Tree of Heaven

by R.C. Binstock

Set against the violence of Japan's invasion of China in the 1930's, a love story tells of a Chinese woman who becomes the servant of a Japanese officer after he rescues her, and the strange intimacy that develops between them

Genres: World War II, Fiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1995

Reviews

[Okie405 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell in love with Mr. Binstock's writing when I was in high school in the 90s! He touched on subjects that I felt and still feel very strongly about. Tree of Heaven was the first book I read of Mr. Binstock, and being korean and learning about my ancestors and what turmoil they dealt with regarding Japan, this book showed me early in my life what nuance and love was about, even though I still didn't understand.

I wrote to him in high school (early days of email) and gushed about how he was my favorite author and how his books touched my heart, and he sent me a signed copy!

This book was the start of my "adult book" journey, The Soldier got a lot of bad reviews here but I enjoyed that one as well definitely check out his recent books (I didn't even know he released one in 2014!)

[Susan Franz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written but a difficult subject.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sad tale.

[Lacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one is brutal to read and brutally written. It took some work to stay engaged, and the tone was somewhat empty. I’m glad I read it, but it won’t be living on my bookshelf.

[Rick · Rating 4 out of 5]

R.C. Binstock’s “Tree of Heaven” is a nuanced tale of a love affair between a Japanese officer and a Chinese peasant lady in appalling circumstance. The setting is 1937-1938, prior to American involvement in WWII, and in a Japanese-occupied area near Nanking, China. The soldier saves the peasant from being raped and brutalized, and takes her for a maid … out of this unlikely alliance blossoms a love affair.

The venue is reminiscent of Iris Chang’s “The Rape of Nanking” which recounts a true event where the Japanese perpetrated atrocities while occupying that city. But while Chang’s book details the atrocities and motivations, Binstock uses that incident as backdrop for his love affair. Interestingly, Binstock would later write a marketing plug for Chang’s book – which was published two years after Tree of Heaven.

The structure of Tree of Heaven is alternating chapters reflecting alternating, first person points of view ... for example, in one chapter the soldier reflects on his thoughts and feelings when he saved the peasant from being raped, while in the following chapter the Chinese female reflects on her feelings being saved. The book progresses this way through 24 short chapters.

At the start of the timeline the soldier protects the peasant from cruelties, and by the end she desires to protect him as Japan’s impending fate is grasped. They become each others salvation and doom. The reader gains empathy for both, knowing she will be considered a collaborator and he will be judged an enemy combatant – so is the ending satisfying?

I eagerly anticipated seeing how Binstock would conclude his tale and I liked the ending, but … well you will just have to read it and decide for yourself.

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think that this book was kinda confusing did not portray the Rape of Nanking as negatively, but loved the love plot, especially even after she denied it after a while