In Gail Tsukiyama's The Samurai's Garden, loneliness, solitude, and isolation are themes permeating the story, with the garden serving as a sense of comfort. The relationship between a Chinese man and a Japanese woman brings together two distinctly different cultures.

It is not coincidental that The Samurai's Garden was selected at this time. Ms. Tsukiyama will be one of five authors featured at the Asian American author's conference, "Talking Story," sponsored by JAMsj and Midori Kai, on May 16.

The book club meets the first Friday of every other month and is always open to new members. Selections are chosen collaboratively at the end of each meeting and align with the JAMsj mission -- the celebration of Japanese American art, history, and culture. Books are readily available at San Jose public libraries. If you have questions, please contact Aggie Idemoto at (408) 268-4440 or aggie@jamsj.org.