A Few Too Many

David Guterson's Snow Falling on Cedars deals heavily with the relationship of the one armed newspaper journalist, Ishmael Chambers and his Japanese lover, Hatsue Imada (currently Hatsue Miyamoto). Guterson works hard to establish the ever increasing tensions between Hatsue, Kabuo, and Ishmael. The climactic moment of these tensions comes when Ishmael discovers evidence at the local lighthouse that "Carl Heine...went into the sea...[when] an enormous freighter had plowed right through the fishing grounds" (355). This evidence proves Kabuo's innocence, but the characterization of Ishmael earlier as acting vengeful toward Kabuo for taking his love away create an uneasy disturbance for most readers. Unfortunately, I am not most readers and the following sections of the book seemed to drag on and on with unnecessary content, this contents proves to be the reason I did not enjoy the ending of this book. I believe that Guterson failed in creating the suspense he desired when it comes to Ishmael's decision to come forth with the information or not. He does a ham-handed job in juxtaposing his two characterizations of Ishmael; in the same conversation with his mother he claims '"the evidence is very solidly against him"'(343). This claim parallels the older, bitter Ishmael who has had his heart broken and acts unhappily. On the other hand, very soon after he makes another claim, stating '" The facts are all that matter"' (345). This statement serves as a synecdoche for the young, honest Ishmael. The juxtaposition of these two versions of the protaganist is intended to create suspense, however the author clearly shows Ishmael wanting to get on better terms with his former lover, pointing his choice to revealing the information, and by returning to his mothers house Guterson implies a return to Chambers's childhood personality, again pointing to revealing the information, due to his desire to publish worthwhile, factual stories. The remainder of the novel just drags this decision out. It seems perfectly clear, at least to me, that the jury will pick acquittal or guilty pending on stronger facts, and the race issues don't play into their decision as much when facts opposing their opinions present themselves. I didn't like the ending, because I feel it dragged on and on. Guterson could have wrapped up the story much earlier than he did, due to poor spacing of characterization and events. I predicted the ending of the book before it happened. A book tagged under the 'Mystery' genre. This means one of two things: I am Sherlock Holmes, or David Guterson doesn't know how to plan out his endings.

A Change of Genre

If one looks at the back summary of David Guterson's Snow Falling on Cedars they learn of a mysterious murder trial, a betrayal of an entire people, a land dispute, and finally a romance. When I read this description I believed I was in for an In Cold Blood-esque novel with mystery and murder and betrayal. Instead I got sex. The sexual nature of this book doesn't unnerve me, but it surprised me more than anything else about the book. Guterson only hints at the romantic nature of the book in the description; it seems like an afterthought to the book's primary two focuses: Kabuo Miyamoto's trial, and Japanese Internment during World War II. The book is directly characterized as "a masterpiece of suspense", but the only suspense the reader gains comes from the trial of Kabuo Miyamoto, and while this does take up a large portion of the novel; another large portion comes from the romance of Hatsue and Ishmael (back). The "Above all" most important aspect of the book, the Japanese Internment during the second World War, only receives minor attention at the first third of the novel, its only mention coming from implications and brief discussions about the war (back). The sexual scenes also feel quite awkward, whether Guterson does it purposefully or merely by accident. Now, I do not know how to write a sex scene in a novel, but I know one thing, David Guterson surely doesn't. The first scene between Kabuo and Hatsue in the early section of the book uses very explicit diction to create a parallel with the reader of the current narrator's, Hatsue's, awkwardness throughout the entire situation. Guterson indirectly characterizes her as nervous and awkward by repeating her fears that her '"sisters are listening'"; "' They're listening"' (89,90). This parallel helps to humanize Hatsue, and garner sympathy from the reader. It seems that Guterson either cannot write romanticlly, or he tries to make an assertion that the actions of sex are awkward and uncomfortable. This show particularly well when Nels Gundmundsson thinks about his inability to "achieve an erection" (300). While this section obviously does the same with Hatsue's, to create a sympathy for the character via drawing a parallel through awkward, explicit diction (it also continues the characterization of Nels as a man with a young spirit, but an old body), but Guterson takes it much too far. He writes that Gundmundsson believes that the jurors would see it "disgusting" if he approached Susan Marie too closely, not only does this parallel his own thoughts of the situation, but also it puts the idea into the reader's mind when it most likely would not have even come up. All in all, I believe that the excessive sexuality and romance in David Guterson's Snow Falling on Cedars just confuses readers, such as myself, who came into the novel looking for mystery and intrigue; it passes its self off as a murder mystery and social commentary, but it turns into a boring romantic drama about star crossed lovers and the sexual burdens of turning seventy-nine.

Respect for the Stoic

For my first blog post, I would like to discuss my favorite character in David Guterson's Snow Falling on Cedars. While posting this from half way around the world, I have noted racism, from Whites, Blacks, and Coloureds in South Africa. The situation plays out very much the same in Gunderson's novel; with the White community of San Piedro discriminating against their former Japanese enemies, and the Japanese viewing their White neighbors as barbaric and below their Japanese cultures and customs. Guterson's characters easily drive the novel; they serve as the main focus, the main form of conflict, and the best thing about Snow Falling on Cedars. Many interseting characters come into light in the novel; from the accused man, Kabuo Miyamoto, the painfully racist Etta Heine, the devoted coroner Horace Whaley, and the accepting and diverse Carl Heine Sr.. However, a single character shine in my eyes more than all of the mentioned previously, Nels Gundmundsson. Nels plays himself as an experienced, "deliberate" attorney, he slowly brings about his point, but somehow does not ask irrelevent or unneccisary questions (20). This direct characterization of Nels juxtaposes himself with the prosecutor, Alvin Hooks, who Guterson indirectly characterizes as insignificant and quickly moving by not even mentioning his name during his first round of questioning, impliying that Hooks moves so fast that he becomes an irrelevent afterthought in the eyes of both the town and courtroom. Gundmundsson did not always operate himself as a stoic and maticulous leader though, quite the contrary, his wise and elderly nature bothers him "because as a young man he had been...an athelete" (27). The word "athelete" carries an active connotation, indicrectly characterizing the young Gundmondsson as aggressive, impulsive, and energetic, juxtaposing with his elderly self who acts stoic, slow, and meticulous. He still reveals sides of his athleticism, though; when he plays chess with Kabuo he reveals that he "never castled" revealing that he still desires to act as he lived before, and he couldn't stand his slow pace outside of his profession, the only place where it suits him (158). The overall complexity of Nels Gundmundsson intrigues me, making him my favorite character. His slow and precise nature makes himself seem almost super-human when working with the witnesses for Kabuo's trial, and his aggressive, high risk and reward, style of chess playing juxtaposed helps create a man who, not only knows what he needs to do, but also has the courage to do them. This type of uncompromising, yet intellectual leadership that Gundmundsson displays easily makes him my favorite character.