Bicycle Days
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Book Overview
When Alec Stern arrives in Japan, he discovers a land of opportunity. For only in Tokyo could an impressionable young man fresh out of college find, in one stroke, a new job, a new family, and a society that lavishes attention on Japanese-speaking gaijin . Yet, even as Alec claims a place in this new world, he is haunted by memories of the one he left behind--a world once infinitely secure but which disintegrated with the breakup of his parents' marriage. In this incandescently observed novel, John Burnham Schwartz introduces readers to one of the most appealing protagonists in contemporary fiction while enchanting them with the keenness of his eye and the aptness of his voice. Through its exquisitely rendered scenes--a fishing trip of Zen-like serenity; a night at a sex club where giggling businessmen dive into the action--and vividly imagined characters--the laughing mother who taught Alec to ride a bicycle; the beautiful sad Japanese woman who teaches him how to love-- Bicycle Days surprises, moves, and enlightens us as very few books do.
Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:037570275X
ISBN13:9780375702754
Release Date:April 1999
Publisher:Knopf Publishing Group
Length:272 Pages
Weight:0.50 lbs.
Dimensions:0.6" x 5.1" x 8.2"
Customer Reviews
2 ratings
Before "Lost in Translation"
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 18 years ago
Before the white foreigner in Tokyo became a common premise, this book was published. It was the writer's first novel, and I remember seeing it at the Tattered Cover (Denver's famous independent bookstore) and thinking it would be interesting to read about Tokyo and Japanese culture. This was in 1990 -- way before it became "cool" to ponder Japan (and even before we thought they were going to take us over with their televisions). This was also before there was so much hype surrounding novels, before novels were an event, or were praised for having incomplete sentences, stream of conciousness, and being full of themselves (wow, how genius!). I read this book finally a few days ago (a whole decade plus after buying it -- ooops!). I feel it was truly refreshing to read an old school, straight up novel, minus all the "look at how smart I am". It's a coming of age novel, and it was ahead of the Japan-phile curve. I think the other reviewers are kind of hard on this book (of course the narrator is selfish -- he's a recent college grad -- who isn't selfish at this stage?). The book won't change your life, but it's a good read, and you will feel sympathy for the narrator, who is trying to figure out his place in the world.
An Interesting Look into Japan
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 26 years ago
I very much enjoyed JBS's style of writing. His insights into contemporary Japanese culture were interestingly put.I was avidly looking forward to his follow-up, but it would seem he is not writing any longer. It' s too bad.
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