The Teahouse Fire

This is a novel by Ellis Avery. Overall, a great book.

It is the story of a French American girl who goes to Japan with her missionary uncle. There is a fire soon after they arrive in Kyoto, and the little girl runs away. She is taken in by the Shin family who teaches and performs the Japanese tea ceremony. This may seem a little far-fetched, but the author makes it believeable in the book.

The girl is given the Japanese name Urako and becomes a servant/companion for the young daughter in the family, Yukako. Urako remains with the family for about 25 years while many big changes go on around them in the Japan of this time (1866-1891).

As the story moves along, the reader learns about Japanese customs and attitudes of the time, including its rigid social structure and racism. The Shin family is very devoted to the tea ceremony, perhaps as is suggested in places, too devoted. I found them to be a bit extreme myself.

The close relationship between Urako and Yukako deteriorates and comes unraveled near the end of the story, and Urako returns to the United States. Yukako dies many years later without the two speaking again, but a package from Yukako eventually reaches Urako after Yukako has died. The contents of the package seems to heal the rift between them.

Overall, the book was very good, although it was hard to follow the time sequence now and then. I do think the author made a mistake ending the book with that scene with the two flapper lesbians. Yes, that is what she did.

Let me know what you think if you read the book.