The days before a different war

[spindrifter]

Here is a wonderful story of days spent in Japan before World War II:

The Samurai's Garden by Gail Tsukiyama.

I was almost put off this book by an Amazon review by a notable book person. Fortunately, this is a story that grabbed my interest quickly. I don't want to spoil it for others--let's just say that the Japanese garden is a metaphor that works for all time.