Bundori

Book Description

It is early spring, 1679, and the feudal Japanese capital, Edo, is beginning to blossom. But along its peaceful, misty streets evil lurks. With one stroke, the favored vassal of the ruling family is decapitated, his head taken for a bundori -- a war trophy.
Sano Ichiro, the shogun's Most Honorable Investigator of Events, Situations, and People, is called to find the culprit. In a city where danger and deceit lie just below the lush surface, Sano must rely on his mind, his instincts, and his noble training in Bushido -- the Way of the Warrior -- to solve this case that could bring him glory...or everlasting shame. Set against a backdrop of sumptuous castles, tawdry pleasure districts, and serene temples, and filled with unforgettable, rich characters, Bundori is breathtaking entertainment.

Customer Reviews:

Bundori Review.......2006-10-20

This book seemed to explore too many avenues and had the usual formula to cover up the "who did it" scenario in a murder mystery. Sometimes I was quite disturbed with the sexual subject matter. The authour did spend sometime researching and giving fantastic imagery to medieval Japan. So I felt I was enlightened in that respect. The ending is really rushed and not conventional. I thought is was weak and the overall story was robbed because of it.

Sano Ichiro faces off against a mad killer and the weight of bushido.......2006-01-19

Laura Joh Rowland's "Bundori" continues the saga of young Sano Ichiro, hero of her earlier novel "Shinju." While "Bundori" opens with Sano enjoying the fruits of his successful murder investigation in the earlier novel, he finds his enjoyment tempered by several burdens.

First and foremost, Sano has advanced through the ranks to become a valued-but-low-ranking member of the Shogun's vast entourage. While to an outsider, such a station would be an unmitigated pleasure, particularly in the hyper-class-conscious culture of Japan under the Tokugawa Shoguns. Unfortunately, the rigid code of Bushido, which all samurai must honor with their very lives, demands that a subordinate can never contradict a superior official . . . and Sano is now surrounded by superior officials.

The strictures of Bushido are difficult to bear under the most hum-drum of circumstances, but the code becomes quite the lodestone for Sano when he is assigned by the Shogun as the chief investigator of a recent murder. An aged, loyal aide to the Shogun has been horribly murdered, decapitated with one sword cut. The lopped-off head has been put on a spike as a seeming war trophy -- a "bundori" -- with an obscure name attached to it on a scrap of paper. As a famous investigator, Sano is charged with discovering the murderer.

But this task is made just about impossible by the fact that several of the suspects are Sano's superiors, including the jealous, all-powerful chamberlain - second only to the Shogun in terms of temporal power. Not only is the chamberlain a suspect, he fosters an outright hatred of Sano and seems to be actively opposing the investigation, although his motives for his hatred aren't clear.

In a brief novel (340-odd pages, but with a big font), Rowland keeps things going at a quick pace. Themes of duty and honor predominate, but Rowland still finds time for torrid romance, quick humor, and several chilling passages where we lurk inside the mind of the murderer, a horrifying killer whose murderous fantasies involve battles and slights from over 100 years in the past. Rowland's Japan comes through with clarity and with beauty on every single page.

While perhaps a pedestrian mystery (something along the lines of Sharon Kay Penman's medieval mysteries), "Bundori" is still a darn good read and a worthy sequel to her highly enjoyable "Shinju." I'm definitely looking forward to diving into the later works in this series.

The Politics Begin.......2005-08-06

Having started the stories of Sano Ichiro with Shinju, I decided to progress onto the second book instead of jumping around in the series. I found the book to be enjoyable in both its changes and simularites.

The story takes place just a couple of months after Shinju. Sano is learning his way around the ways of Edo Castle and his new lord, Tokugawa. When the Bundori killings begin (bundori is the ritual preparation of the head of one's enemy in the time of war. A war trophy), Sano is assigned to arrest the murdered.

Not only does the murder plot, steeped in the history of one of the most notorious generals in the rise of the Tokugawa dynasty, engage the reader and keep the reader off guard, the polical development of the story is rich and shows the venonous trends of life in Edo Castle.

The story adds a number of interesting characters to the tapestry of Rowland's Edo. Hirata is competent and a good potential assistant to Sano. Aoi adds a new dynamic to the entire setting. She is strong and has her internal conflicts than carry on through the story.

There is more to the book than plot and an interesting setting though, the end of the story sees a genuine change in the character. I definitely look forward to reading Way of the Traitor to see how that change is carried on to the next story.
The book is a good and entertaining read.

Fun Detective story,.......2005-02-07

I like all of the stories in this series. Not as much for the detective aspect, wich is good, but more for the office politics correlations to real life. It's sad but true, that ability and performance will always be targeted by insecure non talents more than they will be rewarded for greatness. If you've ever felt like this you will relate to this hero, as he tries to balance being a good man and still keep his job.

Interesting but bit bland.......2004-06-07

This is my second Laura Joh Rowland book and like the one I read before (Perfumed Sleeve), I found this book to be pretty interesting and its murder-mystery premises to be entertaining and easy to follow. Once more, Sano Ichiro goes forth against all evil to overcome and solved the crime.

I think this is a pretty decent book and it could have been better if the main villian wasn't so one dimensional. The Yanagisawa character proves to be very cardboard like in its characterization. Once more, I think that the author's understanding of Tokugawa politics appears to be very limited. Nobody with Yanagisawa's personality and tact as described in the book would last very long in samurai politics. Another thing is that the author seem to think that homosexual politics was paramount within the Tokugawa bakufu. Unfortunately for the author, homosexual activities in Japan was no more and probably no less then those in Europe. Why an all powerful Yanagisawa would ever fear a relatively nobody just because the Shogun seem to be mildy fond of him proves to be totally illogical. Another interesting oversight was the fact that Sano wears a Tokugawa crest when he works. That crest alone, would historically give him almost unlimited powers. No mere police officials would stand in his way or anyone's way if that individual was wearing the Tokugawa crest on his back. It appears that the author seem to be putting artifical elements in her story to created artifical dangers for her hero.

While good reading overall, the writing proves to be relatively lightweight in material and plot.

Average customer rating:
Bundori
L. Roulend
Manufacturer: AST
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 5170191294

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Bundori
Laura Joh Rowland
Manufacturer: HarperTorch
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OF0N3U

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Bundori
Laura Joh Rowland
Manufacturer: SOLD.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OP5GPA

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Bundori (The Bestseller)
L. Roulend
Manufacturer: AST
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

All Russian Books | Russian | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books
ASIN: 5170329288

Product Description

Edo. 1689 god. Gorod, kotoryj esche neskol'ko vekov ne pereimenuyut v Tokio. Novaya stolitsa novoj epokhi samurajskoj epokhi Tokugava No imenno v samurajskoj stolitse vstupayut v igru-skhvatku voiny, pochitayuschie kodeks busido, man'yak-ubijtsa, vystavlyayuschij napokaz ''bundori'' otrublennye golovy svoikh zhertv, i byvshij yoriki Sano Isiro, vyzvannyj iz pochetnoj otstavki samim syogunom.Usloviya igry prosty: proigravshij sledovatel' ili ubijtsa obyazan, soglasno kodeksu busido, sdelat' kharakiri

Bundori. Ein Roman aus der Welt der Samurai.

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Bundori. Ein Roman aus der Welt der Samurai.
Laura Joh Rowland
Manufacturer: Lübbe
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 3785709781

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Bundori (Bestseller)
L. Roulend
Manufacturer: AST
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

All Russian Books | Russian | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books
ASIN: 5170270704

Product Description

...Edo. 1689 god. Gorod, kotoryj esche neskol'ko vekov ne pereimenuyut v Tokio. Novaya stolitsa novoj epokhi - samurajskoj epokhi Tokugava...No imenno v samurajskoj stolitse vstupayut v smertel'nuyu igru-skhvatku voiny, pochitayuschie kodeks busido, - man'yak-ubijtsa, vystavlyayuschij napokaz ''bundori'' - otrublennye golovy svoikh zhertv, - i byvshij ''eriki'' Sano Isiro, vyzvannyj iz pochetnoj otstavki samim segunom.Usloviya igry prosty: proigravshij - sledovatel' ili ubijtsa - obyazan, soglasno kodeksu busido, sdelat' kharakiri...

Sovieto Teikoku no bunkatsu: Nichi Bei Doku no bundori kassen ga hajimaru (Kappa business)

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Sovieto Teikoku no bunkatsu: Nichi Bei Doku no bundori kassen ga hajimaru (Kappa business)
Naoki Komuro
Manufacturer: Kobunsha
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Japanese | Foreign Language Nonfiction | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

History | Japanese | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books

Nonfiction | Japanese | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books

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ASIN: 4334012469

Book Description

A Debutante Deceived . . .
Is Dangerous Indeed!

What makes a lady? Morgan Becket wouldn't know. The scandalous debutante is being sent off to London to have her first Season in hopes a gentleman will finally tame her. Yet shortly into her journey she meets Ethan Tanner, Earl of Aylesford -- of noble blood, but surely too wild, too unprincipled, too unsuited for Morgan. Or perhaps too well suited.

Since Morgan has always wanted anything everyone else says she can't have, Ethan is perfect for her. But upon arriving at Morgan's Romney Marsh home where Ethan wants to ask for her hand -- he's already had her body -- she realizes her suitor may have an ulterior motive for making her his wife. And a deceived debutante is a dangerous debutante . . . Lord Aylesford, beware!

Customer Reviews:

Not sure why anyone would rate this 5 stars...........2006-09-11

I'm only giving it 4 because I felt it deserved slightly more than a 3. I wrote a review on her first book of the series and will say the same thing here. This series is just not living up to previous Ms. Michaels' work and sure as heck doesn't compare to such greats as Julia Quinn, Judith McNaught or Lisa Kleypas. I just feel like everything was more forced and that less effort went into this series.

I made it through this 2nd one with a little more enthusiasm than the first because I thought Morgan was more interesting than Julie. At least Ms. Michaels tried to do a little more character depth with Morgan than any characters in her first book, but I don't feel like I ever got to know Ethan. He was just some guy whom everyone thought was a fool but he wasn't. Oh, and (as it is said over and over in the book) he is just like Morgan... "like recognizes like". Is that supposed to excuse the lack of background or development of his character? I'm not sure.
The action was weak, the mystery portion of this book was lower than the first (less island hints), but I will give the passion points. I did believe the passion between Morgan and Ethan and how quickly it came about (which I did not in the first) and there relationship was much more caring, understanding, and deep than her previous book.
I am reading the 3rd book so clearly I don't hate the series, I'm guess I'm just disappointed. I can only hope that each book gets better as we go; as I am starting Beware of Virtuous Women and Eleanor didn't catch my attention like Morgan did. I will write a review of that one when I finish it (which may be tomorrow or next week depending on the writing).

Not to be missed!!.......2006-04-23

Morgan is traveling to London to have her first Season. She will be staying with her brother Chance and his wife Julia. Morgan and Jacob, her long time friend who is traveling with her, are about to continue on their journey after taking a brief rest when Morgan sees a magnificent horse being led toward the stables. Morgan approaches the horse, and after admiring the animal for a while, she turns her attention to his owner. She is stunned by the handsome man staring at her.

Ethan is mesmerized by Morgan's beauty. Her fiery spirit and outgoing nature captivate him. Discovering that Morgan is unattached, Ethan decides to remedy that by escorting her to town. Along the way Morgan's witty banter is equaled by Ethan's and the two discover that their attraction is mutual and undeniable. During the ride Ethan is determined to make Morgan his. But Morgan is not the type to be kept.

After arriving at Chance's home, Chance and Ethan recognize each other, but they keep that information to themselves for the time being. They each hold secrets and both intend to find out what the other is hiding.
As it turns out, Ethan requires the Becket family's assistance in carrying out his secret mission. Once Chance discovers that Ethan is playing the right side, he obliges. Morgan realizes something is going on and soon she and Ethan are off encountering danger and giving in to their passions.

Morgan and Ethan seem destined to be together. Morgan's friend Jacob has a hard time accepting things though, and as a result Morgan's relationship with him undergoes a sad and sudden change causing Morgan to question herself. Once at Becket Hall, Morgan realizes that where she comes from is not nearly as important as who she is, and she knows now that she has indeed found her destiny.

What a marvelous book The Dangerous Debutante is! I am hard pressed to think of a couple more suited and more entertaining than Morgan and Ethan. I simply adore this story and these two magnificent characters. Morgan is stunning, brave, strong-willed and free spirited. At the same time she often shows her vulnerable and innocent side. Ethan's devastating good looks along with his wit and charm make him the perfect match for Morgan. The Dangerous Debutante has just the right combination of mystery, action, sensuality and drama. It's a wonderful historical romance that should not be missed!

Nannette
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

amusing well written historical .......2006-04-14

In 1812 her adopted father Captain Ainsley Beckett sends his oldest daughter Morgan from their home in Romney Marsh to London to have a season sponsored by his oldest adopted son Chance and the lad's wife Julia (see A GENTLEMAN BY ANY OTHER NAME) though he fears for the Ton when the outrageous high spirited woman takes the city. On the trek, Morgan decides she needs to ride her horse over the objection of her servant. This break from societal rules enables her to meet an Earl, Ethan Tanner of Tanner's Roost.

Attracted to her beauty, intelligence and ?lan, Ethan persuades her to come to his estate so that she can prepare properly for her arrival in London with him as her escort. In fact he wants her to meet his eccentric mom who runs off any eligible female with her zany behavior. Instead Morgan and Lady Tanner hit it off as kindred sisters. As they make love and fall in love, Ethan wants to marry Morgan, but she refuses as she feels she is beneath his position in society as he an Earl and she an adopted street urchin.

The second Becketts of Romney Marsh is a wonderful Regency romance starring a wild female daredevil and the Earl who matches her zaniness (after all it is in his blood). The story line focuses on their relationship as everyone including Ethan wants Morgan married to him; that is everyone except her. She assumes that you can take the girl out of the street, but you can't take the street out of the girl. The tale focuses on Ethan's efforts to convince her that he does not care using his eccentric mom as his proof. Kasey Michaels is two for two so far in what is proving to be an amusing well written historical series.

Harriet Klausner

DANGEROUS DEBUTANTE (BECKETS OF ROMNEY MARSH, NO 2)

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DANGEROUS DEBUTANTE (BECKETS OF ROMNEY MARSH, NO 2)
KASEY MICHAELS
Manufacturer: Harlequin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000QJDX4K

DANGEROUS DEBUTANTE (BECKETS OF RMONEY MARSH)

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DANGEROUS DEBUTANTE (BECKETS OF RMONEY MARSH)

Manufacturer: Harlequin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000H6HD2U

Customer Reviews:

Great read, even for a comic newbie like me.......2007-09-22

This is really something I could say is a Graphic Novel without smirking. I'm no veteran when it comes to comics, but I've lent it out to a few people I know that are, and they rave about it as well. It's very much like a Fear And Loathing influenced cyberpunk tale of journalism in a future that, for all its random technical advances, is still populated by people and therefore still plagued by the same kinds of problems we face today.

Graphic SF Reader.......2007-09-03

A couple of people are Lusting for his Life. There is a dog with no balls, his ex-wife, a dog of a different sort who is just a head, and his editor, The Whorehopper, still wants work.

Spider has gained notoriety for doing some good in the whole people who want to be aliens thing, and this helps him here.

He also manages to throw in a couple of good rants.

The Adventures of Outlaw Journalism Continue.......2006-05-24

Fresh off the introductory story found in Transmetropolitan Vol. 1, Ellis settles down in this second collection and really finds his stride. The distinctive art style Darick Robertson brings to the table continues to evolve as well, and throughout a wide range of moods and topics, both the writing and the art keep a remarkably steady grip on the situation.

That's some challenge, considering the manic insanity Spider Jerusalem represents, wandering through a post-post-postmodern Gomorrah like The City. In this volume you'll find Spider confronting the evils of Editors, Popularity, Assisants, Television, Ex-Wives and Religion, all in his ususal, shoot-first-and-ask-questions-of-the-survivors style.

Particularly noteworthy in this collection is the introduction of the Filthy Assistant Channon Yarrow, the incumbent President known as The Beast, and a touching story about people who literally outlive their place in the world, and what happens afterward.

If by the time you've finished this book, you're not after the rest of the series, then there's truly no hope for your tiny mammalian brain.

i love transmetropolitan.......2006-02-08

while the first book of the series introduced us to spider jerusalem, this one shows how much @ss he actually kicks. i have yet to read the other nine books following this one, but im definately going to end up getting them all. if they would ever make a movie about this series, then they better use an indy cinema. this is too good for hollywood. i hope they dont though. get this one second. of course you should read them in order! thats why the volumes have numbers!

for those who need someone to be angry for them.......2005-07-29

Transmetropolitan centers around a columnist who acts, even while he seems sober, like Hunter S. Thompson on a bender. With a the insanity that statement alone would put in your mind the futuristic world he inhabits is almost as insane. Always entertaining and at times, for some out there, offensive know this: even though this self rightous journalist is without much regard for those around him he will hunt the really bad people in soceity with his trusty bowel disruptor.

Customer Reviews:

A Mixture.......2007-04-07

This was the first popular esoteric rune book to contain some real academic research on runes. Thorsson's PhD gives him the background, research skills, and access to sources to put together a very impressive work. The awkward, dry, scholarly writing style adds to the percieved credibility.

Unfortunately, as we can see from other reviews, the average reader tends to accept the book as historical facts about the original runic traditions of Viking & pre-Viking times. Although the book is a cut above the New-Age pack, claims of authenticity are misleading.

Although it contains some good research that most of the other rune manuals lack, the esoteric ideas are largely based on the Armanen system invented in Germany in the early 1900s. The Armanen system was typical of the occultism of the day, mixing romanticised & poorly researched ideas about runes with poorly understood techniques borrowed from yoga, and a touch of Western ceremonial magic (itself mainly descended from Hebrew sources). It was a mish-mash of systems not so different from the anything-goes New-Age fusions of today.

The only problem with the book is that it does not always clearly separate recent inventions from pre-Christian sources, leaving the reader with the impression that it describes a pre-Christian esoteric tradition. It also contains a fair amount of speculation about historical sources that is not clearly identified as such, or made to look more credible than it really is (eg his argument for rune postures).

This book is useful to those interested in esoteric runology, but those interested in re-creationist or historical rune magic need to take it with a grain of salt. Read it, but first do the groundwork and look at the historical facts, then feel free to make your own speculations rather than rely on the imagination of the popular authors.

Sweyn
The Rune Primer

For runic concepts in magic ,this book is the best........2006-09-07

For many readers who are casually interested in the runes this book may not be for you. Most people who are interested in the runes wish to read about the divinitory aspects and learn them to gain a extraordinary council. However this book is not geared towards this reader aswell.It is a comprehensive book that covers the dynamics of runic "magic" and persuades the reader to go into thier unconcience mind to open powers that have always been there. If you are serious about runic cocepts this is the book for you.

Excellent Introduction to the Runes.......2006-08-22

This book is the first thing I think of when trying to introduce a person to the concept of the runes, including their symbology, magic, lore, and divination uses. You can tell the author has made a deep connnection with the runic system, and "knows his stuff". Worthwhile read, essential for anyone wanting to learn the secrets of the Runes.

Exactly what I was looking for.......2006-05-05

This is a great book. If you are looking for a book on using the runes for magic this is the book. Great info on the runes along with keywords, color attributions and astrological connections.

I have one critisism however, which in the end is not even that bad. As one reviewer mentions he gives body stances to enter into to better connect with the rune. From my time in magic I think he either missed this blind or knew of it and passed it on. One does not get into a physical position to invoke its power. Think more on an astral and mental level and you are close. If you use it in the section where you are training to use the rune after 10 minutes of visualizing in your minds eye your getting hotter. I won't cheat you out of the rest of the discovery.

All in all a great book without loads of historical b.s. to contend with. I got what I needed and did not have to go through a history class to get it. Mucho kudos.

Very informative..........2006-03-26

This is a really great book! It's very informative and great for a beginner to start out with. :o)

Futhark: La Magia De Las Runas / Futhark: A Handbook of Rune Magic

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Futhark: La Magia De Las Runas / Futhark: A Handbook of Rune Magic
Edred Thorsson
Manufacturer: Obelisco
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Futhark: A Handbook of Rune Magic

Manufacturer: Samuel Weiser, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000GX72MA

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Futhark: A Handbook of Rune Magic
Edred Thorsson
Manufacturer: Samuel Weiser
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000JPV0DM

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