About The Book
Tessa Walker is a veterinarian with a strong, emotional connection to animals. As a teen, she witnessed the brutal slaughter of dolphins, and as an adult, she decides to do something about it. She leaves her home in Los Angeles and travels to Japan to speak out for them, but little does she know that she is embarking on an adventure that will change her life forever. From the urban metropolis of Tokyo to historic Kyoto to the culinary city of Osaka, and the seaside town of Taiji, Tessa is determined to help Japanese activists stand up for her beloved mammals.
Along the way, the friendships and bonds that she builds with people in Japan, and the unconditional love of a stranger named Toshiro, open her eyes to a complicated society of conventions and traditions. Yet, her limited knowledge of the language and customs doesn't deter her from taking on a dangerous mission that could land her in jail.
My Thoughts
The majority of the books I read are thrillers or crime-suspense dramas. I've grown tired of any kind of love story over the years, and I'm not in the mood to save the world (it's beyond saving). And the length of the book was also off-putting. However, on a gloomy afternoon, with a runny nose and a cup of ginger tea, I started reading The American Outsider by Homa Pourasgari.
I loved Tessa’s journey through the Land of the Rising Sun. She appears to be similar to many of us, with a tough outer shell to protect the inner soft core. The book is primarily focused on her, and the author did a great deal of work to portray her as real as possible. She seems like someone I could know in real life.
There is also a sweet love story in the book, and that is a refreshing break from the main plot; however, it never distracted me from the focus of the book.
The language is easy to grasp and can be read even by readers whose first language is not English.
Overall, it’s a great read.
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About the Author
Born in Tehran, Iran, Homa Pourasgari spent hours in her father's home office, writing, reading, and letting her imagination carry her to unseen worlds. She moved to the United States at a young age. After graduating from Loyola Marymount University with a degree in business, she left for Paris to study literature at the Sorbonne. Her first book, Lemon Curd, was nominated Forward Magazine's Book of the Year Award finalist. Her second book, The Dawn of Saudi, won Reader Views Reviewers Choice Award. She lives in Los Angeles, California. When she is not writing, she is stumbling, miming, and pointing to find her way in a foreign country.
Author on the Web
Labels: Book Love, Book Review, Books, Books on Tour
