Book description
To Mrs. Hopper, Yoshi Takahashi may be just another name from her
daughters' past, but for Jean and her sister, Colette, he stands for
much more. Years ago, Mr. Takahashi moved into their Toronto
neighbourhood and sent the adolescent lives of Jean and Colette into a
tailspin. They weren't content merely to befriend the Japanese pianist
- in their infatuation they sought to mirror his life as closely as possible.
The enchantment lingers into adult life in ways both sisters are
reluctant to recognize. This weekend they have been invited to an
extravagant family celebration in Victoria, B. C. As the party gains
momentum, so does the tension between the sisters. As before, the
larger-than-life Mr. Takahashi casts his spell.
Originally published in 1985, A Certain Mr. Takahashi won
the coveted Seal First Novel Award and the Books in Canada/W. H. Smith
First Novel Award.
"…well written, a good read and an excellent introduction to the
author." Ann Ireland teaches at Ryerson University, where she
coordinates the Writing program in Continuing Education. She is a past
president of PEN Canada. She is the author of A Certain Mr. Takahashi
and Exile, which was shortlisted for the 2002 Governor General's
Literary Award for Fiction and the Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize.
She lives in Toronto.
