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Searching for Noriko: A novel
SEARCHING FOR NORIKO is a multicultural story—with thriller elements and a romantic subplot—about a diverse cast of characters on different continents. An American GI, a veteran of Okinawa, worries about the stability of his marriage. He is haunted by memories of the woman he rescued—and wronged—in 1945. Japanese beauty is conflicted about a planned reunion with a former lover in New York. Collusion between underworld elements in Japan and North Korean agents threatens to spiral into an international crisis. These events dramatically intersect in Searching For Noriko.
Al Dawson is a retired lawyer living in West Palm Beach with his wife Jane and a feral cat named Wee Thomas. A south westerner by birth, he studied for the priesthood, was a collegiate gymnast, earned a JD at New York Law School, and practiced law with several firms and trade associations. Father of Sean, Neil, and Erin, he loves motorcycles, tennis, fine wine and traveling with Jane.
Al Dawson is a retired lawyer living in West Palm Beach with his wife Jane and a feral cat named Wee Thomas. A south westerner by birth, he studied for the priesthood, was a collegiate gymnast, earned a JD at New York Law School, and practiced law with several firms and trade associations. Father of Sean, Neil, and Erin, he loves motorcycles, tennis, fine wine and traveling with Jane.
356 pages, Paperback
Published June 2, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 20, 2020
Searching for Noriko is the story of one man's journey into his past to find clarity and meaning in his life. Ultimately, Frankie, the main character is searching for forgiveness and redemption. The story involves the loss of a cherished brother, and the abandonment of a tender love during WWII. These losses are branded into his memory and he must find a way to reconcile them.
Al Dawson swirls a tornado of brilliantly painted characters, events, and locations together. These all play an important role in the outcome of Frankie's search. I was captivated by the author's mesmerizing descriptions. Particularly, the multi cultural cuisines that he described tantalized my taste buds.
Frankie's quest is exciting, tender, and loving. Each of us is on our own path to search for answers, forgiveness, and ultimate reception pertaining to our own lives.
Al Dawson swirls a tornado of brilliantly painted characters, events, and locations together. These all play an important role in the outcome of Frankie's search. I was captivated by the author's mesmerizing descriptions. Particularly, the multi cultural cuisines that he described tantalized my taste buds.
Frankie's quest is exciting, tender, and loving. Each of us is on our own path to search for answers, forgiveness, and ultimate reception pertaining to our own lives.
October 12, 2020
Memories of the war on Okinawa
Sometimes I wish I could rate books with half stars, as in 3 1/2 or 4 1/2, maybe even quarters. Oh well, I haven't figured out that one yet.
Searching for Noriko was well researched. It was also full of surprises. There were several threads, and they all came together quite well, with some near misses. Some believe there are no such thing as coincidences.
The characters were interesting, without stereotypes, and an amazing mix of ethnicities. Who knew you needed to brush up on your Spanish for a book named for a Japanese woman?
I learned more about the war in the Pacific. Most of the stories I've read about World War I I were in Europe or, if in the Pacific, air or naval, not island land warfare. I'll be curious to see if Mr. Dawson writes another novel.
Sometimes I wish I could rate books with half stars, as in 3 1/2 or 4 1/2, maybe even quarters. Oh well, I haven't figured out that one yet.
Searching for Noriko was well researched. It was also full of surprises. There were several threads, and they all came together quite well, with some near misses. Some believe there are no such thing as coincidences.
The characters were interesting, without stereotypes, and an amazing mix of ethnicities. Who knew you needed to brush up on your Spanish for a book named for a Japanese woman?
I learned more about the war in the Pacific. Most of the stories I've read about World War I I were in Europe or, if in the Pacific, air or naval, not island land warfare. I'll be curious to see if Mr. Dawson writes another novel.
July 22, 2020
This book has it all. The characters were well developed and the structure allowed the reader to toggle seamlessly from the present to the past and back again. A bit of mystery, war, history, and romance all wrapped into one wonderful book. Left me wanting more, and I didn’t want it to end. I even had to pace myself so I didn’t finish too quickly!
July 30, 2020
Heckuva good read
The intrigue and the research of many complex eras, including histories of Okinawa, Japan and New Mexico. The seemingly disparate characters who connect in the final chapters creates many aha moments. A few subplots seemed a bit beyond statistical plausibility but, heck, that’s what novels are about.
It is a very captivating effort.
The intrigue and the research of many complex eras, including histories of Okinawa, Japan and New Mexico. The seemingly disparate characters who connect in the final chapters creates many aha moments. A few subplots seemed a bit beyond statistical plausibility but, heck, that’s what novels are about.
It is a very captivating effort.
July 20, 2020
A wonderful read that captures crisis in war time and the search for lost love involving our greatest
generation up to and including the tensions in our present day world. A superb historical romanic thriller!
generation up to and including the tensions in our present day world. A superb historical romanic thriller!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews