The first thing popped up in my mind when I got to the last page:“Gosh, what a boring book.”I mean I really want to like this book, because it deals with difficult issue, and you thought it would be interesting, but it just… didn’t. It’s boring. The characters are all one-dimensional and full of cliches. And they say cliche things to each other.So the story goes around Hana, a Japanese American, who is suffering from Werner’s syndrome, a disease that makes a person age at twice the rate of a healthy person. At 38, she has the appearance of an 80 years old. Cate, her mother, is caring for her while struggling with the loss of her husband, Max. Then there are Laura, Hana’s childhood friend, and her 2 daughters, who Hana have not met for 10 years, who give her a surprise visit.The story only gets a tiny bit more interesting after they all meet, which is only at the last third of the book. The first two third is full of Hana and Cate’s flashbacks (which, again, I found boring). The only elements that I found interesting are the Japanese American internment camp during WWII (something I never heard before) and the downs of looking Asian in 70s US. Oh and of course, some facts about Werner’s syndrome.The funny thing is, I have another book about a little girl who suffers from Progeria. The affected people age a lot faster than Werner’s syndrome, which makes them rarely pass their teens, while people with Werner usually do not live pass late 40s or early 50s. Also, Werner’s syndrome only shows up when the person reaches puberty, then they start to age rapidly in their twenties. Child with Progeria shows symptoms since they’re babies. So in this other book, I just saw a 14 year-old child that looks very old, who may not live very long, and she’s real. I see pictures of her. In Dreaming Water, Hana gets to live up to 38 years-old and her mother keeps complaining about how young she is. And they’re fictional. So, you see where I’m getting at. The impact was just not there. I know they’re all horrible diseases, but relatively, I feel a lot more for Ashley than Hana.
Such a sad story, very moving and touching. i just love the way Gail Tsukiyama write, like her other book I've read "Women of Silk" this book was also very descriptive and emotional. Flipping through the first few pages of this book I've already felt bad for the protagonist Hanna. She is suffering from Werner's Syndrome, which is a disease that makes a person twice as old as they really are and her mother Cate has to take care of her all the time. i found her mother Cate to be a really strong person, to be having to see Hana suffer from the syndrome everyday and still take care of her also while trying recover from the loss of her husband. The way Cate act makes me feel glad that Hana has a mother who is always there for her.besides Cate being a strong person Hana also seems to be a strong girl too. She has to suffer from the Werner Syndrome but she's not afraid,not complaining, it seems as if she's trying to live life to it's fullest. But soon as Hana's Childhood best friend comes to visit it changes Hana's life. i Really Like Laura throughout this book, she was always there for Hana. This book was mainly full of flashbacks that got boring at some point but it brought up a lot of emotions, and it seemed like i was there, in the story, just watching the things that Cate, Hana and Laura goes through everyday. A Beautifully written book that is worth reading.
Do You like book Dreaming Water (2008)?
This is the first book I've read by Gail Tsukiyama but will be looking to add her other books to my "to-read" list. I thought this one was excellent, it grabbed me right away and I found it hard to put down.The book only covers a two day period...but we learn so much in those two days! It's the story of a mother's courage, a daughter's strength as they both deal with Werner's Syndrome, which is a disease that makes a person age at twice the rate of a healthy individual; and a friend's love.The cover here is a little deceiving...it is the cover of the book I read...but mine was definitely not on a kindle. Not that that matters at all, but just wanted to let everyone know.
—Debbie
Het boek vertelt het verhaal van Hana en haar moeder Cate, om en om is een hoofdstukje aan een van hen gewijd. Hierdoor krijg je inzicht in hoe de beide vrouwen bepaalde gebeurtenissen beleven, zoals bijvoorbeeld een bezoek aan de huisarts.Hana lijdt aan het syndroom van Werner, een ziekte die iemand twee keer zo snel doet verouderen als normaal. Op haar achtendertigste ziet ze eruit alsof ze tachtig is. Cate zorgt voor haar. Dat is geen sinecure: zij treurt om de dood van Max, haar man, en moet tegelijkertijd het verdriet over haar zieke dochter verwerken.De dagen van Hana en Cate verlopen rustig en geordend. Cate werkt 's morgens -als het weer dit toelaat- in de tuin en Hana leest, luistert muziek. 's Middags doen ze dingen gezamenlijk. De twee vrouwen leven hoofdzakelijk in het verleden, terwijl ze ieder op hun eigen wijze hun herinneringen aan de vooroordelen van hun omgeving verwerken: Max' ouders waren als Japanse immigranten geïnterneerd tijdens de Tweede Wereldoorlog, en Cate is van Italiaanse afkomst.Maar dan verschijnt Laura, de beste vriendin van Cate, op het toneel. Laura vindt dat Hana kennis moet maken met Laura's dochters. Wanneer Laura met haar complexe, drukke en luidruchtige bestaan het rustige leventje van Hana en Cate binnendringt, begint het verhaal pas echt.
—Janneke
This book was about a sad situation but so filled with love. When Hana was 23, she looked like she was in her 50s. By the time she was in her 40's, she had thinning grey hair, had broken her hip, had ulcers all over her legs and feet and was aging rapidly. She was diagnosed with Werner's syndrome which caused her to age twice as fast as normal. She was still optimistic and tried to live her life as fully as possible. With the love of her devoted mother and her dearest childhood friend, and 2 god-daughters; she finds the strength to go on. This is a beautifully told story about a mother's love and a friend's determination to be there for her in every way. This is the third book I have read about this author. I plan to read the other books as soon as I can.
—Terri Tinkel
