oni ma ženú vpred. To pre nich musím pripraviť tie najšťastnejšie konce na svete.
Ak ju nájdete, aspoň niečo vám bude dávať v živote zmysel. Dúfam. A dúfa aj Patrick.
Je to typický Patrick Ness, lebo pri každom ďalšom čítaní objavujete stále nové a nové roviny príbehu, ale zároveň to nie je typický Patrick Ness lebo o štyridsaťosemročnom Georgeovi sa fakt nebude chcieť čítať hocikomu.
Zároveň je to kniha, na ktorú sa nedá napísať správna anotácia. Čo vyzdvihnúť? Čo zamlčať? Čo naznačiť? Písať len o príbehu? Alebo podať aj nadstavbu? Netuším. Dal som do toho to najlepšie, čo som v tej chvíli cítil. Dúfam, že sa nám podarí osloviť tých správnych čitateľov. Naozaj a úprimne dúfam.
---2018---
Toto je najlepšia kniha, akú som tento rok prečítal. A nehovorím to len preto, lebo je to Nessorožec a patrí medzi mojich obľúbených autorov.
Naozaj nie, myslím si, že je to jedna z najprehliadanejších kníh v modernej svetovej beletrii. Keď si prečítate anotáciu, tak si poviete že pfú... komu sa chce čítať o 48 chlapíkovi, ktorému sa rozpadol život.
Ale táto kniha je úplne o niečom inom. Je o vzťahoch... medzi rodičmi a už dospelými deťmi, medzi rozvedenými partnermi, medzi kamarátmi medzi kolegami... a hlavne je to o tom, že ak sa chce, aj tie úplne drobnosti dokážu hory prenášať.
Samozrejme je to Ness, teda je tu vpletený japonský mýtus o žeriavovi a sopke a ich láske. A pri čítaní som si myslel, že je to nejaká hlúposť, ale keď dočítate celú knihu, tak si uvedomíte, že na tom mýte niečo bolo, a prečítate si ho ešte raz (pomedzi kapitoly) a vtedy vám to celé dopáli... a ste pripravení čítať túto knihu ešte raz, aby ste odhalili všetky Nessove skryté narážky.
Je to prosto super, odporúčam, možno je cesta pre zrelších čitateľov, ako objaviť čaro Nessových kníh
PS: slovenský preklad sa už pripravuje.
Sú knihy a knihy. Niektoré ako príjemné jednohubky, zhltneme na jeden šup a príjemne si pri nich oddýchneme. S inými bojujeme. Niektoré nás neoslovia vôbec. A potom sú tu také knihy, ktoré nám priam prehovárajú do duše, otvárajú nové vráta a pozývajú nás ďalej.
Keď som sa krátko pred vydaním pustil do Noci žeriava, necítil som nič. Bol som mladý, životom neskúsený. Kniha vyzretého autora o zrelom mužovi ma nedokázala osloviť. Keď som ju otvoril o päť rokov neskôr(zážitka po dočítaní nájdete dole pod dlhou čiarou), už jej slová klopali na správnu bránu. Ja som sa zmenil Dospel som, dozrel som, čo-to som si odžil. niečo dobré a niečo aj zlé. Ale práve to mi dovolilo pochopiť tento text.
Keď som sa k Noci žeriava vrátil tretíkrát, pristupoval som k známemu. Myslel som si, že viem do čoho idem. Ale za rok sa toho v našich životoch zmení veľa. Zažijeme veľa radostí aj bolestí. Bohužiaľ, alebo skôr nanešťastie, toto je kniha, ktorá k vám dokáže prehovoriť, len ak máte za sebou veci milé a nemilé. Život je v tomto nahovno. Ale tak ako existujú knihy ktoré musíte čítať kým ste tínedžerom resp na vysokej (a nie nemyslím YA knihy, skôr - Čajka, Jonathan Liivngston, Hlava XXII, Kto chytá v žite a mnohé iné)... útak táto kniha patrí do kategórie kníh, ktoré vám dajú niečo viac, až keď máte čo-to odžité.
A o čom je táto kniha - o láske. O živote. O nás aj o vás. O mne aj o tebe. Myslel som si, že na stránkach knihy vidím seba, ale bol to Patrick Ness a len chcel, aby som to bol ja. Lebo život je krutá sviňa.
Verím v šťastné konce? Chcel by som, veď preto sa zubami nechtami držím už deväť rokov detských kníh. Ale skutočný život nie je o šťastných koncoch. Je o tých, aké si ich sami spravíme. Utápať sa v sebaľútostí je ľahké. Obviňovať iných je ešte ľahšie. Postaviť sa na vlastné a vybudovať si svoj šťastný koniec - to chce odvahu a nepredstaviteľnú silu. Hrdinovia ju v sebe našli, ale cez tú najbanálnejšiu drobnosť na svete. Mojou drobnosťou je môj mačačinec. To oni ma ženú vpred. To pre nich musím pripraviť tie najšťastnejšie konce na svete.
Ak ju nájdete, aspoň niečo vám bude dávať v živote zmysel. Dúfam. A dúfa aj Patrick.
Je to typický Patrick Ness, lebo pri každom ďalšom čítaní objavujete stále nové a nové roviny príbehu, ale zároveň to nie je typický Patrick Ness lebo o štyridsaťosemročnom Georgeovi sa fakt nebude chcieť čítať hocikomu.
Zároveň je to kniha, na ktorú sa nedá napísať správna anotácia. Čo vyzdvihnúť? Čo zamlčať? Čo naznačiť? Písať len o príbehu? Alebo podať aj nadstavbu? Netuším. Dal som do toho to najlepšie, čo som v tej chvíli cítil. Dúfam, že sa nám podarí osloviť tých správnych čitateľov. Naozaj a úprimne dúfam.
---2018---
Toto je najlepšia kniha, akú som tento rok prečítal. A nehovorím to len preto, lebo je to Nessorožec a patrí medzi mojich obľúbených autorov.
Naozaj nie, myslím si, že je to jedna z najprehliadanejších kníh v modernej svetovej beletrii. Keď si prečítate anotáciu, tak si poviete že pfú... komu sa chce čítať o 48 chlapíkovi, ktorému sa rozpadol život.
Ale táto kniha je úplne o niečom inom. Je o vzťahoch... medzi rodičmi a už dospelými deťmi, medzi rozvedenými partnermi, medzi kamarátmi medzi kolegami... a hlavne je to o tom, že ak sa chce, aj tie úplne drobnosti dokážu hory prenášať.
Samozrejme je to Ness, teda je tu vpletený japonský mýtus o žeriavovi a sopke a ich láske. A pri čítaní som si myslel, že je to nejaká hlúposť, ale keď dočítate celú knihu, tak si uvedomíte, že na tom mýte niečo bolo, a prečítate si ho ešte raz (pomedzi kapitoly) a vtedy vám to celé dopáli... a ste pripravení čítať túto knihu ešte raz, aby ste odhalili všetky Nessove skryté narážky.
Je to prosto super, odporúčam, možno je cesta pre zrelších čitateľov, ako objaviť čaro Nessových kníh
PS: slovenský preklad sa už pripravuje.
January 5, 2017
Well it was OK, maybe even good which is disappointing as I expecte lot more from Patrick Ness. Competently written yes, but this book really lacks his special spice that keeps you from putting book down.
September 11, 2019
It's hard to fully describe this story, except to say I had finish it for the ending. It's atypical. 6 of 10 stars
August 11, 2016
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
Following one of the most bizarro days in my time perusing Goodreads, I find it fitting that I pulled a Patrick Ness book out of the library bag. When so-called “authors” are attempting to cast stones at others who dare to venture out of their assigned genre – I figured it was a perfect time for me to read an author who breaks that boundary each time he puts pen to paper.
I pulled The Crane Wife off the “notable releases” shelf at the library knowing absolutely nothing about it except (i) it shared the name of an old fable; (ii) it was written by Patrick Ness; and (iii) the cover was lovely and inspired by an artist who brings new life to books that would normally be discarded
I’ve had a bit of a miss with Ness’ work (A Monster Calls - don’t shoot me, I know everyone else loved it) and a major hit (More Than This). (FYI – I have had the Chaos Walking trilogy on my TBR for months, but I have been terrified I (once again) won’t looooooove it like all of my friends and I also just hate reading anything that comes in series form.)
Having now read books by Ness from the children’s section, the young adult section, and the adult section of the library/bookstore I can confirm that whether I loved it or just kind of liked it – Ness consistently writes stories that I want to read and his work can’t be pigeonholed.
Ness is an example of how authors should feel about writing. Don’t let yourself be typecast – break down the genre walls. Prove to all of those who say “I would never read young adult” that they will change their mind – just as soon as they read your book. Be a Patrick Ness or J.K. Rowling (or Robert Galbraith, if you must). An author whose name I see on the shelf and immediately pull the book without reading a blurb, synopsis, review, NOTHING. An author whose next release date is marked on my calendar. An author who makes me throw my planned reading list and/or book buying budget out the window because I simply can’t pass up being one of the first people who will read their latest release. I’m not the only crazy person like this – this site (and so many others) are filled with us.
As for The Crane Wife - I have few words. It was beautiful and heartbreaking and real and magical and brilliant and
I think I might be ready to take the plunge and read The Knife of Never Letting Go now.
As for theauthors haters out there who are spending so much time and effort belittling other authors or reviewers:
Following one of the most bizarro days in my time perusing Goodreads, I find it fitting that I pulled a Patrick Ness book out of the library bag. When so-called “authors” are attempting to cast stones at others who dare to venture out of their assigned genre – I figured it was a perfect time for me to read an author who breaks that boundary each time he puts pen to paper.
I pulled The Crane Wife off the “notable releases” shelf at the library knowing absolutely nothing about it except (i) it shared the name of an old fable; (ii) it was written by Patrick Ness; and (iii) the cover was lovely and inspired by an artist who brings new life to books that would normally be discarded
I’ve had a bit of a miss with Ness’ work (A Monster Calls - don’t shoot me, I know everyone else loved it) and a major hit (More Than This). (FYI – I have had the Chaos Walking trilogy on my TBR for months, but I have been terrified I (once again) won’t looooooove it like all of my friends and I also just hate reading anything that comes in series form.)
Having now read books by Ness from the children’s section, the young adult section, and the adult section of the library/bookstore I can confirm that whether I loved it or just kind of liked it – Ness consistently writes stories that I want to read and his work can’t be pigeonholed.
Ness is an example of how authors should feel about writing. Don’t let yourself be typecast – break down the genre walls. Prove to all of those who say “I would never read young adult” that they will change their mind – just as soon as they read your book. Be a Patrick Ness or J.K. Rowling (or Robert Galbraith, if you must). An author whose name I see on the shelf and immediately pull the book without reading a blurb, synopsis, review, NOTHING. An author whose next release date is marked on my calendar. An author who makes me throw my planned reading list and/or book buying budget out the window because I simply can’t pass up being one of the first people who will read their latest release. I’m not the only crazy person like this – this site (and so many others) are filled with us.
As for The Crane Wife - I have few words. It was beautiful and heartbreaking and real and magical and brilliant and
I think I might be ready to take the plunge and read The Knife of Never Letting Go now.
As for the
December 4, 2015
3.5 stars. "The Crane Wife" is a contemporary retelling of a Japanese folk tale. In the original story a poor sailmaker helps an injured crane by pulling an arrow from her wing. The next day a beautiful woman arrives at his home, and soon becomes his wife. She offers to weave sails for him which brings in needed income, but with the condition that he cannot watch her work. The sailmaker becomes greedy and takes in more and more orders for sails. Eventually he went into her private room as she was working and saw a crane weakly plucking the last feathers from her body. His greed ruined the relationship and he was left alone. (There are other variations of this tale.)
Patrick Ness has written a modern version of this folk tale set in London involving George and Kumiko. Kumiko brings George the love he needs, but always keeps her past very private. She makes exquisite artworks by combining her cuttings of feathers with George's paper cuttings made from old books. Kumiko's artistic tiles tell a secondary story about a volcano who destroys the earth (but also creates mountains), and a bird called "the lady" who forgives out of love. These two stories have elements of fantasy, myth, and magical realism.
George has a daughter Amanda, a young divorced mother of a toddler, who has problems with anger, self-acceptance, and despair. Her story is more realistic and sometimes funny, and would probably give this adult novel crossover appeal to a YA audience. The humorous Mehmet, a twenty-something assistant at George's store, is also a young character that would appeal to a YA reader.
I read a children's book, "A Monster Calls", by Patrick Ness a few years ago and was very impressed. Although I enjoyed "The Crane Wife", I felt that there was a bit too much going on at once with a fantasy (the volcano and the lady) within another fantasy (George and the crane/Kumiko), plus Amanda's emotional journey. The author writes beautifully, has a sense of humor, and understands human nature. I just prefer his simpler stories to a more convoluted one.
The recordings of The Decemberists of "The Crane Wife 1 & 2" also inspired the author to write the book:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ERax...
Patrick Ness has written a modern version of this folk tale set in London involving George and Kumiko. Kumiko brings George the love he needs, but always keeps her past very private. She makes exquisite artworks by combining her cuttings of feathers with George's paper cuttings made from old books. Kumiko's artistic tiles tell a secondary story about a volcano who destroys the earth (but also creates mountains), and a bird called "the lady" who forgives out of love. These two stories have elements of fantasy, myth, and magical realism.
George has a daughter Amanda, a young divorced mother of a toddler, who has problems with anger, self-acceptance, and despair. Her story is more realistic and sometimes funny, and would probably give this adult novel crossover appeal to a YA audience. The humorous Mehmet, a twenty-something assistant at George's store, is also a young character that would appeal to a YA reader.
I read a children's book, "A Monster Calls", by Patrick Ness a few years ago and was very impressed. Although I enjoyed "The Crane Wife", I felt that there was a bit too much going on at once with a fantasy (the volcano and the lady) within another fantasy (George and the crane/Kumiko), plus Amanda's emotional journey. The author writes beautifully, has a sense of humor, and understands human nature. I just prefer his simpler stories to a more convoluted one.
The recordings of The Decemberists of "The Crane Wife 1 & 2" also inspired the author to write the book:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ERax...
May 17, 2018
Three and a half stars for me.
There was some lovely writing here, and I enjoyed the strong themes around family, love and relationships that Patrick Ness explores. I love the wonderful human insights he brings to life, especially in relation to the characters of Amanda and George. It made these characters seem very real. I also liked that this was based on a Japanese folktale, which I wasn't familiar with before reading this book.
Overall though, I wasn't a huge fan.
There was some lovely writing here, and I enjoyed the strong themes around family, love and relationships that Patrick Ness explores. I love the wonderful human insights he brings to life, especially in relation to the characters of Amanda and George. It made these characters seem very real. I also liked that this was based on a Japanese folktale, which I wasn't familiar with before reading this book.
Overall though, I wasn't a huge fan.
August 12, 2016
Patrick Ness got the idea for part of this book from a Japanese folk tale, The Crane Wife, a tale that I must admit was not familiar with. Mr. Ness weaves part of this tale into modern day life so effortlessly – even non-readers of fantasy/magic could read because the feelings/thought/actions that are portrayed here are real and genuine. He created a heartwarming and sweeping story about love in all its exquisiteness and fury. And it’s told through three series of events.
The Mythical creatures, the crane and the volcano, fiercely in love but vastly different in their beliefs. The volcano wants destruction and war, where the crane wants harmony and forgiveness in our world. Not willing to see eye to eye, their love turns into a hurtful and dangerous game of possession and rage.
George Duncan, a divorced man, ordinary and middle aged owns a printing shop. When Kumiko, a mysterious woman enters his shop, George’s life is forever changed. Kumiko will show George a life of love through passion, art and storytelling. But George is starting to feel little insecure and impatient with Kumiko secretive nature, and this is were complications begin.
Amanda Duncan, daughter of George Duncan, always had difficulty relating to people. She is highly opinionated and can come across as a bit arrogant. But when her French Husband Henri, the man she’s still in love with, broke up with her, Amanda’s emotions crumble. She lost the man whom she thought knew, or understood her best. Amanda becomes bitter, angry, cries at the drop of a hat. She desperately craves for friendship, someone to talk to, but hasn’t a clue how to go about it.
I’m really at a loss for word on how to describe my feeling about this book, but many times I just wanted to wrap my arms around it and hug it. My heart swelled with much emotions by the simple, yet significant dialogue used to express love for someone, kindness and gratitude. There was lot of humour too, which Ness blended in with ease.
Like the gorgeous cover, the story is incredibly picturesque with the tiled art that George and Kumiko create using feathers and paper cuttings used from discarded books. The soft white feather of the crane in the mythical story, you just want to touch with your fingers, and the hot blazing yellow/red/orange volcano that complements his fiery temperament – Absolutely magnificent!!
Patrick Ness is incredible and is becoming my new favourite writer. This is beautifully written book that had me spellbound. If you like a good romance with a difference (magic), I do suggest try this one and hope you too fall under its spell.
Read for #litexp14 - Magical Realism
The Mythical creatures, the crane and the volcano, fiercely in love but vastly different in their beliefs. The volcano wants destruction and war, where the crane wants harmony and forgiveness in our world. Not willing to see eye to eye, their love turns into a hurtful and dangerous game of possession and rage.
George Duncan, a divorced man, ordinary and middle aged owns a printing shop. When Kumiko, a mysterious woman enters his shop, George’s life is forever changed. Kumiko will show George a life of love through passion, art and storytelling. But George is starting to feel little insecure and impatient with Kumiko secretive nature, and this is were complications begin.
Amanda Duncan, daughter of George Duncan, always had difficulty relating to people. She is highly opinionated and can come across as a bit arrogant. But when her French Husband Henri, the man she’s still in love with, broke up with her, Amanda’s emotions crumble. She lost the man whom she thought knew, or understood her best. Amanda becomes bitter, angry, cries at the drop of a hat. She desperately craves for friendship, someone to talk to, but hasn’t a clue how to go about it.
I’m really at a loss for word on how to describe my feeling about this book, but many times I just wanted to wrap my arms around it and hug it. My heart swelled with much emotions by the simple, yet significant dialogue used to express love for someone, kindness and gratitude. There was lot of humour too, which Ness blended in with ease.
Like the gorgeous cover, the story is incredibly picturesque with the tiled art that George and Kumiko create using feathers and paper cuttings used from discarded books. The soft white feather of the crane in the mythical story, you just want to touch with your fingers, and the hot blazing yellow/red/orange volcano that complements his fiery temperament – Absolutely magnificent!!
Patrick Ness is incredible and is becoming my new favourite writer. This is beautifully written book that had me spellbound. If you like a good romance with a difference (magic), I do suggest try this one and hope you too fall under its spell.
Read for #litexp14 - Magical Realism
September 6, 2016
Beautifully written. I just didn't connect well with any of the characters. I felt too much like an outsider when reading this. But wow dies Ness know how to build a book before your eyes. I think I'm just not at an age yet to appreciate this fully.
April 9, 2013
Original review posted on The Book Smugglers
“The Crane Wife” is an old Japanese folktale. Its most common version tells the story of a poor sail maker who one day finds a wounded crane and nurses it back to health. After he releases the crane, a beautiful woman appears on his doorstep. He falls in love with her and they marry. Their marriage is happy but they are poor so his wife offers to weave these wonderful sails they can sell but only if he agrees never to watch her weaving them. They make a lot of money, the husband becomes increasingly greedy, asking his wife to weave more and more. He eventually breaks his promise and peeks in to see his wife’s working only to discover that at the loom, a crane is doing the work, plucking feathers from her own body and weaving them into the sails. The crane – who was of course, his wife – flies away and never returns. This tale can be interpreted as a cautionary tale about the dangers of greed, a melancholy story about love lost, a sad account of promises broken and lines crossed.
Patrick Ness’ The Crane Wife is a retelling of that tale, set in modern-day Britain.
American expat George wakes up one day in the middle of the night to find a wounded crane in his garden. Incredibly moved by the vision and the pain the beautiful crane is in, he helps the bird, removing an arrow from his wing. The next day, an enigmatic woman called Kumiko walks into George’s printing shop and his life is transformed. They fall in love and there is whirlwind romance but also communion through art. Kumiko creates wonderful artwork of scenes and characters made of feathers but thinks they lack a certain something. When she sees the cuttings George makes out of pages from old books, she realises their potential. By combining her scenes and George’s cuttings, Kumiko composes extraordinary art that deeply move not only George but also an increasing number of people who offer ludicrous amounts of money for the pieces. George grows increasingly greedy and this is where Ness departs from the original story, for his greed is not for money but greed born out of love, a want for more knowledge about Kumiko, who remains elusive and mysterious to him despite their growing love. In fact, the more time they spend together, the less he seems to know Kumiko. In the meantime, the two work together on a series of art pieces that tell a story that is both myth and reality.
Their story runs parallel to that of George’s daughter Amanda. Amanda is a troubled young woman, whose anger and cutting remarks make it difficult connecting to friends and family. Her tale is a tale of self-acceptance and it too, is connected to Kumiko’s presence in their lives.
There is a moment in the book when its protagonist George expounds on the nature of memory and storytelling. On how different people might retell one story in a variety of ways and how this matters not because there is hope of finding out “what really happened” but because:
"There were as many truths – overlapping, stewed together – as there were tellers. The truth mattered less than the story’s life. A story forgotten died. A story remembered not only lived, but grew."
This idea is a very strong presence in Ness’ tale: it shapes both George and Kumiko’s lives, it is repeated ad nauseam throughout the book (more on the issue of repetitiveness later) and is used by the author himself when writing the actual narrative. Toward the ending, for example, one single event takes place and its very existence is presented as a possible result of a myriad of actions.
It is possible to take this idea and expand on it: as a reviewer and as a reader, my interpretation and reading of The Crane Wife is only one among many and are definitely shaped by who I am and my experience as a reviewer. To me, The Crane Wife turned out to be a combination of several different things that rubbed me the wrong way.
Fairytales and folktales are usually concerned with the “what happens next”, with story and themes rather than character development. In fact most of the time, characters in fairytales/folktales are archetypes i.e. the Mother, the Father, the Princess, the Crane Wife. When reading a retelling, I expect more. I expect more from its themes, its story and I definitely expect more from its characters.
In The Crane Wife, a lot of the original folktale has been changed, reshaped to fit a more contemporary Western setting and its themes re-imagined. But the strongest connection to the original Japanese story remains the crane wife herself, Kumiko.
I have nothing against retellings of stories in different settings, of bringing the Japanese folktale of the Crane Wife to the West (the more people reading these stories, the better, and I like the variation from the usual western fairy tales). That said, the fact that the only magical, “mysterious”, “alluring” character is still a Japanese woman while everyone else of note is white is terribly problematic to me because it definitely plays into the “allure of the East” trope.
In fairness, and going back to different readings, there are other possible interpretations for this: Kumiko, despite her name and the fact that most characters do think she is Japanese, is often presented as a mythological figure that is ageless, timeless, placeless. Her mysteriousness is the very topic of the story, and it is possible to argue that she is only “mysterious” because those who interact with her are not satisfied with how she presents herself – as a quiet woman, who wishes to keep her own private thoughts. A secondary PoC character do call out George’s attraction to Kumiko thusly:
‘This isn’t some mysterious allure of the East thing you’ve got with this woman, is it? Because I’d find that, like, amazingly offensive.’
Although I find that more of a deflecting tongue in cheek comment, perhaps a nod to concerned readers like me. Especially when that line is followed by:
‘You’re from the East, Mehmet, and I find you neither mysterious nor alluring.’
I personally do not think any of this mitigates the problem because Kumiko is never truly developed in a meaningful way and the story is strongly George’s and Amanda’s.
Speaking of George there is an incredibly annoying emphasis on how much of a “nice guy” George is. It overwhelms the narrative sometimes. George is:
"a pleasant enough man, but lacking that certain something, that extra little ingredient to be truly worth investing in. It was a mistake women often seemed to make. He had more female friends, including his ex-wife, than any straight man he knew. The trouble was they’d all started out as lovers, before realising he was too amiable to take quite seriously. ‘You’re about sixty-five per cent,’ his ex-wife had said, as she left him.’ And I think seventy is probably my minimum.’ The trouble was, seventy per cent seemed to be every woman’s minimum."
I have a predisposition to absolutely abhor characters like George who, because of their decency, expect to be rewarded by the universe with the love of a good woman. One can definitely argue that this is George’s view of himself but every single character remarks on George’s nice-guy status. And the universe and the narrative of The Crane Wife actually do attempt to reward him for that.
There is some real beauty in The Crane Wife though – there is beauty in how Amanda’s story is written, her arc one of self-knowledge and acceptance. There is beauty in the way that the story acknowledges that George’s greed for truly knowing Kumiko’s as perfectly understandable, perfectly human. Wanting to truly know someone can be a huge part of falling in love but there is also the question about what motivates that type of greed. The question of knowing the other can also be read as attempting to owning someone and in this scenario also effectively disrespecting the other’s own momentum and imposed limits.
But those moments of beauty and truth are buried under the repetitiveness strain of its themes – forgiveness, power of storytelling, greed – and the odd bluntness in which they are presented. Kumiko repeats George’s and the author’s point:
"Not explain. Stories do not explain. They seem to, but all they provide is a starting point. A story never ends at the end. There is always after. And even within itself, even by saying that this version is the right one, it suggests other versions, versions that exist in parallel. No, a story is not an explanation, it is a net, a net through which the truth flows."
And then George explicitly summarises:
"he had demanded. He had been stupidly, stupidly greedy for knowledge of her. And he had found out. He knew her. But wasn’t that what love really was, though? Knowledge? Yes. And then again, no."
For a story that spends a lot of time attempting to be elusive as well as allusive, these moments of tactless “deep” lesson-teaching are pretentious and eye-rolling.
It is funny that I found A Monster Calls, Ness’ book for children, a much more nuanced and subtle story than his book for adults. Go figure.
“The Crane Wife” is an old Japanese folktale. Its most common version tells the story of a poor sail maker who one day finds a wounded crane and nurses it back to health. After he releases the crane, a beautiful woman appears on his doorstep. He falls in love with her and they marry. Their marriage is happy but they are poor so his wife offers to weave these wonderful sails they can sell but only if he agrees never to watch her weaving them. They make a lot of money, the husband becomes increasingly greedy, asking his wife to weave more and more. He eventually breaks his promise and peeks in to see his wife’s working only to discover that at the loom, a crane is doing the work, plucking feathers from her own body and weaving them into the sails. The crane – who was of course, his wife – flies away and never returns. This tale can be interpreted as a cautionary tale about the dangers of greed, a melancholy story about love lost, a sad account of promises broken and lines crossed.
Patrick Ness’ The Crane Wife is a retelling of that tale, set in modern-day Britain.
American expat George wakes up one day in the middle of the night to find a wounded crane in his garden. Incredibly moved by the vision and the pain the beautiful crane is in, he helps the bird, removing an arrow from his wing. The next day, an enigmatic woman called Kumiko walks into George’s printing shop and his life is transformed. They fall in love and there is whirlwind romance but also communion through art. Kumiko creates wonderful artwork of scenes and characters made of feathers but thinks they lack a certain something. When she sees the cuttings George makes out of pages from old books, she realises their potential. By combining her scenes and George’s cuttings, Kumiko composes extraordinary art that deeply move not only George but also an increasing number of people who offer ludicrous amounts of money for the pieces. George grows increasingly greedy and this is where Ness departs from the original story, for his greed is not for money but greed born out of love, a want for more knowledge about Kumiko, who remains elusive and mysterious to him despite their growing love. In fact, the more time they spend together, the less he seems to know Kumiko. In the meantime, the two work together on a series of art pieces that tell a story that is both myth and reality.
Their story runs parallel to that of George’s daughter Amanda. Amanda is a troubled young woman, whose anger and cutting remarks make it difficult connecting to friends and family. Her tale is a tale of self-acceptance and it too, is connected to Kumiko’s presence in their lives.
There is a moment in the book when its protagonist George expounds on the nature of memory and storytelling. On how different people might retell one story in a variety of ways and how this matters not because there is hope of finding out “what really happened” but because:
"There were as many truths – overlapping, stewed together – as there were tellers. The truth mattered less than the story’s life. A story forgotten died. A story remembered not only lived, but grew."
This idea is a very strong presence in Ness’ tale: it shapes both George and Kumiko’s lives, it is repeated ad nauseam throughout the book (more on the issue of repetitiveness later) and is used by the author himself when writing the actual narrative. Toward the ending, for example, one single event takes place and its very existence is presented as a possible result of a myriad of actions.
It is possible to take this idea and expand on it: as a reviewer and as a reader, my interpretation and reading of The Crane Wife is only one among many and are definitely shaped by who I am and my experience as a reviewer. To me, The Crane Wife turned out to be a combination of several different things that rubbed me the wrong way.
Fairytales and folktales are usually concerned with the “what happens next”, with story and themes rather than character development. In fact most of the time, characters in fairytales/folktales are archetypes i.e. the Mother, the Father, the Princess, the Crane Wife. When reading a retelling, I expect more. I expect more from its themes, its story and I definitely expect more from its characters.
In The Crane Wife, a lot of the original folktale has been changed, reshaped to fit a more contemporary Western setting and its themes re-imagined. But the strongest connection to the original Japanese story remains the crane wife herself, Kumiko.
I have nothing against retellings of stories in different settings, of bringing the Japanese folktale of the Crane Wife to the West (the more people reading these stories, the better, and I like the variation from the usual western fairy tales). That said, the fact that the only magical, “mysterious”, “alluring” character is still a Japanese woman while everyone else of note is white is terribly problematic to me because it definitely plays into the “allure of the East” trope.
In fairness, and going back to different readings, there are other possible interpretations for this: Kumiko, despite her name and the fact that most characters do think she is Japanese, is often presented as a mythological figure that is ageless, timeless, placeless. Her mysteriousness is the very topic of the story, and it is possible to argue that she is only “mysterious” because those who interact with her are not satisfied with how she presents herself – as a quiet woman, who wishes to keep her own private thoughts. A secondary PoC character do call out George’s attraction to Kumiko thusly:
‘This isn’t some mysterious allure of the East thing you’ve got with this woman, is it? Because I’d find that, like, amazingly offensive.’
Although I find that more of a deflecting tongue in cheek comment, perhaps a nod to concerned readers like me. Especially when that line is followed by:
‘You’re from the East, Mehmet, and I find you neither mysterious nor alluring.’
I personally do not think any of this mitigates the problem because Kumiko is never truly developed in a meaningful way and the story is strongly George’s and Amanda’s.
Speaking of George there is an incredibly annoying emphasis on how much of a “nice guy” George is. It overwhelms the narrative sometimes. George is:
"a pleasant enough man, but lacking that certain something, that extra little ingredient to be truly worth investing in. It was a mistake women often seemed to make. He had more female friends, including his ex-wife, than any straight man he knew. The trouble was they’d all started out as lovers, before realising he was too amiable to take quite seriously. ‘You’re about sixty-five per cent,’ his ex-wife had said, as she left him.’ And I think seventy is probably my minimum.’ The trouble was, seventy per cent seemed to be every woman’s minimum."
I have a predisposition to absolutely abhor characters like George who, because of their decency, expect to be rewarded by the universe with the love of a good woman. One can definitely argue that this is George’s view of himself but every single character remarks on George’s nice-guy status. And the universe and the narrative of The Crane Wife actually do attempt to reward him for that.
There is some real beauty in The Crane Wife though – there is beauty in how Amanda’s story is written, her arc one of self-knowledge and acceptance. There is beauty in the way that the story acknowledges that George’s greed for truly knowing Kumiko’s as perfectly understandable, perfectly human. Wanting to truly know someone can be a huge part of falling in love but there is also the question about what motivates that type of greed. The question of knowing the other can also be read as attempting to owning someone and in this scenario also effectively disrespecting the other’s own momentum and imposed limits.
But those moments of beauty and truth are buried under the repetitiveness strain of its themes – forgiveness, power of storytelling, greed – and the odd bluntness in which they are presented. Kumiko repeats George’s and the author’s point:
"Not explain. Stories do not explain. They seem to, but all they provide is a starting point. A story never ends at the end. There is always after. And even within itself, even by saying that this version is the right one, it suggests other versions, versions that exist in parallel. No, a story is not an explanation, it is a net, a net through which the truth flows."
And then George explicitly summarises:
"he had demanded. He had been stupidly, stupidly greedy for knowledge of her. And he had found out. He knew her. But wasn’t that what love really was, though? Knowledge? Yes. And then again, no."
For a story that spends a lot of time attempting to be elusive as well as allusive, these moments of tactless “deep” lesson-teaching are pretentious and eye-rolling.
It is funny that I found A Monster Calls, Ness’ book for children, a much more nuanced and subtle story than his book for adults. Go figure.
April 2, 2013
An act of kindness gets payed forward, a series of hearts become warmed and love takes reign.
The story successfully grabs you by the first page with a scene unfolding that’s visceral and magical in its compassion and kindness.
This story Crane Wife was inspired due to it being a folklore tale told to author in his youth. The author has used a unique original way to tell this tale and has used his way of retelling it and his own rules which worked and connected for me, he unorthodoxly tells two stories in one, he weaves a folklore lore story in a separate realm and world in separate chapters but in a parallel with the main protagonists real world story.
Dreams and realities take the storytelling to great places some mysterious, others tender and heartwarming.
There is a great tale here in the whole picture.
This starts off like a mosaic very small carefully made pieces, meaningfully put together and then the grand finished picture.
Put together like a jigsaw puzzle, when you final come away from the story that final piece that painting it formed in your mind every reader or onlooker may come away with something different, another interpretation and muse over it, some may see the beauty and the love it leaves you with in its grand poignant love story.
It’s the kind of story that may have you grabbing your loved ones close or seeking out humanity in need of company and cherish one more last breath before the curtain drops. This final piece, this novel is a memorable and meaningful work on the combined elements of kindness, love, regret, loss and forgiveness.
A illuminating heart, of a splendrous tale.
Review also @ http://more2read.com/review/the-crane-wife-by-patrick-ness/
The story successfully grabs you by the first page with a scene unfolding that’s visceral and magical in its compassion and kindness.
This story Crane Wife was inspired due to it being a folklore tale told to author in his youth. The author has used a unique original way to tell this tale and has used his way of retelling it and his own rules which worked and connected for me, he unorthodoxly tells two stories in one, he weaves a folklore lore story in a separate realm and world in separate chapters but in a parallel with the main protagonists real world story.
Dreams and realities take the storytelling to great places some mysterious, others tender and heartwarming.
There is a great tale here in the whole picture.
This starts off like a mosaic very small carefully made pieces, meaningfully put together and then the grand finished picture.
Put together like a jigsaw puzzle, when you final come away from the story that final piece that painting it formed in your mind every reader or onlooker may come away with something different, another interpretation and muse over it, some may see the beauty and the love it leaves you with in its grand poignant love story.
It’s the kind of story that may have you grabbing your loved ones close or seeking out humanity in need of company and cherish one more last breath before the curtain drops. This final piece, this novel is a memorable and meaningful work on the combined elements of kindness, love, regret, loss and forgiveness.
A illuminating heart, of a splendrous tale.
Review also @ http://more2read.com/review/the-crane-wife-by-patrick-ness/
March 3, 2016
I just want to start this review by saying that this cover does its contents no justice. It is not that I dislike the cover, but I feel it doesn't match the poignancy of the book too well. But, hey, the lesson here is to never judge a book by it's cover, kids!
I read one paragraph of this book and I instantly knew I was falling in love. Having previously only read Ness' YA fiction, I was intrigued as to how his adult fiction would translate. I am so pleased to say that it had the same delicacy and poignancy incorporated in the writing. The opening paragraph sums up Ness' writing entirely and beautifully - vividly piquant, heart-achingly descriptive and quietly witty. His writing continually shocks and enlightens me as he constantly pushes the boundaries of the reader's expectations, whether that's from something as simple as sudden humour or something as dark as a sudden plunge into death and despair. Here, it was the former, but that did not mean it set the tone for the entire book. There was plenty of the latter thrown into the mix too, in true Ness style.
The Crane Wife is the story of George Duncan, who is the epitome of the average man. That is until he is awoken at night by the distinctly unaverage occurrence of a crane crash-landing in his back garden, after being hit through the wing by an arrow. This mix of the fantastical and the ordinary is where the power of the book lay. It is a book full of ordinary, everyday people, the ones unlikely to have a story written about them at all. But here they are. And here it is.
It is sometimes a little arduous to dissect the truth of the story in amongst the overlying sub-plots and side-story. But, to quote Ness himself, "there were as many truths - overlapping, stewed together - as there were tellers. The truth mattered less than the story's life . A story forgotten died. A story remembered not only lived, but grew ." And I wholeheartedly agree.
I read one paragraph of this book and I instantly knew I was falling in love. Having previously only read Ness' YA fiction, I was intrigued as to how his adult fiction would translate. I am so pleased to say that it had the same delicacy and poignancy incorporated in the writing. The opening paragraph sums up Ness' writing entirely and beautifully - vividly piquant, heart-achingly descriptive and quietly witty. His writing continually shocks and enlightens me as he constantly pushes the boundaries of the reader's expectations, whether that's from something as simple as sudden humour or something as dark as a sudden plunge into death and despair. Here, it was the former, but that did not mean it set the tone for the entire book. There was plenty of the latter thrown into the mix too, in true Ness style.
The Crane Wife is the story of George Duncan, who is the epitome of the average man. That is until he is awoken at night by the distinctly unaverage occurrence of a crane crash-landing in his back garden, after being hit through the wing by an arrow. This mix of the fantastical and the ordinary is where the power of the book lay. It is a book full of ordinary, everyday people, the ones unlikely to have a story written about them at all. But here they are. And here it is.
It is sometimes a little arduous to dissect the truth of the story in amongst the overlying sub-plots and side-story. But, to quote Ness himself, "there were as many truths - overlapping, stewed together - as there were tellers. The truth mattered less than the story's life . A story forgotten died. A story remembered not only lived, but grew ." And I wholeheartedly agree.
September 18, 2014
Sadly disappointed by this book. George is a boring, bland character that I couldn't stand, and the writing has that certain quality that I often find in adult books - the kind that make me want to bang my head against the wall. They're filled with endless descriptions dithering around for ages, talking about nothing with a hint of pretentiousness permeating every scene. And then when the themes and messages come in, they're communicated in a heavy-handed way. I don't hate this book, but I do get an overwhelming feeling of: meh.
September 5, 2020
Най -хубавите книги за мен винаги разкриват това което човек носи във себе си , които разкриват силата на характерите или липсата на такива.
Нес е написал книга за прошката , самотата и помирението, за съмненията които малко или много всеки преживява в живота си .
Нес е написал книга за прошката , самотата и помирението, за съмненията които малко или много всеки преживява в живота си .
October 28, 2015
A whimsical and touching read. So incredibly different to all of the other books I have read from Patrick Ness - this guy has some serious skill.
- So we follow the story of a man named George. One night George is woken by a strange sound coming from his garden. Upon further investigation George discovers a large crane has landed with an arrow shot through it's wing. He helps remove the arrow from the crane and the bird then takes flight, leaving George in a dazed and confused state - he can't quite work out if he was dreaming or not. The next day a mysterious and beautiful woman enters George's shop and he feels as if he already knows her. The woman brings an exquisite piece of art to George and convinces him to allow her to incorporate his own artwork into hers (does that make sense?!). So George and the mystery lady continue making art together and it becomes incredibly valuable. People can't seem to get enough of it and this sends George's life into a whirlwind of delight and confusion.
- In this novel we read through three main perspectives - George, his Daughter, Amanda and The Crane. We see how George's relationship flourishes whilst his Daughter battles with her bitchy work colleagues and difficult ex-husband. I found Amanda's story to be somewhat humorous and loved the interactions she had with her colleagues. All of these stories slowly turn back to the crane and Ness manages to beautiful link them all come the end.
- The mystery surrounding the woman continues throughout the novel and we are also given snippets of story from the life of the crane that landed in George's garden. Ness has interwoven elements of folk law and myth to create a wonderfully allegorical tale full of intrigue and beauty. I have never read a novel quite like it!
- 3 out of 5 stars and I would definitely recommend to everyone - especially any love of Patrick Ness!
- So we follow the story of a man named George. One night George is woken by a strange sound coming from his garden. Upon further investigation George discovers a large crane has landed with an arrow shot through it's wing. He helps remove the arrow from the crane and the bird then takes flight, leaving George in a dazed and confused state - he can't quite work out if he was dreaming or not. The next day a mysterious and beautiful woman enters George's shop and he feels as if he already knows her. The woman brings an exquisite piece of art to George and convinces him to allow her to incorporate his own artwork into hers (does that make sense?!). So George and the mystery lady continue making art together and it becomes incredibly valuable. People can't seem to get enough of it and this sends George's life into a whirlwind of delight and confusion.
- In this novel we read through three main perspectives - George, his Daughter, Amanda and The Crane. We see how George's relationship flourishes whilst his Daughter battles with her bitchy work colleagues and difficult ex-husband. I found Amanda's story to be somewhat humorous and loved the interactions she had with her colleagues. All of these stories slowly turn back to the crane and Ness manages to beautiful link them all come the end.
- The mystery surrounding the woman continues throughout the novel and we are also given snippets of story from the life of the crane that landed in George's garden. Ness has interwoven elements of folk law and myth to create a wonderfully allegorical tale full of intrigue and beauty. I have never read a novel quite like it!
- 3 out of 5 stars and I would definitely recommend to everyone - especially any love of Patrick Ness!
November 3, 2019
Nájsť v záhrade zranené zviera nie je až také výnimočné a rada si myslím, že väčšina ľudí by konala tak, ako George – rozhodla by sa tomuto zvieraťu nejako pomôcť. Lenže žeriav nie je zviera, ktoré by ste videli každý deň, a tak sa v Georgeovi objavila aj pochybnosť, či to všetko náhodou nebol aj sen.
Každopádne sa ale práve touto udalosťou s jeho životom začne niečo diať. Stretne záhadnú ženu menom Kumiko, ktorá jednoducho vstúpi do jeho obchodu. Kumiko je tajomná, George o nej veľa nevie, no napriek tomu sa v jej prítomnosti cíti dobre. Je sám sebou, je spokojný a zrazu túži byť oveľa lepší, než bol doteraz – pretože to sa niekedy stáva, že stretneme človeka takého láskavého a obetavého, že sa aj vy podvedome snažíte byť o čosi lepší.
Kumiko okrem toho so sebou nesie aj závan umenia, nakoľko je to práve ona, kto pozdvihne Georgeov trochu tajný koníček, v podobe vyrezávania zo starých kníh, na novú úroveň a ukáže mu, že sa za svoje diela nemusí hanbiť. Pretože sa z nich vždy môžu stať umelecké diela. Kumiko je však osoba, ktorá neovplyvňuje len Georga, ale skrz jeho rozprávanie aj ostatných, napríklad aj jeho dcéru Amandu.
Táto mladá žena je pritom na jednej strane pomerne spokojná matka štvorročného chlapčeka, ktorého nadovšetko miluje, ale na tej druhej je aj večne nahnevaná rozvedená žena. Pretĺka sa každým novým dňom, pričom stále v nej prebýva obava, že s ňou je niečo v neporiadku, keď si nedokáže získať dlhodobých priateľov, ktorí by ju mali radi presne takú, aká je – večne nahnevanú, s istou dávkou uštipačnej nenávisti, no zároveň zraniteľnú a nesmierne osamelú.
Občas to pritom vyzerá, že Amanda je vlastne vo svojej osamelosti šťastná a vníma to ako svoj osobný trest. Až kým aj do jej života nezasiahne Kumiko a neukáže jej, že by sa nemala báť vidieť samú seba takú, aká je, pretože má všetko, čo potrebuje aj bez uznania ostatných.
Osudy týchto dvoch postáv, dcéry a otca, sa na stránkach navzájom prepletajú a ovplyvňujú, vlastne sa dopĺňajú. A na pozadí ich životov sa odvíja ešte jeden príbeh – príbeh rozprávaný prostredníctvom tridsiatich dvoch obrázkov, kde je možné zahliadnuť osud krásnej panej a nahnevanej sopky. Pričom pani túži po láske a spoločnosti, po hrejivom náručí a dúfa, že to nájde v náručí sopky, ktorá ju však zraňuje a sklamáva a hoci nejako tušia, že sa k sebe vlastne nehodia, neustále ostávajú spolu, pretože ak nebudú patriť sebe navzájom, nebudú patriť ani nikomu inému.
Najskôr sa zdá, že tento príbeh vlastne s knihou nemá nič spoločné, no neskôr sa objavili isté maličkosti, ktoré ma prinútili pochybovať a neskôr som podvedome začala hľadať, kto z postáv v knihe je krásnou paňou a kto sopkou. A tam, niekde medzi nádherne magickou metaforou a ďalšou triviálnou príhodou vystrihnutou zo stereotypného života, som si uvedomila, že čítam len jeden príbeh, nie dva.
Pretože takí sme my ľudia – ukrývajú sa v nás panie hladné po láske, láskavé a krehké, niekedy neisté, ktoré sa boja načiahnuť po tom, po čom skutočne túžia, pretože sa v nich ukrývajú občas pomstychtivé sopky pripravené vybuchnúť. Avšak táto kniha mi nemala ukázať, že keď príde výbuch, pani už nikdy nebude šťastná. Skôr mali ukázať to, že ak o to budeme stáť, môžeme dosiahnuť odpustenie za svoj výbuch, pretože sme ho hodní – rovnako ako sme hodní šťastia a spokojnosti, ktoré sa občas tak veľmi obávame prijať, hoci ho máme na dosah.
Noc žeriava je krásne metaforickým príbehom nielen o ľudskej prirodzenosti. Autor mi ponúkol opäť ďalšie hlboké zamyslenie ukryté v šate magického realizmu. Pričom tentoraz osudy bežných ľudí preplietol s čarovným príbehom o láske a sebaobetovaní vystrihnutým priamo z japonských rozprávkových kníh. Avšak nakoniec sa ukázalo, že Patrik Ness, rovnako ako kedykoľvek predtým, sa mi snažil povedať niečo iné – že každý človek má právo na šťastie a spokojnosť, bez ohľadu na to, ako veľmi o tom pochybuje, a že cesta k vykúpeniu vedie cez odpustenie, ktoré môže začať niečím úplne bezvýznamným. Napríklad aj zraneným žeriavom v záhrade.
recenzia: http://lili-darknight.blogspot.com/20...
Každopádne sa ale práve touto udalosťou s jeho životom začne niečo diať. Stretne záhadnú ženu menom Kumiko, ktorá jednoducho vstúpi do jeho obchodu. Kumiko je tajomná, George o nej veľa nevie, no napriek tomu sa v jej prítomnosti cíti dobre. Je sám sebou, je spokojný a zrazu túži byť oveľa lepší, než bol doteraz – pretože to sa niekedy stáva, že stretneme človeka takého láskavého a obetavého, že sa aj vy podvedome snažíte byť o čosi lepší.
Kumiko okrem toho so sebou nesie aj závan umenia, nakoľko je to práve ona, kto pozdvihne Georgeov trochu tajný koníček, v podobe vyrezávania zo starých kníh, na novú úroveň a ukáže mu, že sa za svoje diela nemusí hanbiť. Pretože sa z nich vždy môžu stať umelecké diela. Kumiko je však osoba, ktorá neovplyvňuje len Georga, ale skrz jeho rozprávanie aj ostatných, napríklad aj jeho dcéru Amandu.
Táto mladá žena je pritom na jednej strane pomerne spokojná matka štvorročného chlapčeka, ktorého nadovšetko miluje, ale na tej druhej je aj večne nahnevaná rozvedená žena. Pretĺka sa každým novým dňom, pričom stále v nej prebýva obava, že s ňou je niečo v neporiadku, keď si nedokáže získať dlhodobých priateľov, ktorí by ju mali radi presne takú, aká je – večne nahnevanú, s istou dávkou uštipačnej nenávisti, no zároveň zraniteľnú a nesmierne osamelú.
Občas to pritom vyzerá, že Amanda je vlastne vo svojej osamelosti šťastná a vníma to ako svoj osobný trest. Až kým aj do jej života nezasiahne Kumiko a neukáže jej, že by sa nemala báť vidieť samú seba takú, aká je, pretože má všetko, čo potrebuje aj bez uznania ostatných.
Osudy týchto dvoch postáv, dcéry a otca, sa na stránkach navzájom prepletajú a ovplyvňujú, vlastne sa dopĺňajú. A na pozadí ich životov sa odvíja ešte jeden príbeh – príbeh rozprávaný prostredníctvom tridsiatich dvoch obrázkov, kde je možné zahliadnuť osud krásnej panej a nahnevanej sopky. Pričom pani túži po láske a spoločnosti, po hrejivom náručí a dúfa, že to nájde v náručí sopky, ktorá ju však zraňuje a sklamáva a hoci nejako tušia, že sa k sebe vlastne nehodia, neustále ostávajú spolu, pretože ak nebudú patriť sebe navzájom, nebudú patriť ani nikomu inému.
Najskôr sa zdá, že tento príbeh vlastne s knihou nemá nič spoločné, no neskôr sa objavili isté maličkosti, ktoré ma prinútili pochybovať a neskôr som podvedome začala hľadať, kto z postáv v knihe je krásnou paňou a kto sopkou. A tam, niekde medzi nádherne magickou metaforou a ďalšou triviálnou príhodou vystrihnutou zo stereotypného života, som si uvedomila, že čítam len jeden príbeh, nie dva.
Pretože takí sme my ľudia – ukrývajú sa v nás panie hladné po láske, láskavé a krehké, niekedy neisté, ktoré sa boja načiahnuť po tom, po čom skutočne túžia, pretože sa v nich ukrývajú občas pomstychtivé sopky pripravené vybuchnúť. Avšak táto kniha mi nemala ukázať, že keď príde výbuch, pani už nikdy nebude šťastná. Skôr mali ukázať to, že ak o to budeme stáť, môžeme dosiahnuť odpustenie za svoj výbuch, pretože sme ho hodní – rovnako ako sme hodní šťastia a spokojnosti, ktoré sa občas tak veľmi obávame prijať, hoci ho máme na dosah.
Noc žeriava je krásne metaforickým príbehom nielen o ľudskej prirodzenosti. Autor mi ponúkol opäť ďalšie hlboké zamyslenie ukryté v šate magického realizmu. Pričom tentoraz osudy bežných ľudí preplietol s čarovným príbehom o láske a sebaobetovaní vystrihnutým priamo z japonských rozprávkových kníh. Avšak nakoniec sa ukázalo, že Patrik Ness, rovnako ako kedykoľvek predtým, sa mi snažil povedať niečo iné – že každý človek má právo na šťastie a spokojnosť, bez ohľadu na to, ako veľmi o tom pochybuje, a že cesta k vykúpeniu vedie cez odpustenie, ktoré môže začať niečím úplne bezvýznamným. Napríklad aj zraneným žeriavom v záhrade.
recenzia: http://lili-darknight.blogspot.com/20...
October 27, 2017
Нес е толкова сладкодумен. Имам чувство, че може да опише вълнуващо и впечатляващо дори банална случка или история.
Книгата ме докосна, не толкова с японската легенда за Жерава, върху която е базирана, отколкото с автентичността на взаимоотношенията между героите. Винаги съм харесвала да чета истории, които тaка силно сътворяват характери и след това ги вкарват във взаимодействие. Освен всичко останало, книгата провокира доста лични размишления в мен.
Джордж спечели симпатиите ми с неговата непринуденост и нежност. Същевременно, ме озадачи с някои нетипични за него действия в момент на слабост и обърканост.
В живота на Джордж, всички жени си тръгват рано или късно, защото го смятат за прекалено мекушав. Човек, обаче, е комплексно същество, което не може да бъде вкарано в определени рамки. Той проявява това, което е провокирано да бъде изявено. Константен за мен е по-скоро моделът, по който човек реагира, а това невинаги дава пълна представа за същността му.
Като пълен контраст на деликатният Джордж, се явява неговата дъщеря Аманда, която е като задрямал вулкан. Тя има голям проблем с това да се открие пред другите, а оттам възниква и гневът й, че не я разбират, усещат и приемат. В нея бушуват толкова изпепеляващи чувства, че ако не ги изкара, по един или друг начин, ще я изгорят отвътре. Аманда е безсилна да се справи със своите емоции и със страхът, че може да бъде отхвърлена. Именно затова, тя е сложила броня от арогантност и бруталност, като акт за самосъхранение.
Общото между Аманда и Джордж е това, че и двамата са самотни, само че в първия случай, тя не знае как да допусне хората до себе си, а във втория- той не знае как да ги задържи в живота си. А другото общо е Кумико и нейната любов, която докосва Джордж и Аманда и ги трансформирa. Кумико им помага да се преоткрият и да разберат своята същина. А начинът, по който е описан целия този процес, е вълшебен.
"Жената Жерав" е много красива книга и то най- вече заради това, че авторът докосва доста деликатни струни на емоционалността и чувствителността. За мен това е история за прошката, най-вече към самия себе си, за Любовта, но не човешката любов, пълна с очаквания, терзания и разочарования, а Любовта в чистия й и неподправен вид, Любовта към живота. Не е лесно това да се опише, а още по- трудно е да се пресъздаде така, че другите да го съпреживеят. Точно това успява да направи Нес с тази история; успява да навлезе дълбоко в сърцевината на човек и да остави трайна следа.
=========
"Светът винаги е бил жаден, макар невинаги да знае за какво жадува."
” Ето това никога няма да го проумея — продължи Кумико. - Неспособността на хората да имат ясна представа за самите себе си. Неспособността им да се виждат такива, каквито в действителност са, а не
такива, каквито се боят, че са, или такива, каквито биха искали да бъдат, а именно такива, каквито наистина са. Защо за вас онова, което наистина сте, никога не е достатъчно?”
"Когато мразиш много хора, в края на краищата се оказва, че започваш да мразиш всички. В това число и себе си. И точно тук идва номерът, разбираш ли? Номерът, който прави живота възможен за живеене. Трябва все някого да обичаш."
Книгата ме докосна, не толкова с японската легенда за Жерава, върху която е базирана, отколкото с автентичността на взаимоотношенията между героите. Винаги съм харесвала да чета истории, които тaка силно сътворяват характери и след това ги вкарват във взаимодействие. Освен всичко останало, книгата провокира доста лични размишления в мен.
Джордж спечели симпатиите ми с неговата непринуденост и нежност. Същевременно, ме озадачи с някои нетипични за него действия в момент на слабост и обърканост.
В живота на Джордж, всички жени си тръгват рано или късно, защото го смятат за прекалено мекушав. Човек, обаче, е комплексно същество, което не може да бъде вкарано в определени рамки. Той проявява това, което е провокирано да бъде изявено. Константен за мен е по-скоро моделът, по който човек реагира, а това невинаги дава пълна представа за същността му.
Като пълен контраст на деликатният Джордж, се явява неговата дъщеря Аманда, която е като задрямал вулкан. Тя има голям проблем с това да се открие пред другите, а оттам възниква и гневът й, че не я разбират, усещат и приемат. В нея бушуват толкова изпепеляващи чувства, че ако не ги изкара, по един или друг начин, ще я изгорят отвътре. Аманда е безсилна да се справи със своите емоции и със страхът, че може да бъде отхвърлена. Именно затова, тя е сложила броня от арогантност и бруталност, като акт за самосъхранение.
Общото между Аманда и Джордж е това, че и двамата са самотни, само че в първия случай, тя не знае как да допусне хората до себе си, а във втория- той не знае как да ги задържи в живота си. А другото общо е Кумико и нейната любов, която докосва Джордж и Аманда и ги трансформирa. Кумико им помага да се преоткрият и да разберат своята същина. А начинът, по който е описан целия този процес, е вълшебен.
"Жената Жерав" е много красива книга и то най- вече заради това, че авторът докосва доста деликатни струни на емоционалността и чувствителността. За мен това е история за прошката, най-вече към самия себе си, за Любовта, но не човешката любов, пълна с очаквания, терзания и разочарования, а Любовта в чистия й и неподправен вид, Любовта към живота. Не е лесно това да се опише, а още по- трудно е да се пресъздаде така, че другите да го съпреживеят. Точно това успява да направи Нес с тази история; успява да навлезе дълбоко в сърцевината на човек и да остави трайна следа.
=========
"Светът винаги е бил жаден, макар невинаги да знае за какво жадува."
” Ето това никога няма да го проумея — продължи Кумико. - Неспособността на хората да имат ясна представа за самите себе си. Неспособността им да се виждат такива, каквито в действителност са, а не
такива, каквито се боят, че са, или такива, каквито биха искали да бъдат, а именно такива, каквито наистина са. Защо за вас онова, което наистина сте, никога не е достатъчно?”
"Когато мразиш много хора, в края на краищата се оказва, че започваш да мразиш всички. В това число и себе си. И точно тук идва номерът, разбираш ли? Номерът, който прави живота възможен за живеене. Трябва все някого да обичаш."
May 29, 2015
When a man named George Duncan saves the life of a beautiful white crane with crimson red crest and golden eyes who has been struck by an arrow and pulling it out, he thinks it is a dream but is surprised when a mysterious young woman named Kumiko changes his life forever by giving him the gift of love and of paper cuttings that are turned into artistic masterpieces. Can their love survive and will his happiness last? Read on and find out for yourself.
This is a pretty good and sad read that is based on a Japanese folk tale. I enjoyed checking out this new story from Patrick Ness the author of the Chaos Walking trilogy. Definitely check this out for yourself if you love stories about forgiveness and being loved in return. You can find this book at your local library and wherever books are sold.
This is a pretty good and sad read that is based on a Japanese folk tale. I enjoyed checking out this new story from Patrick Ness the author of the Chaos Walking trilogy. Definitely check this out for yourself if you love stories about forgiveness and being loved in return. You can find this book at your local library and wherever books are sold.
March 4, 2018
Wow. Just...wow.
July 18, 2018
Having read most of Ness’ other works, I have to say that I think this is my least favourite. This is a book for someone with a very good eye for hidden messages and metaphor, and perhaps a better knowledge of Japanese folklore than I have. This unfortunately just went mostly over my head.
The Crane Wife follows George, a divorcee who runs a shoe shop and retains a close relationship with his ex-wife and daughter. When he has an encounter with an injured crane one night, it sets off a sequence of events involving him and his daughter, including George’s meeting with Kumiko, a mysterious woman who he will grow to love.
This book is so explicit about itself. It tells you about it’s hidden depths and the messages readers are meant to discern, but I just didn’t get any of them. This is a book where it’s not the book, it’s me, because I just didn’t really get what this book was trying to tell me. I only really understood the plot on a surface level, with very basic links to the underlying folklore tale it was meant to replicate.
I did appreciate the characters. Each of them was in an unsatisfied stage in their lives and I do think this book does a good job of teaching us to appreciate what is around us and to take advantage of it. Amanda and Rachel are both difficult women who don’t fit in, and it’s nice to see women being unashamedly so. George himself is a little bland, which I guess is how Ness intends to portray him, but he is sweet and I did like him. Ness’ prose is as always beautiful, and I definitely admire that about this book.
Ultimately, I don’t have a fat lot to say about a book I didn’t really understand. I do still love Ness as an author, but this book has a very particular audience to which I do not belong.
The Crane Wife follows George, a divorcee who runs a shoe shop and retains a close relationship with his ex-wife and daughter. When he has an encounter with an injured crane one night, it sets off a sequence of events involving him and his daughter, including George’s meeting with Kumiko, a mysterious woman who he will grow to love.
This book is so explicit about itself. It tells you about it’s hidden depths and the messages readers are meant to discern, but I just didn’t get any of them. This is a book where it’s not the book, it’s me, because I just didn’t really get what this book was trying to tell me. I only really understood the plot on a surface level, with very basic links to the underlying folklore tale it was meant to replicate.
I did appreciate the characters. Each of them was in an unsatisfied stage in their lives and I do think this book does a good job of teaching us to appreciate what is around us and to take advantage of it. Amanda and Rachel are both difficult women who don’t fit in, and it’s nice to see women being unashamedly so. George himself is a little bland, which I guess is how Ness intends to portray him, but he is sweet and I did like him. Ness’ prose is as always beautiful, and I definitely admire that about this book.
Ultimately, I don’t have a fat lot to say about a book I didn’t really understand. I do still love Ness as an author, but this book has a very particular audience to which I do not belong.
May 24, 2013
Actual rating: 2.5 stars
"A story needs to be told. A story must be told. How else can we live in this world that makes no sense?"
One night, George Duncan is woken up by a strange keening noise in his backyard. Upon going outside, he finds a crane with an arrow through its wing. George helps the crane and sets it free––and from there, his life changes.
The next day, George meets a mysterious woman named Kumiko. The two of them begin creating beautiful art pieces out of old books, and soon fall in love. But Kumiko seems to be hiding things, and something about her is almost otherworldly, maybe even inhuman …
Let's get one thing straight right now. I have no doubt that Patrick Ness can write an amazing book. His Chaos Walking trilogy is hands-down my favorite series ever, and his book A Monster Calls is one of the most beautiful YA novels I've ever read. Few books have moved me the way his books have, and he is one of my all-time favorite authors. I hope that one day I will meet him. And hug him. And probably cry.
That said, I was a bit nervous about him writing a book for adults––but like I said, he's one of my favorite authors, so I tried to go into this book with an open mind. After all, I do really like fantasy realism and mythology and all that jazz.
But after reading this book … all I can really say is: Patrick Ness, please stick to writing YA. Please, please, please.
Don't get me wrong. The Crane Wife isn't a terrible book. It's good. But that's all it is. It's just … good. Fine. Whatever. It's an intriguing story, and it's pretty well-written for the most part. But I didn't find anything particularly remarkable about it. The strong sense of voice, the high levels of emotion, the excitement, and the relatable characters that are so present in the Chaos Walking books just aren't present in this novel.
I liked the premise of this book. That's … about it, really.
I found the characters to be pretty dull and lacking in distinctive qualities. I just didn't care about any of them. They were all just "ordinary" people (well, except Kumiko I guess … but even she wasn't that interesting).
Not much happens in the book. Besides the little hints of mysticism here and there, mostly it was just kind of about people living their daily lives. I never thought I would say this about a book by Patrick Ness, but … honestly, I got bored.
The writing was all right. Just all right. Which kills me, because I think Patrick Ness is a truly brilliant writer. But the style felt so forced in this book. I think this is why I tend to stick to reading YA books rather than reading adult books … There tends to be this sense in adult books to impress the audience, and so the author's voice doesn't feel completely authentic. The style in Ness's Chaos Walking series is so innovative and gives the narrating characters such strong voices. The voice was really lacking in The Crane Wife for me. It felt to me like Ness was holding back, not writing in his usual creative style … not to make assumptions, but maybe because he finds it more intimidating to write for adults than to write for teenagers.
Over all, I just felt that there was no passion in this book. While Patrick Ness's other books made me extremely emotional, I felt next to nothing while reading this novel. It was a fairly good read, but it just wasn't that good or that memorable.
I know that Patrick Ness has another YA book coming out in the fall called More Than This, which sounds like it will be really good. And I just hope he keeps writing YA books, because I think that's where his strength is.
"A story needs to be told. A story must be told. How else can we live in this world that makes no sense?"
One night, George Duncan is woken up by a strange keening noise in his backyard. Upon going outside, he finds a crane with an arrow through its wing. George helps the crane and sets it free––and from there, his life changes.
The next day, George meets a mysterious woman named Kumiko. The two of them begin creating beautiful art pieces out of old books, and soon fall in love. But Kumiko seems to be hiding things, and something about her is almost otherworldly, maybe even inhuman …
Let's get one thing straight right now. I have no doubt that Patrick Ness can write an amazing book. His Chaos Walking trilogy is hands-down my favorite series ever, and his book A Monster Calls is one of the most beautiful YA novels I've ever read. Few books have moved me the way his books have, and he is one of my all-time favorite authors. I hope that one day I will meet him. And hug him. And probably cry.
That said, I was a bit nervous about him writing a book for adults––but like I said, he's one of my favorite authors, so I tried to go into this book with an open mind. After all, I do really like fantasy realism and mythology and all that jazz.
But after reading this book … all I can really say is: Patrick Ness, please stick to writing YA. Please, please, please.
Don't get me wrong. The Crane Wife isn't a terrible book. It's good. But that's all it is. It's just … good. Fine. Whatever. It's an intriguing story, and it's pretty well-written for the most part. But I didn't find anything particularly remarkable about it. The strong sense of voice, the high levels of emotion, the excitement, and the relatable characters that are so present in the Chaos Walking books just aren't present in this novel.
I liked the premise of this book. That's … about it, really.
I found the characters to be pretty dull and lacking in distinctive qualities. I just didn't care about any of them. They were all just "ordinary" people (well, except Kumiko I guess … but even she wasn't that interesting).
Not much happens in the book. Besides the little hints of mysticism here and there, mostly it was just kind of about people living their daily lives. I never thought I would say this about a book by Patrick Ness, but … honestly, I got bored.
The writing was all right. Just all right. Which kills me, because I think Patrick Ness is a truly brilliant writer. But the style felt so forced in this book. I think this is why I tend to stick to reading YA books rather than reading adult books … There tends to be this sense in adult books to impress the audience, and so the author's voice doesn't feel completely authentic. The style in Ness's Chaos Walking series is so innovative and gives the narrating characters such strong voices. The voice was really lacking in The Crane Wife for me. It felt to me like Ness was holding back, not writing in his usual creative style … not to make assumptions, but maybe because he finds it more intimidating to write for adults than to write for teenagers.
Over all, I just felt that there was no passion in this book. While Patrick Ness's other books made me extremely emotional, I felt next to nothing while reading this novel. It was a fairly good read, but it just wasn't that good or that memorable.
I know that Patrick Ness has another YA book coming out in the fall called More Than This, which sounds like it will be really good. And I just hope he keeps writing YA books, because I think that's where his strength is.
September 24, 2023
Тази книга ме намери. И преди са ме намирали книги, а се случва много рядко.
И беше точният момент, когато да я прочета. (Това вече ми се случва много често.)
Остави ме с противоречиви чувства. Когато затварях поетапно книгата с отбелязка картичка- репродукция на "Сикстинската мадона" на Рафаело (картичката и тя ме намери и предложи услугите си на разделител), си казвах: "Тази книга е ужасна." или:" Тази книга. Невъзможно невероятна е." Истинска поезия в проза, красива, но и брутално искрена. Изследва в дълбочина творческия процес, човешките подбуди и най-вече жаждата, вечната жажда за още и още в живота. Така и не разбрах защо смъртта означава освобождение и прошка, предполагам, нещо естествено в японската митология. Завладяваща книга. Като изкуството, което сътворяват героите. Едновременно прекрасна и ужасяваща.
Със сигурност бих чела още книги от същия автор. Непременно разгледайте и хартиените творения на Сю Блакуел, ако книгата е в листа ви за четене.
"Любовта беше познание. Да. Но и не."
И беше точният момент, когато да я прочета. (Това вече ми се случва много често.)
Остави ме с противоречиви чувства. Когато затварях поетапно книгата с отбелязка картичка- репродукция на "Сикстинската мадона" на Рафаело (картичката и тя ме намери и предложи услугите си на разделител), си казвах: "Тази книга е ужасна." или:" Тази книга. Невъзможно невероятна е." Истинска поезия в проза, красива, но и брутално искрена. Изследва в дълбочина творческия процес, човешките подбуди и най-вече жаждата, вечната жажда за още и още в живота. Така и не разбрах защо смъртта означава освобождение и прошка, предполагам, нещо естествено в японската митология. Завладяваща книга. Като изкуството, което сътворяват героите. Едновременно прекрасна и ужасяваща.
Със сигурност бих чела още книги от същия автор. Непременно разгледайте и хартиените творения на Сю Блакуел, ако книгата е в листа ви за четене.
"Любовта беше познание. Да. Но и не."
January 12, 2015
The Crane wife is loosely based on a Japanese myth and is written as a story within a story. George is a divorced, lonely man who wakes up one night to find a wounded crane in his back garden. George removes the arrow embedded in the crane's wing and the crane flies away. The next day a beautiful woman, Kumiko, arrives at his printing business and George falls instantly in love with her. George's daughter, Amanda also divorced and lonely, and bringing up her son, JP, is often angry at her father and those around her. Kumiko moves into their lives and shows them how to love and forgive themselves and others. Throughout the story the myth-like tale of the lady and the volcano is told in parallel with the events occurring to George and Kumiko and both stories are thoroughly engaging.
This is a lovely, lyrical story and one I enjoyed very much. Highly recommended.
This is a lovely, lyrical story and one I enjoyed very much. Highly recommended.
July 1, 2015
This is a book that might not be for everyone. As goes with all Japanese infused stories, poetry and art is always added into the mix which either makes us love the story, or hate it (think: Haruki Murakami).
Surprisingly I enjoyed this book and all of its confusing abstract artistic glory. There isn't much of a story plot going on. Just a guy falling in love with a girl who happens to be some sort of mysterious creature created aeons ago. But the one thing I always look for in a book asides from its story plot, is its writing style. And I truly loved this one.
It's just simply beautiful and made me easily immersed in the story without much effort. I didn't feel any special attachment to the characters per se, but I do like the closure each of them had at the end of the story.
And that was worth it, in my opinion.
So, if you enjoy a very different take on books, or am looking for something totally different, this book might just be it. It is my first Patrick Ness novel, and I have no regrets :)
Surprisingly I enjoyed this book and all of its confusing abstract artistic glory. There isn't much of a story plot going on. Just a guy falling in love with a girl who happens to be some sort of mysterious creature created aeons ago. But the one thing I always look for in a book asides from its story plot, is its writing style. And I truly loved this one.
It's just simply beautiful and made me easily immersed in the story without much effort. I didn't feel any special attachment to the characters per se, but I do like the closure each of them had at the end of the story.
And that was worth it, in my opinion.
So, if you enjoy a very different take on books, or am looking for something totally different, this book might just be it. It is my first Patrick Ness novel, and I have no regrets :)
July 22, 2016
Вълшебна книга. Влезе ми много навътре. Отдавна не се бях припознавал така в книга.
Но ако не сте романтик, не я четете, ще ви е скучна.
Но ако не сте романтик, не я четете, ще ви е скучна.
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April 20, 2021Samo ću citirati svoju omiljenu GR influenserku koja je napamet napisala odličan prikaz i za ovu knjigu: (Nes) po mom iskustvu nikad nije 100% uspešan ali je taj neuspeh uvek zanimljiv i pošteno se bori za njega.
Hvala, Tijana :)
Hvala, Tijana :)
February 27, 2014
As fan of folk tales, myths, and art; “The Crane Wife” by Patrick Ness instantly caught my eye. Being a novel loosely based on a Japanese folk tale plus an interpretation by the band The Decemberists; what could go wrong? In my mind, the novel could either be a pretentious mess or a multi-level treat. How did “The Crane Wife” fare?
Although I have never read Ness’s other works, I understand that he is popular for his short stories; which is quickly deduced from the writing style in “The Crane Wife”. The characters and plot are not traditionally introduced nor evolve naturally, as the reader is simply thrown into the story. Granted, the text is very well written with beautiful language and illustrative depth; but this style may feel a bit devoid for some readers.
On a related note, “The Crane Wife” takes on too much of a short story format with the chapters alternating between characters, time periods/memories, and even writing styles. This makes each section feel like a separate story, is chaotic, and difficult to follow resulting in some dissonance from the main plot. In fact, the main idea of the story is lost and buried underneath too many external side-plots.
None of the characters in “The Crane Wife” are particularly likable. George (main character) is dull and Amanda (his daughter) is quite annoying. Only Kumiko (the actual crane wife) is notable in presentation. Kumiko envelops every magical element of folk tales and throws it at the reader in the best way possible. Her interactions with George are lovely and carry a peaceful Zen – if only Ness focused on them which “The Crane Wife” implies it does but doesn’t.
Ness’s attempt to write a folk tale with ethereal qualities combined with that of a modern story (complete with social media references) is very disjointed and adds to the insoluble essence and discrepancies in the storytelling. “The Crane Wife” is ‘all over the place’.
The major grievance with the novel is an absence of a forward-moving plot with nothing truly happening. Those events that do occur do not push the story and are predictable. This is not because Ness instead focuses on surrealism, folk tale structure, creation myths, or character studies because such rudiments are missing, as well (and I would have preferred such an angle). The execution is simply flat and doesn’t capture the magic that the concept of the story could have presented.
“The Crane Wife” finally picks up and begins to spin near the end of the novel with the onset of the climax. At this point, the story is exciting and eventful although it takes too long to reach this point and is now cluttered with too much going on as if Ness waited during the whole book and finally exploded. The rapid jump from ‘nothing’ to ‘everything’ is not enjoyable. With that being said, the conclusion is indeed interesting and has some depth with its message. If only the entire book was more like the last chapters…
In summation, “The Crane Wife” has its moments but it is an unexciting piece which misses the instrumental elements a novel based on a folk tale should have. There is hardly any inspiration, symbolism, or beauty on its pages. The novel is a prime example of a solid idea being poorly executed. With a feeling best described as ‘meh’; “The Crane Wife” is not wholeheartedly recommended (nor would I read another piece from this author) and is a “hit-or-miss” with readers (I suspect a ‘hit’ with those who are suckers for overly publicized works and bandwagons).
Although I have never read Ness’s other works, I understand that he is popular for his short stories; which is quickly deduced from the writing style in “The Crane Wife”. The characters and plot are not traditionally introduced nor evolve naturally, as the reader is simply thrown into the story. Granted, the text is very well written with beautiful language and illustrative depth; but this style may feel a bit devoid for some readers.
On a related note, “The Crane Wife” takes on too much of a short story format with the chapters alternating between characters, time periods/memories, and even writing styles. This makes each section feel like a separate story, is chaotic, and difficult to follow resulting in some dissonance from the main plot. In fact, the main idea of the story is lost and buried underneath too many external side-plots.
None of the characters in “The Crane Wife” are particularly likable. George (main character) is dull and Amanda (his daughter) is quite annoying. Only Kumiko (the actual crane wife) is notable in presentation. Kumiko envelops every magical element of folk tales and throws it at the reader in the best way possible. Her interactions with George are lovely and carry a peaceful Zen – if only Ness focused on them which “The Crane Wife” implies it does but doesn’t.
Ness’s attempt to write a folk tale with ethereal qualities combined with that of a modern story (complete with social media references) is very disjointed and adds to the insoluble essence and discrepancies in the storytelling. “The Crane Wife” is ‘all over the place’.
The major grievance with the novel is an absence of a forward-moving plot with nothing truly happening. Those events that do occur do not push the story and are predictable. This is not because Ness instead focuses on surrealism, folk tale structure, creation myths, or character studies because such rudiments are missing, as well (and I would have preferred such an angle). The execution is simply flat and doesn’t capture the magic that the concept of the story could have presented.
“The Crane Wife” finally picks up and begins to spin near the end of the novel with the onset of the climax. At this point, the story is exciting and eventful although it takes too long to reach this point and is now cluttered with too much going on as if Ness waited during the whole book and finally exploded. The rapid jump from ‘nothing’ to ‘everything’ is not enjoyable. With that being said, the conclusion is indeed interesting and has some depth with its message. If only the entire book was more like the last chapters…
In summation, “The Crane Wife” has its moments but it is an unexciting piece which misses the instrumental elements a novel based on a folk tale should have. There is hardly any inspiration, symbolism, or beauty on its pages. The novel is a prime example of a solid idea being poorly executed. With a feeling best described as ‘meh’; “The Crane Wife” is not wholeheartedly recommended (nor would I read another piece from this author) and is a “hit-or-miss” with readers (I suspect a ‘hit’ with those who are suckers for overly publicized works and bandwagons).
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