I bought Across the Nightingale Floor at the Times Warehouse Sale - it was in the "Three for RM10" pile. Once I started reading the book I could not put it down, and I was lucky enough to find a box-set of the first three books at BookXcess (the copy I bought at the sale is now lokking for a home - any takers?)
The trilogy is an exciting and riveting read although the third book ends too abruptly to be completely satisfying.
From Tots to Teens, StarMag
IMAGINE a floor that sings! The "singing" is caused by the clamps and nails (used to hold the floor boards together) rubbing against the joists (which support the boards). Such floors were used in the hallways of some temples and palaces in Japan. They are called nightingale floors because of the chirping sounds they make. It is said that they were created as a security device - as anyone walking on these floors would immediately be heard.
In Lian Hearn's Across the Nigtingale Floor (Macmillan Children's Books, 304 pages, ISBN: 978-0330415286) the powerful and cruel warlord Iida Saduma has such a floor. Because of his ruthless and merciless ways, many want him dead. His nightingale floor is installed to warn him of approaching assassins, but instead of allowing him to sleep peacefully, it keeps him up all night, waiting anxiously for the song that might herald his death.
Sixteen-year-old Takeo would like nothing better than to be the one who takes Saduma's life. Takeo was once named Tomaso. This was when he lived with his mother and stepfather, and half-sisters in a small village. His people were the Hidden although his looks betray the fact that he was not really one of them. Takeo's village was destroyed by Saduma and his men. His family were killed and he was nearly killed himself, but was rescued by Lord Otori Shigeru (a sworn enemy of Saduma), who formally adopts the boy and gives him his new name.
But is Takeo really just a homeless boy who has been fortunate enough to gain the sympathy and protection of the head of a noble and highly respected clan? All those who see him remark on his likeness to Lord Otori's late younger brother, but this, it seems, is only partly the key to Takeo's true identity.
Takeo is fiercely loyal to the Otori clan and vows to kill Saduma - as a mark of his love for Lord Otori, as well as to avenge the death of his own family.
Meanwhile, in a castle far away, a beautiful 15-year-old named Kaede Shirakawa is being held hostage by one of Iida Sadamu's supporters. As Kaede's father has no sons, whomever she marries will inherit his lands. This makes her a valuable pawn in the clan wars dominated by Iida Saduma. In an effort to take control of the Shirakawa and Otori lands, a marriage is arranged between Kaede and Lord Otori, but the latter has secretly promised himself to another. And, when Takeo meets Kaede, they fall deeply in love.
The country in which this story is set in an imaginary one but it is obviously inspired by Japanese feudal practices, history, customs and traditions. The nightingale floor is taken from Japan. And the character's names sound Japanese. There are other hints to Hearn's fascination with Japan. For example, the Hidden, in the book, are persecuted for their faith, just as Christians were in feudal Japan. "Kakureta Kirishitan" is what Christians were called then. This means "Hidden Christians", refering to the fact that they concealed their faith to escape persecution.
Although not strictly a historical novel, Hearn did extensive research in Japan, which gives the book an authentic flavour as the fiction is rooted firmly in historical fact.
Across the Nightingale Floor is a very exciting story about love and honour, revenge and betrayal with strong, attractive main characters, and an intriguing, totally gripping storyline. It is the first in a series of five books. The other titles are Grass for His Pillow, Brilliance of the Moon, The Harsh Cry of the Heron and Heaven's Net is Wide (a prequel). Incidentally, the titles of all the books are of either five or seven syllables, after the style of haiku or tanka, types of Japanese poems.
You can listen to the sound a nightingale floor makes at www.kippo.or.jp/culture_e/build/archi.htm.
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