Description
A Long Haiku for a Journey
Book Summary
An extraordinary woman, known as Jaruko or Anna Rosso, narrates her fascinating life journey across three continents. From luxury and aristocracy to war, hunger, and loneliness, her story is a passionate and moving odyssey that traverses cities such as Nagasaki, Shanghai, Los Angeles, and Syracuse. This tale, written as a long haiku, invites the reader to discover how contrasts and hardships forge a final destiny in Barquisimeto, the Venezuelan city of sunsets.
What is it about?
The work chronicles the life of Jaruko, a woman of Japanese origin who, throughout the 20th century, experiences firsthand the major historical events and social changes that defined the era. From her childhood in traditional Japan to her exile in postwar China, passing through vibrant Shanghai and the America of immigration, her path is marked by passion, love, and loss. The narrative, structured as an initiatory journey, culminates in Venezuela, where the protagonist finds a new home and a definitive identity. The novel intertwines individual memory with collective history, offering a reflection on resilience, the search for happiness, and the capacity for self-reinvention.
Main themes
- Memory and the internal journey as tools for reconstructing identity.
- The contrast between opulence and poverty, war and peace, love and loneliness.
- The migratory experience and uprootedness as drivers of personal transformation.
- The power of destiny and the ability to find a place in the world.
- The poetic beauty of life, expressed through the metaphor of the haiku.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is intended for readers interested in romantic and contemporary narrative with a strong historical and travel component. It is ideal for those who enjoy stories of personal triumph, family sagas, and accounts that explore cultural identity and the clash of civilizations. It will also appeal to those seeking lyrical and evocative prose capable of transporting them to different eras and geographies.
What this book offers
- A unique perspective on 20th-century history through the eyes of an exceptional woman.
- A literary journey that covers exotic and emotional settings, from Asia to Latin America.
- A deep reflection on human resilience and the search for identity in a changing world.
- An immersive narrative that combines romantic passion with the harshness of historical reality.
- A reading that invites introspection and appreciation for the beauty of small moments, as in a haiku.
Technical data
- Author: SUSY CALCINA NAGAI
- Publisher: ALGON EDITORES, S L
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY FICTION, ROMANTIC NARRATIVE
- Collection: AÑIL
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication date: June 2013
- Number of pages: 336
- Weight: 500 g
Editorial review
A Long Haiku for a Journey is a literary work that stands out for its narrative ambition and poetic sensitivity. The author succeeds in weaving a story that is both intimate and epic, offering the reader a reading experience rich in nuance. Its main value lies in the ability to connect one woman's life with major historical movements, creating a story that is both personal and universal. It is a work recommended for those seeking a novel that combines emotion, history, and polished prose, without falling into romantic clichés.

