The Ginger Tree by Oswald Wynd
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This novel might better be classified as a collection of short stories. The main character, Mary, a young Scotswoman at the beginning, marries a British diplomat then serving in China circa 1903. The first third of the book remains set in China, but it shifts to Japan for the remainder of the book. The story (or stories) end at World War II. The writing is superb, with descriptions and characters that are fascinating and believable. It evoked fond memories of my days in Japan. But my main dissatisfaction with the book is its lack of a plot. As mentioned, it is more a series of stories, and they depict the Orient (a term now out of fashion) over a period of decades, especially Japan. The author was born in Japan and writes with an insider’s knowledge. Mary’s circumstances and character seem to change radically over time, mainly to suit the story the author means to tell about that particular time frame. I didn’t find her a particularly sympathetic character, either. Even so, the stories, even if they don’t hang together well, are engaging. The writing merits seeing it through to the end. It’s a worthwhile read.