{"id":187,"date":"2010-06-02T00:29:21","date_gmt":"2010-06-02T07:29:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/aviabellemoon.com\/author\/?page_id=187"},"modified":"2010-06-02T00:37:04","modified_gmt":"2010-06-02T07:37:04","slug":"reviews-a-thousand-years-of-love","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/aviabellemoon.com\/author\/reviews-a-thousand-years-of-love\/","title":{"rendered":"REVIEWS A Thousand Years Of Love"},"content":{"rendered":"

Wow, February 21, 2007
\nBy C. I. Duchesneau “Shadowfox13” (California) <\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

\nVery lyrical and sensual the story flows like a murmuring stream.
\nI’m not even finished yet and I’m quite hooked by it already! ^.^V <\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

\nQuite wonderful. Cara Yoshizumi Exquisitely detailed poetic imagery evokes Heian Japan and the varied forms which relationships take amongst the Japanese nobility and the society around them. Inspired by The Tale of Genji, it is a much easier read and a great introduction to the culture of beauty, intrigue, longing, passions and tragedies in the medieval court society of Japan.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Cara Yoshizumi\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n

“I really enjoyed reading your book! I felt as if I were transported to
\nanother era.”
\nSusan F, Santa Barbara\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\nYour writing has a very unique quality, one I’ve never seen before, (dreamlike, poetic), and the plot and characters are excellent too. Looking forward to your next book, when will it be out?
\nDebora\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\nEasy to read, smooth exposition, logical plot; A telling quest; the words flow as the ideas flow
\nJK\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\nDebbie- reading your book FABULOUS FABULOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
\nBonnie\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\nOH MY GOD, you have such a great imagination. How did you write that book? Your descriptions and storyline are fascinating.
\nann\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n“I am half-way through Avia Belle Moon’s “A Thousand
\nYears of Love” . If you haven’t picked it up, I highly
\nrecommend you do so. Indeed, even through the
\nmasterful translations of Waley, Siedensticker, Royall
\nTyler and the brilliant studies by Ivan Morris and others, Heian culture and times are
\nfrustratingly distant, foreign, alien, inaccessible – at least for
\nme. What is wonderful about Avia Belle Moon’s novel is that in
\naddition to being delightful reading, it provides the average Western
\nreader with access to the culture and times of Lady Murasaki in a
\nway no other modern novel I have read – English or Japanese –
\ndoes. I plan to post more substantive thoughts on the book
\nbut I just wanted to pass on my initial delight and
\nhigh recommendations for this book.” <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Rodney Horikawa
\nUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison
\nCampus Community Partnerships Team\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\nFROM THE DAILY YOMIURI-<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Best-selling Irish novelist Maeve Binchy’s latest
\nbook, Nights of Rain and Stars, can be summed up in a
\nparagraph: Travelers from Ireland, Britain, Germany
\nand the United States are thrown together by chance on
\na tiny Greek island where they soon become friends.
\nEach one is fleeing a different romantic or family
\nproblem back home, but because they give one another
\nexcellent advice each of their stories comes to a more
\nor less happy conclusion. It’s a simple, warmhearted
\npopcorn novel, but it can’t hurt to read one of those
\nfrom time to time. It can even be refreshing.
\nThe same general conclusion may be drawn about A
\nThousand Years of Love by California-Japan transplant
\nAvia Belle Moon, though her mostly Japanese characters
\nlive in Heian-period Kyoto, and the word “warmhearted”
\nwould have to be replaced with “mildly erotic.”
\nThis is popcorn with an extra sprinkling of salt.
\nIn a plot featuring a host of characters with titles
\nrather than names, a Lieutenant of the Imperial Police
\nis wooing young Lady Kaishi in nocturnal troubadour
\nstyle, but she is secretly in love with her
\nhalf-brother Yoryusen, who allows himself to be
\nseduced by the Master of Divination even while
\nnurturing an obsession for the Dragon Woman, who
\ndelights in her own wicked reputation as the “Whore of
\nthe Palace” and counts a hapless Archer Priest as her
\nlatest conquest. Despite such a plot’s inherent
\nraciness, the sex scenes are more perfervid than
\nperverted. The author belongs to the old-fashioned,
\neyes-averted school of erotic writing. Just as Moon
\nbrings one of her couples to the point of
\nconsummation, she cuts to: “A tall candleholder thrust
\ninto the darkness of the night. Outside an owl sitting
\non the branch of the cherry tree cocked its head,
\nlistening to the sound of a woman’s voice crying
\nout…The wooden doors of the gate stood exposed, wide
\nopen.” Like the owl, we can guess what’s happening
\ninside, but unlike him we can savor the wonderful campiness
\nof it all. And there’s plenty more where that came
\nfrom. One haughty character actually fans himself in
\nindignation, and a villain chuckles evilly while
\nstroking his mustache. In fact, various characters
\nspend so much time caressing their own throats,
\nbreasts and faces while lost in reverie that any
\ndramatic adaptation of this story would have to
\ninclude the Divinyls’ song “I Touch Myself” as part of
\nthe soundtrack.
\nBut make no mistake: A Thousand Years of Love is a fun
\nread. I actually missed my station one night while
\nreading this book on the train, and at 178 pages it is
\ngood for several train rides despite the relatively
\nlarge print.
\nCall A Thousand Years of Love a guilty pleasure, and
\ncall Moon the Maeve Binchy of the Heian period. ”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.yomiuri.co.jp\/index-e.htm
\nMeet the Maeve Binchy of the Heian period
\nTom Baker Daily Yomiuri Staff Writer\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n“Set in Japan during the Heian period (710 -1185) a
\nperiod remembered chiefly for cultural advancement and
\npeace, A Thousand Years Of Love is an ambitious,
\nmeticulously researched, at times risque historical
\ntale. It follows a Heian courtesan who embarks upon a
\nspiritual quest to Hangzhou, China in search of her
\nmother\u2019s gravesite. Rich in detail and written in a
\ngraceful, weightless style, the book is a shoe-in for
\nanyone who enjoyed The Tale Of Genji or who seeks to
\nfind out more about Japanese history through a
\npleasant read, particularly this rather free-livin\u2019
\nperiod when the heaviest influences on Japanese
\nculture still came from the \u201ceast\u201d rather than the
\n\u201cwest\u201d. ”
\nhttp:\/\/www.yomiuri.co.jp\/index-e.htm
\nFrom the Kanazawa Convention Times-
\nhttp:\/\/www.nsknet.or.jp\/heartkcb\/KCT\/issues\/Summer2004\/misc\/misc.htm\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\nSUCH A POETIC BEAUTIFUL ROMANTIC CREATIVE – TO SAY THE
\nLEAST – PIECE OF ART THAT I REFUSE TO PUT DOWN.”
\nGenie, Santa Barbara, USA\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n“Admit it; You’ve tried to plow through “The Tale of
\nGenji,” the classic of Japanese literature. But many
\nclassics are in Clifton Fadiman’s words, “more revered
\nthan read;” Genji can be like that,and the subtle love
\nintrigues of the royal household can be hard going.
\nNow Kyoto author Avia Belle Moon has written a novel
\nthat is also set in the Heian Period but may be more
\naccessible to many of today’s readers, even if not a
\nclassic…Moon’s research shows throughout the short
\nnovel, which is filled with details of daily life that
\nhelp bring the era alive more than another visit to
\nanother shrine or temple.”
\nFrom Kansai Time Out magazine, July 2004\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n“An interesting read. Powerful spiritually, and I love
\nall the little details about Heian
\ntimes. Clearly very well researched with some
\nfascinating insights and also a strong
\nmessage as to the transience of even the most delicate
\ncherry blossom petal. I liked
\nthe little poems- conversations which really gave the
\nidea of the importance and
\neveryday feel of that form of correspondence, and also
\nthe color and scents of the
\nkimono and incense.”
\nJudy Kendall
\nwriter, poet, U.K
\nJudy Kendall, Lecturer in Creative Writing at the University of Salford and the author of The Drier the Brighter <\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n“This book captures the luxury of the Heian era very
\nwell. The Japanese people love the duality of “light
\nand shade,” (inyo). The description of the color
\ncombinations and design of the kimonos, seen through
\nlight and shadows conveys this feeling very well, as
\nsimilarily expressed in Tanizaki Junichiro’s book,
\n“The Worship of Shade,” (inei no raisan.)
\nPeople who are interested in Japanese pop\/trendy
\nculture will enjoy this book as well, as it contains
\nomyoji characters(Chinese master of divination) and
\nandrogyny seen in girls’ manga.
\nI also felt the book would be suitable to study
\nEnglish,as the letter size is very large and easy to
\nread.”
\nSetsuko Tamogami, translator\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n“Amazingly well-written, fascinating. The words flow,
\nhistory comes alive. Congratulations on such beautiful
\nwork.”
\nBirger, New York\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n“If a book is a kind of war challenged by the author,
\nthen Ms. Avia Belle Moon conquered me by her tranquil,
\nmusk fragrant, shimmering story. Since I got this
\nbook, my reading has been interrupted many times. But
\neverytime I restart my reading, I am warmly welcomed
\nby her beautiful sentences. The story is not such a
\nbig show, but the author has succeeded in weaving her
\nintention of joining the ying and yang in a brilliant
\npicturesque story of the Heian era. I enjoyed her
\ngraceful storytelling and I enjoyed the fantastic
\nstory. Honestly, I am enjoying your story most of all.
\nYour description is so warm and beautiful that I am
\ngiven many picturesque images as I’m reading. I feel
\nas if I’m watching the vivid scenes of a movie.”
\nMichie Nomura, English teacher\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n“The writing is very beautiful, and I can really see
\nin my mind’s eye the rooms, scenery, and also imagine
\nhow the people of that period felt. I like
\nthe scenes where Lady Kaishi is waving her fan
\nfuriously in front of her face.”
\nKyoko Nishida, Translator, “Barefoot Gen-The story of
\nHiroshima.”\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n“The Heian Period is written in such detail it’s
\nscary! While reading I really felt that Japan was a
\npart of Korea and China, unlike other novels I’ve read
\non the Heian Period.”
\nYukari Kimura, “Barefoot Gen-The story of Hiroshima.”\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n“I was delighted to not be bombarded with words as I
\nread \u201cA Thousand Years
\nOf Love\u201d by Avia Belle Moon. The sensitive manner in
\nwhich a story of
\ndetailed daily life unfolds during the Heian period in
\nJapan captivated this
\nreader effortlessly. My eyes were opened to a totally
\nfascinating period of
\nhistory through layers of characters, color and
\nmystery.”
\nBruce Wilson, Japan 2004\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n“Your book was wonderful! It was so colorful and
\npicturesque.”
\nPatsy Sakamoto, Hiroshima\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n“I found the detail bringing me directly into the
\nlocations of the characters and into their lives. The
\ntension exuded in the first few pages draws the reader
\ninto the story and wanting more.”
\nChris Mcmahon
\nUSA\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\nA Thousand Years of Love by Avia Belle Moon
\nFinalist for the 2006 Word\/Work Self-Published Book Awards
\n“Make no mistake: A Thousand Years of Love is a fun read. I actually missed my station one night while reading this book on the train, and at 178 pages it is good for several train rides despite the relatively large print. ”
\nThe Daily Yomiuri, February 2005\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n“Rich in detail and written in a graceful, weightless style, the book is a shoe-in for anyone who enjoyed The Tale Of Genji or who seeks to find out more about Japanese history through a pleasant read, particularly this rather free-living period when the heaviest influences on Japanese culture still came from the “east” rather than the “west”. ” From the Kanazawa Convention Times
\n“Admit it; you\u2019ve tried to plow through “The Tale of Genji,” the classic of Japanese literature. But many classics are in Clifton Fadiman’s words, “more revered than read;” Genji can be like that,and the subtle love intrigues of the royal household can be hard going. Now Kyoto author Avia Belle Moon has written a novel that is also set in the Heian Period but may be more accessible to many of today’s readers, even if not a classic…Moon’s research shows throughout the short novel, which is filled with details of daily life that help<\/p>\n

PRESS RELEASE<\/p>\n

5\/8\/2006\n <\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n

“A Thousand Years of Love” has been selected as a finalist in the 2006 Word Work Self-Published Book Awards presented by
\nGS LITERATURE, ASOUND
\nMedia Darlings Art, Literature and Sound, a leading advocate of artist’s rights, based in Northern California’s Silicon Valley,<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.mediadarlings.org\/wordwork\/finalists.html\n <\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Wow, February 21, 2007 By C. I. Duchesneau “Shadowfox13” (California)   Very lyrical and sensual the story flows like a murmuring stream. I’m not even finished yet and I’m quite hooked by it already! ^.^V   Quite wonderful. Cara Yoshizumi Exquisitely detailed poetic imagery evokes Heian Japan and the varied forms which relationships take amongst […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/aviabellemoon.com\/author\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/187"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/aviabellemoon.com\/author\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/aviabellemoon.com\/author\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/aviabellemoon.com\/author\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/aviabellemoon.com\/author\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=187"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"http:\/\/aviabellemoon.com\/author\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/187\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":190,"href":"http:\/\/aviabellemoon.com\/author\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/187\/revisions\/190"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/aviabellemoon.com\/author\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=187"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}