Snow Falling On Cedars
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • PEN/Faulkner Award Winner • A gripping, tragic, and densely atmospheric masterpiece of courtroom suspense—one that leaves us shaken and changed.
"Haunting .... A whodunit complete with courtroom maneuvering and surprising turns of evidence and at the same time a mystery, something altogether richer and deeper." —Los Angeles Times
San Piedro Island, north of Puget Sound, is a place so isolated that no one who lives there can afford to make enemies. But in 1954 a local fisherman is found suspiciously drowned, and a Japanese American named Kabuo Miyamoto is charged with his murder.
In the course of the ensuing trial, it becomes clear that what is at stake is more than a man's guilt. For on San Pedro, memory grows as thickly as cedar trees and the fields of ripe strawberries—memories of a charmed love affair between a white boy and the Japanese girl who grew up to become Kabuo's wife; memories of land desired, paid for, and lost. Above all, San Piedro is haunted by the memory of what happened to its Japanese residents during World War II, when an entire community was sent into exile while its neighbors watched.
"Haunting .... A whodunit complete with courtroom maneuvering and surprising turns of evidence and at the same time a mystery, something altogether richer and deeper." —Los Angeles Times
San Piedro Island, north of Puget Sound, is a place so isolated that no one who lives there can afford to make enemies. But in 1954 a local fisherman is found suspiciously drowned, and a Japanese American named Kabuo Miyamoto is charged with his murder.
In the course of the ensuing trial, it becomes clear that what is at stake is more than a man's guilt. For on San Pedro, memory grows as thickly as cedar trees and the fields of ripe strawberries—memories of a charmed love affair between a white boy and the Japanese girl who grew up to become Kabuo's wife; memories of land desired, paid for, and lost. Above all, San Piedro is haunted by the memory of what happened to its Japanese residents during World War II, when an entire community was sent into exile while its neighbors watched.
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Community Reviews
at first I wasn’t sure about this book; it took awhile for me to really get into the plot. as someone who mainly reads entertaining, fast-paced murder mystery novels, this book initially challenged my patience as I worked through the atmosphere setting and context-building for the story. about halfway through, however, this well paid off. this story is so beautifully crafted, and serves as a strong reminder (especially in today’s political climate) of what it means to be in community. it is a story about overcoming obstacles, prejudice and judgement. it truly takes you on a journey, and i’d strongly recommend giving it a read!
https://cerebralspice.wordpress.com/2025/12/03/book-list-snow-falling-on-cedars-by-david-guterson
Now 30 years old, this book is worth reading, or re-reading. This was my first read, and while it warrants time and attention as you read, it's worth it.
Now 30 years old, this book is worth reading, or re-reading. This was my first read, and while it warrants time and attention as you read, it's worth it.
Some parts were hard to get through but overall a fantastic book! I struggled a little through the love story of hatsue and Ishmael and it kind of drove me nuts that they never ended up together haha buuuut that being said, they probably weren't right for one another anyways. Kabuo was a good man and wouldn't of deserved to of been abandoned by hatsue so I understand why the author ended their story the way he did
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