Which Book Did I Prefer and Why?

Every summer I love to lay out in the sun get a nice tan and read. This summer I was required to read three books: Snow Falling on Cedars, East of Eden, and One Writers Beginning. My favorite book out of the three would have to be Snow Falling on Cedars. I enjoyed the romance, the mystery, and at the same time being informed on how racism played a large part on the west coast.

Romance is the component in books that draws you in and makes you want to stay up and read until you find out how it ends. In Snow Falling On Cedars, Ishmael and Hatsue kind of have a Romeo-Juliet thing going on. At a point they both love each other, but they can't be together because of their different races. How they secretly meet hiding their relationship from the rest of the world is very intriguing. It makes you wonder, if they are going to be caught, will they run away and be together forever, or will she turn him down and marry someone else? Of course she realizes she doesn't love him anymore and marries her parents choice. It's not how I would've wanted it to turn out, but it helps make the story.

Murderer's always make the best mysteries. Yet in the book it turns out that there was never a murder, but we don't know that until the end. Suspense is also a key to a great book, and Snow Falling on Cedars definitely has suspense. When Carl Heine is found dead in his cargo net on the side of his boat under the water with a gash in the side of his head, everyone assumes it was a murder. Then throughout the whole book they're trying to find evidence and trying to prove poor innocent Kabuo non-guilty. Yet, Kabuo doesn't have a good enough alibi. The sheriff doesn't know what to believe, and Ishmael is trying to find more clues to prove Kabuo innocent.
Then Ishmael finally finds the ship records and times at the light house for the night of the accident, which is the proof Kabuo needs to keep from prosecution. But does Ishmael want to keep Kabuo around and have Hatsue and him continue their life, while he is still lonely and craving her affection? He apparently wants Hatsue to be happy, because he ends up telling her about the important information and saving Kabuo.

There has always been Racism in the world, it is inevitable. When World War II began it was found every where on the West Coast between the "whites" and the "japs". Because of this racism, there were many consequences. Carl and Kabuo could never have a good friendship. When Kabuo gave Carl a fishing pole, he was so happy, but his mom made him take it back because it was unruly. Then when Kabuo's parents were gave a piece of land for working so hard, they were only able to claim it as their own for a short time, because of the war. Many Japanese had to fight for America and many were sent to camps, they had a few hours to pack everything they could into one suitcase and leave. When Kabuo finally returned along with all the others, his land was taken away from him. Carl Heine passed away and his wife, who had strong dislike towards the Japanese refused to give Kabuo the land his parents worked for many years. She even refused to sell it to him after he raised more than enough money. Then when Carl Heine's death occurred, everyone figured it must have been Kabuo. He knows how to use a gun because he fought in the war, and he just talked to Carl Heine Jr. about the land that morning. The fact that this book tells about the racism people try to hide and cover up, makes it real, and interesting.

This book was the easiest and most interesting book to read. I love books involving court rooms and lawyers, the setting of the book was in a courtroom. With all the good story tellng componets this book contained, It was my favorite and will be remembered for possibly a very long time.