Play Audiobook Sample
The Lady and the Monk: Four Seasons in Kyoto Audiobook
Play Audiobook Sample
(3.04) - 673 listener ratings
Quick Stats About this Audiobook
Total Audiobook Chapters:
Longest Chapter Length:
Shortest Chapter Length:
Average Chapter Length:
Audiobooks by this Author:
Publisher Description
When Pico Iyer decided to go to Kyoto and live in a monastery, he did so to learn about Zen Buddhism from the inside, to get to know Kyoto, one of the loveliest old cities in the world, and to find out something about Japanese culture today—not the world of businessmen and production lines, but the traditional world of changing seasons and the silence of temples, of the images woven through literature, of the lunar Japan that still lives on behind the rising sun of geopolitical power.
All this he did. And then he met Sachiko.
Vivacious, attractive, thoroughly educated, speaking English enthusiastically if eccentrically, the wife of a Japanese “salaryman” who seldom left the office before 10 p.m., Sachiko was as conversant with tea ceremony and classical Japanese literature as with rock music, Goethe, and Vivaldi. With the lightness of touch that made Video Night in Kathmandu so captivating, Pico Iyer fashions from their relationship a marvelously ironic yet heartfelt book that is at once a portrait of cross-cultural infatuation—and misunderstanding—and a delightfully fresh way of seeing both the old Japan and the very new.
Download and start listening now!
"A lucky find at Moe's books in Berkeley! Gauzy wistful travel memoir about a gaijin and a Japanese housewife who become friends in Kyoto while their lives are in transition. I found myself loving the two characters who are caught together in limbo, and internalizing Sachiko's phrasing ("when I little children size") enough to miss it now it has gone. Iyer's Kyoto is a sensory delight and that kept me reading in spite of the amateurish sociological insights he sprinkles throughout, marring what would otherwise be lovely bits of description about teahouses, schoolchildren, seasonal foods and so on."
— Jessica (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
-
“[Iyer] is a sharp-eyed and thoughtful observer, and he is successful in evoking the life of Kyoto’s malls, temples, and back streets, moonlit nights on the water, and the vulgarity of the Westernized nightclub and amusement quarter.”
— New Yorker -
“With his light touch for travel writing, Iyer selectively weaves the plaintive love poems and stories of Buddhist priests into his narrative. His sensitive treatment is recommended for most travel collections.”
— Library Journal -
“A personal and evocative work filled with much gentle humor, intelligence and insight.”
— Kirkus Reviews
Awards
-
New York Times Notable Book
The Lady and the Monk Listener Reviews
-
" A beautiful love story that also captures the fulfillment of a life lived with focus and spirituality. "
— Kathleen, 2/13/2014 -
" I had pretty high expectations going into this, because I've really liked everything else I've read by Iyer and because it's widely recommended. But it's only alright. It's hard to take his fascination with Zen seriously, for instance. "
— Zedder, 2/7/2014 -
" The book that made me want to go to kyoto "
— Dennis, 1/25/2014 -
" I read about 40 pages. There were quite many descriptions and nothing special going on to keep me interested enough to continue reading. "
— Bo, 1/13/2014 -
" Many interesting insights into Japan... loved the bits about "monoganashii," loosely translated as, "feeling nostalgic for the moment." Wish we had a word for that in English! "
— Lucia, 1/11/2014 -
" If you've ever been to Kyoto, you'll love reading this book. I suggest reading it as soon as you get back from your trip--it will make your trip feel longer. "
— Courtney, 1/8/2014 -
" I love Pico Iyer, and this book is a great look at the contrasting cultures of geisha, monks, history, modern, Japanese, and foreigner taking place in the contemporary Kyoto. "
— Jason, 12/27/2013 -
" if i tell you that this book convinced me to never ever pick up another "travel" book again, would you get an idea what i thought of it? "
— Rhonda, 12/23/2013 -
" I hated this book, because I felt like the author was putting his personal fantasies on top of places I knew and loved. It literally made my skin crawl. The whole "western man rescuing a Japanese woman from a loveless marriage" theme was also distasteful. "
— Crystal, 12/21/2013 -
" I love this book--it's accessible, charming, deep, and elegant. The narrator is particularly well rendered; a delight to go along with him on this journey. "
— Debra, 12/19/2013 -
" An account of a year in Japan that's a wonderful outsider's introduction to Japanese culture, an admiring account of Kyoto, and a gentle and heartfelt love story. I've always admired Iyer's travel writing, and this is one of his most delightful works. "
— DoctorM, 11/22/2013 -
" next to wuthering heights this is my favorite book and where my love affair with pico iyer began. "
— cicie, 6/11/2013 -
" beautiful love story. An insigh into what JAPAN is, what the lives of people in Japan are, women in japan are. And a sensitive travellogue along with a love story. great blend. became a fan of Iyer after this book. "
— Aditya, 3/9/2013 -
" Excellent travel writing that incorporates literary references from both western and eastern cultures. Has a very interesting treatment of the theme of lust vs religion. "
— Alex, 11/15/2012 -
" interesting memoir by iyer chronicling his time in japan as a foreigner. although he takes a somewhat passive observer approach, his relationship with sachiko carries the narrative and does make some significant points about japan's limited society and its relationship with the outside world. "
— Jase, 8/16/2012 -
" Iyer gives us a nuanced and insightful book about Japan. Beautiful prose portrays some beautiful relationships. "
— Ben, 7/24/2012 -
" Elegant and quirky insights into Japanese culture, East Meets West, Zen practice, philosophy, poetry, and cross-cultural romance. Both one of the most interesting travel narratives I've ever read and likewise the most delicately rendered love stories. "
— Cynthia, 1/22/2012 -
" I did not finish, I think he said all he needed to in the first half. I have not desire to pick it up again. "
— Jennifer, 10/4/2011 -
" very well-written and witty. I think even those who have not experienced living in Japan can appreciate this book. The subtlety with which it captures "Japanese-ness" is analytical while soft, demonstrating Iyers feelings for the country and it's people. "
— Katy, 5/27/2011 -
" I enjoyed very much and thought it a lovely book "
— Stephanie, 3/26/2011 -
" I did not finish, I think he said all he needed to in the first half. I have not desire to pick it up again. "
— Jennifer, 1/9/2011 -
" I enjoyed very much and thought it a lovely book "
— Stephanie, 12/7/2010 -
" When i first lived in Japan i read this and it is a perfect blend of fiction and truth about Japan, absolutely wonderful. "
— Henry, 8/15/2010 -
" interesting memoir by iyer chronicling his time in japan as a foreigner. although he takes a somewhat passive observer approach, his relationship with sachiko carries the narrative and does make some significant points about japan's limited society and its relationship with the outside world. "
— Jase, 7/10/2010 -
" I love this book--it's accessible, charming, deep, and elegant. The narrator is particularly well rendered; a delight to go along with him on this journey. "
— Debra, 7/16/2009 -
" A beautiful love story that also captures the fulfillment of a life lived with focus and spirituality. <br/> "
— Kathleen, 6/24/2009 -
" Interesting take on an outsider living in japan. tho wordy since he's english. "
— R., 6/21/2009 -
" I love Pico Iyer! This book is more autobiographical than most of his - I like the way he balances his usual brilliant travel writing with his own story here. He is one of those great writers who leaves just enough to the imagination to really pique your interest in those details he does divulge. "
— Julia, 5/30/2009 -
" very well-written and witty. I think even those who have not experienced living in Japan can appreciate this book. The subtlety with which it captures "Japanese-ness" is analytical while soft, demonstrating Iyers feelings for the country and it's people. "
— Katy, 5/21/2009
About Pico Iyer
Pico Iyer is the acclaimed and bestselling author of more than a dozen books, translated into twenty-three languages. His journalism has appeared in Time, the New York Times, New York Review of Books, the London Financial Times, and more than 250 other periodicals worldwide. His TED talks have been viewed over eleven million times. He divides his time between Japan and a Benedictine hermitage in California.
About Geoffrey Howard
Geoffrey Howard (a.k.a. Ralph Cosham) was a stage actor and an award-winning narrator. He recorded more than 100 audiobooks in his lifetime and won the prestigious Audio Award for Best Narration and several AudioFile Earphones Awards.