All together this is a gripping narrative. There is a family tree in the start of the book but as you read the stories and see the families’ perceptions of each other and how they fit together or how far apart their stories are it paints a very different picture. The stories are from different perspectives spanning the generations and geography, and vary greatly in writing style.

This variance in writing style was in my opinion both the greatest strength and weakness of the book. Some of the stories were harder follow because of their format and this may be particularly true for readers without much background knowledge of the historical events depicted in the stories. However, as the book continues and the way the stories are intertwined becomes more apparent many of the more confusing details are clarified. The different styles also add a lot of depth to the stories helping to highlight the different personalities and the time period in which the stories are told. I most enjoyed the stories that were told by the characters reminiscing later in life as it showed both their history and the ways these stories were buried over time. Overall the book presents a heart wrenching and thought provoking narrative that was fascinating to read.

Thank you to DoubleDay Books and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader's Copy!

Available July 14th 2020

When we think of Japan, we are often thinking of a sanitary, clean cut nation; maybe we just think of sushi or the bright and colorful anime world. We don't think about Japan's complicated history, its own internal and external wars and the lingering effects of colonialism. Asako Serizawa's "Inheritors" is a tour de force through modern Japanese history, often drawing on aspects of Japanese culture that we don't see in the mainstream. With a variety of narrative styles, Serizawa's collection of stories is surprisingly cohesive. From a simple tragic tale of a father leaving his family to a heart-wrenching and horrifying account of a true Japanese comfort woman, Serizawa shows the underside of Japan. The realities that Serizawa brings to life should be embraced and acknowledged as a part of history. A well written, emotive collection!

Told in various prose styles along a non-linear timeline, "Inheritors" is a fascinating collection of short stories chronicling the history of an extended family from the late 19th century to the 2030s. Though it could be a bit difficult to follow at times due to its unconventional style, "Inheritors" compelled me to consider perspectives on events in Japanese history that otherwise would have been foreign to me. (It has a particular focus on World War II and the vignettes that dealt with WWII were especially eye-opening.) I appreciated its sweeping scope and stark beauty, and found myself learning much from its humanistic and often bleak portrayals of Japan's turbulent recent history. It was a bit slow and dense at times, but I would still highly recommend "Inheritors."

A stunning and magnificent book about World War II in Japan and America that everyone should read. Serizawa's writing is beautiful, brash, and wholly enthralling as she charts the emotions and reactions and relationships that touch on one Japanese family over many generations. Serizawa's tiny details, a sense or proportion, and the ability to write unflinchingly about horror and trauma make this book outstanding.

Inheritors is such a unique collection of stories. In the opening of the book, you are given a family tree, and it is immediately apparent how these stories interconnect to make a whole. Even with this knowledge, the way that each of these stories unfolds is surprising in its interconnectedness, in the way that pain and trauma from war and colonialism can impact generations, in the way that, after 150 years, individuals and culture still grapple with the ramifications of a postcolonial world.

Each of the stories is centered on an individual within this family tree, though the stories are not necessarily told from the perspective of that individual. It follows an old woman's loss of herself, parents' loss of a son and the gaining of another son, the first son's plight after his life was destroyed, and the adopted son's struggle with identity. It goes on from this, weaving a picture more complete than most novels I have read.

And that is the thing, this is a collection of stories, but because they are so interconnected it felt like reading a novel. Each of the stories is in a different style, and a different perspective, but they flow together seamlessly to create a transgenerational viewpoint that encompasses these tragedies of war, but also the simple and human needs of day to day life. It filled me with so much empathy, and for that I am grateful.

A lovely collection of personal snapshots. The language is beautiful and haunting, but I simply could not get a grip on this book.