Snow Falling on the Cedars

by Frances Russell Matthews

Genres: Fiction, Book Club, Historical Fiction, Classics

98 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1999

Reviews

[Jenifer Kang · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book because it was on the summer reading list, and like most students, avoided reading it until the last possible minute. The beginning of this book was very boring and I started to regret picking this book. However, at a certain point, the book starts to get exciting and soon I started flipping the pages like a mad-man. This book doesn't not fail to surprise, and made me constantly ask: Did he do it? There were several suggestive scenes that I wish David Guterson didn't put in the book... Nevertheless, it was a very enjoyable read and I highly recommend!

[Romina Soler · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story about the murder of a fisherman on an unknown American island is hardly appealing. Yet the book makes it to the list of classics and those that choose to pick it up are shortly deeply immersed. The characters are disparate at the beginning but are cleverly connected as the plot develops and the ending comes together. This murder mystery is not fast-moving but it is certainly intriguing, teaching the reader about the damage caused by the Japanese war which went way beyond the attack on Pearl Harbour with repercussions for many years thereafter.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually agree with what is (at this moment) the average rating ...3.77. It is not quite a 4 for me because despite having interesting characters, a good plot and being very well written, it never really drew me into the story. The characters were enigmatic... too much so, perhaps. One reviewer somewhere complained that it was stereotyping of the Japanese personality, but frankly I found all of the characters to be much the same. A deep and conflicted inner person and a stoic and unreadable demeanor.

[Kathy Hale · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting mystery along with learning about the Japanese internment camps during WWII in America. The history books on the East Coast don't tell very much about the hatred and suspicion of people in the Northwest and Alaska of the Japanese population that was already U.S. citizens. I also found it interesting of the pressure the Japanese-Americans felt to fight to prove the loyalty to America.

[Nemanja Sh · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a lovely book, very easy to read. I would recommend it to anyone. The only thing that bothered me a little bit was its ending. However, I got the feeling that the whole point of the book was to portray the difficulty of an interracial love and not so much the unfortunate death of the sailor.

[Tina P · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author gives readers vivid descriptions of winter on a North Pacific island; lifestyles of strawberry farming and fishermen; police investigation and court room drama; a love story; and a journalist's quest to find the truth. I felt like the characters were people I actually knew and the island I have visited.

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard to get into, but was a decent book once it got going. It was interesting to read about the prejudice that came from the Pearl Harbor attack and to learn what people were feeling during that time (a time that my grandfather experienced).

[Kacy Snyder · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not enjoy this book, and honestly i didn't read the last 1/4 of it. It drug on so much that I finally gave up and watched the movie. I wanted to read it for ages because I loved the title... Guess it shows ya- don't judge a book by it's cover

[Glenda L · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember reading this book a long time ago and liked it very much ... can't remember the date though, so I just picked a date. I remember it as being a historic mystery.

[Bailey Lorraine · Rating 2 out of 5]

it was very discriptive but dragged on quite a bit. i had to take multiple brakes from it and debated dropping it all together. but somehow i got through.

[Kristen Post · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found one of the main characters unlikable and thought the sex scenes added little to the plot. The perspectives were interesting, though, and I liked the format.

[Meg Foglietti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful story! A definite eye opener to our nations history in its treatment of. Japanese immigrants!!

[Margie McFadden · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very well done 4.5

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engrossing. Evocative. Suspenseful. A wonderful read.

[Jac · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story - I found the Seattle history angle fascinating, and the characters well written, if not exactly sympathetic.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully written story of young, forbidden interracial love in the Pacific Northwest during WW2.

[Jodell Quamme · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the book. The beginning was pretty slow. It was fun to get another view of the internment camps we read about in book club.

[Punky · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderfully told story w/ much to consider.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sad, but good.

[Monie Hayes · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't read this book; I read the other one. Don't know why Goodreads selected this first, or how to delete it.

[Mairi Caughey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect story, classy.

[Rmurricane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is actually written by David Guterson. Why does Goodreads give the wrong author?

[Sheryl]

Goodreads: this author writes guide books for novels. Please correct.

[Kellymark44 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book!

[Roberta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bookclub selection. This story engaged me and has stayed with me ever since.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of detail. The interesting plot kept me reading.

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting characters. Important story. Well written.

[Sandee Saurman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it.. Didn't love it. I am glad it included the history of the Japanese in America. Good "who-dun-it".