Black Coffee discussion

This is where we will discussing Fifty Words for Rain by Asha Lemmie.

From debut author Asha Lemmie, a sweeping, heartrending coming-of-age novel about a young woman's quest for acceptance in post–World War II Japan.

Kyoto, Japan, 1948. "If a woman knows nothing else, she should know how to be silent. . . . Do not question. Do not fight. Do not resist." Such is eight-year-old Noriko "Nori" Kamiza's first lesson. She will not question why her mother abandoned her with only these final words. She will not fight her confinement to the attic of her grandparents' imperial estate. And she will not resist the scalding chemical baths she receives daily to lighten her shameful skin.

The illegitimate child of a Japanese aristocrat and her African American GI lover, Nori is an outsider from birth. Though her grandparents take her in, they do so only to conceal her, fearful of a stain on the royal pedigree that they are desperate to uphold in a changing Japan. Obedient to a fault, Nori accepts her solitary life for what it is, despite her natural intellect and nagging curiosity about what lies outside the attic's walls. But when chance brings her legitimate older half-brother, Akira, to the estate that is his inheritance and destiny, Nori finds in him the first person who will allow her to question, and the siblings form an unlikely but powerful bond—a bond their formidable grandparents cannot allow and that will irrevocably change the lives they were always meant to lead. Because now that Nori has glimpsed a world in which perhaps there is a place for her after all, she is ready to fight to be a part of it—a battle that just might cost her everything.

Spanning decades and continents, Fifty Words for Rain is a dazzling epic about the ties that bind, the ties that give you strength, and what it means to try to break free.

Will you be joining us?

I'm in.

I am in also. Thanks

I'm in

I’m in!

Ditto

Looking forward to this book!

I ordered my copy last night. It should be here by Saturday.

Just ordered the book. What time do we meet on the 22nd?

What time do we meet on the 22nd?

I'm really looking forward to this! I first heard of it here, but I have known people of various Japanese/non-Japanese blends who went through heavy racism (one emigrated to India where his dad had come from but I met him in the States and others to Canada or the States). Half white, half black, half anything-not-Japanese has long been tough and you have to have that listed on your identity information.

Ironically, jazz is very popular in Japan.

Sounds gooood

Yes. Waiting for it at the library.

My book finally came. I started reading it. I’m up to page 47 (chapter 3). So far, it’s so sad. Nori has just met her brother. I hope he’s nicer to her than her grandparents.

Just finished. Looking forward to discussion!

The kindle edition is currently on sale for $2.99.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082ZQ8WRT/...

Read this story last week. Enjoyed it more than I thought. Started and finished during spring break cruise.

I need to start this! I got mixed up and started reading The Other Black Girl by mistake--I didn't finish OGB it since it wasn't what I thought (view spoiler)[when it gets to the part about spies and agents, etc (hide spoiler)]. I'll pull this book up and add it to my roster, although I am in the thick of three other books at the moment.

Is there a meet up for this book club? If so, when?

Ryan wrote: "Is there a meet up for this book club? If so, when?"

Hi Ryan! We don’t do “live” discussions, we just keep a continuous conversation going in the thread. So whenever you have a question or comment you can post it and toward the end of the of the month. I’ll go in and post some questions about the overall reading.

Karin wrote: "I need to start this! I got mixed up and started reading The Other Black Girl by mistake--I didn't finish OGB it since it wasn't what I thought [spoilers removed]. I'll pull this bo..."

I didn’t care for this book at all Karin. Lol. I’d love to hear your perspective once you finish though. Lol

Lulu wrote: "Ryan wrote: "Is there a meet up for this book club? If so, when?"

Hi Ryan! We don’t do “live” discussions, we just keep a continuous conversation going in the thread. So whenever you have a questi..."

Sounds good. Thank you, Karin!

This book raises so many complex issues. At the end, she chooses loyalty, obligation and legacy over her own happiness? Though honorable, is the cost too high?

Lulu wrote: "Karin wrote: "I need to start this! I got mixed up and started reading The Other Black Girl by mistake--I didn't finish OGB it since it wasn't what I thought [spoilers removed]. I'l..."

I didn't finish it, so went and read the ending. I'll send you a PM on some of my thoughts :) I can't since you're not accepting messages (don't blame you!) so I sent you a friend request in case that works.

Ha! I didn’t Even realize that. Lol!

I am just getting started; so far, she has met her brother and gets out of the attic from 9-5 Monday through Friday. As far as I can tell, even though he’s not the best companion in the world, he is a Godsend for her.

I have finished part I and I am devastated. That grandmother of hers is one awful lady (and I'm keeping it clean). I was thinking that her brother was going to save her and make her life worth living, I even thought that maybe Nori would follow and super succeed in his footsteps and become a world renown violinist. I liked how he stood up to his grandmother; however, his grandmother outsmarted him. Again, I am devastated for Nori.
I am really enjoying this book. I'll be back with my thoughts after part II.

I have it, but have been distracted by the second book of a scifi trilogy and reading humour in a Vinyl Cafe book. I'll start it tonight before I go back to those books. I am hoping that I like it better than the OBG which was a dnf!

I started this the other night and so far, so good! This is much better than The Other Black Girls. If the book keeps on like this it is going to get either 4 or 5 stars. I have made it to the end of chapter 8.

I am on chapter 5 and I am loving it too!

Last night I planned to read only 2 chapters before continuing with another book, but ended up reading only this. I'm most of the way through.

Once again, I am trailing behind… I am enjoying the book, however. I am up to the point where Nori has fallen I’ll with Scarlet Fever and her brother is insistent on her being treated. Nori‘a caregiver, Akiko hints at something foreboding and somewhat ironic. “ I serve the family. And somewhere along the way, I came to serve the little madam. She has a part to play in life also, that much will be clear soon enough. Let her have her Eden. Let her have a few more years of relative happiness. She deserves that much, I think.”

Her Eden?? Relative Happiness?! This poor child has been isolated and abused, and the only joy she has is spending time with her brother. This makes me think, things are only going to get worse for her.

I’ve just finished part 1. Poor Nori, my heart aches for her.

This is the best book I have read in a long time. I am on chapter 11. I am going back and forth between the audio and the traditional text. Loving it. Looking forward to the discussion.

I finished it. In the end I'm going to be giving it 4 stars, but I am really impressed by this debut novel. I think Asha Lemmie is going to grow and an author and hope it doesn't take too many years before her next novel is published. The things that made it 4 stars are more debut/rookie things, and I'm really happy to have read this even though it was rather dark. I'm looking forward to the discussion :)

I don't give out very many 5 stars, and 4 stars is very good for me--beyond just a like.

Well, I've finished the book. Nori had such a rough life. Talking about the ending, some family traits will always be the same. I was very disappointed about Nori's decision - to me she ended up behaving like her grandmother. I wonder if her grandmother started out innocent and as she became more powerful she became more callous. I would like to hear how others felt about the ending.

Carmaleeta wrote: "Well, I've finished the book. Nori had such a rough life. Talking about the ending, some family traits will always be the same. I was very disappointed about Nori's decision - to me she ended up be..."

I didn't like the ending at all and felt it was out of character for her to become just like her grandmother; it was rather abrupt. She chose a life of pain, but also, in 1965 Japan a half-Japanese women was not going to get the same respect as her full Japanese grandmother no matter how she played the game.

Japanese has a very long history of racism, including their 274 year isolationist policy Sakoku, and traditionally as a country (obviously not everyone thought that way) everyone who is not Japanese is inferior and all mixed race children were despised vehemently--things have improved, particularly in 21st C Japan, but you still have your racial heritage printed on your identity card and it affects hiring, housing, etc.

Sadly, in 1965 a half-black woman could not have done what her grandmother told her to do.

There are a fair number of Japanese Canadians where I grew up plus immigrants, and I have worked with mixed race Japanese born people who left due to serious problems (born in the 1950s, 1960s and after.)

The good news is that I met a couple of missionaries from Japan, mixed race couple, and their daughters have things much better now; one is working as a doctor and she went to university this century.

I agree with the majority of you. I didn't care for the ending at all. It's like she sacrificed so much, just to fall back in line. But....if you think about it, all Nori knew was obedience, so I guess it makes sense.

If this were made into a movie or TV series, who do you see playing the characters?

I did not like the ending as many of you but i understood the sacrifice she made for those coming after her. I think she was raised to not want much for herself and it think of herself an not of much value. This gave an opportunity to be of importance and a symbol. I don’t think it was as hard as we think to sacrifice her personal life. A question of restoring honor.

I just completed Part I and I am loving it. I knew that old snake would strike soon. Akira was making her give into too many demands.

I am about to start part three. So far, I have not met any happy people in this book; I am so glad to be reading it, though.

I have just started Part III as well, and so far I am loving this book. I was just speaking to someone in a clubhouse room who raved over the book.

I just completed Part III, and all I can say is wow. I definitely didn’t see that coming. I need to take a few breaths before starting Part IV.

I need to catch up to you Bernie, I'm still in part 3. I am loving this book!

“A hush fell over the room. Even the clocks stopped their ticking”. Well, dayum! This book

I just finished the book. It was really good. The ending wasn't bad. It just didn't end, the way folks wanted it to. ☺️
The majority of Nori's life was filled with pain and suffering. Although she made a big sacrifice in the end, I think it was easier for her than we may think. She was used to being mistreated and obeying blindly. I think it was also her way of leaving a legacy behind.

Dosha (Bluestocking7) wrote: "I need to catch up to you Bernie, I'm still in part 3. I am loving this book!"

Since I have 2 other books to finish this month for book clubs, I had to tunnel through.

I'm going to start chapter 15 after church tomorrow. I need to make my potato salad now. This book ain't no joke, 😳

I’ve been thinking on this, but how do you think the title plays into the story?

Also, have you read any other stories like this?? This meaning the main character is a black bi-racial and takes place in a country other than America?

Lulu wrote: "I’ve been thinking on this, but how do you think the title plays into the story?

Also, have you read any other stories like this?? This meaning the main character is a black bi-racial and takes p..."

I was thinking about that as I read it, and I am sure it was the editor or publisher who chose or suggested the title--this is very common in the publishing industry, especially with debut authors or those early in their career. There aren't that many references to different terms for rain in the book but I can see that it fits with so many aspects of the book. There was that one scene were a couple of words came up, but other than that I can't remember much about hearing different words for rain (but for all I know there could have been more prior to editing.)

However, unlike the myth that the Inuit (Americans often call the Inuit Eskimo but this is a not correct in Canada) have 50 words for snow, there really are 50 words for rain in Japanese--I looked it up :) https://www.japan-talk.com/jt/new/why...

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