Sayonara

A Novel

By: James A. Michener

Narrated by: Larry McKeever

Length: 8 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's summary

From a great master of historical fiction comes a brilliant tale of love amid war. James A. Michener combines powerful storytelling with deep sensitivity in this novel of a US army man who, against all odds, falls for a fascinating Japanese woman. Stationed in the exotic Far East, Major Lloyd Gruver considers himself lucky. The son of a general, dating the daughter of another powerful military family, he can look forward to a bright future. And he just can't understand guys like Private Joe Kelly, who throw away their lives in the States by marrying local girls. But then Lloyd meets Hana-ogi. After that, nothing matters anymore...nothing but her.

"While he fascinates and engrosses, Michener also educates." Los Angeles Times

©1953 James A Michener (P)2015 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Sentence for sentence, writing's fastest attention grabber." The New York Times

Have we learned anything from ours nations wars?

I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Mr and Mrs Michener, on the island of Bora Bora of all places. They were filming a special for PBS. I sat next to Mrs Michener on the flight out of the island and came away with a great admiration for the woman and her unstinting support of her husband’s work.
I am now at a point in my life where I am “cleaning up” and reading those books of favorite authors I had missed. Which brought me to Sayonara. I don’t know if the book is in any way autobiographical (Mrs Michener is/was Asian) or if Michener just wanted to remind us of how far we have come with respecting other people. Or have we? Just when I think congratulations are in order, I turn on the news.

Beautiful ending.

Great ending. Sad. But hauntingly beautiful. The book reads like a movie. And he doesn't leave any loose ends, although short for a Michener. Historically and mischievously ichiban. A no punches time capsule.

You might ask why all the stars

The movie was better. It is a fine movie, one that I liked enough to purchase a DVD. Michener name has been attached to many locales and was familiar to me many years ago (at least 60). I hate books where men have to write about women as a central part of the story. Oh well, especially, if you have seen the movie it is important for you to learn that Hollywood ended the story better than the author of the book. How many books have your read which have been made into movies. How few have faithfully depicted the author's intent. I can name one: The Silence of the Lambs. Maybe 2, The Uninvited with Ray Milland and Ruth Hussy. I am grateful that Sayonara has been recorded because reading is difficult and I would have hated to miss it.

I should have read Sayonnara many years ago

This book & it's reader were so hard to put down.
Looking forward to other writings by Michener

Sayonara

Beautiful and touching. Oh how I hated to say Sayonara. That can't be the end. Broke my heart. I want more and more

Narrated?

Is there anything you would change about this book?

It is a shame that such a good story was narrated so badly. It sounded as if the narration was just read by someone who stumbled and bumbled his way to the end.

Such a period piece

As we watch the 2016 US elections unfold along with a renewed unleashing of racism, bigotry and xenophobia , this book reminds me that the more things change the more they stay the same!
Ms P

Sayonara

Sweet, sad tale set in post war Japan. I learned a lot about the military, the Japanese people and their ways. I felt like I traveled back in time to a Japan long gone. Michener did it again.

a racist mess read by a robot

fascinating Time capsule if you love Michener or Shogun-esque books. otherwise save your credit

Review of Sayonara audio book reader's work.

I can't write a review. This is the first audio book i have ever listened to but so far it's ok.