The Commoner (Abridged): A Novel Audiobook

" I enjoyed the writing but it was so sad to me "

" An interesting story about the Japanese Imperial family and Japanese customs. While the book is based on real-life events, I thought it often lacked the depth and deep emotions that must have plaqued the young Empress. In the end, it made me very thankful for the daily freedoms I am able to enjoy. "

" It was just too slow for me. "

" Wonderful book. the ending is perfect and not what might be expected. "

" slow start but very good. nice writing. "

" From the standpoint of plot, this was an interesting story about a woman of "common" (i.e. not noble, although hardly low-class) lineage, who marries into the Japanese Imperial family. Despite her own struggles to adapt to the severe limitations her marriage demands, she later coaxes a promising young woman to make similar sacrifices by marrying her son. The author, unfortunately, left me wanting so much more: more detailed descriptions of Japanese Imperial culture, deeper exploration of the relationship between the spouses and a closer look the relationships between the various women characters. "

" I'm looking forward to our book club discussion to get everyone else's take on this one. It was booooorrrrrrring overall, kind of a "what happens to Cinderella once the ball is over" story for me. "

" What's with Asians and sad stories? I think some of them thrive on them. Although, don't get me wrong, I love Memoirs of a Geisha, and that's sad too... "

" Up to the point where she loses her voice, the book was gripping. Neat imagining of the Japanese empire from the outside female perspective. But after her breakdown, it lost energy for me. Still, a pleasant read for a snow day. "

" I like to read a book and have learned something. This book gives you insight into the life of the Japanese monarchy. The life is of secrets and controling. It runs along the line of the current history of the monarchy. I am very glad I on a wim picked this book up at Costco. "

" Interesting story...but not all that well written - lacks depth....! "

" A lovely quick read. The Commoner is the story of a young Japanese woman who is the first comman woman to marry into the royal family. It is a marriage of love and lonliness for an eduacated traveled woman. The book moves at a quick pace and is sympathetic to all of the characters. "

" I found this book slow and a little stifling, which probably accurately projected the world of the commoner turned princess in Japan. "

" It was a little slow reading, but I thought it was interesting reading about Japan after the war. "

" Interesting theme - Japanese commoner married to a prince. Searches for commoner for her son. "

" After a slow start, couldn't put it down till the end. Sad story of regret and missed opportunity, with a soupcon of redemption at the end. "

" Good historical fiction. The male author has great insight into the inner workings of the female mind - in particular, the common woman who ends up becoming the Empress of Japan, and the cost to her identity and relationships. Beautiful story, great resolution at the end. He is a very good writer. "

" Interesting telling of what is ultimately a very depressing story. The fact that it is loosely based upon the actual Japanese Imperial family drew me into the book, but also made it somewhat unsatisfying since we cannot really know how accurate it is. "

" Very interesting read...gives insite into Japanese attitudes and the burdens on the Japanese Imperial family that we would never imagine. Very readable. "

" Beautifully written. I read this before 'American Wife' and they are both about the decisions you make in life and who you marry. Very different styles, of course. "

" What an enjoyable well written novel. Schwartz describes the solitary life of the crown princess of Japan in the early 1960's so well that it makes me wonder how anyone would want to do this job at all especially when it seems that your only worth is to produce a male heir. "

" What perfect timing for this read with Kate and William married just as I finished. The story is very even keeled (read slightly boring) with a good overall story providing you can stay awake long enough to finish it. "

" What's with Asians and sad stories? I think some of them thrive on them. Although, don't get me wrong, I love Memoirs of a Geisha, and that's sad too... "

" Remarkable how this author was able to give us a woman's 'voice'. Beautifully written with enough history to bring us background. We always think we want to be the princess in the fairy tale but this shows that the "happily ever after" isn't always. "

" I liked the storyline well enough but never felt like I got to know the characters. The story just skimmed quickly along the surface and then it was over and I was left underwhelmed. "

" Interesting look into the Japanese monarchy, but ultimately unstatisfying. "

" THe first part of this book was great. The second part, not so much. Its worth reading but I think the author is trying to fit way too much history into a short book and therefore the second half of the book is very disjointed. "

" Opression of women in the name of nobility. It crushes even the strongest soul. "