The Ginger Tree

It was the beautiful story and superb acting (after watching this wonderful series) that made me want to read the book..i am not disappointed as I continue to read it.....however, im still not understanding why this book was named the Ginger tree ? Was it because the tree survived the huge earthquake and fires ??? Have I missed the obvious ??? Maybe there is more descriptive understanding further along in the book ..and perhaps its my 83 years which is never helpful these days...im not the bright button that I used to be !!! We will see !!!

This book was a journey in a girls life, that I reflected on. Beautifully written and captavating.I felt her every step, her pain, her love and her rejection.Such a strong story/journey.I named the preschool I was working at "The Ginger Tree". As, it was a big part of my story/journey in my life.It gave me love, strength, pain and finally rejection.But, it was a part of MY story/journey.This is a must read, find your own story/journey. Discover how through everything life hits you with, you will survive.

I was already familiar with the storyline, since in most cases, the book was even better than the screen adaptation I'd seen on PBS years ago.The only problem I had was the tiny type font. I had to use a magnifier sometimes to reduce the eye strain.

A wonderful tale of a young woman entering an entirely new world. Magnificently description of all areas of China and Japan. Mary learns to make hard choices and becomes an independent woman while suffering difficult tragedies. A book to remember!

Published in 1977, I first saw this story as a Masterpiece theater presentation on PBS and knew I wanted to read the original novel. Written in the first person in the form of a diary and letters to family and friends, it is captivating--the "adventures" of a young Scottish woman whose journey leads to challenges full with bittersweet experiences in "foreign" Japan. This unforgettable story still touches my heart. The main character is gifted in fashion design and creation, which is of great interest to me, and I have since purchased the video, which is fascinating in its treatment of Japanese and European fashion of the early 1900's.

I loved this compelling story in unusual surroundings, passion and tradition, in a really beautiful language. I would have never found this book without a reading group, and it would have been a real shame. I WAS in China with her, I WAS in Japan with her, I CRIED for her son.

At first, I found the book interesting but a little slow going. However, after a bit it got really good and was hard to put down. I was sorry when it ended.

This is one of my top five favorite books, and it makes my list of top five favourite endings. It is a remarkable story of crossing cultural boundaries and defining love in a cultural text. The characters are unforgettable. A Japanese friend of mine had a totally different take on this book. I found Kentaro was despicable until I listened to her side of the story. Then I realised how much duty-bound, honour-bound Kentaro really did love Mary. It's difficult sometimes to see other's cultural perspective.

This is one of the few novels I have read twice, it is that good! It is published by Eland Publishing who have a wonderful ethos: “..founded in 1982 to revive great travel books which had fallen out of print. although the list has diversified into biography and fiction, it is united by a quest to define the spirit of a place. These are books for travellers, and for those who are content to travel in their own minds, Eland books ion out our understanding of other cultures, interpret the unknown and reveal different environments as well as celebrating the humour and occasional horrors of travel..”So, what makes this novel so special? It is written in an incredibly readable style, with engaging humour and acute observation. Each sentence can be savoured as you take a wry look at this part of the world; it is a story told with perspicacity and heartfelt empathy. Mary Mackenzie sets out on the SS Mooldera, in the early 20th Century to meet up with her husband-to-be, Richard Collingsworth, who is based in Peking. Theirs is a cold marriage and he seems little interested in her, save that she should bear him a child. She does indeed sire him a daughter, Jane. Shameful events propel her into a new life, and she uproots herself to Tokyo where she settles in reduced circumstances. She is forced to leave Jane with Richard. Her mother by this time has disowned her and she is cast adrift.Lovely details of local life are wonderfully recorded. The Empress with whom she has an audience before her life falls apart sits with her nails covered in silver talons more than 30 cms long. A striking but disabling feature that mean she is totally dependent on her staff. The author time and again comes back to the role of women and has Mary befriending a Japanese female agitator later in the book. These really are times when women had to fight for any rights.It is a fascinating period of history, a time when women are subjugated by society and male dominance. Mary has to navigate her way through an unfamiliar culture and find a way to survive. And survive she does, ending up in one of the big department stores in Tokyo, heading up the fashion department. Japanese women couldn’t get enough of Western fashion and she found a niche that pandered to this trend. After a few setbacks she ploughs forward with her life, determination and stoicism see her through catastrophes and upset.The story is set just after the Boxer Rising in China and then against the Russo-Japanese War. This is a time when foreigners stood out and often not overtly welcome. As the story progresses further events on the world stage influence the life of the protagonist, right up to WW2. The Kantō Earthquake, for example, is detailed; as it took place at lunchtime the braziers were being used all around the city and thus fires devastated large areas leaving 1.9 million people without shelter.The story is told through her diary reminiscences and letters she writes to her friends and mother.She is a survivor and an observer of life from the sidelines. Her story is written with verve, humour and brought to life in wonderful prose. It is a book to savour and enjoy; I am truly appreciative of the excellent writing style. Highly recommended.

This is the story a British colonial wife in China and Japan in the first half of the 20th century - who rises above the almost strangulating limits of her socially defined role to create her own independent life and identity. Most of the story Is located at the complex interface of British and Japanese cultures. Written with huge restraint, the author manages to communicate breath-taking sadness in very few words. For the first half of the book I had wondered if the subject matter was best handled by a male author. But in the later parts the author finds his stride. Well worth reading.

This was a book enjoyed by our book club, in fact I think it was my book of the year. It centres round the life of a young Scottish lass who is travelling to the Far East to marry a chap she hardly knows but to escape her domineering mother and present existence. Beautifully written, I have bought it to give to a friend for her birthday.

I loved reading this book which I enjoyed right to the end. It is written in diary form by a young woman travelling from a Scotland to China to marry a Fellow Scot she met briefly when he was back from his posting in China and visiting family. The story spans her life from age 20 to 60 and her life in China and then mainly in Japan. The author grew up in Japan and his knowledge of the History and lifestyle is beautifully told and very descriptive and informative.I could not stop reading. It is not long -325 pages- which confirms that you do not need 800 pages to write a good story. I recommend this book without hesitation.

A really great read and format. It is written as a group of letters and notebook entries set in the early part of last century. It highlights the difficulties and attitudes faced by women of that era in England, China and Japan.