Leslie Shimotakahara
My new novel, Sisters of the Spruce, will be available in February 2024
Praise for Leslie Shimotakahara:
"Shimotakahara displays virtuosity in this subtle deconstruction of one family's tainted origins.... A heartbreaking story in which the past haunts the present and bleeds into the future." Kirkus Review for Red Oblivion
"The author's storytelling skills are impressive, painting a vivid image of past and present against a backdrop of complex family dynamics.... Fans of literary historical fiction will enjoy this compelling story." Library Journal for Red Oblivion
"[A] stirring tribute to Hong Kong and the role it served as a haven for refugees or anyone wishing to make a new start. Shimotakahara's descriptions of the territory are vivid and dreamy in the way that make us all long for a simpler time." Cha: An Asian Literary Journal for Red Oblivion
"Red Oblivion is one of the most masterful narratives I've ever read about a horrific chapter in China's history, told through an intricate, mesmerizing tale of family and identity. Leslie Shimotakahara's writing is both beautiful and bruising." Janie Chang, author of Dragon Springs Road
"Haunting and true to life, Red Oblivion will captivate readers." Ann Y.K. Choi, author of Kay's Lucky Coin Variety
"Shimotakahara joins a rank of garlanded Canadian authors who've offered their skill and kindness to casual readers: tough stuff packaged in solid fiction that edifies as it enthralls, emotion indelible and set deep in stories we might otherwise prefer to forget." National Post for After the Bloom
"Shimotakahara’s writing is personal and entrancing, unflinchingly shining a light on this difficult part of history." Booklist starred review for After the Bloom
"Leslie Shimotakahara's novel is a poignant exploration of mothers and daughters, secrets and lovers, and the brutal legacy of Japanese internment." Book Riot for After the Bloom
"A compelling tale of hearts and minds caught in the tumult of history, memory and love, across generations. A sweeping page-turner." Kerri Sakamoto, author of Floating City, for After the Bloom
"A masterful and deeply moving tale of mothers and daughters, of hidden histories and repressed memories, of loss and of love." Lynne Kutsukake, author of The Translation of Love, for After the Bloom
"A story that offers its own brutal, beautiful reparation." Foreword Reviews for After the Bloom
"Shimotakahara writes with refined sensitivity about the fragility of human nature, and how such vulnerability can transform into strength in the name of love." Ottawa Review of Books